F*ck! Amaya paused.
She had a sense that her cover was about to be exposed if she didn't act quickly. And the wedding would be ruined because no guy would marry somebody who would spy on him!
"I was acquainted with him when we first arrived," she said, relieved that she'd been able to come up with a defence so quickly. "I assumed you meant for us to have some naughty fun with him later, but he looks quite intoxicated."
"He's nervous about getting married tomorrow," Chase grumbled, "and he doesn't need to be driven over to the brink with a little number like the one you had set up on that coffee table."
"Oh my!" Amaya explained. "Sorry." She may have sounded honest and put the issue to rest, but the little devil inside her drove her to continue, "I just have no idea what happened there. I got lost for a second. They just sort of — leaped out, you know. I mean, my confidence! A will of their own, if you know what I mean."
As Chase turned away, the barman snorted and laughed. Several of the men in the room grinned. Chase grabbed her arm.
"Hey! What the—aah! You can look, but you can't touch," Amaya growled.He took a step back. "I employed all of you with the condition that this party remain..."
"Exciting but tame?" Amaya spoke for him, the little devil pushing her.
How can this jackass spoil one of her most enjoyable nights ever? He was taking something daring and exhilarating and twisting it into something horrible and boring.
Chase paused and breathed heavily.
"Boring?" she replied as she took a drink of wine."You have quite an attitude," he noted.
"Well, do you bully everyone else around like this, or is it just me?" Amaya wondered what she was saying with her glossy red lips. Yet there was something about him that seemed to make her want to provoke him. A little too much or too little.But she was having fun.
"At this time," he added quietly, "it appears to be just you."
"Interesting," she thought as she took another gulp of her drink.
“Hey, hey," Chase replied as he took the rigid glass from her grip. "Take it easy on the alcohol, woman."
She burst out laughing. "Killjoy. There isn't any booze in that drink."
"Ah, actually there is," the barman apologised. "I added some, um, vodka."
"Amazing," she replied, her gaze fixed on him. "It tasted exactly like a punch I had back in college," she said, glaring at the barman. "Which of you added the alcohol? I might give some—"Chase groaned, grabbed her arm, and slung her over his shoulder.
"Hey! Put me down!"
A few minutes later, following yet another round of laughter from the crowd, Chase returned to his room and sat the woman down on the leather couch.
"Perhaps you can sleep it off while the other three girls do the partying."
She placed a hand on her brow. "I'm feeling a little dizzy, like the earth is rotating backwards, yeah?"
"Did you get drunk while dancing?"
"No," she said emphatically. “It's not like it's any of your concern."
"But it is, indeed. "I planned this party."
Whoops. The last thing she wanted to do was get Helena, Pamela, and Nancy into trouble."I'm sorry," she murmured, attempting to convey the appropriate level of regret in her tone.
"Somehow, I disbelieve that."
"Oh, come on, how am I supposed to apologise to you if all you do is make whatever I say seem like a lie?"
He sneered, "You're doing a fantastic job on your own."
She stared at him, then removed her mask and placed it on the coffee table. She closed her eyes and sat down on the brown leather couch. "I'm just going to act; you're not here," she said quietly.
"It's a mutual feeling. Good for you to shut it up!"
"Asshole!"
"I heard that!" Chase frowned.
"Ha! I meant for you to hear it."
He rolled his eyes as the phone rang about three minutes after she sat down on the couch.
Amaya smirked.
He responded, and she overheard the brief, gruff side of his talk before he left her. It gave her comfort to know that he wasn't acting this way just for her. He seemed to be boring and bossy with everyone, even the guy he was supposed to be talking on the phone with.
He marched out of the room, the phone still ringing. Amaya looked at the receiver. She stood up and went to the large desk, picking it up on the spur of the moment.
"Justin? Tour name is Justin, yeah? Mr. Bossy Pants left alreay," she inquired.
"Yap! Hey, who's this?" replied an intriguing masculine voice.
She chose to go right to the point. "Is he always this awful?"
"Chase? Awful? Nah, he's generally far worse."
She burst out laughing. "So he's denying having any fun again, huh?"
"That is something you could say." She made the decision to throw caution to the wind. Impulsively, she described what had transpired on the spur of the moment earlier.
