Page 51 of Unspoken (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3)

Chapter Fifty-one

Della went to her cabin and had a round-table Diet Coke session with Kylie and Miranda.

They laughed, listening to Miranda whine about her love life. She’d been spending time with Shawn since he’d been hurt. As friends. Just friends. But now Perry announced he was going to be gone for another month to try and find his parents.

“He said you’re the one who told him he should do it.” Miranda frowned at Della. “Not that I think it’s wrong, I just… I’m confused.”

They talked for a few more minutes. Della put her soda can down. “I’m confused too. I’m about to do something and it might be stupid.”

“What?” Kylie asked.

“I’m going to go see Chase.”

“That’s not stupid,” Kylie said.

“I don’t think so,” Miranda said.

They agreed to watch Chester, and Della went back to her room.

“I thought you were going to see Chase.”

“I am, but I’m going to shower first.”

Miranda’s mouth fell open. “You aren’t just going to talk, are you?”

“Shut up,” Della said.

“What kind of underwear are you going to put on?” Miranda teased. “Just in case you don’t know, it’s Sunday.”

“I should have never told you guys that,” she said.

“You have to, it’s in the rule book for best friends,” Miranda said as Della walked out.

***

Della drove to the grocery store. Not the closest one, but the one thirty miles away. The other store would have what she needed. Items purchased, she got back in her car. Her phone dinged with a text.

She figured it was either Marla or Kylie and Miranda.

It wasn’t.

Chase. It was short, sweet, and right to the point.

Still here.

Still miss you.

Still love you.

She started to text him back, then decided to just surprise him.

Twenty minutes later, she parked in front of his cabin.

He stepped out onto the porch. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. Not that she minded. The guy carried off shirtless really well.

He stood there and stared as if he couldn’t believe she was there. Then he and Baxter finally came hurrying down the stairs.

“You’re here.” He didn’t try to kiss her. So she leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

He pulled her against him. “God, I missed you.”

“Me, too.”

Once inside, he pulled her against him. She leaned her head on his chest. His bare skin felt so good.

“Oh, I forgot.” She ran outside, snatched the bag, and hurried back in and handed it to him.

No sooner had the bag left her fingertips when she remembered what else she’d bought.

“Wait!” She snatched the bag back. Unfortunately he still held it and it ripped open. The twelve-pack of condoms and the bakery container fell to the wood floor.

Chase looked down. Della snatched the condoms. But not before he saw them.

“Don’t you dare say a word, or I’ll change my mind.”

“Not a word,” he said, but he had a silly grin on his face. “You know, I had some.”

“Oh, you thought you’d need them, did you?”

“I hoped I’d need them. So why did you buy them? You collect them or something?”

“I… Forget it.” She grinned.

He laughed, then picked up the bakery box that Baxter had started to sniff. When he opened the box, his smile vanished. He glanced up, and he looked… not sad, but serious. “Snickerdoodles?”

Holding the condoms behind her back, she nodded. “You… you said they tasted like love.”

He put the cookies on the table and kissed her—a warm soft kiss. “They do.” He reached for a cookie.

“Taste one,” he said. He reached back and held on out.

She shook her head. “Sorry, I tried one last week and it tasted terrible.”

He laughed. “Well, that’s okay. I tried French onion soup and I puked. It could have been the wine, though.”

She laughed and leaned in, setting her chin on his chest. “We don’t have to love the same kinds of foods. Just each other.”

“I do,” he said. “Love you.”

“I love you, too.” She put one hand on his chest. The one not still hiding the condoms behind her back. “I’m sorry I was a bitch. I was scared, and confused.”

“You’re not a bitch,” he said and put his hand on top of hers.

“No, let me finish. I need to say this.” She swallowed. “All I could think about was that if my father got convicted, it would be my fault. And while I knew you considered Eddie like a father, I never really took into consideration that you were just as scared about him. I mean, I sort of knew it, but I was being selfish and—”

“Stop,” he said and brought her hand to his lips. “You are the least selfish person I know.”

“I pushed you away,” she blurted out. “I didn’t want to admit how much I cared. And it’s not just the bond, Chase. Steve set me straight about this. He told me that I was crazy about you before you ever gave me your blood. And he’s right. I was… crazy about you.”

He smiled. “I’m crazy about you, too.”

Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was soft, sweet, but quickly moved into hot. And Della became more and more aware that she was holding a pack of condoms behind her back.

Somewhere in his cabin she heard a clock hand move, counting down seconds.

She pulled back. “What time is it?”

He looked over his shoulder.

“Eleven fifty-eight—why?”

“We need to get this show on the road, then.”

“What?” he asked.

“Can I take my clothes off?” She tossed the condoms on the sofa.

His eyes widened. “Well, I… Sure.”

She glanced at him and giggled. “I think you’re blushing.”

“I am not,” he said.

Yes, he was. But she kind of liked knowing that. Knowing he was sort of new at all this too. At least a little new.

She pulled her T-shirt off, then wiggled out of her jeans. Then stood before him with only her underwear on.

His gaze shifted up and down, and she could tell he liked what he saw.

He inched closer. His hand moved gently around her waist.

His soft touch brought goose bumps to her skin and anticipation rippled through her, but she pushed his hand way. “Hey, Panty Perv, you’re missing the point.” She backed up and waved her hand up and down her partially naked body.

His brow pinched. “Missing what… point? Other than… you look amazing.”

She shook her head. “I got the day right.” She pointed to her panties.

He dropped his head back, and laughed. The sound rang like music to her ears. And being here with him felt like magic. Then he pulled her against him. They laughed and held on to each other all night long.

Della couldn’t remember anything feeling this right. Being with him, beside him. Feeling his bare skin against hers. She loved him. Loved how he made her feel beautiful and sexy. Loved how he took his time and made touching her feel like an art.

Nine months ago, her world had turned upside down. She’d hated that everything had changed. Hated who she was. What she was. And yet now, she realized that those changes had led her here. Led her to Chase. Led her to the career she wanted. Led her to two best friends and everyone at Shadow Falls.

Sometimes, she supposed, change wasn’t so bad.