Chase Midnight

  ONE DARK NIGHT

  MP BATES

  THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. NAMES, CHARACTERS, PLACES, AND INCIDENTS EITHER ARE THE PRODUCT OF THE AUTHOR’S IMAGINATION OR ARE USED FICTITIOUSLY. ANY RESEMBLANCE TO ACTUAL PERSONS, LIVING OR DEAD, EVENTS, OR LOCALES IS ENTIRELY COINCIDENTAL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE USED OR REPRODUCED BY ANY MEANS, GRAPHIC, ELECTRONIC, OR MECHANICAL, INCLUDING PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING, TAPING, OR BY ANY INFORMATION STORAGE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF BRIEF QUOTATIONS EMBODIED IN CRITICAL ARTICLES AND REVIEWS.

  Pictures: Canva/MPB Photography

  Cover Design by /MP Bates

  ASIN: B0BYP514ZF

  Edited by: Barefoot Editing

  COPYRIGHT ©MP BATES 2023

  Contents

  Note from the author

  1. Grant

  2. Aspen

  3. Grant

  4. Aspen

  5. Grant

  6. Aspen

  7. Grant

  8. Aspen

  Epilogue: Grant

  Also by MP Bates

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Note from the author

  If you would like to avoid any spoilers, feel free to skip this note.

  This is a one shot- one night novella. It has insta-love. If that is not for you, please don’t read this.

  The characters have previously known each other.

  This book contains primal kink, snowballing, degradation, praise, stalking elements, agoraphilia, breath play, mentions of cheating (not relevant in current relationship) Mentions of mental health issues in the past.

  Tropes:

  Friends to lovers

  Ex’s best friend

  Second chance romance

  If this book inspires you to look into the world of BDSM or primal, PLEASE seek educational sources and research before diving in. This book is fiction, and meant for your smutty reading pleasure. This is not intended to be a guide. It is recommend to always try any BDSM elements with a trusted partner or mentor. Please be aware of the risks and stay safe with your partner/partners!

  This one’s for those who love when MMC’s growl.

  And my Nespresso machine —couldn’t have done it without you

  CHAPTER 1

  Grant

  The five hour drive out to the secluded lakeside cabin at the edge of the woods was the best impulse decision I’ve made in a while. The worst impulsive decision I’ve ever made was the piece of shit I just broke up with, an hour before heading here because I found out he was seeing someone else.

  The breakup was for the best. He was nothing but wrong for me. But part of me is upset because it’s years wasted and down the drain. Years of putting up with him.

  I drive up the loose gravel road, the rocks rumbling beneath my wheels. The dark, A-frame log cabin with beautiful picture windows and a wrap-around front porch comes into view and all of my worries seem to fade away.

  A black pick-up truck is sitting parked at an angle in the dirt driveway and the porch lights are on. It’s dusk so they are probably turned on automatically and maybe the truck belongs to the owner that is renting this to me.

  Putting my car into park I let out a sigh, getting out of my car and taking a minute to stretch. I grab my half-ass, thrown together book bag out of the backseat, lock my car, and head up to the porch stairs.

  Pulling up my phone, I open the booking app to activate the passcode needed to enter on the pin pad lock on the door.

  I enter 1-1-2-4 while grabbing onto the brass door handle, getting ready to push it open.

  “ERROR” flashes across the digital pin pad along with a sequence of beeps.

  “What the fuck?” I say exasperated, entering in the passcode again.

  “ERROR” flashes once again.

  “Oh come on!”

  The oak door opens, causing me to jump and drop my phone onto the porch. I lean down, holding my hair out of the way as I pick it up.

  “What is going on out here?” A husky male’s voice asks. As I stand straight I’m met with a set of tanned, washboard abs. Bringing my gaze up slowly, I see defined pecs with a tattoo of a rose on the right, a five o’clock shadow, and a chiseled jaw. I meet the mystery man’s eyes, a beautiful shade of Atlantic blue, his long blond hair tousled to the side, the sides shaved underneath.

  It hits me that I realize I recognize those eyes. I’d recognize them anywhere.

  “A-Aspen?” I say timidly, not sure if I’m tired from the car ride and confused, in a trance because of his toned body, or if he’s actually who I think he is.

  My ex’s best friend. The man I actually wanted in high school. The man I wish I could’ve ended up with but I settled instead.

  “Grant? That you?” he says, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. His sudden focused gaze on me sends heat rising in my core.

