CHAPTER 105

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I slid my hands under his shirt, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my fingertips. Chase shivered slightly at my touch, his breath hitching as I traced slow circles on his back.

For a second, he broke the kiss, his eyes dark with something I couldn’t quite name. Then, without hesitation, he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. His hands reached for the hem of my shirt next, and I let him remove it just as easily.

Now, with nothing between us, I could feel the heat radiating from his body, our bare chests brushing against each other. His fingers ghosted over my skin, slow and careful, as if memorizing every inch of me.

I moaned as Chase’s lips trailed down my skin, each kiss sending warmth through me. His hands moved gently, yet with purpose.

He guided me down, and soon I found myself lying on the wooden floor, the sound of rain echoing softly outside. Chase hovered above me, his eyes dark with something unreadable—something deep.

We kissed again, slower this time, as if savoring the moment. His fingers brushed against my cheek, and I could feel his heartbeat against mine, steady and real.

I reached for the button of his pants while he kept kissing my chest, his lips trailing warm, lingering touches over my skin. My breath hitched as his hands roamed my sides, sending shivers through me.

But just as I was about to unbutton his pants, he suddenly stopped. His lips hovered over my skin, his breathing heavy.

I froze, my fingers still resting on the button of his pants.

He lifted his head, looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. Hesitation, maybe?

"Austin…” he whispered, his voice soft but firm.

I swallowed, searching his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

He exhaled, pressing his forehead against mine. “I just… I don't want to do it here.”

I stared at him for a moment, taking in the warmth of his breath against my lips, the way his hands still rested gently on my sides. I could see the sincerity in his eyes, the hesitation mixed with something deeper—something that made my heart clench.

I nodded slowly, offering him a small smile. “I get it.”

Relief washed over his face, and he let out a breathy chuckle. “You’re not mad?”

I shook my head. “Of course not. We don’t have to do it here.”

Chase smiled, and the tension in the air softened. He leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss on my lips, slow and tender this time, as if trying to make me feel everything he couldn’t say out loud.

“Thank you,” he murmured against my lips. “I just want to be with you. That’s enough for me.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Yeah."

And with that, he pulled me into his arms, holding me close as the rain continued to fall outside.

"Your grandma might be looking for us. She might be worried now." I said, breaking the silence between us.

He hummed softly, his hand absentmindedly tracing circles on my back. “Yeah… but don’t worry. She knows we’re stuck because of the rain.”

I let out a quiet sigh, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath my palm. The warmth of his skin, the sound of the rain, and the faint scent of him lingering in the air—it was all too comforting.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling in my chest. “We should probably go back soon,” I muttered, though I made no move to get up.

"Yeah, of course. But we can't go now."

"Maybe there's something that we can use here. Maybe an umbrella," I suggested, glancing around the small wooden house.

Chase looked at me and nodded. "Good idea. Let's check around."

"Yeah."

We both stood up, put up our shirts, scanning the small wooden house. The place was old, barely furnished, and seemed like it hadn’t been used in years. Dust clung to the wooden surfaces, and the only source of light came from the occasional flashes of lightning outside.

I walked over to an old wooden cabinet, pulling it open. It creaked loudly, and inside, I found nothing but empty shelves and cobwebs.

"Anything there?" Chase asked from the other side of the room.

"Nope. Just dust and disappointment," I muttered, shutting the cabinet with a sigh. "What about you?"

Chase lifted the lid of an old storage box and peeked inside. He rummaged through it for a moment before shaking his head. "Nothing useful."

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. “Great. So we’re really stuck here.”

"Wait."

I turned to Chase, my eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Did you find something?"

"Guess this will work," 

I raised an eyebrow as Chase held up a large plastic sheet. It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but it was better than nothing.

"You think this will actually help?" I asked, eyeing it skeptically.

"It’s not perfect, but it’ll keep us from getting completely soaked," he said, shaking the plastic out to check its condition. "Unless you’d rather stay here all night?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Alright, fine. Let’s give it a shot."

Chase grinned. "Okay."

We stepped toward the entrance, and he pulled the plastic over both of us, making sure it covered as much as possible. As we braced ourselves for the rain, I couldn't help but glance at him.

"Ready?" he asked.

I nodded. "Let's go."

And with that, we dashed into the storm, the plastic barely shielding us from the cold night rain.

When we reached the park, we went straight to our bikes. The rain was still pouring, soaking us a little despite the plastic sheet we used to cover ourselves.

"You use it." Chase handed me the plastic, his expression unreadable.

"Wait, what about you?" I frowned, not liking the idea of him getting drenched while I stayed somewhat dry.

He simply smiled. "I'll be fine. You’re already shivering. Just take it."

I hesitated, gripping the plastic tightly. "We can share—"

"Just take it, Austin," he insisted, already straddling his bike. "I don’t want you catching a cold."

"But..." I hesitated, gripping the plastic tightly.

"Hey, I'll be fine." He gave me a reassuring smile, like it was no big deal. Like he wasn’t the one standing there, completely drenched.

I exhaled, feeling a mix of frustration and something else I couldn't quite name. Instead of arguing, I carefully draped the plastic over myself.

"Fine," I muttered, starting my bike. "But if you get sick, don’t blame me."

He just laughed before revving his engine. "Let’s go before it gets worse."

And with that, we rode off into the rain.

—

As we got closer to his grandma’s house, I spotted her standing on the balcony. Even from a distance, I could tell she’d been waiting for us. The fence wasn’t that tall, so I could clearly see the concern on her face.

"Your grandma’s been waiting." I said.

He sighed, slowing down his bike. "Yeah, I figured."

When we finally reached the gate, she called out, "You boys took your time! I was worried sick!"

"Sorry, Grandma," Chase said, hopping off his bike. "The rain trapped us for a while."

Chase guided me off my bike, and we both walked toward the balcony. The warm glow from inside the house made the night feel less cold, but my clothes were still clinging to my skin.

"Goodness, Chase, you're soaked. You might catch a cold!" Grandma exclaimed, her voice full of worry as she reached for a towel.

"I'm fine, Grandma," Chase said with a small chuckle, running a hand through his wet hair.

She glanced at me, her gaze softening. "Austin, are you okay?"

I nodded. "Yes, Grandma."

"Come inside, both of you."

I nodded, shivering slightly. The rain kept on pouring, and the chill still lingered in my bones.

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