Our Last Chance at Forever (The Chance Series Book 3) Read online

  I smiled and shrugged. “I can’t help that I can’t keep my hands off of you.” I took her hand that was sitting in her lap, in mine.

  As we drove down the old country road, I let my eyes glance over to her again. She was wearing a black tank top under my flannel. The shirt was only buttoned half way, giving me full view of her chest. The tank top was low cut and I could see the swell of her breast. Whenever she would inhale, her top became tighter causing her chest to rise and squeeze together.

  Lennox screamed drawing my attention back to the road. I jerked the wheel and got all four tires back on the gravel. I saw her turn to look at me from the corner of my eye, I kept my eyes where they needed to be for the rest of the drive.

  After listening to Lennox, Alissa, and Dane bitch at me for my slow driving, I was forced to pick up the pace before I caused them to miss their flight. I pulled into the airport too soon. I wasn’t ready to let her go.

  I knew that everything would more than likely be okay and she was only going to be gone for a weekend, but I had this sinking feeling that I couldn’t shake. I was filled with dread and anxiety over the whole thing. I wished I could’ve been an asshole and forced her to stay home, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. She deserved her freedom after everything that Chris had taken away from her.

  I parked the Jeep and went around to open Lennox’s door. I pulled her bag out of the back and took her hand in mine to lead her to the entrance. She pulled a pair of dark sunglasses out of her bag and put them on as we walked through the parking lot.

  I eyed her and cocked my head to the side. “Are you afraid the sun will be brighter inside?”

  She smacked my chest playfully. “No, it’s a part of my disguise. Can you tell who I am?”

  “Not at all,” I joked.

  We found Ray waiting for us by the entrance. I greeted him before handing over Lennox’s bag.

  With that first step into the building, my anxiety spiked higher than before. I pushed it down, knowing I couldn’t force her to stay. If I did, that didn’t make me any better than Chris.

  We all walked through the airport until we came to her gate. Dane and Alissa went ahead and walked through, Ray stood off to the side to give us time to say our goodbyes.

  “Call me. A lot,” I stressed.

  She gave me that special smile of hers. “I will. Everything will be fine.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, allowing me to feel her against me. “Maybe we can have a little fun over the phone this weekend, we’ve never done that before.” Her green eyes shimmered as her perfectly plump lips turned up in a smile.

  Thinking about her touching herself lit a nerve that traveled low in my stomach. I swallowed, trying to find my voice. “That sounds fun, but I don’t know if I can handle knowing that you’re touching yourself when I can’t help out,” I whispered while moving in closer. I wanted to feel her breath on my cheek, her lips moving with mine, and the quickening of her heart as I kissed her with as much love and passion as I could pour out of me.

  When we pulled away, we were breathless. I placed my hands on either side of her face and ran my thumbs over her pink cheeks. “I love you, Lennox.”

  “I love you too, Mason.” She brushed her lips against mine one last time.

  Before we could pull away, Alissa was yelling for us to get a room. I would’ve loved to get a room; preferably, our room, back home and far away from the place I was meant to leave her.

  I stood there and watched her walk away from me until she was no longer visible. With a heavy breath, I turned and made my way back to the Jeep.

  The ride was quiet and lonely. I kept looking over, wanting to see Lennox, wanting to hold her hand or to place my hand on her thigh, but she wasn’t there and I knew that before I looked over. I shook my head to try and clear it. I had a lot of things to do. I couldn’t let my anxiety win over.

  Chapter Four

  Lennox

  I wasn’t happy about leaving Mason behind. I wanted him with me always, but I knew we needed alone time and neither of us had had much of that since I came home from California. I needed to let Mason be himself for a few days. I knew he loved me and worried about me, but with the shop being gone and him feeling like he had to constantly watch over me, he hadn’t been himself. He needed a break as much as I did.

  When I got on the plane, my nerves shot through the roof. I had never liked flying, that on top of the fear Mason placed in my mind about Chris finding me, I jumped at any little thing.

