Page 26 of Call It Love (Sterling Mill #5)

Anna

His words shattered the last wall I’d built around my heart.

Legacy. Family. Love.

All things I convinced myself I’d never have were suddenly right in front of me, offered by the only man who ever saw me clearly.

He wasn’t just offering me a future. He was rewriting the rules I’d been living by.

I might have arrived at Silver Creek Farm in the middle of a storm, but Chase was the one who cleared the clouds.

My vision blurred. My heart cracked wide open. Before I could even think about what I was doing, I moved. My hands found his hair. My mouth found his. And all the emotions I’d buried—grief, fear, longing—poured into the kiss.

He didn’t hesitate. His hands came up to frame my face, anchoring me. His lips moved against mine with a softness that made my knees go weak. But then he let out a low groan and deepened the kiss.

His tongue played with mine, teasing, but with a hunger that built an incredible friction inside me, which I was certain might consume me. But the burn was so good.

His fingers left my face to trail down my waist. Strong hands lifted me onto his lap.

My knees straddled his hips as he pulled me tight against him, as if he couldn’t get close enough.

And I didn’t want the space either. Every inch of him felt familiar, yet new.

This was no longer the boy I’d left behind.

Years of working outside, hauling trees and lifting heavy loads, had honed his body better than any gym.

His lips left mine to skim across my collarbone, and my head fell backward, my back arched in the safety of his embrace, to give him more space.

“So beautiful,” he murmured. “So perfect.”

One hand coasted up my back, then glided over the curve of my ribs to capture one of my breasts. His fingers pulled on the nipple, the lacy material of my bra adding to the roughness of the moment. I gasped, and he rocked his hips upward, and I felt his hardness between my legs.

Both of his hands then slid under my shirt, pulling it up. He broke the kiss. “Is this okay?”

For an answer, I grinned and pulled it over my head myself, then unhooked my bra and dropped it to the ground. His eyes immediately fixated on my breasts, causing my nipples to react instantly and tighten into dark buds.

“Blossom,” he breathed.

The gold flecks in his eyes darkened with desire. His hands went back to my hips, rocking me against his.

“Do you feel how much I want you?” he asked, his voice sounding barely controlled. “This is all you . The beautiful, courageous, compassionate woman in my arms is not broken. She’s perfect. And now she’s mine.”

“Chase,” I breathed .

“Say it, Anna.”

I stared at him questioningly.

“Say you’re mine.”

“I don’t think there’s ever been a moment when I haven’t been,” I answered in a rush. “It’s only ever been you. Even when I made mistakes, you’ve been the only one in here.” I placed his hand over my heart.

One second, he was staring at me, the next, his mouth took mine again, hungry, almost desperate.

Then his lips trailed down my neck as he relaxed his arms around me, just enough that I could lean back in them so he could blaze a path to my chest. He closed his mouth around a bud and sucked hard, causing me to buck against him.

He held me like I weighed nothing and swirled his tongue around my nipple before grazing it with his teeth.

I couldn’t stop the whimper as he moved to the next one, kissing, licking, and nipping.

All of my nerve endings were on fire. I wanted more, but I didn’t know how to ask. But I didn’t have to, because once again, Chase knew me so well.

“You want more, Blossom?”

“I…”

“Are you wet for me?”

My face blazed, but I managed a small nod.

He stood, easing me down his body.

“Stay here.”

Feeling suddenly shy and exposed, I crossed my arms over my chest.

Chase leaned in and kissed me. “No one’s here.

Except…” He looked a few feet away, where Jack was lying on his back, snoring in the sun.

Chase grabbed his backpack from where he had dropped it on the millstone earlier.

He pulled out a blanket and spread it out on the grass.

Jack ro lled over and tried to claim it, but Chase tossed a bone several yards away.

Jack loped after it, and I grinned, knowing it would keep him occupied for hours.

I laughed. “You thought of everything, huh?”

“I was thinking a small picnic, but you look tastier,” he answered with a smirk, causing a dimple to pop in his cheek.

He pulled his shirt over his head, then knelt on the blanket and reached for me. I sank to my knees in front of him, tentatively reaching out to touch the muscles that flexed beneath my gaze, but then pulled my hand back. I didn’t know what he wanted. Didn’t know if he needed to be in control.

“Don’t be afraid, Anna. Touch me. I’m desperate for your touch.”

That’s all it took for me to fall into his arms. He caught me easily, flipping us to our side while he ran a hand up and down my back, venturing lower and lower until he cupped my upper thighs.

His hands slid under my skirt, which had risen close to my butt.

His skin was warm from the sun, but goosebumps popped up as my fingers gently glided along his skin, pausing to tease his nipples as he’d done to me.

His fingers slid beneath my underwear, his hand squeezing my butt cheek until moving forward and cupping me between my thighs. Breathless, I pressed against him. His fingers parted me, gathering the wetness and teasing me.

Another whimper rose from deep inside me. “Chase, I?—”

“Tell me what you want, Anna.”

“I…I don’t know.”

“Do you want more?”

