Page 80 of Chasin’s Surrender

Chasin stood staring down, with his arms still around me, like he hadn’t told me to go get coffee and I hadn’t answered.

“You need to let me go if I’m gonna get some coffee. And just to add, I’m not sure there’s enough coffee in the world to perk me up enough to have any sort of intelligent conversation before noon. So don’t expect much out of me for another few hours.”

Chasin’s lips twisted and the softness in his eyes grew even softer. Something had changed. And not like he had the other times—this time it was good. Really good. I liked that he looked relaxed and happy.

“I liked waking up this morning with you next to me.”

Holy shit. Straight out he said that.

“I liked you waking me up before you left the bed, but knew I wouldn’t get up so you left me there to sleep in. But I like falling asleep next to you more than I like you knowing I like to sleep in. But what I liked most about all of that is that you liked waking up next to me,” I blathered.

“Anyone ever tell you, you’re cute as fuck in the morning when you’re still sleepy?”

I shook my head in the negative because no one ever had and added, “Told you not to expect much.”

“I might have to start getting you outta bed before noon,” he muttered, and lowered his forehead to mine.

Lord have mercy, that’s sweet. I liked our foreheads pressed together, him close, with soft eyes, way more than I liked him knowing I liked to sleep in.

“You have my permission to do that if you plan to A, give me more of what you gave me last night or any variation of that or…no…come to think of it, that’s the only reason you have my permission to wake me up early. Unless of course the house is on fire, or someone is bleeding, but the bleeding needs to be life-threatening, or if there’s a tornado bearing down. Do y’all have tornados in Maryland?”

“Yeah, babe.” He chuckled. “So breaking it down; I can wake you up early if I want to fuck you, if someone’s dying, or there’s a natural disaster coming our way?”

I thought about what he said and contemplated adding a few things to the list, like say he wanted to cook me breakfast in bed or have me shower with him—we’d done that before and his fingers were magic when he was massaging a scalp. I didn’t like breakfast that much but I loved the idea of him making it for me and surprising me in bed.

“I’ll amend,” I started. “Breakfast in bed may be added to the list, but use that sparingly. And I’m sorry to say, you’ll probably never get that from me. You know I make awesome waffles but you’ll just have to wait for me to make them for you at a decent hour. And I’m also adding showering together before you leave for work. But only because you naked and wet is a sight to behold and I figure that neither of us could be naked, wet, and soapy together and not get down to business. So really, that’s just a variation of you giving me more of what you gave me last night. Same outcome, different location.”

Chasin’s body had started shaking by the time I’d uttered the word “waffle” by the time I said “shower” he was chuckling. Now he was straight out laughing.

He had a great laugh. So good, I closed my eyes and took it in and locked it in my memory so I’d never forget.

“Glad you like what I give you, baby.”

One of his hands moved down until he cupped the same butt cheek he’d spanked the night before, and he squeezed. My eyes popped open and I couldn’t stop my swift inhale. Damn, that smarted.

Chasin quickly stepped back. He turned off the stove and moved the pan of bacon to a cool burner. He turned back to me, picked me up by my middle, and gently deposited me on the counter. He wasted no time moving between my legs and hauling me close.

Now we were pretty much face-to-face and he was staring into my eyes, concern clear as day.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

“Last night, did I hurt you?”

Oh no.

I didn’t mean to do it—as a matter of fact, I was desperately trying not to do it—but I felt my body grow stiff.

Chasin saw this and immediately gentled his features.

“I’m trying,” I told him. “I’m not gonna hide from you.”

“I know.”

His right hand went to my neck and he moved my shirt collar to the side and traced the bite mark he’d left with the pad of his finger.

I took a breath, remembered it was Chasin in front of me. Chasin who left that mark. Chasin who’d given me everything I’d asked for. Chasin who’d pushed me to be real. Chasin, who just a few minutes ago, had given me open honesty.

“I like it there,” I said, and his eyes came back to mine. “I can’t explain why. But this morning when I was getting in the shower and I saw it, I liked it.”