She paused with a sniff, and Chase leaned over to wipe the tears that were falling from her eyes. He wanted so desperately to say something but somehow, he knew it was important for her to get this all out.
“It’s not that I don’t believe in you, or in us, it’s that I do. I do believe you love me, and that our relationship is important to you, that’s the problem. I’m terrified of losing you. I’m terrified that if we stay together, one day you’ll wake up and realize everything that you gave up was what you really wanted. Then you’ll either resent me or leave me. That would destroy me, Chase, completely.”
Chase sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Before we started dating, back when I was still trying to avoid you, so I didn’t make an ass of myself, do you know how I felt, Red?” Chase could hear the despair in his own voice. If what he said next didn’t get through to her, nothing would.
“I was happy. So fucking happy. I had a job I loved, playing music at a kick-ass bar. I had friends that didn’t want to get high and cause shit every night. I had an apartment I liked in a town I liked. I was happy. Didn’t want to change a thing, except for one. You. I wanted to be with you. I didn’t want to change what I was doing with my music. I didn’t want to play for bigger crowds or make more money, I wanted you. Then, I got you. And my life was fucking perfect. So perfect. Yeah, fine, I didn’t tell you who I was and that is a mistake I have to live with. But you and me, we were together. I was so goddamn happy. I could see our future and it was perfect. Nothing has changed for me, Reagan, I still see our future, and it’s still perfect. I still love you, and I’m still so fucking happy with my life. But now, none of it means a thing if you are not there with me. Not the music, the job, the friends, or the place. None of it matters if we are not together. Do I need music to be happy? Not anymore. Do I need you to be happy? Yes.”
By the end of his speech, Chase had somehow made it to the floor, on his knees in front of Reagan. She was still crying, but now he could see a glimmer in her eyes, the glimmer of love, of acceptance, and of hope.
“Babe, tell me you hear that. Please,” he begged, unashamed of the tears that were now falling down his own cheeks.
As much as he had hoped for this kind of reaction it still surprised him when Reagan flung herself off the couch and into his arms, sending them both tumbling onto the floor. She wrapped her arms around him tightly and began peppering him with kisses everywhere her mouth could reach.
“Love… You… So… Sorry… Only… You…” The words flew out of her mouth in between kisses and Chase’s tears quickly turned to laughter.
“Babe, babe, stop. Come here!” He grabbed her face in his hands and cradled it lovingly. He looked closely at her eyes, and yes, there was the fire of love shining through. Gently he pressed his lips to hers, holding back from consuming her the way he wanted to. He needed to hear her say the words first.
“Does this mean you believe me? You’re not giving up on us?”
She nodded shyly. “It means I’m an idiot if I don’t believe you, and my mama didn’t raise an idiot. I love you, Chase, more than anything. I’m here to stay, by your side no matter what.”
“Good,” he growled in response before pulling her to him, letting his lips and his body take over and show her how much he loved her.
Reagan still had nothing more than a towel on and her hair was beginning to dry into soft waves. When she had thrown herself at him, that towel had come loose, a fact that Chase was only now beginning to appreciate. He saw the second Reagan realized it too, as a blush came over her cheeks. He scooped her up, towel and all and carried her into the bedroom, the sound of her laugh tinkling in his ear.Now that’s music,he thought, music that he would be happy to listen to for the rest of his life.
Once he reached her bedroom, Chase set Reagan down and let the towel fall away. He growled sounds of appreciation at the sight of her beautiful naked body, as he made quick work of removing his own clothes.
Reagan stepped forward and pressed a kiss to his tattered sheet music tattoo. “You never told me about this song. Now I think I understand why, those memories are painful. I just want you to know that I’m not going anywhere. If you ever need to talk about your past, I’m ready to listen.”
That simple touch and those heartfelt words opened the floodgates of passion, as all the emotion, both tense and loving overflowed out of them.
Chase picked Reagan up again and once her legs were wrapped around his waist he walked over to the bed and sat down. Their position brought her heat into direct contact with his rigid cock, and he let out an involuntary thrust of his hips in response.
“Christ, woman, this is all I need in life. You and your body, mine to love.”
She leaned in and kissed him sweetly, a smile full of adoration on her face. He held her there, kissing her hungrily, feeling their hips rock together as their arousal grew. Chase pivoted on the bed and laid Reagan down on her back. Her relaxed yet turned on demeanor meant so much to him. She trusted him with her body, the parts she loved and the parts she didn’t yet love. He vowed to himself that eventually he would get her to see herself the way he did. A luscious, stunning, warm, loving woman.
Slowly, he worked his way down her torso with soft, open mouthed kisses pressed all over. His hands caressed her breasts, teasing her nipples into stiff nubs. Chase paid close attention to her little sighs and moans of arousal, focusing on what brought the best response. They had made love so many times, he knew her body. Yet every time felt brand new in the best possible way. It was an exploration of each other and of their love.
“Chase…” Reagan sighed, writhing underneath his touch. Chase knew exactly what she wanted and moved instantly to deliver. Once he was settled between her legs, he alternated between small nips and soft kisses along the inside of her thighs, determined to draw out her pleasure as long as possible. When he could no longer stand to be this close to her and not taste her, Chase let his tongue snake up and down her folds, causing Reagan to shriek with pleasure. He gave himself over to the sensation of loving her with his mouth and his fingers, drawing out the sexiest sounds he had ever heard Reagan make. She was an enthusiastic lover and he felt her passion for him in every moan and thrust of her hips against his face. He needed to relieve his own tension so started grinding himself against the bed. She must have realized what he was doing because seconds later Reagan grabbed his head in her hands and lifted him off of her.
“Get inside of me, Chase, I need to feel you.”
Chase didn’t hesitate to lunge himself up and over her body, thrusting inside of her with one movement of his hips.
“Fuck, Red. Yes,” he ground out.
“This is where we belong, Chase,” Reagan gasped in reply, “together in the deepest way possible.”
“You’re mine, Reagan. You’re all I need.” Was all Chase could get out as he slid in and out of her heat. Her body held his so perfectly, their movements were in perfect harmony as they climbed toward bliss with every thrust and rise of their hips.
His hands threaded into the silky strands of her hair that were spread across the pillow like flames from a fire. He kept his upper body frozen in place, kissing her lips, her ears, her hair, everywhere he could reach. The movement in the lower half of their bodies had become instinctual, as every grind of his hips was met with an arch of hers. Moments later, with no warning at all, Reagan screamed his name as her climax overtook her body. Her spasms of pleasure sent Chase careening into his own release.
Slowly they floated back down to earth, and Reagan’s bed where they lay wrapped up in each other. They stayed that way for a while, gently stroking each other’s naked body, softly kissing wherever their lips could touch. Chase knew deep in his soul that he would love Reagan forever, and that her happiness would always come first.
“I want us to live together.” Reagan’s voice didn’t hold an ounce of hesitation when she made that announcement, propped up on one arm over him.