  As soon as we were in the air, I leaned back and got comfy to take a long nap. It would have been easier to fall asleep if I didn’t hear Dane and Alissa fighting over whether or not they should join the mile-high club.

  I jumped awake when the plane shuttered.

  “Relax, Lennox. The plane just landed, we’re safe,” Alissa said as she leaned away from me like I would try and hit her.

  As the people got off the plane, I took my time to breathe and calm my racing heart. I put on my sunglasses and pulled my hat lower. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  Alissa and Dane went in front of me while Ray stayed behind me. I knew walking through the airport in California would be much different from the small airport we had in Georgia.

  We had managed to get through baggage claim without being recognized. Dane seemed overly agitated while leading us through the crowd of people. I knew he was a small-town guy and didn’t like large crowds, but he hadn’t stopped bitching since the plane landed.

  “What’s his problem?” I asked Alissa.

  “He’s a little mad because we got caught trying to join the mile-high club.” She rolled her eyes and let a small laugh fall from her lips.

  I couldn’t hold back my roar of laughter.

  Before we could make it through the doors, I was noticed by one person. She rushed toward me, but Ray caught her. That action alone was enough to get everyone else’s attention. All I saw was flashing lights of cameras while people yelled my name and asked what I was doing back in California.

  Dane and Alissa closed in on me, making sure I stayed between them and Ray. I felt my heart start to pound in my chest as my breathing picked up. It had been months since I had been overwhelmed with so many people. I kept my head down and followed as close to Alissa and Dane as I could.

  Finally when I thought I was going to pass out from being surrounded, the doors opened, letting fresh air wash over me. I was led to an awaiting limo and ushered inside. While the driver loaded up our bags, Dane, Alissa, Ray, and I sat looking at the people walking by.

  “This is crazy,” Dane said looking at all the people who were trying to look through the dark glass.

  “This is only the beginning.” Alissa smiled.

  We made it to Alissa’s apartment a while later. We all got busy packing. Dane still wasn’t happy, he was taking stuff and throwing it into boxes without regard to anything.

  They went to pack up her bedroom while I started on the kitchen, I knew they needed some alone time after what happened on the plane.

  My phone rang and I dug it out of my purse before putting it against my ear.

  “Hey, baby.”

  “Are you okay? Did you make it to Alissa’s?” Mason’s voice was anxious. I could hear his heavy breathing over the line.

  “Yeah, we just got here a little bit ago. Are you okay? It sounds like you just ran a mile.” I held my phone with my cheek and shoulder while I continued to wrap dishes up with bubble wrap.

  “I just got a picture of you getting into a limo from an unknown number. I don’t know if he was there, but he knows you’re in California. Promise me that you will be safe. Take Ray with you everywhere.”

  I felt my heart sink to my stomach. “I will, I promise. He probably just got the picture off the internet or something.” I stopped packing and started pacing.

  “I don’t care where he got it. What I’m worried about is the fact that he knows you’re there. Tell me he doesn’t know where Alissa’s apartment is.”

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p; I bit my lower lip. “He knows.”

  “Fuck! I knew I shouldn’t have let you go on this trip.”

  “Mason, everything will be fine. I have Ray here, we’re not going to be out of the apartment much anyway. Please, try to relax and calm down.”

  I heard him take a deep breath. “Okay, call me later. I love you.”

  I smiled even though he couldn’t see it. “I love you too.”

  We spent the day packing and throwing stuff away. After Alissa and Dane’s alone time, he was in a better mood but was still more pissy than usual. We didn’t leave her place until we went to grab dinner.

  On the way back, we passed by a designer dress shop and I had to go in. I knew the designer did good work, I had worn several of her dresses to award shows in the past. I went in and talked to her personally. I told her everything I was looking for and she drew up a sketch while Dane and Alissa walked around and visited nearby shops. Ray stayed with me while we waited to see the sketch.

