The Alpha’s Chase: A Howls Romance Read online

  Chase shrugged again. “You should take your own advice. Even hungover with no makeup and your hair mussed, you’re a striking woman, Cecily. As for me, maybe I’m a little more understanding because of what my own shortcoming nearly cost me, but in the long run, I’m still just a regular guy. My mother taught me that.”

  “Taught you what?” She considered him a moment. “To think of yourself as ordinary when you’re not?”

  He angled his head, offense glinting in his eyes again. “No. She taught me to be real.”

  Cecily didn’t miss the shadow, and she scrambled to apologize. “I’m sorry, Chase. Everything I say this morning comes out wrong. I didn’t mean to sound so flippant. My father taught me to be hard because he knew if he didn’t, I’d be vulnerable once he was gone. Not all people are like you. They’re not genuine. Your mother was right, and you do her proud.”

  He gave her a small nod. “I hope so. She and my father died when I was in my early twenties. I headed down the wrong path for a while. It’s explains why I nearly lost everything.”

  6

  Cecily scooted closer to the edge of the couch, his Red Socks tee hiking high on her thighs. Chase’s eyes flicked over her naked legs and her bare breasts beneath the team’s logo. Without a word, he slid his hand behind her head and dipped his mouth to hers.

  “Chase—”

  “Ssh,” he whispered. “You’re not drunk anymore, and I want you so bad my cock is ready to explode.”

  He kissed her, hard and demanding, and her body melted against the heat forming in her belly. Wetness gathered between her legs and her clit throbbed. He wanted her. Waited for her. There was nothing wrong with her memory now.

  Breath mingled and tongues sparred until Cecily could barely breathe. She scraped her teeth along his bottom lip and dug her hands through his thick, sandy hair. When Chase finally broke their kiss, his blue eyes were dark with desire, and from the burn in her own she knew they were gold-ringed with the same need.

  He stood and she untied the drawstring on his cotton pants, loosening them enough to push them over well-muscled thighs. His long cock sprang free and she licked her lips. It was better than she imagined.

  Stepping out of his pants, she cupped his balls and flicked the velvet of his head with her tongue, his taste making her groan and her tits ache. She licked the underside of his length before sucking him deep. With his hands on her shoulders, he let her work his cock as she squeezed the base of his shaft, his teeth clenched.

  “Keep that up and I won’t last,” he ground out, “and I want to fuck you so hard you scream my name. I want to taste your pussy, Cecily. I have since I saw your shaved mound last night.” He nodded as she looked up, her mouth stuffed with every inch of him. “You were commando under your jeans. Fucking sexy as hell.”

  She dragged the edge of her teeth along his shaft, making him hiss, and her lips spread in a grin. Cecily let him go, releasing his dick slowly, giving his head a final lick before lying back on the couch.

  Chase shook his head. “I want to see all of you, Cecily. ALL. Tee shirt off.”

  She grinned and leaned up, shrugging the Red Sox shirt over her head and letting it fall to the floor. Moving to pick it up, he stopped her. “Leave it. Lay back and spread your legs.”

  Her body tingled as his hand travelled her full length. Alphas gave orders, but right now she wanted him to dominate and take her like spoils from a battle. He fisted his cock as he knelt beside her on the couch. Dipping his head to her breasts, he sucked her nipples, teasing them and tweaking the stiff peaks. He worked his hand lower and his lips worked her tits until he reached her clit, sliding his fingers into her slick entrance.

  “So fucking wet. You want me, too, or you wouldn’t be dripping into my palm. What do you want, Cecily? My mouth on your clit, my tongue in your slit—”

  She grabbed his hand, urging his thumb to her hard nub. “Work me, like I worked you, then I want you to fuck me until my legs shake.”

  With a grin, he dipped his mouth to her clit and drew it between his lips. He sucked and nibbled the taut bud, circling the torrid flesh with his tongue as he curled his fingers into her sex. Cecily arched into his palm and he grinned against her wet pussy. Lifting his face from her, he blew across her sensitive flesh, flicking his tongue once more as she sucked in a gasp.