I nodded against his chest. I wasn’t used to conversation during sex. It had always been one-sided with Mason. But I didn’t want him in my head in this moment. I wanted to be braver with Chase. “I want more.”

He kissed the top of my head. “My brave girl,” he whispered as he shifted his hand and slid a finger inside me.

I rocked against him. “More.”

A second finger joined the first, both moving in and out, slowly.

“Chase,” I gasped.

“More?”

“Yes,” I groaned.

“My greedy girl.” But the way he said it sounded more like praise than criticism.

He added a third finger and rocked them faster.

Everything inside me pulled tight as his thumb rubbed against my clit, then suddenly I exploded.

My body clamped down on his hand as tiny flashes lit my vision.

The pleasure was so intense I wasn’t sure I’d ever recover, but slowly, the waves slowed, and I collapsed, exhausted, in Chase’s arms.

“There’s my girl,” Chase murmured in my ear. “Never saw a more perfect sight.”

Oh, this man. I buried my head into his chest, overcome by an incredible orgasm and the emotions he caused. I felt safe. Cherished.

My fingers reached for the button on his shorts, but he stopped me.

“Are you sure?”

I was confused. “Don’t you want to?”

He brushed my hair away from my face. “Don’t get lost in your thoughts,” he ordered. “I want you more than anything. But you’re in charge. If you’re not ready, we’ll wait. ”

“And if I am?” I challenged with a tilt of my head and a wicked smile.

He toed off his shoes and rolled onto his back. “Then have me,” he growled, pulling me on top of him. He slid my skirt and panties off until I sat on him bare. He licked his lips as his hands settled on the tops of my thighs where I straddled him.

“Fucking beautiful,” he murmured, his thumbs rubbing circles achingly close to my core. He reached for his backpack once again, but threw it down in frustration.

“Shit. I didn’t bring any protection.”

I huffed a light laugh. “You thought of everything else and not that?” I teased.

He wrinkled his nose at me. “I wasn’t exactly thinking this was going to happen.” He winked at me. “At least, not yet.”

I bit my lip, then pressed forward. “You already know I can’t get pregnant. And I haven’t…well…that is, I haven’t had sex in a couple of years.”

Chase’s eyes flew open. “You and?—”

I shook my head quickly, not wanting any mention of my former husband’s name.

“I always made sure I was up before him and went to bed after he fell asleep. Lots of times it didn’t matter because he never came home.

And that’s the reason I also got checked for everything under the sun.

I’m clean. It’s just been a long time, even longer since anyone made me, well… ”

“Anna, are you saying you haven’t had an orgasm in years?”

I turned my head. This conversation was hard enough without looking at him. “Not since you,” I whispered.

He was quiet for so long that I finally dared to look at him. He lay there with a very smug look on his face.

“Can’t lie,” he said. “I don’t mind knowing that bit of news.”

I smacked him lightly on the chest. “Don’t be so cocky.”

His grin grew even wider, and he waggled his eyebrows as he drew my hand to the zipper of his shorts, where an impressive bulge strained against the material. “Can’t help what Mother Nature blessed me with.”

He lost his grin when my fingers gripped him a little tighter through his shorts. “I’m clean, Anna. I can’t say I haven’t dated, but it’s been a while, and I had my physical shortly before you came back.”

“I trust you.” After everything I’d been through, it was the biggest gift I could give him.

This time, there was no gentleness as he pulled me back to him. His tongue dove in, demanding and receiving mine.

I wasted no time undoing his shorts and, with his help, slid them and his underwear down his legs, tossing them into a pile with my clothes. His cock stood at attention, long and thick.

“Uh, wow.”

“Nothing you haven’t seen before, sweetheart.”

“It, uh, seems bigger.”

He smirked. “Thank you, baby.” He slid his hands forward just enough, his thumbs now moved against my clit. “You can take it, Blossom. When you’re ready. But please, God, tell me you are because I’m dying for you.”

I shifted enough that his tip bumped my entrance.

“That’s it, baby.” His voice was strained, but he wasn’t rushing me.

But I wanted him, and that’s all that I focused on. Slowly, I sank down on him, our eyes locked on each other the entire time, until he completely filled me.

“Fuck,” he breathed, but he still didn’t move.

I felt a slight burn, not having done this in so long, but he’d made sure I was ready for him. Slowly, I raised up and slid back down, each time with more speed.

Chase let out a growl, then lifted his hips to meet mine. My nails dug into his arms and my back arched when he used his thumbs once again to stroke my clit, sending me higher and higher until I clamped down around him, crying his name as once again he took me to incredible heights.

He powered into me a few more times until he came with a curse.

With a shudder, I collapsed on top of him, sweaty and disheveled, but happy and languid.

Chase’s hands ran up and down my back before tangling in my hair to pull my head up for a kiss.

“Next time we do this in a bed,” he mumbled. “This ground is hard.”

“Mmm,” I hummed. “I hadn’t noticed. I like what’s under me.”

He laughed as he sat up, wrapping me in his arms. “Good. Because I plan for this to happen a lot more.”