“Where do you want to go?”
“Just down to the water or something.”
“All right.” I grabbed my purse. I wasn’t sure whether I’d be coming back.
We headed back downstairs and walked the short distance to the battery. We strolled in silence for a few minutes before settling down on a bench swing. Chase got us moving.
I wrapped my arms around my chest. The breeze from the water made the night even cooler. When I’d picked out my outfit, I hadn’t been concerned about spending much time outside.
“Are you cold? Do you want to go back inside?”
“No,” I answered completely honestly. There was something almost enchanting about the quiet evening. Being with Chase felt far more comfortable than I’d have ever expected.
“Are you sure?” He put a hand on my leg. The contact warmed me up.
“No, but leave your hand there. You’re warm.” Once again, I was forward with him. Maybe it was because we’d already had sex. That kind of intimacy changes people I guess.
“No problem.” He moved his hand up and down my leg. The touch sent warmth far more places than just my leg.
We sat in silence again, as though neither of us wanted to break the spell of the evening. Eventually, he broke the silence. “Can I show you some things back at Riley’s?”
I laughed. “Is that your way of getting me into a bedroom?”
“Technically, yes, but not for the reason you think.”
“Then sure.” Even Chase’s touch couldn’t keep me warm for that long. I accepted his hand, and we walked back to Riley’s apartment. Warmth greeted me as soon as we walked inside, and I felt surprisingly few nerves as he led me down the hallway into a tiny bedroom which was filled almost completely with a double bed.
I sat down on the edge of his bed while he rifled through a duffel bag. “Here’s my proof.”
“Your proof?” I accepted the handful of plain white pages he offered.
“Yeah. You didn’t seem persuaded by my sex on the beach song, but here’s a bunch of other stuff I wrote after meeting you.” He sat down next to me and took my hand. “I probably sound absolutely crazy and borderline insane, but I felt something that night, and it wasn’t just good sex.”
“So, the sex was good for you too?” I smiled.
“Very. A little sandy, but that kind of comes with the territory.”
I rested my head on his chest. “We can’t just have sex tonight.”
“Technically, we could.” He grinned. “But I think talking has to be high on the list.”
“But what’s the point? I mean, you’re just going to leave. When do you leave anyway?”
“Tomorrow.” He ran his thumb over my hand.
“Exactly my point.”
“It’s still worth it. Now that I actually know who you are and where to find you, it’s much more likely I’ll see you again.”
“It might also help if you had my number.”
“Yes, that would help.” He fished his phone out of his back pocket. “What is it?”
I read it off to him, and moments later, my phone vibrated in my purse. I took it out to add him as a contact and to send quick texts to my roommates to tell them I was fine. Neither of them would be sleeping in our room that night, so they’d never know I wasn’t there.
“Nice, you did give me the real number.”
I pushed him playfully, which somehow ended up with me lying down on the bed with him next to me. “Of course I gave you the real number.”
“I’m glad, because I didn’t want to have to show up at your sorority house begging to see you.”
“You’d beg to see me?” I slipped my hand under his t-shirt.
He closed his eyes. “That feels so good.”
“That does? But I’m barely touching you.”
“Image how good I’d feel if you were doing something more than barely touching me then.” He raised an eyebrow.
“Then get your shirt out of the way.” I leaned up and pulled his t-shirt over his head. I took in the sight of him shirtless. I’d only gotten a moonlight view last time, and he looked even better in the brighter light of the lamp. He wasn’t diesel like Aaron, but I liked that. Chase clearly worked out, and every part of him was toned, but it wasn’t over the top.