Chasing Leah (Journey Series)

by Williams, C. A.

  I head that way and push open the door at the front entrance that opens into a pitch black room. Suddenly I’m wishing I was carrying that mace Mr. James insisted Ally and I both carried in our purses when we headed off to school. Where the heck was Ally and why was no one around? I lay my hand flat against the wall to feel for a light switch and finally found it with a flick of my finger.

  The room was instantly filled with thousands of twinkling white lights covering almost every surface of the small building. My eyes land on a single table in the center of the room that was draped with a black tablecloth and has a vase with a single red rose set it in, surrounded by small candle votives.

  “Um hello?” I call out before whirling around when I hear the familiar husky voice and lock my eyes on Chase.

  Chapter 26

  Chase

  “Surprise, bet you weren’t expecting me, huh?”

  “Whats going on Chase I thought I was supposed to me meeting up with Ally. Apparently theres no cleaning of the park going on here today.”

  Was that the excuse Ally had used to get Leah here? I’m surprised she actually showed up since cleaning is like her least favorite thing. I’m lucky she’s a good cook.

  “Yeah well she sorta helped me out to lure you here, I guess it worked.”

  “Well what is all this?” She ask as she motions around the elaborately decorated space that I had worked on for hours and I click on my ipod to add the soft sounds of music flowing around the room.

  “For you. It’s our first date Leah. I know you said you wanted to start off slow but I still needed to make it special to show you much I love you.”

  “Okkkkk,” she drags out and I guide her over to the table by placing my hand on the small of her back, pulling out her chair for her so she can take a seat.

  “I’ll be right back, don’t go anywhere.” I make my way back to the small galley kitchen in the back of the building and grab the two plates that I had already prepared. Luckily Leah showed up exactly when she was supposed to so the food would still be nice and warm and hopefully taste good.

  “Here ya go, just to warn you I made everything myself but had my moms supervision, so at least it’s edible.” I sit down across from her and watch as her gray eyes widen and take in the food on the plate I placed in front of her. I’m even impressed myself a little bit.

  Leah was always teasing me about how bad of a cook I was and I knew it was true. With my mom I really never had to step foot in the kitchen but luckily after a little convincing my mom helped me out with a plan for my first redo date with Leah.

  I watch as she takes a tentative bite and I see a look of surprise pass over her face. “What is this Chase? It’s really good,” she says in between bites.

  “Shrimp scampi with a little bit of angel hair pasta,” I reply proudly. Yup I did good.

  “My mom said I needed to do something fancy if I wanted to impress you and this was a little simpler, so she said I couldn’t screw it up.”

  She quirks an eyebrow at me with a confused look on her face. “So your mom knows what happened between us then?”

  “Yeah well that’s where I’ve been hiding out for most of the week. I just needed to get my head on straight before we tried things out again. Our time apart really tore me apart.” I pause and can see the flash of guilt covering her face before I reassure her.

  “Don’t worry mom still loves you, I don’t think you could do anything to change that. After I told her what happened she absolutely understood how you reacted after everything you found. It was pretty incriminating.”

  She lets out a short musical laugh. God I’ve missed that tiny sound. “Well I should’ve given you the chance to talk to me instead of trying to avoid you even though I found I’m pretty good at it. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s in the past now Leah. Let’s just try to move on from here.”

  I clear our plates after we’ve both managed to scrape them clean and have a dessert of chocolate cake and ice cream which I can’t help but brag about that I made. Well the cake at least and it was from a box but I got an A for effort and that’s all that counts. I stand up and reach for Leahs hand to pull her up from her seat, I missed having her in my arms.

  “May I have this dance?”

  She clasps her small hand in mine and steps into my arms as we glide around the room to the soft background music. She buries her head in my chest and I nuzzle my nose into the soft curls of her hair breathing in the faint smell of her familiar strawberry shampoo. I hadn’t washed any of my pillows since Leah left because of that smell right there.

  “I don’t think I can do this Leah,” I whisper into her ear and can fill the goosebumps I caused running up and down her arms. Startled, she stops abruptly pulling back from me and looking back at me with her questioning gray eyes.

  “What do you mean Chase, what can’t you do?” She asks in a panicked voice.

  “I can’t do slow with you Leah,” I reply back. I wasn’t really planning on this, I was gonna try slow with her but after having her wrapped in my arms I knew it’s where she belonged. Always. Now I just needed to convince her of the same thing. This should be fun.

  “I just can’t. I want you, I need you. I know you need to trust me again but I need all or nothing.” Hopefully she doesn’t figure out that I’m totally bluffing. She chews on her lip so hard I’m sure there’ll be blood. If only I could be inside that head and put a stop to all of the crazy thoughts that are probably running through it right now.

  “Okay,” she answers back simply while wrapping her arms around my neck again.

  “Okay?” I question back making sure I heard that right. That was the last thing I expected coming out of her pretty mouth. She nods her head at me and I can feel a smile creeping onto my face.

