CHAPTER 71 – A LOT HAD CHANGED
Chase breathed in the scent of her hair. As she stood between his legs, his hands brushing the skin of her hips, the fire that ignited within him wasn’t one he could deny.
He had missed her so much.
Standing so close to him, barely inches away, until she could suck in the same air he was letting out, Mackenzie did not know how to feel. She should have tried to keep her distance, especially now that he was mad at her, yet, all she wanted to do was be with him.
She reached for the hem of his hoodie and slowly pulled it up to his neck. Chase did not struggle, he let her take his hoodie off, slowly revealing the tanned skin of his abs; all eight of them.
Mackenzie adored every single one with her eyes, drinking in and relishing in the beautiful sight. She traced her gaze up to his shoulder. The cast rested over his right shoulder blade. She traced the veins that traveled from his shoulder to his neck, stopping beneath his bearded jaw.
She dared to look above the jaw, up to his lips that slowly parted to suck in air.
The anticipation was killing him. He had wanted her for so long. Watching her stare at his lips with needy eyes sent his arousal shooting through the roof.
Her throat was dry, she gulped down her saliva to dampen it.
He was too much, being with him was far too much.
“What happened to you?” She asked. Her voice was ragged and husky. It was all the sign Chase needed to know that she wanted him, just as badly as he wanted her.
So why did she hold back?
He took the hint and wrapped his hands around her slender waist, pulling her closer to him. He was going to keep coming to her if she didn’t come to him. He didn’t care how long it would take.
Mackenzie’s eyes widened for a brief moment as she stared down at him. His fingers brushed the curve of her backside, causing her to sigh.
“I slipped and fell in the shower, nothing serious.”
She didn’t say a thing. She pulled away from him and reached for the suitcase. When she bent over, Chase found it impossible to tear his eyes away from her backside. It had been so long since he…
He stopped his trail of thoughts when he saw her pull out a white long sleeved shirt. He caught sight of the wristwatch and his lips thinned into a smile.
How did she know him so well?
It was one of the many things that had pulled him to her. Her attentiveness, ability to pay attention to the smallest things. In a way, her simplicity and her down to earth nature, made her the most elegant woman he had ever met.
Mackenzie helped him put on the shirt. As she toyed with his buttons, Chase looked up at her.
Damn. He could feel what they shared threaten to burst from within him, so why did she try to hide hers?
“I know you feel it too, Mackenzie.”
She fastened the third button, before her eyes danced up to his face. He cupped her waistline, drawing her into his arms.
She was trying to resist, but she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold back.
“Do you have something against men? Mackenzie…” he reached for the skin of her right cheek, and cupped it with his palm. His thumb stroked the back of her right ear gently. Mackenzie felt herself slowly melt into his arms.
“I am not Jeffery, you know that.”
Yes, he was nothing like him. Jeffery could never make her feel the way he made her feel.
“I know you’re not Jeffrey. I could never think you were Jeffrey. You’re…you’re nothing like him.”
“Why then?”
Mackenzie dared to look at his lips, the ones she desperately needed to kiss.C0ntent © 2024 (N/ô)velDrama.Org.
“Why what?” She whimpered.
Shit! She was almost breathless.
“Why are you holding back? Why can’t you trust me?”
She was tongue-tied. How did he go from emotionless to so full of fire in a matter of minutes?
Mackenzie parted her lips to speak, but the sound of Chase’s ringtone filled the room first. She wriggled free from Chase’s arms, since it was obvious he would not let her go, and helped him get his phone.
She answered the call and pressed the speaker to his right ear.
“Mr. Chase,” Chase narrowed his eyes on the space in front of him. It was his father’s aid.
“Miss…”
“Chase, I am downstairs now with the security details. I and the rest of the family are waiting on you, could you get dressed a bit faster? You’re not a lady?” His father’s voice rang through the speaker.
Mackenzie held back her laugh, and helped move the phone to his left hand. She helped him put on his suit pants while he continued the call.