  He climbed between her legs and pushed her knees to her shoulders, her thick thighs glistening with her juice. Fisting his cock, he pressed his swollen head to her pussy and teased her, inch by inch.

  “Chase! Please!”

  He pulled back and drove his cock balls deep, fucking her hard and fast. His hard body slapped against her soft slick thighs, her knees spread and trapped against his rock-hard flesh. Her inner cat howled, clawing at her for release. Chase ground his hips, his body taking hers with a force that ripped an orgasm from her, the waves rocketing her boneless.

  Cecily cried out, her body spasms convulsing around his shaft until he squeezed his eyes shut, his head exploding deep inside with hot jets. He held her close, his body tense until every drop pumped from his length. Exhaling, his shoulders relaxed and he let go of her legs, his hand reaching to caress her cheek, his thumb running across the seam of her bottom lip.

  Cecily opened her eyes and looked at him.

  “I know that was fast and urgent but was that as good for you as it was for me?” he asked.

  She nodded, kissing the pad of his thumb.

  “You look like you want to say something.” He slipped his hand around the back of her head and caressed the nape of her neck. “Tell me, Cecily.”

  Her eyes met his. “Marry me.”

  He blinked, sitting back on his bent leg. “What?”

  Cecily sat up, brushing her damp hair from her forehead. “Marry me, Chase.”

  He shook his head, nonplussed, but didn’t say a word.

  She took his hand in hers. “I know I sound like a crazy person, and I don’t blame you for whatever is going through your head, but hear me out before you reach for the phone to call the cops or the guys in white coats. I’m serious, Chase. You know my story. I told you everything last night. That much I remember.”

  He nodded. “And?”

  She lifted one bare shoulder and let it drop. “We just had amazing sex, so we’re compatible in that department, thank God. And we seem to get along, so why not?”

  Chase got up from the couch and grabbed his drawstring pajama bottoms from the floor, shoving each leg in and pulling them up, tying them closed. “There are a thousand reasons why not, Cecily. The fact we barely know each other scrawled in big letters at the top of the list.”

  She picked up his Red Sox tee and slipped it over her head, getting up to follow him into the kitchen. “I know that. I don’t mean get married today, but what about in a month from now, after we get to know each other better?”

  He eyed her, but didn’t say a word, just leaned back on the kitchen counter, his jaw tight.

  “You helped me last night because you’re a decent guy, Chase, but I see more than that. You’re the complete package. Everything I ever wanted. Kind. Smart. Compassionate. Gorgeous.”

  “And poor,” he shot back.

  She stopped short, recoiling at his words. “What has that got to do with anything?”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “I knew you were in trouble last night, and yes, I helped you because no one should have their hand forced, let alone a woman. I knew you were well off, I mean no one talks about inheritance unless there’s money there. I just didn’t know how much.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Chase glanced at the floor and then lifted his eyes to hers. “I looked at your driver’s license.” He nodded. “After you passed out.”

  “So, now you know.” Heat crawled into her cheeks. “What did you do next? Google me? My father? Montgomery Holdings?”

  He balked. “No! I looked at your driver’s license because I had no idea what your last name was, and I wanted to know wh
at to tell the paramedics if it came to that. I’m a bar owner, Cecily. When people drink like you did last night, anything can happen to make things go south very quickly.”

  She looked at him. “So why the dig about being poor, then?”

  He shook his head, lifting one futile hand. “Because. Hanging out with you. Sex, even. It’s one thing. We’re here in my apartment. On equal ground. But asking me to marry you is a whole other ball of wax. You’re right. I know your predicament, and I feel for you, but you’re asking a lot, Cecily, and you know it.”

  She watched his face, considering his words. He was right. It was a lot. She grew up in the world of money and financial politics. Chase didn’t. It was one of the things she liked best about him. Among other things. Her lower belly jumped with an aftershock at the thought, and if he gave her the go ahead, she’d spread herself and straddle him right there on the kitchen floor.