  By the time she was finished, I was blown away. It was exactly what I had been hoping to find. I wrote a rather large check for the first installment on the dress and walked out with a smile on my face. I couldn’t wait to see the real thing.

  By the time we made it back to the apartment, we were all exhausted from traveling and packing all day. Alissa and Dane went to shower before bed.

  One thing I didn’t think about though, was where Ray was going to sleep. Alissa’s place was only two bedrooms. He was entirely way too big to sleep on her sofa too.

  “Ray, if you want to get a hotel room for the evening that would be fine with me. I’m not going anywhere and Alissa and Dane are in for the night.”

  He shook his head. “As much as I would love a good night’s sleep, I’m staying here. I promised Mr. Reynolds that I wouldn’t leave you alone.”

  “Okay, if that’s what you want.” I shrugged before standing up from the chair. I got him a blanket and a pillow out of the bedroom and told him good night.

  I changed and settled down into bed. That was when I missed Mason the most. I turned out the light and curled up in a ball.

  Sleep didn’t find me. I rolled over and grabbed my phone.

  It rang twice before he answered. “Hello?” I could hear the sleep in his voice.

  “Everyone’s asleep,” I whispered.

  Mason groaned. “So, what are you doing awake?”

  “I can’t sleep. I thought maybe you would be having second thoughts about the phone stuff.” I felt my cheeks heat up just from talking about having phone sex.

  “Are you touching yourself right now?” His voice was deep and husky. I knew he was thinking about me touching myself and he was turned on.

  I slid my hand beneath my panties. “Uh-huh. I’m thinking about you and all the stuff I would be doing to you if you were here.”

  I heard the rustling of the blankets before he asked, “What would you do?”

  I let a soft whimper fall from my lips. “I would kiss my way down your body, slowly. Then, when you were so hard you couldn’t stand it, I would take you in my mouth as deep as I could go.”

  The sound that escaped his throat shot straight to the junction between my legs, lighting a fire.

  “I fucking love your lips wrapped around my dick.”

  “What would you do? Would you come in my mouth or would you flip me over and take what you wanted?” Hearing him talk dirty to me while I pictured what we would be doing had me dripping wet. I had no idea how he controlled my body so far away, but it was in tune with his.

  “I would flip your sexy ass over and settle between you parted legs to lick and suck on your sweet pussy. I would run circles around your clit until you were soaking wet with need for me.”

  “I already am,” I admitted while moving my fingers the same way Mason always did. He knew my body better than I did.

  “I’m so fucking hard right now. Tell me what you’re thinking.” His breathing was heavy. I could picture his chest rising and falling like he was right there next to me.

  “I’m thinking about sliding down onto your dick with your fingertips digging into my hips.”

  “I would roll you over and pound into you so fucking hard. You would have to beg me to stop.”

  With his words, my orgasm shattered. I let out a soft moan. “I’m coming. Come with me, baby,” I nearly panted out while letting my orgasm wrack my body.

  I heard his quick breathing and his moan when he let his orgasm go. Just hearing it made me want him.

  “Fuck, Lennox. That was hot as hell.” He was still panting.

  “Thank you. You didn’t do too bad yourself.” I smiled feeling my cheeks heat up.

  After our breathing calmed down, we talked for a few more minutes before calling it a night and hanging up.

  I woke up the next morning and made my way into the living room. Alissa, Dane, and Ray were already busy packing.

  “Hey, sleepyhead. Dane grabbed us some coffee and danishes if you want something.”

  “That sounds amazing. Thank you, Dane.” I moved through the living room and took a long drink of coffee. “So how much more do we have to do around here?”

  Alissa stopped packing and pulled her long blonde hair into a messy bun. “Not too much more. Dane and I got the bedroom finished up last night. You had most of the kitchen done already, so once we finish that we will just have a few things in the bathroom and spare bedroom. All the furniture and appliances stay.”

