Once we were safely inside my apartment—with the luxury of insulation and central heating—I slid off my boots and started for the living room, expecting him to follow. Chase grabbed me by the hips instead, stopping me. He walked me a few steps backward so I was up against the wall in the front entry. His lips tugged into a grin that was impossible to resist.

“You know…” He dipped his head, planting soft kisses along the base of my throat. One hand slid down my backside and squeezed. A rush of heat ran through my body from head to toe, eliminating any remaining trace of chill as it went. “I could make it up to you.”

“Oh? How’s that?”

His lips traveled up the curve of my neck, hovering over the shell of my ear. “It requires getting you naked.”

* * *

CHASE

Having Bailey on top of me in the truck was a tease in the best possible way, but now it was time for the real thing.

I shrugged off my suit jacket and tossed it onto the desk chair, followed by my tie. With my eyes locked on hers, I crossed the room to where she stood. Her pupils dilated as I placed a hand along her lower back, walking her over to the bed. The backs of her legs bumped the edge of the mattress, and we came to a stop.

She gave me a playful look, batting her eyes at me. “So, what did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. How mad are you?”

“Oh, pretty mad.” She furrowed her brow and tried to glare, but her mouth tugged at the corners.

“Guess I have my work cut out for me, then.” By the time I was finished with her, she’d forget all about what we’d talked about in the truck. I moved in to kiss her again but stopped as she halted in response, her smile fading.

“What about your”—she bit her bottom lip, cool fingers gingerly tracing from my forehead to my jaw—“your face. Does it hurt? I don’t want to hurt you.”

I shook my head. “Nah. I’m about to be so distracted I won’t remember they’re even there.” In fact, I’d already long since forgotten about both injuries. And the game.

Right now, I was focused on one thing and one thing only.