  “Yes, but what are you doing here?”

  “I could say the same to you.” Aspen reaches his arms up, resting them on the top of the door frame, his right leg coming over to cross the left. I gulp as my eyes dart down, his Adonis belt now flexing and more prominent than it was before.

  I shake my head quickly, shooting my stare back up, being met with a smirk.

  God he got so fucking gorgeous since I last saw him, in my senior year of high school. We were still friends –even when I was with his best friend– and occasionally ended up hanging out together with my ex. He clearly had an unfathomable glow up, because I can’t stop staring in awe of him. I forgot how fucking tall he was, too.

  “I’m renting this cabin to get away for the weekend,” I say shyly as I chew on my bottom lip for a moment. “Uh…Tom and I broke up this morning, and I needed to get as far away as I could manage. He uh…cheated on me.” He stares at me for a moment, his jaw ticking.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Grant. Tom and I haven’t spoken since we graduated. Regardless, he’s still just as dumb as he always was, if he managed to fuck up and lose someone like you.” His voice sends chills down my spine. Not only did he get better with age, his voice did, too.

  Why is he suddenly saying my ex fucked up by losing someone like me? Last time I checked, he was straight –hence why I couldn't have him– and I always respected that boundary and never made it obvious I wanted him.

  “There must have been a mistake with the booking app, because I have this place rented out for another week. I’m doing some construction in town, and this was the closest I could find that wasn’t a sleazy motel.”

  I open the booking app again, pulling up my reservation. I shove my phone up to him, the confirmation and details of my stay flashed across the screen. “See?”

  “That’s really strange. It must have double booked us,” he says, rubbing his hand over his jaw.

  “I can head back to my car and call the owner, it’s no big deal. Maybe they have another property around here I can switch to.” I pick my bag up off the porch, throwing it over my shoulder.

  “Listen, why don’t you come and sit. How far did you have to drive today –five hours from our home town? Yeah, no. Come inside and rest while we figure this out. Maybe it would be a good time to catch up while you’re here.” He motions his hand behind him, stepping to the side.

  I look into his eyes for a moment, studying his facial expression. I trusted this man for years as a friend in high school. Even though it’s been seven years since we last saw each other, and we are both twenty-five now, my heart is telling me to go inside.

  “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea, Aspen.”

  CHAPTER 2

  Aspen

  Of all of the people to come crashing at my door –not actually my but you get the point– it had to be him.

  Grant. The man who I wanted, since freshman year of high school, but had to watch my best friend take from me. Just to throw him away apparently, too.

  To be fair, I wasn’t confident in my sexuality back then. I knew I liked women, but I also liked men and didn’t know bisexuality existed. I thought I could only have one or the other and my parents forced me to believe women should always be my choice. One of the many downsides of growing up in a small, secluded town.

  But now here we both are, in the same house after seven years. He’s hurt, vulnerable, and clearly needs reassurance and comfort. I don’t talk to my old best friend anymore after he went off to college and I chose a trade job and started working immediately. But now I want to give him a piece of my mind and make him regret hurting someone like Grant.

  Grant was always the sweetest guy I knew. He came off as innocent, shy, and quiet. He was always willing to help out anyone he could and was the top of our class as far as academics went.

  Seeing him now, all worked up and sad like this, makes me want to get his mind off of things. I don’t want to impose and ask him what had happened with Tom, but it’s killing me not knowing how deeply he was hurt.

  I watch as his slim but defined muscular frame moves into the entryway, making his way into the living room.

  “Have a seat,” I say, pointing to the suede tan couch. “Want anything to drink? I got water, orange soda and coffee.” A soft smile spreads across his lips followed by laughter.

  “What are you laughing about? What’s so funny?” I say, rub bing my hand on the back of my neck. I cock my head, looking at him as he spreads his arms across the back of the couch, stretching.

  “Orange soda. That was your weakness back in high school. I still remember.” I bite my lip, my mouth curling into a wry smile.

  God, he’s so cute.

  “Yeah,” I laugh, “it sure was.” I head into the kitchen, pausing before heading in. “So, does that mean you want one?” Grant nods, running his teeth along his bottom lip. I track the motion, my brows furrowing as I force myself to divert my eyes. That’s been a habit of his for as long as I’ve known him, and it always drove me mad. His lips are so fucking perfect and begging to be devoured.