Visibly surprised, Chase shifted uncomfortably in the bed, before he spoke.
“You’re going to see the president, father? Your surgery is tomorrow for heaven’s sake!”
As he yelled, Mackenzie looked up at him. He sent her a stern look, one quick one that told her it was confidential. She nodded in silence and focused on getting his suit pants up to his waist.
Chase heard his father laugh at the other end of the line.
“Is he okay?” He asked, directing the question you his father’s aid.
“Yes, Mr. Chase, he is. And he will be fine, the doctors gave him some shots for the pain, there is nothing to worry about.”
Chase wanted to be assured. He hoped – for all their sakes – that the lady was right.
By the time he was done, Mackenzie had fully dressed him. She helped knot his tie while he stopped himself from taking her to the bed and taking her there and then.
Soon, he was all dressed up. Both he and Mackenzie took the elevator down to meet the rest of the Axfords.
“Are you alright?” Mackenzie asked, looking over at him. He had not said a word since they got out of the ward, and it had only been a few minutes, but she had missed hearing his voice.
Chase turned to look at her. There were so many hidden emotions in his night blue eyes, she wished he would lay his heart out to her.
“Yeah, I am…hey!”
He had turned to look away from her, and the horror in his eyes caused her to tilt her head in his direction.
A little boy, about five, had tripped over a plastic ball and fallen with his face on the ground, a few inches from them.
Chase did not hesitate for a second longer. He rushed to the little boy and helped him up with his free hand.
Mackenzie watched as he went down on his right knee, reducing himself to the boy’s height – well, almost. Chase reached for the boy’s right hand and examined it throughly.
The little boy had tears in his eyes, but he quickly brushed them away when Chase smiled at him, tapping his right shoulder.
“You didn’t get any injuries, big guy.” He dusted his red hair, and Mackenzie’s intestines tied into a knot in her stomach.
How was he so sweet without making an effort? She had learned that rich people are the most ruthless and heartless, but Chase is different.
Seeing him with the little boy, she knew he would be great with Calista and Cameron. He would love them with everything he had.
“Where is your mum?” Chase held onto the boy as he looked around.
Mackenzie’s heart sank into her chest.
Will her children ever get to taste of the love he had in his heart?
Will he ever accept them?
She squeezed her suit pants with her clenched fists.
Will the world accept them?
The scandal was bound to ruin their childhood, was it worth the risk?
Chase didn’t let the boy leave until a slender red-haired woman appeared in front of them. She was very elated to see him and scolded him for running off, but Chase was able to pacify both mother and son. Mackenzie watched him, speechless.
“Shall we?” When he turned to her, his smile was gone…again.
She walked beside him until they arrived at the hospital’s exit.
Mackenzie was not – not even in a million light years ready for the entourage that awaited her outside.
She came face to face with Richard Axford, Eleanor and Jeffrey Axford, for the first time in four years.
Jeffery and Eleanor stood side by side, while Mackenzie kept her feet glued to Chase’s side. Her heart thrummed in her chest, beating at an alarming rate that made it almost impossible for her to breathe.
When she looked at Eleanor, the woman gave her a condescending smile.
Jeffery’s eyes were fixed on her, boring into her skin. She tore her gaze away from them and turned to face Richard Axford.
“Good to see you, Mr. Richard.”
“The pleasure is all mine, miss Torsney.” He replied dryly, very unlike the Richard she knew. But a lot had changed in four years, had it not?
“Oh! Chase! However did you hurt your hand, my boy?” It was Eleanor’s screeching that filled Mackenzie’s ears next.
She rushed to Chase’s side and looked over him with concern in her eyes.
When she spared Mackenzie a glance, a pitiful smile swept across her cheeks.
“Miss Torsney, it’s so good to see you. It’s been so long, has it not?” Eleanor looked away from her and turned to her son.
” Jeffery, my boy, come say hi to Mackenzie, dear.”
Mackenzie’s orbs traveled to Jeffery once more, and she felt her heart stop the second he took one step towards her.