I glare at Chase, then at Kade and James. “I don’t deserve this shit!” I yell at all of them. I see Chase flinch. James looks at the floor and Kade rubs the back of his neck with his palm.
Yes, I’m being dramatic, I know this. But, hell, I’ve had enough of this shit.
“If you guys don’t respect me enough to avoid bringing whores you have all slept with, sitting them in the car right next to me, you can all go to hell!” I start stomping down the pavement. Chase jogs to catch up with me and grabs onto my hips, holding me still.
“Get in the car, Layla, we can talk at home. Come on, baby,” he says softly, in a soothing tone.
I see a red sports car drive up and Crystal jumps in it. A pretty cute guy is driving it, with the top down. Damn the woman even has back up men to pick her up if other men leave her stranded.
I wriggle out of his hold and continue on my dramatic walk home. Chase lets me walk about five meters, before I’m thrown over his shoulder.
“Put me down!” I yell, angry as ever.
“You are getting in the f**king car, Layla,” he growls at me, sounding annoyed.
I’m placed in the middle, and James sits on one side, Chase on the other. Like I am going to try jump out of a moving car? Now who is being dramatic?
I fold my arms and scowl the entire ride home.
I ignore them all when they try to talk to me in the car, and push Chase’s hands off any time he tries to touch me. I think the Layla Crawford silent treatment is in order. When he pulls up at the house, I wait for Chase to get out before I storm up to the front door, opening it with my key. I practically run to my room and lock it behind me.
An hour later and no one has so much as knocked on my door. I can’t help but feel a little peeved. Where was all the apologizing? “Jerks,” I huff to myself. I force myself to study, when finally, about half an hour later there is a knock on my door. I open it, expecting to see Chase, but instead I get all three of them. They are all standing there holding bouquets of flowers, and sheepish apologetic smiles. Chase is holding sunflowers, which is my favorite flower, and Kade and James both have white roses. I look over at Kade, gasping when I see he has a cut lip. “What happened Kade?” I ask, worried. Kade narrows his eyes on Chase, and my eyes widened in realization. Chase clears his throat, drawing my gaze back to him.
“We’re sorry,” they all say simultaneously. I can’t help it when my lip twitches faintly.
“I’m sorry Layla, it was my fault. I was the one who brought her; I didn’t think anything of it. It was my bad judgment.” I sigh, and give Kade a huge hug.
“Okay, get your f**king hands off her now,” Chase complains behind me. I giggle and let Kade go, taking the roses from him. I step to James and give him a peck on the cheek.
“Thank you, James,” I tell him sincerely. He gives me a wink back, and hands me the roses.
Arms full of white roses; I give Chase a cheeky grin. He shakes his head at me and takes my chin in his hands, lifting my face up for a scorching kiss.
“Don’t be mad, okay,” he demands.
“Okay,” I grin, satisfied.
I put all three bouquets in various vases and smile. I turn to all of them and say, “You guys all know I was over reacting, right?”
All three of them shake their heads at me.
Chapter Twelve
Three months pass and Chase and I are still inseparable. He’s been away on business once, for three days, which seriously sucked. He made Kade and James babysit me the entire time. I know he’s been trying to avoid going away as much as he can. From what James has mentioned, this is the most he’s been home. Ever. We still haven’t had sex. Although I can sense his control waning. I started my job at the salon, it’s a small business but the girls are nice enough, and I really enjoy myself when I’m there. Chase gets moody every time I work; he wants me to stay with him. Too bad for him.
“Why should you work when I have plenty of money? It makes no f**king sense Layla!” he says. But it’s just something I need to do for myself; I am not going to take advantage of him, and I do genuinely like the work.
Tonight I’m on a mission. Mission seduce Chase. He won’t be able to resist me this time. Hopefully. Chase is out picking up dinner, and I’m getting dolled up. It’s Saturday night so Kade and James are out doing whatever it is they do. They left separately; they are both pretty secretive at times. I’m wearing a black teddy, with garters and thigh highs, black stiletto pumps, and my favorite red lipstick. My hair is down and curly, with lots of volume at the front. I’m wearing a satin red robe on the top to give me a semblance of modesty. I can hear his car pull into the driveway, and I run into his room, almost tripping over on the way. Very smooth Layla. I put on my ‘set the mood’ playlist on my iPod, and J Holiday’s ‘Bed’ is now drifting through the speakers.
Chase opens the door and I can hear him walking into the kitchen and putting the food onto the table.
“Layla! Come and eat beautiful!” He yells.
When I don’t respond he calls out my name again, and then comes in search of me. He comes straight to his room and when he opens the door I’m standing there, staring at him, wondering what to do with my hands or what pose would be most enticing. As soon as I see him I just decide on getting to the point, and drop the robe, leaving me standing there, looking like a sex kitten. Chase’s response is priceless. His eyes are wide, like blue pools, his mouth slightly open. He shakes his head, as if clearing it. His eyes transform as the shock fades, and turns into something else. His eyes are heated, smoldering; I can see the want in them, the need.