As my heart rate started to return to normal, my brain resumed functioning and a tidal wave of thoughts hit me.

This was happening.

Suddenly, I was nervous again. Mostly nervous I wouldn't live up to whatever Chase was expecting. His sexual experiences could probably fill an encyclopedia, but mine would fit on a post-it note.

Plus, he was big. A lot bigger than Luke. I knew things could stretch, but...how much? And was it going to hurt?

Chase leaned on his elbows, hovering over me.

"Where'd you go just now?" His dark hair, now messy from my hands running through it, tumbled over his forehead as he studied my face.

"I'm here," I said softly, placing my palms on his upper arms. His skin was warm and smooth beneath my hands.

I wanted this. Wanted him. For more reasons than I could count—desire, intimacy, curiosity, affection. Because I cared about him and I wanted to be close to him. I wasn't having doubts, it was more like an awareness of the gravity of the decision. One that you couldn't go back from.

He gently ran the pad of his thumb along my lower lip. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

There was such fondness in his eyes that instantly, my nerves started to settle.

"No idea."

His lips turned up into a small smile. "There are no words."

I reached up, running my hands along his muscular shoulders and pulling him closer. I could feel how hard he was as he pressed against me and kissed me deeper, claiming, demanding.

With his mouth still moving against mine, he slid his hands along my torso, tugging my lacy underwear down and picking up my legs to take them off. My hands found his boxer briefs, pulling them down, and he slid out of them.

Breaking our kiss, he sat back on his knees and leaned over, pulling open his nightstand drawer. He fished around for a second, emerging with a condom wrapper and tearing it open. In a flash, he unrolled it and he was hovering over me again.

Then his brow knit together. "Hang on." He grabbed a pillow from beside me on the bed, lifting my hips and sliding it underneath. I must have looked at him funny because he added, "Better angle."

More evidence he knew a lot more than I did about what was about to happen.

Chase leaned over me again, bracketing me with his arms. He was so big, so broad, an imposing presence surrounding me from almost every angle. Barely-contained desire thrummed off of him, like he was straining to hold back. But I'd never felt safer or more cared for.

I looked back up at him as his dark brown eyes caught mine, serious and questioning.

"You sure, James?"

I nodded, touching his jaw. "So sure."

He gripped his shaft and slid inside of me slowly, an inch at a time. His mouth dipped to meet mine again, tongue pushing inside. I drew in a breath against his lips as he pushed all the way inside and the stretching sensation grew into a vulnerable sense of fullness. It was intense, but it didn't hurt.

When he was all the way inside, he stilled, pulling away from our kiss to look at me. He wrapped one strong hand behind my neck, gripping, and holding me firmly in place beneath him. His other hand stroked my hair.

"Tell me if I'm being too rough, baby."

"I will."

Chase began to thrust slowly, intentionally, moving his body against mine. My breath hitched as pleasure instantly started to flicker between my legs. I closed my eyes, circling my hips to meet his movements, losing myself in the all-consuming feeling of him inside of me. It felt so much better than I had imagined. And he was definitely right about the angle.

"You feel fucking amazing." His voice was low and husky, strained.

Hearing him say that only added to the frenzy building within me. I dug my fingers into his back, needy and desperate for him to keep going.

He sank into me with the same undulating strokes, relentless and demanding. The pleasure between my legs continued to grow, expanding through my core and turning into a sense of neediness, an urgency for release. Bending his head down, Chase planted his lips against my neck, sucking and kissing, driving me to the brink.

It hit the point where it was too much and enough all at once, teetering right on the edge of explosion. I moaned as heat flooded my entire body, the nearness of an orgasm seizing hold of me like a drug.

"There," I whimpered.

Chase smiled against my skin and thrust deeper, sending an overwhelming swell of pleasure through my core.

"Here?" He slid his hand down to my left hip, pinning me in place as he pushed into again me, creating a sense of agonizing ecstasy.

"Yes." All sense of control disappeared and instinct overtook me. My leg other wrapped around his torso, heel digging in. "Please don't stop."

"I won't, baby."

With that, I knew I could let go. My legs began to tremble as my skin turned feverish against his. Chase leaned in, covering my mouth with his and tugging the roots of my hair. With another drive of his hips, everything exploded. I cried out against his mouth, clutching his back with my fingers desperately as I fell, losing myself completely in the feeling.

He tore apart from my mouth, thrusting into me again.

"Oh my god," I moaned. The peak went on and on, seemingly endless, as I pulled him tighter against me, until it finally started to recede.

"Fuck," he groaned, increasing his pace. "You're so fucking hot."

He dragged his other hand from my hip to grab my ass, pulling me against him roughly and pumping into me harder. Then he slammed into me one last time with a growl, muscles straining.

He stilled, hanging his head and leaning against my shoulder. I could feel his heart ponding in his chest against mine.

