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Scottie yelped in surprise when Chase scooped her up into his arms as if she were as light as a feather. On reflex, she threw her other arm up, locking it with the one behind his neck to keep from falling.

“Chase! What are you?—”

“Need a bed.” He marched toward the stairs leading up to the home’s two bedrooms.

“Uh…there’s a perfectly good couch behind you.”

“Our first time will not be on a fucking couch. Gonna need more room than that for what I want to do to you.”

The grin he gave sparked a fire of need between her thighs.

Oh, my.

Butterflies swirled deep inside her belly. It wasn’t as if she was a virgin, and she was certain he wasn’t one, either. Former Navy SEAL aside, a man like Chase Boyer would’ve had several lovers by this stage in his life.

How could he not?

Scottie didn’t fault him for having a past any more than she’d expect him to fault her. Like she’d told him, she refused to let the past dictate the future. Or in this case, the very exciting, very sensual present.

“Which one’s yours?” he asked as he began carrying her up the stairs.

“Left.” She pointed at her open bedroom door.

Chase remained focused on the steps he was taking, which only made her smile more. He’d always looked out for her when they were younger. Always. It seemed as if that admirable characteristic of his had withstood the test of time.

His actions tonight were all the proof she needed. His actions and his words…

You’re safe with me.

Scottie had never doubted that to be true. Even so, that knowledge still hadn’t kept her heart from swelling when he’d uttered those comforting words.

Chase would always do whatever he could to keep her safe. It was simply the way he was built. And now that they’d had time to reconnect on a deeper level, she finally understood.

Why he’d let her go so easily that night so long ago. Why he’d removed himself from her life so completely. And somewhere in the midst of her sudden epiphanic clarity, Scottie finally understood why she’d felt the need to do the same with him.

But that was over and done with. Buried in the past where it belonged. The only thing she planned to focus on now was living in the moment. It was, after all, the only time anyone was ever guaranteed.

Chase crossed the threshold and entered her bedroom, turning his body sideways to accommodate her dangling legs. Scottie had the fleeting thought that she was glad she’d shaved earlier while taking a shower.

Shaved. Cried. Rinse. Repeat.

Okay, so maybe she’d let a few tears fall. But not many, and her pity party hadn’t lasted long. She was done with those. Done giving Dustin McVey—or any other asshole who liked hurting women—that kind of power over her life.

“You can give me the nickel tour later,” Chase rumbled as he carefully lowered her to her feet. “For now, all I need is right here, in this room.”

Scottie nearly lifted the back of her hand to her head and sighed like one of those overly dramatic female movie characters from back in the day. She didn’t, of course, but the temptation was real.

Everything about the sexy man was tempting, from his thick, luscious hair to his six-pack and beyond. And very soon, she’d be giving in to the temptation.

Finally, after all these years, Scottie was going to live out her greatest fantasy. So many nights, she’d dreamed of this very thing.

Reuniting with Chase. Falling right back into the way they had been before her life was so tragically turned upside down. Only this was so much better than every Chase-fueled fantasy all rolled into one.

And we’re just getting started.

Chase fisted a loose portion of her shirt, gently pulling her closer and taking her mouth in his. There was no sense of urgency in his kiss. He moved slowly, taking his time in a way that drove Scottie wild with need.

At the same time, she felt as if she could spend the entire night doing nothing more than this and still be perfectly content. It helped that Chase was an incredible kisser. He always had been. Only now…

Now, he’s even better.

His hands moved lower to the hem of her baggy shirt. She’d considered putting on something nicer. Prettier. But the shirt and shorts were too comfy to pass up.

Now that her wildest dream was about to come true, Scottie was glad she’d gone the simplistic route. Especially when she felt Chase begin lifting the bottom of her shirt higher and higher.

And higher.

She lifted her arms high above her head to aid him in his task. Anticipation had every nerve ending in her body firing on all cylinders, leaving her skin hypersensitive to each and every touch.

The slight brush of his fingertips against her exposed belly. The way he paused to tease the bottom swells of her bare breasts with the backs of his knuckles. Every point of contact was like a bolt of lightning to her system, adding to the already-heightened anticipation of what Scottie knew was about to transpire.

Chase pulled back, ending the kiss so he could pull the shirt up over her head. He tossed it to the side, not bothering to see where it landed. Instead, his eyes immediately returned to hers.

They lowered. First to her mouth and then…lower.

“Christ, you’re beautiful,” he practically growled.

Rather than wait for him to make the move himself, Scottie took his hand in hers and slowly placed it over one of her breasts. Her breath hissed as he moved in closer.

