A Debt Repaid (1) (14 page)

Chase’s throat jumped as he swallowed. Amazed at the sight, Aria lowered one hand from his jaw to his neck and circled her fingers
gently around it.  So large. So masculine. Every bit of him was meant to tempt her. She’d never wanted to lick a man everywhere. Not one outside of a movie, or a magazine, anyway.

His lips parted on an exhale.

Aria bit down on her lip again, and leaned closer, eyes sliding to half-mast.

Chase’s eyes flew open, locking with hers. “
Aria
.”

She kissed him. There was no way she could resist anymore. The ache between her legs had morphed, her tongue ached for a taste, and he didn’t just look delicious. She knew he was.

Aria throbbed for him. His kiss was wild, all groans and rough licks that had her clawing at his skin to keep him near. Nothing mattered other than that. Nothing could anymore. She just wanted—

Chase was out of her arms and down the steps in a flash.

What the
fuck
?

Running a shaking hand across his head, he began pacing at the bottom of her front steps. His movements were agitated. “Aria…” Chase paused long enough to look up at her, and the violent expression he was sporting, made her take a step back.

With a heavy sigh, he resumed pacing, shaking his head while mumbling about sexy, crazy women who were going to drive him up the wall.

Aria’s walls clenched, excitement pounding through her. He thought she was sexy?

Wait. He thought she was crazy?

Of course he did! One moment she was pushing him away and trying to run; the next, she was pulling him closer, offering herself up for his personal use.

Oh, God. Just thinking about him using her in any way he wanted…

Yup.
Definitely certifiable.

Chase spun around and stormed back up the stairs, his feet pounding into the wood. He grabbed her chin, held her still, and planted a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. “You call me. Tomorrow, when you’re fucking sober. And then we’re going to finish this, Aria. You need it as much as I do.” He pulled back, scowling. “You do. And fighting it isn’t making it easier. It’s not going to go away.”

He had her transfixed. The energy rolling off him tantalized her. 

“
…Fighting it isn’t making it any easier. It’s not going to go away.”

He was right.

The need she felt for him detonated inside her core; a soul-shattering explosion that left her shaken.

She wanted that man.
Now.

Aria had never done anything so reckless, out of control. She'd always been good. With Chase, she wanted to be bad. So, so bad. He'd brought out an inner wildness in her, one she hadn't known existed.

Yeah, she'd never done anything reckless, but there came a moment in everyone's life where they had to do something bat-shit crazy at least once.

Chase would be that for Aria.

She and Douglas were no longer together, and even if they had been, her heart still demanded some sort of payback. Perhaps that made her evil. Maybe she was just a
Lex Talionis
type of girl, and had never known it 'till now.

Who the fuck cared? Aria was going to use Chase. She was going to let him use her. After all was said and done, they'd walk their separate ways, and she'd be free of any regrets
.
She'd live knowing that she'd taken that leap just once. That for one damned night, she’d had a man like Chase between her thighs.

Yes.
Chase inside her, taking her, exorcising whatever demon he'd awoken inside her.

Aria reached out and fisted his lapels.

"Ari—"

She pressed her lips to his, cutting off whatever he'd been about to say. Chase's body went rigid against hers.

Aria sighed at his taste, uncaring of whether he kissed her back or not. Languidly, she sucked on each of his lips and flicked her tongue against them.

Chase's lips parted with a moan as she dragged her teeth across his bottom lip. “Oh, God…taste…so fucking good. Need you, Aria. Want to fucking own you.” A growl vibrated inside his ribcage, building, until his entire body seemed to be trembling with the force of it.

He tilted his head and parted his lips all the way, letting her in.

Their tongues entwined, soft, wet, and his taste slid into every part of her.

Chase snapped into movement, arms shooting around her. He lifted her against him, holding her up as he took full control of their kiss.

Aria mewled at the soft way he groaned and swirled his tongue around hers. As if she was the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted.

She clutched him to her, kissing him harder. Her pussy contracted powerfully, the sensation shooting through her entire being. The coil tightened inside her. Her nipples hardened, rubbing against her bra. She wanted them against his naked skin.