Drawing in a shaky breath, he lifted his head to look at me with a tired grin.

"You're amazing." He leaned in, kissing me softly. "And so sexy when you're moaning beneath me."

Then he pulled out of me, standing up and quickly throwing the condom in the trash. He bent down, handing me my clothes, and grabbing himself some sweats from the dresser. I quickly threw them back on, lost in some kind of warm fuzzy trance. I was so high I wasn't sure I would ever come back down.

After we got dressed, we climbed back into bed, getting underneath the covers. I leaned against his chest while he ran a hand through my hair, over and over again. My entire body was so relaxed that my muscles felt like Jell-O.

And my heart was full in a way it never had been.

Chase ran a finger down the logo of his t-shirt that I was wearing. "See?" He said. "Told you, my shirts look so much better on you."

"I'm partial to this one, myself."

"That's my favorite on you, too." He sighed, falling quiet for a beat. "It's weird."

"What's weird?" I asked, glancing up at him.

He leaned his cheek against the top of my head. "I didn't know what I was missing until I found it."

My breath caught and for some reason, I almost wanted to cry. It was like an overwhelming rush of affection and something else I couldn't identify. Maybe it was vulnerability.

"You're pretty sweet when you want to be," I said.

"I mean it, though." He ran his fingers down my arm, to the ends of my fingers, and back again.

"I'm glad I have you, too."

"That's good, because I'm all in on this," he said. "And I don't know if you've noticed but I can be pretty stubborn."

We lay still for another moment, tired and contented. Then his stomach growled insistently, breaking the silence.

He gave me a sheepish grin. "I'm starving. Didn't eat after the game, then I worked up an appetite with you. What are you in the mood for?"

"Whatever you want. I'm easy," I said. Though now that he mentioned it, I was starving too. Shiv and I had eaten a late lunch slash early dinner after apartment hunting, before the game, but that was hours ago.

"If it's okay with you," he said, "I'm going to veto pizza. I'm still annoyed with that fucking pizza guy."

I laughed. "Sure. And maybe we can actually watch that movie while we eat."

*

Chase unpacked the bags of food on the kitchen counter, sorting through them. I surveyed the contents of the three paper bags, which was probably enough to feed more like ten people. Styrofoam containers of rice, silver containers of chow mein, stir fry, beef with broccoli, cashew chicken with vegetables, spicy shrimp, more noodles, and a few more meat dishes. There was definitely a common theme: meat.

"Do you think you ordered enough food?" I asked, tilting my head. "I'm afraid we might run out."

Opening the cupboard, I took out the plates and set them down on the counter. While I was turned away from him, he swatted my behind with a kitchen towel playfully.

"I told you, I've had a physically taxing night. A man needs to eat."

"That's true, you did work hard earlier," I said, turning back to face him.

Chase gave me a crooked smile, walking over to me. He placed a hand on either side of me, fencing me in against the counter.

"You know what they say, hard work pays off."

"Oh, it did," I said. "It definitely did."

His eyes gleamed mischievously. "Speaking of that—when are we going toy shopping?"

Oh, so he hadn't forgotten about that like I was hoping.

"You were serious about that?"

"Of course," he said. "I can't think of anything hotter than seeing you using something like that."

I uttered a little involuntary gasp, because that scenario had never even crossed my mind. Really?

"Or by yourself," he added.

I still wasn't fully convinced this was something that would get used, ever, but then I remembered I already told him I would keep an open mind.

"We'll see..."

"Or I could go without you." He shrugged. "Make it a surprise."

Gulp. I wasn't sure that would be better than me facing the sex boutique.

"Maybe it's better I come with you."

"Great." He winked at me. "Let's make a date."

*

The next morning, I woke up to the bed sagging under Chase's weight as he slid under the covers, draping a heavy arm around my waist. His body was warm and comforting wrapped against mine, the scent of his soap and cologne surrounding me.

Light was seeping in between the gaps in the curtains. It was morning, which meant he must have gotten back from dryland training already.

Shifting, I moved closer against his body, leaning into him.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you," he whispered.

"It's okay." Then I realized I probably had horrible morning breath.

Lifting my head, I tried to wriggle out of his grip, but his arm held me tighter, keeping me in place.

"No way." His tone turned deep and gravelly. "I sped home just for this."

I laughed, turning my head partway to face him. "I need to go brush my teeth. Especially because you already did earlier."

"Fine." Chase sighed, releasing his hold. "But you have to come right back."

I quickly used the bathroom and brushed my teeth, opening the bathroom door again. He patted the mattress beside him, inclining his head.

"You. Here."

Pulling back the covers, I crawled back in, facing him. "You sped home to snuggle?"

He shrugged. "I sped home to do whatever you want. But I have some ideas if you need suggestions."

I think that was worth the wait? Let me know if you agree!