17 CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Popcorns And Passions

Chase's POV

Theme Song : U Me Luv by Jahmiel

"That was fun!" She screamed in delight as we walked towards her apartment. We had boarded a cab since we were far from the club after that marathon. I'll get Gio to bring in my car tomorrow.

"I wouldn't say getting a punch was lovely but seeing you acting so hard at seducing and that big guy being gullible was hilarious. You're a bad seductress." I lied. Seeing her trying to seduce another guy turned me on even though it was just an act. I imagined her doing same to me. She was awakening feelings I didn't want to catch now.

"Really? I popped some buttons out." Her eyes widened and she quickly buttoned up her blouse. I smiled at her almost red face. Minutes ago,she was trying to seduce someone with her boobs almost on display and here she was shy around me. It was hilarious...and cute.

"And took your skirt to your mid thigh. I must say,you've got a nice skin." And yeah she did. She had the perfect skin,flawless and smooth. Sure enough,I didn't have the skin hair stereotype but a smooth skin fitted her just perfectly. She would be a very sensitive woman.

"Shut up." She muttered. Wow,that's a first. Seems tonight bonded us real quick. "Well,we're here. Oh shit,I left my keys at the cockpit of your car." She cried,face resting on at her door. Speak about dramatic.

"Call your friend."

"Deb is too lazy to open a door but I'll try." She brought out her phone and opened it. Minutes later,she was giggling like crazy. "Deb is the most dramatic person ever."

"Pot calling kettle black." I said under my breathe. "Well?" I asked with the tiniest of anticipation.

"She isn't home obviously. Night of freedom for her. She went to a club which I would dissuade her from going on a normal night."

"So are we gonna stand here waiting for her?"

"She probably thinks I'm inside this apartment now so no shit Sherlock,she'll be here by midnight and as much as I like the idea of exercising,I don't wanna be weak in my knees" Neither do I want to be unless she was the one causing them. Oh no,she was doing things to my head and giving me thoughts. This night and that wine at the dinner was making me quite horny. Good one,Chase,good one. I thought sheepishly.

"Would you like to go to my apartment then?" I asked softly with a probe building up. I could tell her striking three things off her list in a night would be a total win.

"Okay." I opened my mouth to argue but it registered. Wait,what? "Lead the way. We ain't got all day mister" She walked to the elevator waking me up totally. I caught up to her.

"Are you sure you wanna go to my apartment?" I had wanted to probe her to go but I was the one doing the discouraging now,wasn't I? Way to go.

"Don't you want me to?"

"What? Of course I want you there but you pushed your limits today with the drink,clubbing and" I thought of the way she tried miserably at seducing that big guy "well,that hilarious seduction. You know I live alone right?"

"Yeah" She kept walking.

"And what happens when two different genders are in an enclosed space?" She laughed.

"Well said. I trust you,Chase." That was enough for me to keep shut throughout the entire ride to my apartment. I couldn't help but wonder if she'll trust me when she knows whom I really was. If she found out whom I really was,I doubt any contact with her would be possible so I better enjoy this when I could.

The cab stopped and we alighted. We moved into one of the buildings and I slid my card in. I opened the door,making way for her. She entered.

"I thought you said an apartment." She chastised.

"I may have lied a little. I own this building."

"Why buy all of it when you live alone?" And beside I hardly stayed in it,I thought to myself. I gave her a sheepish shrug. "Its beautiful."

"I know."

"So what do we do first?" She clapped her hands.

"How about leaving the doorway first?" She muttered an oh and walked to the living room.

"Wow. It's really beautiful." She said staring at the living room whose interior was wood paneled with a touch of vintage.

Minutes later,we were plopped on the sofa together watching a movie with homemade popcorn. The rest of the movie was spent with Gina watching Richard Gere do his thing and me watching her laugh beautifully.

"What now?" She asked when the movie ended.

"It's almost 11. How about sleeping?" I asked,faking a yawn.

"I'm pumped up. And beside I had a really good nap."

"Yeah,you said you dreamt of me. Care to share?" She stared into space unnerving me. Was the dream that bad? "You know what? Forget I asked that. Lets discuss something else."

"Whenever I had the nightmare,I always saw Nolan." Which Nolan? She whipped her head to face me. "You know when I was a kid,I liked playing balls with this kid. He was a loner so I decided to be his friend. We were in the third grade when I first saw him all alone during recess with nothing to eat. I handed him a banana"

I remembered that day perfectly. I was staying with my single mum and she hadn't return from work. For an eight year old,I washed up and went to school but didn't have lunch. She had been a life saver,but I wasn't about to tell her that.

"We became friends after that day. I got to know his mum too. And then,we got to high school together. We were good friends till he did something really bad to me. What made it worse was that he left the following week after avoiding me. He left without saying goodbye."

She was totally talking about the person in front of her but she had no idea.