Aria clasped the back of his head, moaning l
owly. When Chase sucked on her tongue, her walls pulsated in time with each suck, driving her need higher. She was unrestrained. Ravenous. Out of her God damned mind, and ready to fuck him, right there on her porch.

“Chase.” She let her head fall back. His hands latched onto her ass and he dove for her neck, sucking on her skin.
Oh God. Air.
Her heart was beating so hard.

Lightheaded, Aria held onto him. The need to lift her legs and wrap them around his waist—feel that hard shaft of his against her weeping pussy, was all consuming. Chase held her still, dominating her.

“God,” Aria moaned, eyes sliding closed. “I want this, Chase.” She raised her head and sought out his jaw with her mouth, licking and sucking on his golden skin. Groaning, she moved down to his neck and bit down.

“
Fuck.
Aria.”

“I need this, Chase.
Now.
” Her moan was muffled by his flesh as she sucked, not caring if she left a mark.

“Aria.”
The rumble of his voice caused her to whimper against the wet skin of his neck.

Her fingers pulled
frantically at the fabric of his blazer as she tried to move him in the direction of her front door. “Come inside with me, Chase.”

His body went stone still at that. When he pulled back, his eyelids were low over his eyes. “Aria.” She bit her lip at the rough, breathless way he said her name. His eyes dropped to her mouth, becoming darker. “You’ve been drinking.”

This shit again?

Chase placed the pad of his thumb on her bottom lip, caressing it. When he dipped his thumb just inside her mouth, she let the tip of her tongue move against it.

He hissed through clenched teeth.

She’d never felt so freaking wanton
. All she could focus on was the lust and endorphins, pumping hot through her veins. “I’m not drunk anymore.”
Not on alcohol, at least.
“Come inside with me Chase.”

He pinched her chin, studying her. “Aria…I don’t want you to regret this tomorrow.”

Would she? She had no idea, but the fact that he cared about taking advantage of her struck her as oddly sweet.

And it did nothing but make her want him more.

She wrapped her fingers around his hand, and moved it away from her mouth. “Chase, I know what I’m saying….what I want. Come inside with me.”

The change in him was instant.  He brought her closer and gave her a short, rough kiss. “Are you sure?” he asked, watching her face.

She was. It was scary as hell, and she might come to regret it after, but her mind was made up. “Yes.”

Chase exhaled and his eyes flickered up toward her house. He seemed to make up his mind about something, then grabbed her hand. “Not in there. You’re coming home with me.”

That right there almost sent Aria’s resolve running back in the direction it’d come from. Go to Chase’s house? See where he lived? Learn more about him?

Eighteen thousand alarms shrieked to life inside her.

Chase picked up on her panic, as always. He ran his thumb along her jaw tenderly. “Aria, I can’t have you in there.”

Not in Douglas’ bed.
Again, she had no trouble picking up on what was left unsaid, and she agreed. He was right. Aria hadn’t even had a chance to buy a new bed yet, and even so, she didn’t want to have sex with him while surrounded in those memories.

Take that leap, Aria.
She inhaled sharply as her adrenaline levels spiked, as if she’d been about to jump out of an airplane. Her eyes cut to his car, and then back to his face.

He was waiting for a
reply, eyes glittering in the lights of her house.

“Ye—yes, I’ll go.”

ARIA HAD AGREED TO GO
home with him
.
Chase’s heart thundered inside him, each beat growing stronger the closer they got to his house. He was so fucking turned on he couldn’t focus on the road.

Not when he could see those legs out of the corner of his eye. She’d crossed them together. Aria’s small trench coat
barely reached mid-thigh. He knew for a fact her dress was just as short.

And those damned heels. Jesus Christ. He’d never seen legs like that. Even the bared tops of her feet made his mouth water. Chase remembered how her breasts looked in that dress. His cock swelled.

