The Look of Love (The Sullivans #1)(49)

Somehow he rode out her climax, every pull and tug of her clenching heat against him. He never wanted to have to leave her, never wanted to have to let her go.

But when she pressed her mouth against his shoulder and said the word “Love,” so softly he almost couldn’t hear it over the beat of his own heart in his ears, he fell all the way over the edge.

* * *

“Chase?” He’d carried them over to the couch and pulled a blanket over them. She’d only just caught her breath. “I know I’m always asking for this, but can we start tonight over again?”

She could feel his smile against her ear.

“Of course we can.”

Chloe shifted so that she was partially sitting up on the couch, but still in his arms. “They’ve all just left and now it’s time for me to say, ‘I’m really going to miss everyone.’”

His eyes were steady on hers. “This is my part, right?”

She knew he was teasing her and was amazed by how forgiving he was, rather than lashing out at her for trying to reduce what was between them to just sex.

“Yes, this is your part.”

“I’ll miss them, too, but I’m glad we’re alone now.”

She wanted to say she was sorry for hurting him. For the way she kept hurting him. For the fact that she wasn’t saying “I love you” back.

But all she could say was, “I’d like to go out on a date with you, Chase.” When he didn’t immediately respond, she took a shaky breath. “Please say yes.”

His eyes were still dark, still intense as he said, “Yes.”

Her chest, her stomach, everything hurt. Ached for this beautiful man. She made herself smile. “I should probably put on a new shirt.”

He looked down then, seemed to notice the torn fabric for the first time. “I was too rough with you. I didn’t mean to do that.”

She silenced him with a kiss. “No. You would never be rough with me.” She climbed from his lap and pulled a dress from the rack of clothes before leaving the living room. “It will just take me a few minutes to shower and change.”

* * *

Chase sat with his head in his hands. What the hell had he just done? He’d all but attacked her up against the door. Chloe didn’t deserve to be treated like that. She was precious. He should have been gentle, no matter what.

And he should stop blurting out how much he loved her over and over. It only made things worse. It only made her feel more cornered. More like things were out of her control.

Knowing he’d only end up taking her against the bathroom tiles if he joined her in the shower, he went into one of the bathrooms neither of them had used and quickly soaped down. He was already thick and throbbing at the thought of Chloe naked, with water streaming over her body just down the hall.

He turned the water to cold and forced himself to stand beneath the icy spray.

He really wanted this to be a date. A real date.

Not just a prelude to more sex.

Chapter Fifteen

“Wow, this is stunning. I don’t think I would ever get used to this view.”

They were sitting at the corner table at Auberge de Soleil, high in the hills of Napa Valley, and Chase knew exactly what she meant. But it wasn’t the view he’d never get used to admiring.

He couldn’t manage to drag his eyes from his date.

The waiter came by and handed them each a glass of champagne. “Your brother, Marcus, wanted to let you both know that he hopes you enjoy your evening with us.”

“I should have known he had eyes all over this mountain,” Chase said with a crooked grin as he lifted his glass to Chloe. “The bastard probably won’t even let me buy my girl dinner. Always trying to assert his older brother status.” He grinned at her. “We’ll just have to make sure we order the most expensive things on the menu.”

Chloe shook her head, obviously still surprised by his brother’s gesture. “It must be so amazing to be from a big family. To know that they’re always there for you.”

He wanted to tell her that being with him meant the entire Sullivan clan would take her in—and protect her—as one of their own. He wanted to give it to her as another reason why she never needed to be frightened again.

Instead, not wanting to break the spell, he said as cheerfully as he could, “Sometimes it’s great. Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass. Now, if we could forget about Marcus and the rest of my siblings for a moment?”

She looked up at him, their eyes linking, sparking as she nodded. “Forgotten.”

“Good. Because I want you to myself tonight.”

“Tonight,” she echoed, “I’m yours.”

Warmth infused his chest—hell, his entire soul—just to hear her say those two words.

I’m yours.

Chase lifted his glass. “To rainy nights.”

She tipped her flute against his, murmuring, “To rainy nights” in a husky voice.

He continued to hold his glass against hers. “And to one very lovely woman that a storm brought into my life.”

Her eyes were glassy as she put her flute to her lovely lips and took a sip.

* * *

“You know,” she said a while later, after eating some of the best food she’d ever tasted, “this just might be the most romantic dinner date I’ve ever been on.”