The fingers on that same hand finding her nipple hard enough to cut through glass. He brought his free hand to the remaining breast, giving it the same glorious attention as its twin.

Scottie closed her eyes, her head tilting slightly to one side. When the pleasure from that alone threatened to become too much, she looked at him once again.

“You’re overdressed,” she purred.

“Am I?”

With a nod, she reached up and began sliding Chase’s opened shirt off his broad shoulders. He dropped his hands to allow the shirt to fall free from his arms.

A whisper of a sound filled the room as the cotton garment landed around his booted feet. When she realized he was still wearing his shoes, Scottie was hit with an idea. A wonderfully sinful idea.

She took a step to the right, seamlessly turning them both so his back was to the bed instead of hers.

“Why are you?—”

“Shhh…” She knelt down before him.

“Scottie, you don’t have to?—”

“Take off your boots?” She looked up at him with a smirk. Working to unlace one, she shrugged a bare shoulder and said, “I know. But you have to admit”—she moved on to the next boot—“you’ll probably be much more comfortable doing this without them.”

A deep chuckle filled the air around them as he allowed her to remove first one boot and then the other. Reaching down, Chase hastily removed his socks. But when he reached for the waistband of her shorts, Scottie put the next stage of her plan in motion.

“Ah, ah, ah…” She waved her index finger back and forth with a shake of her head.

Before he could respond, Scottie put both of her palms square across his chest and gave the mouthwatering man a gentle push. The unexpected move took Chase off guard, throwing him off balance enough for her to ensure he fell the rest of the way down.

“Hey!” The mattress bounced beneath his weight. “What was that for?”

“That?” Scottie put a knee on the mattress and began crawling her way up the length of his muscular body. “That was for free.”

He chuckled at her silly joke, the deep sound reached deep inside to places only he had ever touched.

She straddled him, leaning down for another kiss. A low moan filled the base of her throat, from both the kiss and the massive bulge pressing against her sex from behind the man’s zipper.

They’d made out in high school, of course. Plenty of times, if she were being honest. But they’d never had sex. Never even saw each other naked, as a matter of fact.

But now…

His hands began to wander, sliding up and tracing the length of her spine. While he took his time exploring her back with his fingertips, Scottie tore her lips from his to move lower.

She pressed a trail of tiny kisses across his chin. Along his rugged jawline. Down the side of his neck and back up to his ear.

Chase moaned when she pulled the soft lobe between her teeth, his head falling back onto the mattress giving her even better access than before. Scottie gave the delicate flesh a playful nibble before moving her attention elsewhere.

The juncture where his neck and shoulders met. That little dip at the base of his throat.

Scottie moved her mouth—and body—lower still, stopping briefly at each of his nipples. They stood erect, as if to beg for her attention. A request she was more than happy to oblige.

Keeping her touch light, she ran the pads of her fingers over the one on his left. Scottie took her time, tracing the flat disk around it before leaning in and encircling it with her lips.

Chase’s sharp inhale was impossible to miss, and the more she played, the rougher his breaths became. When she felt as though he’d had enough, she decided to move on by letting the tip of her tongue trace the impressive line separating the two halves of his incredibly sculpted abs.

With every lick of her tongue and every touch of her hands, Scottie was more and more convinced the man was positively perfect. He could’ve been etched out of stone; he was so fit and firm. And yet, when he ran his hands along her body, he was as gentle as the passing breeze.

She reached the waistband of his khaki pants and went straight for his belt. Sliding the leather strap from the simple, silver buckle, she kept her eyes on his until it broke free.

Next came the button at the top of his pants. After that, she started with the zipper. Slowly, carefully, the metal teeth began to separate one by one.

Her anticipation climbed to an all-time high as the backs of her knuckles brushed over his steely bulge. But just as the zipper nearly reached the home stretch, Scottie was suddenly and unexpectedly flipped over onto her back.

“Chase!” she squealed, surprised by the move that left her lying flat against the mattress…under him.

The plush comforter she loved was a cushion to her tender head, and the man hovering above her kept his weight from crushing her by balancing himself with his arms.

Chase didn’t look the least bit remorseful for having interrupted her erotic forward progress. Instead, his heated gaze held her frozen in place as she waited for him to make his next move.

The man hovering above her didn’t appear remorseful in the least. Instead, his heated gaze held her hostage as she waited for him to make his next move.

“My turn.” His voice was low. Deep. And the look in his eyes as he brought his mouth to one of her breasts was positively wicked.