Holding onto the steering wheel, he clenched his jaw as another wild rush threatened to cloud his head. He’d never been so out of control. His body was demanding that he pull the fuck over. Reach out for her. Taste her again.

He felt like a caged animal. She was just as he’d expected—and a million things more. He’d never been this desperate to fuck a woman. Never been so tempted by just the smell of her.

The light changed red. Chase stared up at it, wondering if the universe wanted him to have a heart attack before he got home. Last time he’d checked, he’d been in optimal health. It was clear something had changed, because the way his heart roared inside him wasn’t normal.

Aria moved, and he knew she was looking at him.

His hand flew off the steering wheel; he wrapped it around her leg, right above her knee.

She tensed at the contact, but didn’t move his hand away.

He ground his teeth, and focused on the red light. Tried to conform himself with the fact that at least he was feeling her skin once more.

He wanted to do
so much more. Trace his hand up her thigh. Feel
her
, finally. Soft and slick against his fingers.
Too much. Need to tone it down.
Chase was
obsessed
. Even he recognized it.

His thumb seemed
to move of its own free will, rubbing her skin. Teasing him more. A low groan left him before he could stop it; he tightened his hand around her knee, fighting for control.

What the fuck had he gotten himself into?

Aria gasped when he slid his hand an inch higher. She shifted, a subtle undulation, but one he felt everywhere.

That right there was it. It wasn’t just how she felt that made him loose it. It was how she reacted every time he touched her. How beautiful she looked with those dark blue eyes heavy with need. Every time she’d moaned, he’d thought he was going to explode in his pants.

And he’d wanted it. As long as it was her making him come, he didn’t care how. He’d been teased—tempted beyond sanity with a mere glimpse of what it’d be like.

They were wild together. And it was going to be so much more when he f
inally had her naked, at his mercy.

His head snapped in her direction. Aria’s eyes were on him. He saw his own hunger reflected in there.

Chase ripped off his seatbelt, slid the gear into park, and grabbed her around the back of her head. Their lips crashed together, almost hard enough to hurt, but he didn’t give a damn.

Fuck no. Those lips were amazing. Her tongue sent jolts all through him, until his cock jerked
wildly in his pants. He snarled into her mouth. The way he kissed her was lewd, he knew that, but she gave back just as much as she took.

The sound of a horn blaring behind him made him rear back. He couldn’t breathe. The light was now green and cars had begun to drive around his car.

Aria’s panting breaths reached his ears, tempting him even more.

He couldn’t wait to hear her come. She had the sexiest voice, and just thinking about it going high-pitched with her pleasure had his balls tightening to the point of pain.

You can’t have her. Not until you get her home.
He snapped into action, shifting into drive, and took off at fifteen miles above the speed limit.

It took them less than five minutes to get to his home. Chase took the ramp leading down into the parking lot at top speed, putting their God damned lives in danger because of his haste.

He needed to get her upstairs and into his fucking bed.

As soon as the car was parked, he placed a wet kiss on her jaw and inhaled her scent. “Come.”

Aria’s hands were shaking as she reached to undo her seatbelt.

Chase got out of the vehicle as fast as he could and rounded the car to open Aria’s door.

The parking attendant had excited the small office and was standing at the door, staring at Chase and his car with a curious look

Yeah, there were tire marks leading from his car back up the ramp. He’d been going that fast, and had a good reason for it.

He flung the passenger side door open and leaned down into the car.

Chase snatched her seatbelt off. The scent of him paralyzed her. Aria's hungry eyes ate up his profile—one twist of his head and she was hit with those eyes. So close. She could almost taste him again.

“Come,” Chase demanded, voice hoarse.

Aria swallowed down the thick longing eating her from the inside, and reached out to place her hand in his outstretched one.

He didn’t move. He remained as he was, leaning into her car and holding her hand. His eyes burned her, calling forth that throbbing ache between her thighs.

When he squeezed her hand, she felt the urgency stirring in him. It activated a sick sort of frenzy in her. She trembled in her seat.

Chase swallowed, his lids going heavy. “Aria, your purse.”

