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I sighed and laid my forehead against his chest. "It's the meds, Chase. The excitement of seeing you again is making my emotions cycle. It happens sometimes." I felt like Raggedy Ann when he pulled me in for a gentle hug and kissed the top of my head. "You mentioned cocoa. Got any rum to go with it?"
"And whipped cream..."
He took me by the hand and led me to the kitchen. Chase admitted when I looked surprised that he knew his way around the guest house. "Guy gave me the grand tour long before you moved in." Like a rooted plant, I stood watching him find the mugs. Then finally, I snapped out of my trance when Chase turned to me and grinned. "You promised homemade hot chocolate... Chop, Chop, better get a move on before I turn on ESPN!"
I spun around and prepared to give him an earful. However, my anger instantly dissipated when his smirk caused me to burst out in laughter instead. "You know how to push my buttons. I was about to tear into you again!"
"Well, go ahead. I'm starting to get used to it! By the way, where is the rum?"
This evening, I was feeling the meds' effects in full force. Perhaps it was because I hadn't eaten enough, or my eyes had been glued to the computer screen for too long working on my course. Or maybe the excuse I had given Chase was the true cause. Somehow, I still I managed to concoct two mugs of cocoa using a delicious recipe clipped from Pinterest.
"And the whipped cream!" Despite his cheerful expression, Chase's eyes betrayed a deep-seated worry. I pointed toward the fridge as I carried our mugs of steaming hot chocolate to the great room and sank into the couch cushions.
Chase scrutinized me intently as I lit some aromatically pleasing candles arranged on the coffee table before settling at the other end of the couch. "So, tell me. What's up with these meds you mentioned... and the side effects?”
I sighed, my gaze dropping to the mug in front of me. "It's hard to explain. I get periods of excitement and sadness, a little like manic depression. One of them is for seizures. It all has to do with the trauma to my brain and from being unconscious for so long."
Chase nodded slowly, digesting my words before speaking again. "Meagan, I came to see you when you were in the hospital, but Guy sent me away. He told me it was best because you wouldn't recognize me anyway, and I think he was trying to keep me from being traumatized seeing you in such a bad way. So, I visited you at the rehab center too. Do you remember? We talked for a while, and you even joked about us being friends with benefits. Then I reminded you that we had discussed trying something more meaningful before your abduction."
"Chase, I don't remember you coming to see me. I'm sorry." I said softly, pushing away my mug as tears pooled in my eyes. Then, when Chase opened his mouth to continue, I cut him off by adding, "But I'm better now... I'll be okay. It's just the medication and the side effect." And then, despite all logic or reason, I moved closer, leaning into him for comfort.
Chase wrapped one arm around my shoulder and pulled me close with a gentle smile. He kissed my forehead and whispered, "It's gonna be alright, Meagan. Can we start where we left off?"
I wasn't sure how to answer. So, we stayed like that for a while, quietly sipping cocoa and letting the moment's warmth fill us with a sense of security. Eventually, I found myself wanting to move away from him, and Chase seemed to sense it as he pulled back slowly and brushed his thumb lightly against my cheek. "You sure you're, okay?" he asked tenderly.
"Can I tell you what I do remember? And you tell me if it’s true or not."
"Yep! What a damned brilliant idea.” Chase grinned, and for a fleeting moment, I caught his gaze, glimpsing my cleavage peeking out from the sundress I was wearing. “Are you cold? It isn't exactly warm in here. It's unseasonably cool outside, for San Diego."
I shook my head and drew my knees up under my dress. "The meds... I run hot and cold. And just so you know, I'm not allowed to drive either until I get off the anti-seizure pills.” I carefully arranged my sundress over my legs and continued, "Now, here's what I remember. We used to hook up randomly, usually after someone's birthday party or meeting up at a sports bar. The last one I remember was at a bar on Coronado Beach. I believe it was Chelsea's birthday." Chase opened his mouth and closed it again. "Were you going to say something? Is that right so far?"
"Yes, yes. I was just remembering.... hooking up as you put it in the men's restroom of that bar. We ignored the sailors coming in and out, even standing to watch before taking a leak. That's when we decided...."
"We had gone too far.... a few days later, it was my birthday. That's when you gave me the earrings. But to be honest, I wondered if you were paying for the hot sex since two-carat diamond earrings were a bit much for a friend's birthday.... or if you wanted to try dating for real," I added, as a rush of need crept down my spine, lingering inside my core. The memory of us being watched, catching snippets out of the corner of my eye of one drunk sailor pleasuring himself, keeping time with Chase's strokes, was causing me to quiver.
Chase noticed my shiver and took it for me being cold. So, he disappeared into my bedroom and handed me the throw off my bed — allowing his fingers to linger on my shoulder. I desperately wanted to grab his hand and guide it down my body and over my breast before slipping beneath the fabric of my panties. But I managed to just listen to his explanation — "Hot sex! Paying for it.... maybe. But what I remembered most was I was telling the truth when I said I wanted to date you. I wanted to get to know you without the constant drinking and partying. That's why I invited you up to my penthouse to watch the Superbowl. Of course, you were all excited...."
"Until you opened your fridge and pulled out all the ingredients for homemade meatloaf, telling me you wanted sides of mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole, and apple pie," I reminded him, letting the throw drop over my fevered flesh to the floor.
"Now, now! We're being completely honest with each other, aren’t we? The apple pie was frozen. So, all you had to do was stick it in the oven," Chase teased.
"And when the game started, I was still peeling potatoes. You swatted me on the ass and told me to get a move on, or I was going to miss the first half,” I huffed, shaking my finger in his face.
Suddenly, Chase started tickling me and pulled me onto his lap. "Meagan, you're not only a little tease... you're also a spitfire!" I giggled and snuggled up against his chest. "Now, listen, and listen closely because I'm only going to say it once!" Was Chase about to utter the magic words I'd been waiting for all this time? I looked up into his sparkling brown eyes. "Meagan, I'm sorry for being such an ass. I should have ordered out or something and had dinner delivered."
"I'm sorry, too, Chase. It was just as much my fault as yours. You did call several times, and I was so self-absorbed I wouldn't respond to your calls or texts. I was so used to just being a party girl and having fun. I think when we finally did have a serious conversation about dating, I was thrown for a loop. I really didn't know what dating entailed other than the sex part."
I heard a deep rumble in Chase's chest when he chuckled and said, "We got that down pat, Megs."
"Megs! I had forgotten you called me that."
Chase grinned and looked down at his empty mug. "Where's the bottle of rum? We need to celebrate a milestone. We're adults now. I've resisted fucking your medicated brains out.... at least so far, and you've mostly listened without throwing a fit or rushing off in a huff."
We both laughed, and Chase grabbed the bottle of rum from the kitchen. "I guess you can't have any.... the meds, right?"
I nodded and sadly watched as Chase added some rum to his mug. "Okay, we've covered my story. What's going on in your life? I know you've been busy with work, and there's always something going on with the case. No one has told me anything more, I mean, about who kidnapped me."
Hesitating, Chase took a sip of his drink and slowly swallowed. "The FBI is involved, and they have your DNA sample.... other than that, not much. Oh, and I started telling you about my new yacht at the party and never finished. Her name is Tit for Tat!”