  “Let’s get to work then,” I said jumping from the barstool and moving around to help pack up the kitchen.”

  The kitchen was packed by one and we all decided to take a lunch break.

  We walked into the busy restaurant and were seated right away. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. I was lucky that we went to a fancier restaurant, otherwise I would’ve been overrun with people wanting pictures and autographs. I had a feeling that paparazzi would be lining the sidewalks when I left, but pushed the thoughts away and decided to distract myself. “So what do you think, Dane?”

  He looked up from his menu. “Think about what?”

  “The city. I know you haven’t been far from home, anything you want to do while we’re here?”

  I saw Alissa’s eyes double in size “Yeah, leave.” Dane’s voice wasn’t pleasant. He forced his eyes back to his menu.

  “Okay.” I rolled my eyes before glancing back at my own menu.

  We all finished our meal. Dane seemed a little better since he got food in him, but I could tell that something was still off with him. He had been an asshole since our plane landed.

  “I’m going to use the restroom before we go,” I excused myself from the table.

  Ray stood. “Should I follow you?” His brows were pulled together like he wasn’t sure.

  I turned around, unsure myself. “I think I will be fine. It’s just right there.” I pointed across the room to the restroom.

  He nodded before taking his seat.

  I used the restroom and washed my hands while looking at my reflection in the mirror. I felt the hair on my neck stand up and I didn’t know why. I turned to look around the room, but I was alone.

  I turned off the water quickly and dried my hands. I still felt like I was being watched and that made me want to hurry back to the table. Tossing the paper towel into the trash, I headed toward the door. That’s when my eyes landed on him.

  I felt my heart jump to my throat while my breath was sucked out of me. “What are you doing here?” I started backing away.

  Chris was standing in front of the door with his hands held up, like he was surrendering. “I’m not here to start trouble. I just want to talk to you. Okay? Can we please talk?” His blonde hair was longer than normal; it was oily and falling in his bloodshot eyes.

  He was thinner than the last time I saw him, a result of his constant drinking no doubt.

  “I think you should go.” My voice was shaking, despite how much effort I put into making it sound brave.

 
“I will, after we talk. I promise.” He took a step toward me, I countered and took another step back.

  “Fine! Talk, just don’t come any closer.” I kept my eyes on him, wanting to watch for any quick movements.

  He seemed taken back, like he didn’t think I would listen. He stood up straighter before adjusting his black jacket. “I’m so sorry, Lennox. I never should have laid a finger on you, I know that now.” He took another step and so did I.

  I kept my eyes locked on him in fear of him rushing toward me.

  “I’ve been getting help. I’ve been going to anger management classes and I’ve joined AA. I haven’t had a drink in a month.” His lips started to turn up but he stopped them. I knew that look. He was lying. He never could lie very well, he always gave it away with a smile.

  “Okay, that’s great. Now, can I please leave?”

  He shook his head. “Don’t you see? I’m trying here. I know I won’t ever get another chance to be with you and I’ve accepted that. I know why you can never trust me again and I don’t hold that against you.” He took another step.

  I backed away and felt my back press to the wall. I was out of steps, but he wasn’t. “What do you want from me then?”

  “I just want my life back, that’s all. I can’t even get a job since you broke your silence. I will leave you alone, just please tell them that what you said isn’t true.”

  I shook my head. “No, I’m not covering this up for you. I wasn’t the first person you abused. If I cover this up, you will just do it again to someone else. I can’t let that happen.”

  I saw his eyes darken as his jaw flexed. He took another step, and another, and another until he was only a few feet from me. I stopped breathing, holding my breath in fear he would hurt me. I was backed into a corner. I had nowhere to go.

  “You’re not really in the position to bargain, now are you?” He didn’t look away from me, he kept his eyes locked on mine as he took step after step, closing in on me.

  “Do you really think that I would just let you walk away after you ruined my life?” He scoffed. “You ARE going to fix this.” He pointed his finger at me while moving closer.