Scottie gasped as he took her wanton nipple between his lips. The hot, wet torture left her eyes falling shut and her head falling to the side.

Filling her hands with his hair, Scottie gave herself over to him fully. A gift to the only man she’d ever truly wanted. An offering to the only man she’d ever loved.

“Chase…” she breathed his name like a prayer.

In reality, he was the answer to her prayers.

Her every wish granted. The second chance she’d come to believe would never be granted. A blessing Scottie couldn’t deny.

The beating of her heart increased in power and speed. Her breaths came in shorter, shallower spurts as the talented man continued treasuring the offering she’d been more than willing to give.

As Chase continued sucking, licking, and teasing her with his tongue, he gave the other nipple equally exquisite—and utterly maddening—attention with his hand. Her back arched high off the mattress, her body’s way of begging for more.

Rather than rush in his delivery of pleasure, he moved on slowly, creating a trail of kisses down her belly and beyond.

When he reached the waistband of her shorts, Chase didn’t miss a single beat before dipping his fingers between the elastic and her skin. Scottie felt her body tremble from the overwhelming emotions racing through her.

Excitement. Nervousness. A touch of fear and…desire.

She lifted her pelvis from the mattress as he began pushing her shorts down over her hips. Her lungs stuttered with their effort to fill themselves with air.

His touch was so electrifying against her skin it was almost too much to bear. And when Chase stood from the bed, pulling her shorts free and tossing them to the side, Scottie continued to lay perfectly still, soaking in the glorious view.

Without a word, he leaned down and grabbed the thin scrap of white lace running along her hips. The panties were gone seconds later, leaving her fully and unabashedly exposed.

“Jesus, Scottie,” he whispered as if he were in awe.

The way he was looking at her made Scottie feel so incredibly special. Beautiful. Wanted. And…

Loved?

Not a single doubt existed about the way she felt for Chase. Scottie also knew with everything in her heart that, at one time, he’d loved her, too.

But that was another time. Another life. And while her feelings for him had never truly gone away, she wasn’t na?ve enough to assume he felt the same.

He cared about her. She’d be a fool to think otherwise. But love …

Movement tore her from her thoughts in time to see Chase pulling his zipper the rest of the way down. Thankful she hadn’t missed the delectable moment, Scottie watched and waited while he removed his pants and his boxer briefs together in one fell swoop.

His cock sprang forward, the sight stealing her ability to breathe.

Oh, my!

To say Chase was a blessed man would be a massive understatement. The man was long, hard, and ready.

Scottie started to move, to reach out and touch the temptation before her. But the frustratingly handsome man clearly had plans of his own.

Chase wrapped both hands around her ankles and pulled her to the edge of the mattress. He dropped to his knees, sliding his hands from her ankles to her thighs. When he gave a gentle push, she was happy to oblige.

Accommodating his unspoken request, Scottie spread her legs open, giving him the access she knew he needed. An appreciative rumble sounded from deep within half a second before Chase took her with his mouth.

“Ah!” she cried out, despite having anticipated the intimate contact.

His lips were hot. His tongue was wet. Put them both together, and…

She. Was. Lost.

Oh, god!

Scottie’s moan was loud, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. She was too busy floating on a cloud of euphoria, lost in a sea of unimaginable sexual pleasure.

He teased and toyed with her swollen and sensitive clit. Chase used his fingers with the expertise of a god, pulling every ounce of pleasure her body had within it to give.

His tongue swirled around the tiny bundle of nerves. His fingers—first one and then another—entered her greedy core.

Moving the digits in and out of her body at a slow, steady pace, he took his time showing her how a moment like this should feel. The experiences in her past had been fine and even fun. But being with Chase…like this…was so very different.

Because it was more.

More passion. More pleasure. More emotionally driven desire.

Even before tonight, no other man had ever compared. And while Scottie knew the moment was far from over, one thing was already abundantly clear.

I belong to him.

He owned her, heart and soul, even if he had no idea. She was his and always would be, regardless of whether he felt the same.

“Oh, yeah,” she panted. “Oh, god! Please…don’t stop!”

His fingers were like magical pistons thrusting in and out of her wet, needy core. Chase added more pressure with his tongue and his lips, expertly working her clit to begin building the path to her ultimate pleasure.

Scottie could hear how wet she was but didn’t care. Her only focus was on trying not to pass out from his sensual rapture. Chase continued playing her with perfection as if he knew her own body better than she ever had.

And when the pressure heightened to unprecedented levels, Scottie fisted his hair and begged him for mercy.