  Cecily ignored the steamy distraction and concentrated on the situation at hand. “You’re right. It is a lot to ask. You said you had an angel on your shoulder when that stranger helped you. Maybe what happened to bring us together last night was bigger than we think. Maybe it was meant to be.”

  He snorted, but there was no malice or derision in the sound. “What brought us together were mutual attraction and a bottle of tequila.”

  “Haven’t you ever thought about paying it forward? I mean, what you did for me with Jackson last night was terrific, but what if you had the chance to really pay it forward? A year. That’s all I’m asking. I won’t even insult you by saying I’ll make it worth your while, because I know that’s not what you’re about.”

  He smirked. “Like your lawyer wouldn’t make me sign a prenup, right?”

  She met his doubtful grin with a shrug. “It’s not you. He’d make anyone I marry sign one. Malcolm is like my uncle. He wants to protect me, but if you had stipulations of your own, I’m sure we could work them out. According to my father’s will, I have to be married and—” she hesitated.

  “And?”

  She chewed on her lip. If she told him she had to have a baby as well, he’d throw her out faster than she could blink. “And settled,” she replied, crossing her fingers as she twisted the hem of his Red Sox tee. Her inner cat hissed low at the lie of omission, but she ignored the warning. Male shifters had it easy. Especially as an Alpha. For them it was all about their inner animal’s claim. Mine. For females, it was a complicated dance requiring finesse and care rather than caveman. Malcolm said it. A female alpha was uncommon and dubious at best. Even under the best of circumstances.

  Chase didn’t move or say a word, but he didn’t dismiss her outright either. She walked toward him and reached for the drawstring on his pants, giving it a tug. “Tell me you’ll think about it at least.”

  He looked down at her hands at his belly. He lifted his gaze and skimmed his own hands over her arms to her shoulders. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”

  7

  Cecily stared at the wooden sign the front of Chase’s bar. The name Villarreal’s was inscribed in Spanish style, entwined with grape leaves and what looked to be a crest of some kind. She hadn’t seen or spoke to Chase in a week, instead giving him time to think about her offer.

  “What the hell was I thinking?” she muttered, ducking out of the warm drizzle into an alcove across the street. She watched him stalker-like through the smoky glass, laughing with two women at the bar. “Yeah, right. Like you could compete with that.”

  He said something to Moe the bartender, and then lifted a hand, reaching for his cellphone. Cecily watched him scroll through his contacts and within ten seconds her cell rang in her pocket.

  Coincidence? Not a chance.

  She fumbled for her phone, and sure enough, caller ID showed Chase’s name. “Crap.” She chewed her lip before meeting his eyes through the tavern’s front window. “Hello, Chase,” she said, putting the phone to her ear.

  “Are you going to stand in the rain like a dummy or are you going to come inside? I’ve waited a week to see you.” His deep, musical voice didn’t sound happy.

  “I know but—”

  He exhaled. “You and your buts. Look, all I know is you’d better get your luscious butt inside. We need to talk.”

  Chase was right. Other than text messages, they really hadn’t said much in the past seven days. She stayed with him after blurting her offer, but things got awkward fast and she ended up calling Malcolm to drive her to the airport to catch a shuttle flight back to New York.

  Cecily hiked the strap of her purse higher onto her shoulder and stepped into the light rain. Her hand rested on the side of her bag, the prenuptial agreement in the envelope inside nearly searing her palm. She knew she’d have to show it to Chase eventually, and that moment had come.

  The agreement was for a year. And she still hadn’t told him about the baby bit. Maybe she’d get pregnant accidentally. She chewed on her lip again. There were plenty of babies born from their parents’ oops, right? On the bright side, at least she didn’t have to worry about practicing for that oops. In that department, Chase was at the top of his game and hotter than hell.

  A slick wetness gathered between her legs at the thought of his body rock hard and his eyes full of need. Even via text he was sexy as sin. A secret smile tugged at how their messages always seemed to devolve into X-rated sexting.

