Banging Reaper (Pounding Hearts 1)

Right now warm things are bad. I groan and his arm lifts. I jump out of bed and rush for the bathroom. I make it just in time.

After taking care of business, I brush my teeth then check myself out in the mirror. My eyes are bright and for once I actually look like an honest to goodness morning person.

Sex with Chase seems to agree with me.

My hair is a mess but other than that my skin is glowing and the dark circles that are usually ringing my eyes when I first wake up are gone. I don’t feel tired or like I need coffee. If anything, I’m ready to take on my day.

I’ve got quite a few things to do. Hastily, I pull my brush through my hair, working on the rat’s nest that’s knotted where my bun was. Then I hop in the shower and wash up.

I come out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body and a towel wrapped around my hair. I peek towards the living room but Chase doesn’t seem to be there. I pad quietly to my bedroom.

The lazy bum is still in bed.

“Mmm, something smells good,” he says huskily and rolls over.

He’s still naked. My white sheet slips down his hip, flashing me the V just above his groin.

I bite my lip and his eyes flash. Oh, this isn’t good. It seems even after last night there’s still this incredible pull between us. I’ve had him twice. Shouldn’t it be enough?

I feel Chase’s eyes burning into my back, following me around the room as I gather up an outfit to wear. I scamper back to the bathroom, feeling entirely too self-conscious with a man who’s had his hands all over my body all night long, and dress there. I just can’t bring myself to stand in front of him in the bright light of the day.

It feels too vulnerable, too real.

“Avery?” Chase asks while knocking on the bathroom door. I’m so surprised I nearly jump out of my skin.

“Yes?” I ask and pull open the door.

He’s standing there wearing only his black boxer briefs. I take in his chest and inevitably my gaze slides down. Chase clears his throat and my eyes dart up.

He grins a crooked grin and boldly asks, “Like what you see?”

So cocky. My cheeks may flush with heat because I honestly do like what I see when I look at him, but I roll my eyes as if I’m not impressed.

“Do you need something?” I ask.

His grin twists into a smirk as if he’s not fooled. “Are you done with the bathroom?”

I nod and he steps to the side. I slip past him and make my way to the kitchen. Sebastian meows loudly while pacing in front of the cupboard.

After taking care of Sebastian, I pull the leftover pizza out of the refrigerator. I munch on a slice of cold pepperoni pizza as my breakfast. As I’m chewing, Chase pops out of the bathroom and disappears into my bedroom. I’m not sure how I feel about him walking around as if he belongs here.

Chase isn’t my first hookup, but he is the first I’ve had recently, and most definitely the first that has actually stuck around. I dated a couple of guys in high school but we did our hooking up in their rooms or the back of their cars, any place we knew we wouldn’t get caught. I think ultimately they all turned out to be pansies who were intimidated by Ethan. If they couldn’t handle my best friend then I didn’t want them around anyhow.

But things are different with Chase. I’ve never wanted a guy like I want him. I’ve never felt about a guy the way I feel about him. Already he’s invaded my mind and taken up half of my thoughts. Somehow there’s all these feelings forming inside me, feelings I can’t seem to fight. And it’s starting to scare the shit out of me because I’ve only known him now for a measly forty eight hours.

We had wild sex together and I don’t regret a moment of it. If I could do it all over, I totally would.

But what do I know about Chase? Who is he? What does he like? Where does he even live? All I know about him is that he seems to really like beating up people for a living. And he has a nice ass. And a big dick. Definitely two big pluses, but I need to know more. Who is Chase really and what does he want with me?

Chase appears from my bedroom wearing the polo and jeans he wore last night.

“Hey,” he says as he comes into the kitchen and grabs a slice of pizza. He takes a big bite and swallows.

“Hey,” I say back. We stand there, in my kitchen, eating cold pizza and just looking at each other.

When Chase finishes his slice, he pulls out his phone and checks it. “What do you got going on today?”

“I’ve got to do some studying, and I have class this afternoon.” I answer before taking another bite of pizza. I swallow the bite and remember, “Oh, and I have to meet up with Ethan too.”