  “Chase I know sometimes you might feel like this is a one sided relationship but I love you with all of my heart. I’ve never loved someone as much as I love you. I know it’s a little harder for me to express that sometimes because I’m just not used to having someone like that in my life other than Ally and Caleb.

  I know I messed up when I didn’t listen to you before about what really happened and I’m thankful that you didn’t just forget about me and move on. And then I tell you I want to take things slow and you disappear for a week. I don’t know if you planned it but I couldn’t stand that you were gone and I wasn’t with you. I love you and I’ll do anything to make this work no matter how fast you want to take things.”

  She reaches up and tentatively touches her full lips to mine like she’s afraid I’ll pull back but I’m not going anywhere. I pick her up and twirl her around the room and she locks her legs around my waist before I return her kiss with an even fiercer one by crushing our lips together until I gently open her mouth with my tongue and the tension that I’ve felt over the past month instantly melts away with the taste of Leah.

  She gently ends the kiss and I set her feet back onto the ground.

  “Sooo,” I drag out. “I’m probably really pushing it but I guess it’s all or nothing right? Do you want to move back in with me like for real this time, not just half of your stuff over but everything? It’ll be our apartment, not just mine. We can buy new dishes, you can hang up all of the girly shit you want, you can even paint the bedroom pink and add all those frilly pillows you like. I was even thinking maybe we could find a place halfway between campus and my new job in the fall that way we would both only have like a thirty minute drive each way. That’s not too bad right?”

  I drone on and on until she puts a finger to my lips to quiet my rambling and simply answers. “Yes.”

  “Yes? Really? Jeez Leah your being really easy tonight,” I say as I swing her around the room again. I was not expecting this much agreement out of Leah ever.

  “Did you just call me easy?” She leans up and whispers into my ear after wrapping her legs snuggly around my waist again. Right where they belong.

  “Let’s go back to our apartment and I’ll sho
w you just how easy I can be. We have a little time before Caleb needs to be picked up.”

  “I won’t argue with you there,” I say as I hoist her small body over my shoulder and sprint towards the front door before flicking off the lights. “It’s been a really long and lonely month. Oh and by the way Allys picking up Caleb, they’re having a sleepover. Your mine for the night. Hope you’re not tired cause we aren’t getting any sleep.”

  Chapter 27

  Leah

  After probably the most incredible night of my life before, during, and after dinner and all night long, I went home and thanked Ally for helping Chase set me up. I broke the news to her that I would officially be moving in with Chase whenever we found a place. Chase already had a list of places to check out but we wanted to take Caleb with us so he could help us decide.

  I was honestly a little scared about what her reaction would be, I felt like I was ditching my best friend especially after she just broke up with Skylar. But Ally was super excited that we worked things out since she was convinced that we’re in fact soul mates. Our lease on the apartment was up at the end of the spring semester anyways and Ally had wanted to move into her sorority’s house but didn’t want to leave me and Caleb so I guess I solved that dilemma for her.

  Within a week of looking at literally millions of apartments and rental houses, we found one in a nice area with not too bad of a commute for the both of us and still in our budget. I knew Chase would have a regular salary now but I still wanted to contribute as much as I could.

  We found a small three bedroom house in a neighborhood that looked to be filled with young families and I’m sure Caleb would make friends instantly. There was a small kitchen with newer appliances that I was excited to be able to cook in, a master bedroom with a private bathroom for me and Chase, and a decently sized bedroom for Caleb. We figured the third bedroom could be an office/ playroom. The swingset that the old tenants left behind was the selling point for Caleb of course.

  “Uh I’m so worn out I’m really not ready to go to classes today.” I plop down on the couch after rolling out of bed.

  After quite a lengthy discussion and several placement moves, the living room was finally the way we both had agreed on. Our living room. We had spent all weekend with the help of almost all of Chases family, the band, and Remy and Ally moving all of our stuff over with the small rental truck and the back of Chases truck filled to the max.

  I didn’t have much furniture to move in besides my computer table and an overstuffed purple chair that we managed to squeeze in between the two leather couches of Chases, so pretty much everything was Chases but he figured we could go out and buy a few things once his job started up in the fall.

  Caleb had decided on a cars and trucks theme for his room which he was excited about since he’s never really had his own space and Mary was more than happy to work on that project pulling out her sewing machine to make a matching comforter and curtains with the pattern she found at the fabric store.

  Chase follows me into the living room fresh from the shower while doing up the buttons on his dark blue dress shirt that he has paired with a pair of khaki pants. The girls at the high school he’s student teaching at must all be in love. How could they not, I’m about two seconds from ripping those clothes off his well built body and doing a repeat of what we did last night.

  He leans down to give me a long sweet kiss before standing back up and grabbing his briefcase. He looks like such a grown up.

  “Why don’t you just stay home for the day, it won’t kill you to miss two classes. I could skip out early and we can christen the rest of the house.”

  “Mmhhmm that sounds perfect.” I groan as I stand up to stretch, still aching from the christening we did of the bedroom and bathroom last night.