"Are you saying you danced topless and Chase objected? WOW!"
"Oh yes. He is a caveman. I can't deny it.""He's been working too hard; how old are you anyway?"
"Seventeen, hehhe!"
"That's funny; really, how old are you?"
"Twenty-five."
"Sure?"Amaya rolled her eyes. "I’m twenty-one, silly."
"Wow, okay," Justin let out a sigh. "He's losing it. Poor Chase."
Amaya grinned. "So, how can I get him to let himself up and have a great time?" she wondered, marvelling at how the wine made her ideas practically fly off her tongue.
“Hmm, not bad. Let me see, um, I have just the plan," Justin responded after a little silence.
"What?"
"Chase can't say no to a challenge; it must be passed down through generations, because his grandfather is the same way; just dare him to do something, and he'll be mush in your palms."
"Hmmm," she hummed softly. "That sounds intriguing."
"Just make sure you truly desire him to do what you challenge him to do, because once he starts, he won't stop."
"Ha! Got it."“You've got a name, dear?"She hiccuped once more. "Um, ah…Daisy." Justin burst out laughing. "I'm going to wish you luck, Daisy, and we'd better get off the phone before Chase realises I've been divulging his secrets."
"All right, Justin."
"My pleasure, but I believe it will be Chase's."
She giggled, dropped the phone, and stumbled back to the couch, where she laid down and closed her eyes. She'd pretend to sleep, then collect her thoughts, marshal her troops, and decide what to do next.
She was sound asleep when Chase returned to the room.
How does she manage to undermine my resolve, anyway? Chase thought to himself as went back in his room.He discovered her passed out and snoring, but he thought it was charming, and to his surprise, he found her fascinating.Chase sighed and went to the living room again; however, this time the room was filled with the echoes of laughter and the clinking of glasses, and amidst the merriment, one figure remained motionless beneath the balcony. "Tyler, wake up." Chase growned.Tyler lay sprawled on the soft couch, his limbs splayed haphazardly, in a state of deep unconsciousness. The chaos of the party seemed to fade away as concerned whispers filled the air."Chase, is he okay?" one of his cousins asked."I hope so."Friends and acquaintances gathered around, their expressions a mix of worry and amusement. Some nudged Tyler gently, hoping to rouse him from his slumber, while others exchanged bewildered glances. It was clear that this unexpected turn of events had captured everyone's atte
Watching her, Chase stated, "By the way, do you have a way home?" seeing how her eyes darted to the side and how she struggled to look him in the eye."Sure.""Lie," he muttered. "It's practically too early to have a taxi or anything on the road.""Whatever," she said, devouring the cake and licking the last bit of icing off the paper plate. "Gosh, this is so sweet and tasty," she smirked, placing it on the coffee table next to the leather couch. "I can go wherever I like, you know!"Chase remained silent, wondering why he felt the need to be so harsh to her in order to get her moving. He discovered that he enjoyed debating with her."How about some sort of game?" she asked with a smile. "Fancy some challenges?"He saw how her eyes sparkled. This woman exudes happiness. "What kind of game?" He asked, though his imagination was completely out of this world. Nothing but sex and steamy moments with this amazing woman..."Truth or Dare.""Really?" he smirked."Yes, and I get to go first."
Chase couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement and anticipation as he watched her confidently shed her inhibitions, revealing her alluring form. "I've never been with a woman with the same charisma as, you know," Chase murmured."Really?" Well, that was surprising, Amaya pondered."Yes.""Hmmm, oh well, I'm flattered." Her effortless ease and genuine sensuality were a stark contrast to the facade Chase had encountered so many times before. With each movement, she exuded a self-assuredness that captivated him, making his heart race and his desire intensify. "So, the kiss?" He asked with a longing gaze."Yes, the k-kiss." She smiled invitingly.The soft glow of candlelight bathed the room, casting a warm, intimate ambiance that seemed to mirror the connection growing between them. As Amaya reclined on the couch, her body delicately outlined by the flickering flames, Chase felt an irresistible magnetic pull towards her. "You are amazing."His eyes traced the contours of her curves, his
Hell, this is surely a mistake, she thought to herself, yet she wondered why she felt so excited about this.Only one minor difference. She caught her breath at the sight of his aroused body—his wonderful, utterly male, terribly aroused form.She had studied painting in college. They'd sketched naked figures, and she'd seen enough strong males—or so she thought. She'd spent a lot of time on naked beaches, but she'd never seen anything like... threatening.He had to have noticed the frown on her face."What's wrong?"She swallowed and thought she might respond to him truthfully. "It's just... I've never seen one... absolutely so big." At least, that was the truth.She received her first glimpse of pure masculine ego when he grinned."You aren't frightened, are you?" he inquired.What about that? Sure thing. "Me, oh, it's just—""I promise you, Daisy, I won't do anything whatsoever to you until you ask me to; you're the boss tonight.""Promise?" she asked quietly. Their gazes were riveted.
