Chapter Dedication: @Simzypee

Song of recommendation for the chapter: Ariana Grande ft. The Weeknd- Love me harder 🎶 🎶

Mood: This girl is on 🔥.  Hence, the update. Don't get used to it though.😉. But enjoy the update.

Lee parked in the building garage. She walked across the lot to the elevator. She pressed the button for the condo and rested against the glass wall. She glared at her image in the mirror. Her hair was slightly tousled by the wind, thereby giving her a wild look. Underneath her coat was the old, black turtleneck sweater and purple jeans. Her boots were slightly damp. She looked like someone going for a court order and not a date.

Was this even a date?

The elevator came to a stop before she could dwell on it. Lee got out of it and went up to the door. She knocked, her insides a flutter of anticipation.

Chris opened the door. He was garbed in a pair of black sweatpants, a black T-shirt, and white cotton socks. They were definitely lazy-night-at-home clothes, not fuck-me-now clothes. Still, they were soft and inviting and made her want to lounge around with him, or preferably on top, using him as a sofa.

"Hey, Ledia. Come on in." He stepped back from the door.

Lee went inside. The house looked like it was cleaned recently. It smelled good too. She sniffed.

"You did not have time to make chili," Lee commented with surprise.

Chris scratched his chin in a bashful way. "I had a batch in the freezer. I put some cornbread in the oven too. Something for us to snack on. I can cook, but I have my limits."

"That's okay. You have other talents," Lee said, getting her flirt on.

"Hmm." Chris glanced at the rack behind her. "Want me to hang up your coat?"

Oh right. Lee forgot her cold gear. She unzipped her black coat. Chris took it from her and put it on a hanger in a small closet by the front door. He was very careful with it. At times, Lee felt like he took exaggerated care with his movements because he wanted to impress her or something. Either that or that was how he was naturally.

"So, How is your family?" She asked.

"They're fine. You want wine or juice?"

"Water, please." Anything to help her relax.

Why am I so anxious?

She was at Chris' the day before and after all they did, she shouldn't feel that way. Although that was to ask her to be his partner, this was the beginning of their challenge. It felt like a turning point.

God, Lee wanted them to get on with it, not dilly dally around. Her skin itched with the anticipation of what was happening tonight.

"Come on into the kitchen," he said, leading the way.

Chris took a bottle of the 5Alive pulpy juice out of the fridge, and she saw his hand shake a wee bit as he handed the drink over. "I am on babysitting duty for two days. Amanda, my sister, is going out of town with her husband for their anniversary."

"Yeah? That's good."

"It is. They work so much that they missed their first anniversary. Mandy was a bit upset about it. Jamie decided they would celebrate it this year, alone."

"I can imagine how awful that must have been."

"You have no idea. We're not workaholics, though. We're just driven by our determination, so we tend forget things at times."

Was Chris trying to justify the fact that they worked in their family?

Lee hurried to reassure him. "I think it's great that your family work hard for what they love to do. I forget things all the time too. Like that one time I forgot to add sugar to the dough for the doughnut I baked for my class in Pennsylvania High School in eighth grade. They never gave me any pastries to do after that."

Chris laughed. "Is that where you grew up?"

Lee nodded. "After my mom died, my daddy kept his job there and later moved down here when Sutton graduated from third grade. So I spent half of my childhood there. Pennsylvania is not bad. I liked my school and the downtown area is pretty hip."

"I'd like to go sometime." Chris seemed at a loss for what to do with his hands — not having pockets in the sweats — so he turned to the stove and picked up a big spoon. He moved it in a hypnotic circle in the pot.

"How many siblings do you have?" Lee asked.

"Two. There's Amanda, who works in The Blanch Law Firm. She's a criminal justice attorney, and is a cutthroat one. She's ruthless, that one." He smiled fondly. "Caesar, on the other hand, handles the family business. He is married and has two kids. Then there's me, the baby of the family; the architect." Chris glanced at Lee and gave her a tight-lipped smile.

The way he said, 'Architect', told Lee what she wanted to know. He was the black sheep of the family. The firm Amanda worked for, told Lee that the lady was very successful. Getting a job at a firm like that in New York meant a whole lot of dedication. Or connection. Lee didn't like this Caesar person already.

"Your family must love upholding their image, so much." Lee grimaced at herself. That wasn't the right word.

She kept putting her foot in her mouth this night. At the rate this was going, maybe Chris would bid her a goodnight, too.

"I mean. . .your family must be a bit miffed about your occupation , seeing as your siblings. . . I'm saying this all wrong, I'm sorry."

Chris gave her an almost smile. "Yeah, you're right. My father wasn't happy about my career, but I am old enough to decide for myself, aren't I? Drink your juice, Ledia."

"Yes, sir." Lee grinned and took a drink.

He stirred the chili in a huge pot, round and round. Seriously, the pot was almost bigger than the stove. It reminded her of King. He was outsized in Sutton's house too, larger than life, like so much — so much man, so much determination, so many walls. He seemed unreachable. But he wasn't. Lee was sure he wasn't.

Why am I thinking about him?

Lee wanted to break the tension between them. It was so. . . awkward and weird and addictive, too—the anticipation. Every inch of her was so aware of every inch of Chris. Chris' lack of touch was driving her fucking batshit crazy.

She'd spent way too much of the morning thinking about what awaited her.  If they were not doing anything tonight she needed to know, go cold turkey. She decided, fuck tact, to do something to push this thing forward or she'd go nuts.