Her what? Forget it. Whatever he was talking about wasn’t important. No, the smooth-shaven line of his jaw was. His skin was so soft. She was hungry, needed to lick and nibble it again.

Chase's hand shot out for her clutch in a dizzying blur of speed and he all but yanked her out of the car.

“Good evening, Mr. Blaine.”

Aria blinked, and when Chase turned to stare at whoever had spoken, she caught sight of a parking attendant, standing a few feet back.

The parking attendant had addressed Chase, but it was Aria he was smiling at.

She watched as the doorman gave her a once-over, starting at the top of her head, and ending right at her thighs. Her face exploded with heat. The short coat she wore left her legs on display.

Chase cleared his throat, the sound combined with the harsh glare in his eyes translating
perfectly. They both said,
“I own this building, you work for me, and you will stop staring. Now.
”

Aria’s breathing faltered.

The parking attendant wished Chase a goodnight, then spun around and jogged back into the office.

Possessive Chase. Had she ever seen him before? Didn’t matter if she had. Nothing could have prepared her for the blazing rush that went through her at the sight.

Chase’s eyes raked over her. Lingering. If she’d thought he looked possessive before
—
s
he trembled as an all-out body shiver forced her to clench her teeth.

His eyes reached her dark blue heels and stayed. That stare was dark.

Calculating.

The violent throbbing of her pulse became painful. Desperate for some space—and at least a smidgen of sanity—Aria tried to take a step back.

Chase’s hand shot up and wrapped around her wrist. His jaw was jumping. His chest rose and fell with each powerful breath.

Her body exploded with hunger.

Chase tightened his hold on her. “I said come.”

His head was going to erupt. No, scratch that, his heart was going to fucking pop inside his chest. Asshole that he was, he dragged Aria at top speed toward the elevators, coming to a stop when the closed elevator doors forced him to do so.

The excitement was a buzzing in his blood—a neurochemical cocktail that sent his thoughts racing
.
Her small hand was warm and soft in his. Chase itched to feel what the rest of her felt like. If she was just as soft everywhere else.

Probably
softer.
Fuck.

Scratch animal. He’d become the lowest of beasts, and if he wasn’t careful, he was going to scare her.

When the elevator arrived, he motioned for her to get in first. Distance. A few feet. It was imperative that he take a few seconds to get his shit together. The way he felt right now, he wasn’t going to just scare her. What if he hurt her?

What the hell is wrong with me?

He slid the key for his floor in. The elevator would go straight up to his penthouse without stopping. A relief and a torment at the same time. They were alone. Aria was right there and so receptive. Really, it wasn’t his malfunctioning brain's fault. She was like an eruption waiting to happen. One he was dying to experience.

Chase could taste the held back wildness in her when he kissed her.

A vision of Aria splayed below him, unrestrained, seared through his visual cortexes, almost ripping away all his logic.

That’s it.
Giving up, he spun around, and reached for her hand. His arm jerked, pulling her toward him. Aria gasped when she landed against his chest. Chase cupped her jaw, forcing her beautiful eyes to meet his.

He wanted her, more than she knew. More than he was ready to admit to anyone, but himself.
Thinking about what she might become to him sparked a new emotion in him, one he never thought to feel again: Fear.

Chase wasn’t ready to give a part of himself away to anyone just yet. Not like that. He was already powerless when it came to the emotions she’d awoken in him. The cause of why he was so out of control with her. He, a man that hadn’t felt in so long, was feeling
everything
for her, all at once.

Did he have to give her more?

Inevitable.
Yes, it was. Chase was hungry for her, and in a dark, deep part of his sick soul, he wanted her too much to stop himself.

Not stopping equaled progression. As long as he didn’t let her go, she’d take him apart, piece by piece, until she had full control.

Yet, even knowing this, he wasn’t going to stop.

Aria stared up at him with her big eyes. He stared right back, letting her see. All of it. Fuck. Maybe he wanted to scare her away now, before things
went farther. If she couldn’t handle what was in his stare, she wouldn’t be able to handle what he planned to do to her.