Page 97 of Mended Fences

Oh lord.I needed to get a handle on this situation, and fast.

“Sorry!” My voice was an octave or two too high as I whirled around, making my way into the kitchen. “Coffee!”

I was just scooping the grounds into the filter when I felt the heat of Chase’s large frame at my back. I took in a steadying breath as he brought his hands to my shoulders and began gently kneading the muscles there.

It feltheavenly. The moan that escaped my lips was one he’d heard before, only his fingers has been doing far dirtier deeds when they’d elicited the noise in the past.

“Fuck, that sound. Been dreaming of it for months.”

The thumb of one hand continued working at the knots in my trapezius while the other hand swept my long dark hair to one side, exposing my neck. In a second, Chase’s lips were there, kissing the soft skin behind my ear.

“I missed you so much, Sweetness. Tell me this is okay. That I can still kiss you. Even after everything I?—”

“Yes,” I said, breathless. I’d been afraid for so long. Afraid of trusting him again. But in this moment, I wanted to believe more than I wanted to protect myself. “Please kiss me.”

His lips traced a scorching path down my neck as his hands slid around to cup my belly. The simple touch sent electricity zipping through my veins.

“I can’t believe how much she’s grown,” Chase murmured against my skin. “How much I missed.”

My heart clenched at the pain in his voice. I turned in his arms, needing to see his face. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”

His eyes were bright-blue pools of desire and regret as they searched mine. One of his hands came up to cradle my face, thumb brushing across my bottom lip. “I’m never leaving again, Elena. You or her.”

God, the way he’s looking at me. Like I’m everything.

“Chase...” I breathed his name like a prayer as he lowered his mouth to mine.

The first brush of his lips was tentative, questioning. But when I pressed closer, wrapping my arms around his neck, he groaned and deepened the kiss. His tongue swept into my mouth, tasting, claiming. My fingers threaded through his hair as heat bloomed low in my belly.

We broke apart, panting, when the baby gave a particularly strong kick against Chase’s stomach rested against mine.

A look of pure wonder crossed his face. “Was that...?”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “She’s happy you’re home. We both are.”

His hands moved from my face toward my stomach, hovering just a hair away. “Can I?” He asked, meeting my eyes.

I nodded, and his hands came down gently on my robe-covered stomach.

It wasn’t enough.

I tugged at the tie, letting the robe part and fall away leaving me in nothing but a T-shirt that was two sizes too big—hisT-shirt.

The growl was back.

“Woman, you are killing me right now.”

His hands reverently stroked my belly through the thin cotton. And then he dropped to his knees, pressing his cheek against my protruding belly button.

“Hi, baby,” he whispered.

Tears welled in my eyes, and I couldn’t stop them from falling even if I tried.

“I’m sorry this is the first time we’re meeting. But I promise, I will be here every day, for the rest of your life, as long as you’ll have me.”

I brought one hand to cover my mouth, stifling the sob that tried to escape. The other threaded through the dark hair on the top of Chase’s head.

I didn’t know how long we stayed like that, but all too soon, the rumble of Jay’s truck pulling into the driveway broke us apart.