Chasing Our Stepsister

Chapter 3 Awakened Desires

　　Jade

　　His body tensed at my question, a fleeting emotion passing through his eyes, hinting at depths beneath the surface. However, my intoxicated haze prevented me from scrutinizing it thoroughly-I had never excelled at observation anyway.

　　I mean, just look at me... I failed to notice the entire affair between Mom and Frank, right under my nose. I was such an i***t.

　　"And why this sudden question, Jade?" he asked, the name rolling off his tongue like silk, sending shivers down my spine, as erratic as the waves of the ocean. His eyes now seemed the most captivating thing in the world.

　　"Because, Chase," I whispered, unable to tear my gaze away from him, "You know...everyone has a past. We all do things before finding our mate-have s*x, drink, party, meet people, get attached, and sometimes break. But once we find them, aren't we supposed to live for them? Like Seriously, once you find your mate, you have to dedicate your entire soul to them, isn't that how it is? Make them your whole world, and they make you theirs. If choosing someone after they're gone and moving on were that easy, why would there be such a sacred concept as finding your true soulmate? The Goddess could've given us f*****g flimsy choices to pick from, then. What's the point of all this?"

　　He listened to me, carefully, his expression conveying that he absorbed every word.

　　"It's betrayal..." To my surprise, he spoke up, his voice dropping low and carrying a strange tone, "It's not about your choices before them; it's about your choices after them and during the time they were with you. If you opt for someone else just because they're gone, no longer with you, and then label it as 'being happy,' that's selfish... it's not how it works. At least, that's what I believe."

　　His response caught me off guard. Honestly, I hadn't expected him to not only agree with my point. Hell, not only just agree but say the exact words that were in my heart.

　　While everyone else had dismissed my perspective, this stranger before me had delicately dissected the components and torn them apart, and molded them in a more eloquent manner-a better way to express it.

　　I listened to him and he continued, his voice soft and gentle, the night on full swing and the music in the background fading softly drawing all of my attention to him.

　　To be honest, my entire soul was drawn to him.

　　"Come to think about it, that person you're leaving behind while holding someone else's hand, has dedicated their whole life to you. They loved you, cherished you until their last breath. Then why can't you just do the same? Why do you need another person beside you?" he asked, a bitter chuckle slipping past his lips. "They could have rejected you and held someone else's hand, couldn't they? Then why did they choose you? It's because they loved you. Just because they're gone, are you going to betray them like that? That's f*****g bullshit." He downed his first shot, emitting a low sigh.

　　"Even if you put aside the whole 'mate' thing, thinking about love in general, for me, it should happen only once. Once you're in love, no, actually, once you're truly in love, you would never want anyone by your side, whether that person is gone or alive. It's a choice, Jade. It's the choice that makes the difference."

　　"Do you really believe it, or are you just saying?" I asked, my voice soft.

　　"Trust me, sunshine, I believe in what I just said more than even you can," he chuckled again, and this time, it sounded bitter.

　　It made me wonder how he could relate to this so much if this wasn't something he hadn't been through. I mean, I didn't know anything about him, what he had been through specifically, and to be honest-I didn't want to know. I was too steeped in my own dilemmas.

　　"So you're that 'I can die waiting for you' kind of guy?" I looked at him, unsure if it was the alcohol or just me, but he was... attractive. I mean, really. I've seen my fair share of men and their charms, but something about Chase Ashford was different. Utterly different.

　　"Yes, Jade," his eyes met mine, and they looked at me differently, way differently. "I'd live for the one I love, and... there'd be no coming back, no matter what. Whether she's gone or she's right before me-it'd be her. Once it's love for me... it'd always be her."

　　Was he even real? I didn't know, but he felt unreal.

　　I'd blame the alcohol for a brief moment; my thoughts began to divert from the conversation and solely focused on how beautiful he looked under the dimmed lighting of the bar. He was truly... gorgeous.

　　My God! He was more than just gorgeous. I didn't have words to describe it, but... he was truly the kind of man who could bring you down to your knees, and you wouldn't even complain. Much like I wasn't, as he perhaps unknowingly or knowingly stirred awake my deepest desires.

　　"But I wonder what made you ask me such a question. The way you've been downing yourself in alcohol, the way your eyes aren't spilling the truth, the way... you sounded when you asked me that question..." he raised his hand and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, unknowingly sending a shiver down my body, "All of it makes me wonder whether you have truly lost someone and are torn between two ends. Or it's just something else. I know you won't tell... but, I guess, I can stay with that."

　　Well...

　　He was right-I wouldn't tell him, but it was astonishing how he had read me so easily.

　　Was I that easy to read, or was it my questions that made it too obvious? Guess, only he knew the answer.

　　"Have you found your mate yet, Chase?" I found myself asking even though I'd almost stopped it. Almost.

　　A flicker crossed his eyes before a smile broke on his face as he pulled his hand away. "Well... not yet," his voice dropped a tone, sounding deeper. "What about you, Jade? Have you found your other half?"

　　I shook my head. "No. I haven't."

　　"And what's allowed in your past before you finally met him?" His question surprised me nonetheless, but I kind of... liked it.

　　"Almost everything..." My voice barely rose above a whisper.

　　"Mistakes?" he asked, his voice deep, sending chills through my whole body. He was awakening a desire I hadn't felt for years...

　　"Yes, certainly," I found the courage within the intoxicating effects of the liquor, but the man before me was even more intoxicating-so seductive and alluring that for a moment, I just wanted to lose myself in the blue of his orbs, get swayed by the charm of his words.

　　"I see..." It was his time to whisper.

　　"Do you have time to make mistakes, Chase?" The words left my mouth before I could even stop them. His blue eyes flickered to look at me, and they darkened.

　　Shit! I guess it was too late to take my words back.

　　For a long, torturing minute, he watched me silently, something going on in that head of his before a smirk finally curved at the corner of his lips. "I do, Jade... and I'd pretty much like to-"

　　I leaned in and kissed him. I could blame myself later or maybe even apologize, but f**k, his lips... nothing had ever tempted me more than they did when he spoke.

　　But as soon as our lips touched, realization washed over me, and I pulled away.

　　God! I hadn't even asked for his permission-guess, this was time for self-blame that came sooner.

　　I hurriedly began to pull away, "I- I... am sorry, I-"

　　And just then, his hand came around my neck, and he pulled me close, his lips once again awfully close to mine yet not touching. My eyes locked with his, and my heartbeats picked up a pace.

　　OH. MY. GOD.

　　"You didn't let me finish my sentence, beautiful," he murmured, a sexy grin taking over his face. "Tonight-I'd love to make you my mistake, Jade. So stop drinking and let me drink you... all night long," and then he smashed our lips together.