Bab 24: Chapter Twenty Four
"C-Chase, stop!" Lia begged, panting and barely able to get the words out, pain searing through her body.
Alarmed at her request, Chase stopped pushing and asked her worriedly, "Did I hurt you?"
"No, no. I just need a break. Give me a second. This is more intense than I imagined."
"This isn't going to work, Lia."
"It will work! Just... just put your strength into it."
"I don't think my strength is the problem here." he insisted.
"What are you implying?"
"It's a tight fit. Impossible even. And you look like you're about to pass out."
"Don't worry about me! Just keep forcing it in, I will tell you to stop when it's too much-"
"I am pretty sure force isn't the solution," he interrupted her.
"Just do it! Push a little harder- ouch! Not now!" she yelled out in pain because that hurt.
"Are you okay?" he shouted back.
"No! You didn't warn me!"
"You told me to push!"
"I know, I know! But dammit, I wasn't ready for that. You have to give me time to prepare."
"We should stop... come back to this another time." Chase said with a loud sigh. He was exerting too much of his strength, and she could tell. He was getting frustrated.
"No, no! I want this in. Let's get this over with. Try a little harder! I am prepared this time-"
"I am afraid that if I try any harder, I am going to bang you into the wall with the mattress!" Chase yelled back resolutely.
Oh, before your mind wanders any further, Chase was simply helping her carry, or rather force, the new heavy mattress she bought into the existing and slightly narrower metal bed frame she had in her room. She made the mistake of buying a new mattress without checking the dimensions of the old bed frame.
Anyway, she used the man's muscles to help her carry the new mattress and push it into the existing frame. She was carrying one side, and at some point, she was pushed into the corner, which is why they had the lovely conversation.
And yes, she knew it sounded like she was telling him to try to fit his huge... you know what, into her tight... you also know what. She can see it now. She didn't notice at the time, but she can see it now.
They are nowhere near the territory yet, so hold your horses.
Speaking of horses, Chase acts like one. For instance, only two-thirds of the water he gulps is inside his mouth; the rest just cascades down his jaw and neck, soaking through his shirt. It's like he's in a coconut water commercial. Not only that, but he also shakes his head from left to right after taking a swig of water... just like a horse would.
"You're soaking my entire carpet! Can you drink your water somewhere else? Or. at least, drink like a normal person? The bottle's mouth is not a suggestion. It's there for a reason!" she yelled at him. This was after the man had successfully forced her big mattress into the narrower bed frame - once she got out of the way.
"You owe me for helping you move this," he said, pointing the water bottle at the mattress and then at her. "Want a sip?"
"No, thanks." Lia declined a little more calmly, "And since when is 'thank you' not enough? Why do I have to owe you anything?"
"Oh, you owe me big time. My back is suffering because of you. You know, four delivery men threw this mattress at our doorstep, right? It's a miracle it fits into this bed frame, which you should probably change soon.So yeah, you owe me for carrying it."
"Oh, come on, it's not like you carried it by yourself."
"No offense, sweetheart, but you weren't much help."
She rolled her eyes at him.
"I carried it with you and you know it. But fine, muscle man, your services are no longer needed for the day. Can you leave, please?"
To annoy her, Chase did not leave. Instead, he raised his arms a little, like a horse raising its front legs, and jumped up on her mattress before laying down and propping himself up on one elbow. He smiled at her, looking annoyingly perfect, as always. "Not so fast," he said. "I want to see what the big deal is about this mattress and why you bought it and made me carry it for you. I think I may want to sleep here tonight... as a reward."
"You've got to be kidding me! Get off my mattress, Chase! I haven't even put sheets on it, yet! And you are not going to sleep on it, ever!"
"Oh, yeah?" he challenged.
"Yeah! Now get off, I haven't even gotten a chance to try it!"
Chase patted the spot on the bed next to where he was lying, not making a move to get up. "Come on then, I don't mind sharing the bed."
Lia groaned in annoyance. If she had known he was going to torment her like this, she wouldn't have asked for his help in the first place. But who was she kidding? There was no way she could have moved it by herself. She is actually worried that it's weighing down the entire third floor.
"GET OUT, CHASE!" she yelled at him again.
"Come here and make me," he challenged with a smirk, which sounded and looked like he was flirting. She was not in the mood for his vague flirting.
"I know how to get you to leave!" she said as she stormed out of the room.
She may not have muscles that are anywhere near as strong as Chase's, but her brain cells can flex. She grabbed the one thing she knew he would hate for her to destroy. His fucking protein powder. She then went back into her bedroom, carrying the gigantic tub of powder and a small water bottle.
"Aww, babe..." he began in a belittling tone, "If you think that the protein powder will give you enough muscles to fight me, I am afraid to tell you that it doesn't work like that."
"Shut up, Chase!" she said as she uncapped the water bottle, removed the lid off the protein container, and then positioned the open bottle over it, threatening to pour water inside. Protein powder apparently needs to stay dry.
"You wouldn't!" he said and narrowed his eyes at her, but he still lay on her mattress. She could see it on his face. He knew Lia would.
"Get off my bed!" she demanded, but he didn't move. He just eyes her intently and says, "GET OFF MY BED, CHASE!" She yelled and counted to five before dumping the water into the tub.
The man's jaw dropped at that, but he still made no move to get off the mattress.
When she was done with her tactic - which she thought had failed to trigger him - he said with a smirk, "You little..."
"What?" she dared him to continue with a smirk of her own. Chase had never cussed in front of her, or at her, before, so she wanted to see where this was going.
"After what I've done for you... you need to be punished," he suggested with a smirk, mischief lacing his voice.
Lia definitely wanted to see where this was going. "Oh, yeah? What are you going to do?"
The excitement was evident in her voice. And almost in her pants, by the way.
"I am going to tickle you," he announced, and he got off the bed hurriedly, as if about to chase her down.
"What?!"
"You heard me!"
She didn't know what to do but run into the living room. The bastard was fast, and he grabbed her sides and tackled her to the couch. She was genuinely surprised when he started tickling her.
Lia's back was on the couch, her legs were dangling from the side, and he was pressing some of his weight on top of her, to keep her in place, and his hands were going to her sides. Her mind was fretting over whether to protect herself from the man's attacks or fight back. Except he was relentless, and she was dying from the torture.
As she was laughing her heart out, afraid of peeing herself, she saw the big stupid grin he had on his face. He was happy he was making her laugh.
"S-stop! Stop!" she begged, nearly out of breath. When he didn't stop, she threatened with, "Get off of me! I am going to pee!" and that did it.
It took her a while to regain a normal breathing pattern. He had lifted some of his weight off of her, but she still felt him on her. He was still on top of her, actually. She held his gaze. She was unconsciously smiling and panting, and he was grinning down at her like an idiot. After a long eye contact, he leaned down, and, out of nowhere, he kissed the tip of her nose.
Chase got up afterwards.
"I am going to take a nap on your mattress now." he announced. "Wake me up in an hour."
Lia had yet to fully process what had happened. And don't get her started on what that kiss did to her.
All she is sure of is...
He slept on her mattress before she did.
*****
Hadiah
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