"After what he did,I started having nightmares. I would see him each time I grabbed a ball. I would fall into a quicksand but he always lets go of me." She still stared at my eyes.

"Well,that sucks." I muttered. "I'm sorry."

"Its alright. Thanks for hearing me out. I haven't even told Deb about the nightmares but she knows I always have them."

"I'm so sorry." She laughed.

"Well it isn't your fault. Its a kind of mechanism my brain improvised to hold a piece of him. I can stop it by letting him go but I don't want to." I sucked a breath. She was trying to remember me when I was right in front of her. I had caused her so much pain for years but I couldn't out myself now. She'll hate me totally when I haven't had enough time to restitute for what I did. It was my fault. And my apology held so much more than just the word. I was sorry for doing those things to her. I was sorry for avoiding her. I was sorry for leaving without a word. I was sorry for causing her nightmares. But I was more sorry foe coming into her life that afternoon at recess.

The atmosphere became tense. I cleared my throat. "Tell me about your Nana." She smiled immediately.

"Nana is one of the best persons in my life. She's been there for me. I lost my mum at childbirth so I'm an only child. Dad would've remarried but I didn't give him a chance." She smiled fondly. "I would chase the women he brought over with tales of my mum's spirit haunting the house. Childish I know,but it always work." I never knew this about her. I laughed heartily.

"Eventually,dad stopped trying and devoted all his attention to me. But on my thirteenth year old birthday,dad and I went to celebrate my entrance into adolescence. We noticed this lake for the first time. It was close to our house." Her smile upturned. "We started going there steadily. One day,dad decided to go for a swim there. I didn't know how to swim so told dad I'll watch him." I waited for her but she never continued. I had been her friend but never knew what happened that day. A very big part of me was curious.

"And?" I probed. She smiled lazily.

"Nana watched over me after he died. She has been since I was fourteen."

"Okay?" I let it go.

"Enough of me. What about your parents? You never talk about them." I tightened my jaws in anger. They were a sore topic,well just my dad.

"My mum took pretty care of me but she just left one day and never came. I never knew my dad but the day she left,a letter was on the table in our box house. She directed me to my dad and left me some money for the journey. I found my dad when I was eighteen. That was my mum's way of wishing me happy birthday. She had taken care of me for eighteen years so wanted me to clean up well." I hadn't told anyone about my mum. Not even a younger Regina. She had only gotten to see her few times and it was always with mum rushing for work.

"And you did." She smiled at me and I felt my heart tug at me. "Do you ever get mad at her?" Now,that I think of it,yeah. I'm mad at her for being cowardly but then she had taken care of me for eighteen good years and explained everything in that letter. I still kept the letter with hope that I'll find her one day.

"I'm not supposed to. But yeah."

"It's alright to be mad at someone. Like I'm mad at you for not beating up that guy with the tattoos." She changed the subject,finally allowing some tension out.

"Did you see the size of that guy!? I would've gotten a pretty good beating and the only thing I would receive from you is a sorry."

"I would've nursed you." She chuckled. It was a very sweet sound. Music to my ears.

"Hmmph. Like I believe you will" I said sarcastically.

The silence came again and I turned to her. She was staring at me intensely. That greyish green eyes was doing things I couldn't explain to my insides. I watch her eyes train down to my lips and I swallowed. I had never felt so exposed under a lady's gaze.

"Kiss me." My breathe hitched as she leaned towards me. We were still lying on the same large and plush sofa. Her eyes were closed and her breathe reeked of vodka. Obviously.

"You're a little tipsy,Regina." My voice came out hoarse and my Adam apple bubbled up and down.

"I'm very much sober,Chase. I've been talking for the last hour or so. I want you to kiss me." She ordered again. Feisty Gina was new. She wasn't always like this,it was scary.

"Gina,I" She cut me short by taking my lips with hers. Her soft lips were a contrast to how I was getting.

The moment she moved her lips,I was a goner. She kissed me in a guileless manner yet confidently. She was possessive with this kiss like she needed it. It had been coming for a long time for me so I wound my hands around her and pulled her to me,eating her out. We fought for dominance and soon enough,she lost the fight.

I pushed her lips open while keeping her head in place. I had fantasised about kissing her once,okay maybe more but I never knew it would be this good. This was way better than my imaginations.

I French kissed her and stuck my tongue inside her mouth. I half expected her to pull back but she surprised me by responding with her tongue. I sucked on it and she moaned. I didn't know how but it made my stomach churn.

I bit on her lower lips and repositioned myself on the sofa placing her comfortably beneath me. She bit me too. I licked her lips and she did same. She responded each touch of my tongue with enthusiasm.

We pulled apart after what seemed like forever. We stared at each other,none daring to speak. Her eyes were gleaming in the dim light. Maybe it was the lightning,her feistiness and the fact that I just had a long spiralling kiss from the lady in my dreams,well nightmares but she looked kissable.

"Well,that was good." Her voice was raspy. I placed my lips on hers again.