  She pushed his dirty, teasing words from her mind, and focused on what needed to be done tonight. They could practice for their honeymoon once the paperwork was out of the way.

  Looking both ways, she darted across the street and then through the bar’s door into the dark tavern. Chase’s eyes met hers as she shrugged out of her jackets and ran a hand through her damp hair.

  “You look beautiful wet,” he walked around the end of the bar and stood with a smirk on his face. He moved to take her jacket and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Then again, I like you best when you’re wet.”

  A blush bloomed from Cecily’s toes to her ears and everywhere in between, making her nipples ache through her damp blouse. The hard peaks pushed into the thin fabric and she crossed her arms, but not before he noticed and chuckled.

  “Glad to see you missed me as well,” he said, leaning in again. “There are parts of me stiffening at the sight of you, too.”

  She cleared her throat, tamping down on the urge to dig her hands through his thick, sandy hair and crush her mouth to his.

  “Uhm, where do you want to do this?” she asked.

  His grin turned wicked and he licked his lips. “Anywhere you like, baby. I don’t need to be asked twice to do you.”

  Cecily angled her head, confused, and then her eyes widened. “I meant…I mean…” she fumbled.

  He laughed, sliding his arm around her shoulder. “I know what you meant, Cecy, but you left yourself wide open and I couldn’t resist. Besides, wide open is how I like you best. In fact, I haven’t been able to think of anything else since the last time you wrapped those slick thighs around my hips.”

  She ignored the tingle in her belly and the head butt from her inner cat that he was as preoccupied with her as she was with him. There was time later for that. Business first.

  “Chase, there are things we need to discuss,” she replied, fidgeting with the strap of her purse.

  He nodded. “I know.” His voice was soft and smooth, but serious this time. “Let’s go upstairs. Unless you’d rather do this in my office.”

  An image invaded her thoughts—her on Chase’s desk as he pushed her skirt high and her knees apart, sliding his fingers over her inner thighs—she sucked in a quick breath against the thought. For now, at least.

  “We can talk in your kitchen,” she answered, avoiding his eyes.

  A kitchen table works as good as a desk.

  She cleared her throat. “At least we won’t be disturbed.”

  The better to make you scream, my dear.

  She ripped her eyes from his. “Uhm, I need the ladies’ room.” Without waiti
ng for him to reply, she pushed past him and walked at a fast clip toward the restrooms.

  Cecily pushed the swinging door open and stalked toward the sink, putting her bag on the white porcelain. She turned on the tap and stuck her hands under the water, rinsing her face. “Get it together, Montgomery. You can have him any way you want once he signs the papers.”

  “What papers?”

  Her head jerked up to the mirror. Chase stood in the ladies’ room doorway, a frown on his face.

  “Oh God, Chase. I didn’t…I mean…” Her shoulders slumped, and she exhaled. “What you heard, it wasn’t what you think.”

  He walked up behind her and slid his hands around her waist, kissing the side of her cheek. “Whatever papers you want me to sign can wait. I’m flying out to Vegas first thing in the morning.”

  Her eyes met his in their mirrored reflection. “Vegas? Why? Are you planning to marry someone else?” A soft chuckle followed her nonchalant joke, despite the tight knot in her belly at the thought of Chase with anyone else.

  He grinned. “Jealous?”

  Turning in his arms, she looked up to meet his eyes. “Maybe.”

  He bent to brush his lips across hers. “Good. But the answer is no. My father owned a house outside Vegas proper. I’m selling the property and need to fly out for the closing.”

  Relief and disappointment warred. “Oh.” She tilted her head. “So why didn’t you tell me that when I called to say I was coming to meet you?”

  He ran a hand over her hip to cup her ass. “Because then I wouldn’t be able to ask you in person to come with me.”

  Cecily blinked, and Chase laughed at the surprise on her face. “I think this would be a good thing for us. I have business, but in between we can spend time together. The walkthrough for the buyers is the day after tomorrow and the closing the day after that. That earns us four, maybe five days together. Plenty of time to talk and get to know each other more than 140 characters at a time.”