“Please, Chase,” she pleaded past her heaving breaths. “I’m so close…I’m going to…”

Release struck, and suddenly, Scottie felt as if she were flying. Soaring to new heights while blinding flashes of colors and lights filled her orgasmic vision.

Her entire body stiffened, her back arching high off the bed. It was almost as if she’d been struck by lightning. Electrified by a climactic explosion so powerful, so all-consuming, it felt like what she envisioned to be an out-of-body experience.

Scottie wasn’t sure how much time passed before Chase slid his fingers free. She wasn’t even sure she was still on planet Earth at this point, but neither of those things mattered. Because the second she became enveloped in his masculine warmth, she knew.

This is exactly where I’m meant to be.

“Fucking beautiful.” The deep, almost roughened resonance in his voice pulled her back from wherever his spell had taken her.

Her eyes opened, and she looked up at him. Her heart felt as though it would burst when she caught sight of the look in his gorgeous blue eyes.

“You’re beautiful,” she told him.

He was beautiful, inside and out. One of the best examples of God’s work in the flesh. A good, sweet, selfless man. A patriot.

My hero.

“Shit!” Chase exclaimed, his entire demeanor changing on a dime.

“What’s wrong?”

“Condom.” He gave a frustrated shake of his head. “I don’t have one. I wasn’t expecting us to…”

“Have sex?” Scottie snickered, relieved he hadn’t changed his mind about being with her. “I thought SEALs were like Boy Scouts. You know…always prepared?”

The playful glare filling his gaze only made her laugh harder.

“I am prepared,” he informed her. “My SIG’s right over there.” He motioned with a tilt of his head.

The gun. He’s talking about his gun.

An all-too-recent memory rolled past. Chase standing behind Tommy Gallo. His black pistol shoved against the back of the other man’s head.

Don’t go there, Scottie. Not now.

“That’s not what I meant,” she teased, pushing the other thought out of her mind. “But it’s okay. I’m on the pill. And I haven’t been with anyone in over a year.”

Surprise flickered past his widened gaze. But then his expression softened, and the corners of those delicious lips curved as he admitted, “It’s been several months for me, and I promise I used a condom. I’ve always used them.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Every time.”

“Me, too,” she promised.

Was it bad that she was secretly giddy over the fact that she’d be the first to know what it felt like to make love to Chase Boyer without a single thing between them? Scottie didn’t think so.

“If you aren’t comfortable with this, we can sto?—”

She kissed him to shut him up. “I trust you, Chase.”

With my life.

A flurry of emotions filled his entrancing stare. His lips pressed against hers once more before he told her, “I trust you, too, sugar.”

Now that they had that covered…

Scottie held his gaze, sliding a hand between their bodies. Chase hissed in a sharp breath when she found him hard and hot. The tiny bead of moisture on the tip was a sign that he was more than ready.

She aligned his body with hers. Their eyes remained locked with one another’s.

Chase eased his hips forward, entering her slowly. Inch by careful inch, he allowed her body time to adjust to his size. It took a few tries, but when he became fully seated, Scottie felt as if she’d finally found the one place she truly belonged.

His guttural moan echoed off the bedroom walls as his hips thrust forward and back in an unhurried rhythm. It didn’t take long, however, for him to pick up the pace. And when he did…

“God, baby.” He spoke between thrusts. “You feel…so…good.”

“So do you,” she panted, finding it harder and harder to breathe.

Not because he was going too fast or crushing her with his weight. It was the overwhelming emotions swarming her entire being as she and Chase continued making love.

She bent her legs more, allowing his cock room to slide in deeper. Chase slid a hand down the outside of one of her thighs, hooking the back of her knee and hoisting it higher.

Scottie cried out when he tilted his hips just so. The internal sensation from the move was so intense, she wasn’t entirely certain she’d survive.

Their bodies continued moving as one, bringing them closer and closer to the release they so desperately craved. She let her head fall back, her eyes shutting from the pressure building within.

And when she came a second time, Scottie called out his name.

She quivered and shook as her second climax of the night burst free, sizzling through every nerve ending her body possessed. Chase’s movements shifted, then. They became rougher and a bit uneven.

His breathing shallowed as tiny beads of sweat began to bead across his forehead. When he found his own release, he closed his eyes, releasing a guttural moan.

Hours later, after a shared shower and a quick bite to refuel, they lay curled together beneath the covers. Their bodies fit together like two pieces of the perfect puzzle. The other half she’d always known was missing.

She’d give anything to spend every night exactly like this. Wrapped in the warmth and safety of Chase’s arms. And the last thought whispering through her mind as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep…

I don’t ever want to be without him again.