A tall countertop ran beside the stove. Lee put her juice down, turned her back to the counter, and leveraged herself up there. She sat facing Chris, now nearly at eye level.

He looked at her and put down the spoon. "Comfy?" 

Lee grinned. "I need some height to get closer to you." Chris stared at her for a long moment.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "Is that something you want?" His voice was rough and gravelly.

Oh, hell yes.

She nodded slowly. "For example, right at this very moment, you could be a lot closer."

He couldn't, in fact, be much closer unless they were making out. Which was the point. Lee reached out and snagged a bit of his T-shirt and tugged very lightly, so he could ignore it if he wanted. But he came, stepping between her spreading knees.

"Like this?" he asked. His hands went to either side of her on the white marble.

Oh yes, this counter had been a brilliant idea. Lee took a moment to thank whoever built the house.

Chris' mouth, that normally out-of-reach unless she got on her tiptoes,  Shangri-La, was only inches from hers. His eyes were warm and they made her insides heat up and dissolve, like butter in a hot pan.

"Bet you can get closer than that," Lee rasped out. "Being an expert on drawing things together and all."

He hesitated, looking at her lips.

Lee could have jumped on him, but she needed to know he wanted this. Still a nudge wouldn't hurt. "Chris? You can kiss me if you want. That was the first thing I expected you to do when you answered the door."

"Okay," he said, and he did.

His lips were warm and soft. The close-mouthed press of them was not hesitant, but also not demanding more. Which was probably good, because even that much made Lee feel light-headed. She closed her eyes with an exhale of relief. They were still going to the land-of-the-naked tonight.

Lee reached up, gliding her palms along those broad shoulders and wrapping her arms around his powerful back. He felt so solid and vital. A want that was deeper than mere lust grabbed hold of her lungs and squeezed. Lee felt one of his large hands rest on the small of her back. She heaved a shaky sigh against his cheek. She wanted to stay like this forever.

Except. . .she was greedy for more.

Lee sucked his bottom lip into her mouth to taste him. His hand stiffened on her back and his tongue swept her mouth. He tasted of chili, cinnamon, and mint toothpaste. Lee wrapped her arms around him more tightly, pressing her breasts to his wall of pecs. Her ankles hooked together over his firm ass.

Holy Kamoly.

Now she wanted more. So much more.

Chris kissed her deeply, passion making his hands tremble on her back. Lee wanted to feel them against her bare skin. She loved the way he kissed—warm and sucking, slow erotic pulls, making her think of other things he could be pulling on and—

There was a buzzing sound so loud it practically ruptured Lee's eardrums. She broke away, startled.

"Sorry. I have to take out the cornbread." Chris chuckled, chagrined. He turned off the timer on the stove.

Damn, that thing was wicked.

"Where'd you get that buzzer? A 1940s air-raid siren?" Lee asked, a bit miffed.

Chris huffed. "Hey, I lived here for three years before I figured out the timer even worked. Burned a lot of dinner's before that."

He grabbed a black pot holder and took out a tin of cornbread, the top nice and brown. He put it on the counter. Lee glanced at the chili, which was bubbling in the pot.

"Um. . .maybe you could turn that off, and we could eat later?" She suggested, putting her hand on his shoulder and rubbing with her thumb.

She wanted more of what they'd just been doing. Preferably hours of it. Preferably naked and horizontal.

Chris took a shaky breath and met her gaze. He took Lee's hand from his shoulder and kissed the palm. "If I start that up again, I won't stop. And I plan to feeding you before we get to that part. I don't want you to feel that it's just sex for me."

"Do we need to? Because I'm good. I'm cool with not stopping," Lee said hopefully. Lust was still gripping her hard.

He shook his head. "It probably seems weird to you, but I like taking care of women I want to bed." He made a frustrated face. "I want you for the long term, Ledia."

Lee could see he wanted her but had made up his mind. She got the sense Chris could be very stubborn when he wanted to be. Hell, his persistence about her being his partner said that if nothing else did.

It was disappointing, but Lee had to admit it was probably wise on his part. If he'd done what she asked, she'd criticize him. She'd think he was with her for the sex. The whole point of the challenge was getting to know each other for the long term. Lee willed her body back from the crazy lust drive and dropped her hand.

"That's cool."

Chris turned off the chili. "You almost didn't agree to being my partner because we had sex that one time," he added with a growl. "I don't want to make that mistake again. If we are having sex, I'll make sure you don't feel like shit afterwards. I'm not the type of guy who sleeps with women for the fun of it."

"I know you aren't,” Lee said quietly. "It's okay. I get it.  I totally agree with you." She nodded

"I want to have sex without you, of course. I mean, have you seen the way we fog up the room with steam each time we come together?" He gave her a cheeky grin. "I'd also like to hang out and get to know you better. That is — if you're cool with that." He sounded doubtful.

Did he think she only wanted sex? Lee knew now that he didn't trust her. And that was okay, as long as he gave her the opportunity to prove herself.

"I like hanging out with you," She said breezily. "Not that I don't want your hot bod. But it's your sparkling personality that's the real draw."

That made him smirk. "Right. Because I'm such a chatterbox."

"You can be, when you're talking about something you care about." she hopped off the counter. "So. Can I set the table?"

Chris relaxed. "Yeah. Bowls are in the cupboard behind you."

Lee got to work.

A/N:

Were you expecting steamy sheets already?

Sorry, not sorry. You're not getting it yet, at least not in this chapter.

But the next one.  .  . Let's just wait and see.

QOTC: what do you think of Chris's family?

Don't forget to vote 🌟, comment 💬 and share 📱. 👄.