Page 100 of The Other Side
35
Waking up tangled in Chance’s arms the next morning almost made having to get up so early bearable. A round of sleepy morning sex couldn’t be helped, once Chance stirred.
Lying next to him, I found it hard to believe how far we’d come. It had taken me months to get past my initial feelings of embarrassment at how we’d met and to push through a lot of my own shit to feel worthy of Chance and to be open to the idea that maybe I was deserving of being wanted by someone like him.
“Turn your brain off, muse…” Chance trailed soft, wet kisses along my collarbone. “Or would you prefer I do it for you?” The gleam in his eyes turned devilish.
I pushed him away, with laughter on my tongue. Not to be outmaneuvered, he trapped me in his arms quickly enough. “You wanna get out of here before we run into my parents?” he asked while nipping at my ear.
“Yes.” I nodded emphatically.
We’d been lucky to avoid them the night before and had only narrowly missed Thomas Roberts, who had thankfully allowed our retreat to the atrium.
“Promise me you won’t get all weird again when we’re back at Montgomery.” Chance hadn’t yet released me.
“I promise.” I turned in his arms to face him. “But we need to be careful. I know everyone says that rule isn’t enforced, but I can’t risk it.”
“I’ll do anything and everything to keep this”—he gestured between us— “a secret. You don’t have to worry.” He kissed the tip of my nose for good measure.
“Ugh,” Chance groaned, “you brought the pants?”
I had just exited the bathroom after having changed into the spare clothes he had told me to bring. I thought he might enjoy seeing me wear the cat burglar leggings again. I couldn’t have been more pleased at his reaction.
He lifted me into his arms. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his hips, before he dumped me on the bed. “We’re never getting out of here.” Chance leaned down to kiss me thoroughly, still occupying the space between my legs.
“I want coffee,” I moaned through his kisses.
“In a minute.”
“You’re messing up my makeup.”
“You’re not wearing any.”
“Chance!” I shoved him away. My lips were still bruised from the night before, and I was sore all over. Not that I would have really minded having him again, but I was itching to get out of the house. I felt as though I was an intruder. I’d never been in a house as nice as his, and even breathing made me worried I might break something worth more than my life.
Chance reached a hand out to me and helped me off the bed. He glanced over at his desk. I had neatly laid Amanda’s dress over the back of the chair. “You’re not going to take it with you?”
“It doesn’t belong to me.”
“I’m sure she said you could have it,” Chance argued. “She usually only wears nice dresses once and then donates them. Youshouldhave it.” He walked over and ran his fingers over the bodice.
I shook my head. Even though Amanda had offered it to me, it didn’t feel right to take it. It would just sit in my closet, gathering dust and making me sad I’d never have an occasion to wear it again. “I don’t make it a habit of attending operas or galas,” I told Chance.
“Let’s bring it with us,” he pleaded, taking the dress from the chair. “You can wear it to my first photography exhibition,” Chance suggested.
My eyes met his. I could tell he’d been thinking about what I had said on Christmas when I’d returned the negatives to him. The thought of being able to see his work on display made my chest tight. I wanted that so badly for him. And the dress would look nice at an event like that… “Okay.”
Chance beamed at me, picking up the backpack, where we had both stowed our spare clothes, and slinging it over his shoulder before folding the dress over his forearm.
“Ready?” He reached for me with his free hand after opening the door to the hallway, and likely shattering the little bubble we’d been inhabiting since first stepping foot in there. Chance led me down the hallway, protectively winding his unencumbered arm around my waist, tucking me into his side.
“Coffee?” I whispered, looking up at him through my lashes.
“Should be some in the kitchen.”
But that wasn’t the only thing we found when we arrived.
“Violet!” Amanda barreled toward me. “Everyone was talking about how gorgeous you looked in the dress last night!”