  “But I know I have tons of important stuff going on in my classes today and I can’t start slacking near the end of the semester. Plus you have like a week of student teaching left, I’m not letting you miss anytime now even if you already have a job all lined up. Besides I know Caleb plays well by himself but I don’t think he’ll stay occupied for that long.”

  I walk over and give him a kiss on the corner of his mouth before shuffling him towards the door. “Now get out. I need to take a shower and get Caleb up and ready.”

  “Kay, I’m going, I’m going. But you better be waiting for me when I get home. Preferably naked.” He says with a wink before I slam the door behind him even though that doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all.

  *********************************************

  Over the next few weeks Chase and I slowly get used to living together full time again. This time around is a little bit different since it’s now our house and I don’t feel like we’re invading his space. Caleb quickly got used to having Chase around again and is like his little shadow whenever he’s home.

  Final exams week came and went and I was officially done with the spring semester. I still hadn’t decided if I would be taking summer classes yet but I figured it would probably be the best thing to do so I could finish with school. Besides it was only two classes and me and Caleb would still be able to veg out for the summer and find all sorts of fun adventures to go on.

  Chase and I still hadn’t talked much about our future and I wasn’t really sure how things would be next year with me still in school and him having an actual job. We were living together now though so I guess that was one step further.

  Chases student teaching ended and graduation was being held the next day. Ally was sticking around until after the ceremony to head back to her parents for a bit before taking off on a road trip with some of the girls from her sorority.

  “Hey baby,” Chase huskily whispers in my ear as he comes up behind me while I’m standing at the kitchen counter drinking my much needed coffee of the morning. That’s one thing Chase figured out early while living with me. I’m just not much of a morning person and he knows not to mess with me before I have at least one cup in me.

  “Hi, did you sleep good?” I ask as I twist around and wrap my arms around his neck.

  “Mmhmm,” he mumbles against my neck as he plants hot wet kisses all the way down to my collarbone. “Did you want me to make you something for breakfast?” I manage to squeak out even though my mind is on anything but food right now as he continues to work his lips over my scantily clad body that’s only covered by a thin black cami and matching lacy black boy shorts.

  “Maybe later. Caleb’s still out right?” He breaks his lips from my body and I instantly miss the warmth that he had spread throughout my body. I nod my head at him giving him the green light that I know he’s waiting for and he grasps my hips with his hands lifting me up to sit on the island in the middle of the kitchen.

  “Right now I’ll have you,” he rasps and I wrap my legs around his slender waist to pull him closer to me.

  He pulls my tank top over my head before returning his lips to my body, moving down to my chest and slipping each nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue around each and I pull on his hair to move him even closer to me as he lightly runs his fingers up and down my bare stomach and moves to my neck lightly nipping and swirling his tongue against me.

  “Chase,” I moan out. “I need you now.” He lifts his head up again to stare into my eyes with that intense look of his before looping his fingers through my underwear and working them down my thighs. At the same time I grasp onto his black pajama pants and push those and his boxers down with my feet. He twirls his fingers in between my thighs pushing one finger and then two with his head still buried in my chest, clearly taking his time.

  “Chase please,” I demand. He slides his body back in between my thighs and I wrap my legs around him tightly already so close with just his kisses, they always set my body on fire.

  He slowly thrusts in and my hips meet his before he pulls out and pushes back in over and over.

  “Chase please,” I say pleadingly again before he slams into me one more time and then starts t
o rotate his hips around slowly building into a rhythm. I tip my head up to his and place wet kisses up his neck, running my tongue across his jaw and tasting the sweet familiar taste of Chase before I plunge my tongue in his mouth and we keep in time with the rhythm of our hips.

  His pace quickens and I feel the familiar tightening between my legs as I pace myself to keep up with him trying to pull his body even closer. “Leah, baby.” He moans out in a whisper with one last grunt as we both fall together.

  The moments like these are the ones I wish I could freeze in time and never part with. He relaxes his body against mine and I try to keep both of us upright by leaning against the back wall.

  “Ready for round two?” He asks with a wink while I’m still trying to catch my breath. I nod my head and he lifts my body up without pulling out and heads towards the bathroom.

  “I think breakfast can wait, I think we still have some time before Caleb wakes up,” he says with that sexy grin that I love as he shuts the door behind us and bends me over the bathtub. I could definitely get used to this, I might not be able to walk the next day but at least it’s for a good cause.

  Chapter 28

  Leah

  “Congratulations!” A chorus of voices rings out as Chase and I walk into the large back yard at his moms’ house. We headed straight over after the graduation ceremony, well with one brief stop in the parking lot with Chases new truck, we had to break that in too and Chase had insisted it happened then. Luckily Caleb had ridden home with Mary after Belles insistence that her boyfriend come with her and Chase was able to go through with his plan.

  I self consciously adjust the length of my dress remembering the way Chase had greedily devoured me in it the minute we were alone together. He had pushed the hem of my white sundress up over my hips, in too much of a hurry to undress me, right before unbuckling his belt and pulling me onto his lap so I could straddle him between my thighs.