When Amaya awoke, she didn't know how much time had gone by, but she knew the quilt had slid off her shoulders and she was chilly. The fire had been reduced to embers. The room was nearly completely dark. “Shit…shit!”She yanked on the quilt, got a bit more out from beneath Chase's prone body, and then began when she heard his voice."Um—Daisy? Are you awake?"She was unsure. "Hmmm yes..."He rolled over and shifted his weight so they could cover themselves with the blanket while sleeping on the faux fur rug."Good. Are you okay?" Chase inquired. She could sense the trepidation in his voice."I'm fine; how about you?"In response, an arm wrapped around her waist and drew her close against him."What do you think?" he said quietly. He was aroused again, hard and eager, she realised.She kissed him after searching for his face in the darkness. He replied. She discovered that because they'd been so prepared previously, it took a lot less playtime to get both of them ready. Even though she
The rest of Amaya's clothes and her trench coat were easy to find, but she had to tear her short leather skirt away from a sleeping reveller who was using it as a pillow.Tyler, Mary's groom, slept in a comfortable lump on the carpeted floor, the side of his face smooshed against the rug. Amaya came to a halt and scrutinised the man while quickly fastening the belt on her trench coat.She then kicked his buttocks. "Take that!"Tyler grumbled before continuing to snore."This is all your fault," she said quietly, giving herself one little, pleasurable moment of pettiness. Complete immaturity.It was beneficial. Just a bit.Amaya walked out the front door into the early morning light. Amaya noticed the snow falling as she shut the door. Light, lacy flakes fell from the leaden sky. The white ice covered the barren branches of the trees in front of Chase's house.According to the appearance of the sky, it had to be around six o'clock in the morning. Amaya wished she had a car so she could
Six years later, "I'm sorry, sir," Chase's secretary remarked, his demeanour purposefully reserved, conveying the whole gamut of his emotions.Chase Johnson dispersed them.And until they suited him, he was not a man who normally accepted the presence of sentiments. Or helped him in some manner."I have taken the liberty of collecting yet another pool of candidates," Gabby continued in the same tone, for he was not the type of secretary who was hesitant to convey his ideas, sentiments, or thoughts, no matter how they were disguised. "As the previous several have met with disfavour," Chase knew that.He stood at the glass divider that divided him from the rest of his sleek, contemporary office, not at the window that looked out over one of Rome's richest areas. It was the ideal antidote to the fussiness and weight of Roman history that pervaded the rest of the city.Chase was all too familiar with the three-thousand-year-old city, from its hidden streets to its most famous piazzas. He
In a cosy little apartment on the bustling streets of 28th Street, Amaya and her mischievous five-year-old son, Tommy, began their morning routine. Amaya was busy preparing lunch for Tommy when her old iPhone rang, and she hurriedly stepped away to take the call."Hello, Mary?" She smiled and opened the fridge."Yes, yes, how can I forget? Of course. Send my regards to the twins, okay? I'll visit you guys soon." She spoke in hushed tones, trying not to disturb her little one. However, Tommy, with his curious and adventurous nature, couldn't resist exploring his surroundings. As his mother spoke on the phone, he spotted her gleaming smartphone lying on the coffee table.The aroma of lunch filled the air, and Tommy's tummy rumbled with hunger. "Mommy, I'm hungry." He couldn't wait for his meal, but he knew better than to interrupt his mom during an important call. So he devised a plan to entertain himself while he waited.Giggling mischievously, Tommy tiptoed towards his mother's phone.