  I shouldn’t be looking at him like that. It’s been years. We’re different people now and he’s going through a fucking break up. I shouldn’t be the asshole that tries to swoop in and be the rebound. But I already feel myself wanting him more than I did back then and I’ve only been in his presence for twenty minutes.

  “Here you go, Grant. Make yourself comfy, I’ll give the owner a call to check about anything being open around here for the night.” I hand him the bottle of orange soda and sit down on the oak chair across from him.

  Pulling out my phone, I grab the number for the owner of this cabin and dial it. “Hey John, it’s Aspen. I have a little issue going on here, if you have a moment.” Grant watches me as he takes a few pulls of his soda and I track his Adam’s apple as it bobs up and down. A little drips onto the corner of his mouth, and I feel my cock twitch with the immediate need to lick it up for him.

  “Hey Asp! What’s wrong, bud?” John says through the phone. I hear shuffling going on in the background. He’s probably out working on something in his garage and I caught him at a bad time.

  “Just wondering if you knew about any other properties that had availability in the area,” I say, keeping it short as Grant slouches back further on the couch, his shirt riding up ever so slightly on the side. I suppress a groan as my eyes drift over his protruding hip bone.

  “Why? Are you not happy with the cabin anymore, bud?” John asks, his concerned tone sending a pang of guilt. “I think I have another cabin five miles north of where you’re sat at. I can check the info on it, just gotta finish up mountin’ this motor.”

  I rub my hand over my jaw as it ticks, my light stubble scratching at my palm. My eyes continue their trail up Grant’s body until I reach his beautiful brown eyes. They’re like that perfect cup of warm coffee on a crisp fall morning, with the perfect amount of light cream. My favorite shade. No one else’s eyes have ever compared since I first saw his.

  I freeze in place as John keeps going on in the background –he continues explaining how much hassle the lift has been giving him– as I realize that Grant is staring right back at me. His hooded eyes are filled with curiosity and longing. The puffy redness under his eyes tell me he was definitely crying on his drive up here.

  I ball my fist at my side, waves of regret hitting me harder than the day I watched him be whisked away by my dumb, ungrateful best friend back in high school.

  Grant’s eyes trail up and down my body as he bites his fucking lip again. I feel goosebumps travel across my tanned, tattooed skin the longer I watch his lip roll under his teeth. He takes another sip of his soda as his hand travels to his lap. I blink slowly as I notice his hard cock bulging in his light blue jeans as he adjusts it, tucking it up under his waistband. Holy fucking shit, he’s hard. Is it from nerves? Is he remembering something about his ex? I doubt it’s any of those things with the way he’s been eyeing me since I got on the phone. Oh yeah, I’m on the phone.

  “Ya still there, Asp?” John says sweetly through the phone, grunting as he rattles chains around. I lean my head back, forcing these thoughts swimming through my head away. Stealing a glance over at him, I see his eyes glued directly at my crotch. I look down, red creeping up my neck as I realize I’m still hard, and there’s no way he can’t see it. His lips part as he licks them slowly, his pupils dilating with lust.

  It was because of me. There’s no doubt. Fuck his ex. My shitty so-called old best friend. He’s in my care right now, and I have a lot of catching up to do.

  Let’s just hope Grant can keep up with the dark and dirty things I want to do with him. I have needs that no one has been able to swing with, and I’m terrified that he won’t like them either. Granted, it’s okay if he doesn’t like the things I need, because I’d take him either way. He’d be the exception, no matter what.

  “Actually, John, never mind. I’ll give you a call back later when you’re not busy. Finish up what you gotta do, we’ll talk later.” I hang up the phone, tossing it onto the coffee table.

  “He’s super busy right now, but I’ll call him back in a bit,” I lie, settling back into the chair.

  “Okay, sounds good to me. I’m in no rush, really,” Grant says with a smile, his tone low and husky.

  “Great. Guess that means we have plenty of time to catch up now, huh?”

  You will be mine, little rabbit.

  CHAPTER 3

  Grant

  Aspen and I have been swapping stories back and forth for two hours now. We fell into conversation like no time has passed since we last talked, seven years ago.

  “It looks like John hasn’t gotten back to me yet. It’s getting late, so why don’t you just sleep here and we can figure it out in the morning?” Aspen asks, fiddling his thumbs together nervously.

  I honestly have no desire to leave here and find another cabin to rent myself, after being here today. Being around Aspen again was like the breath of fresh air I didn’t realize I needed. He’s grown so much as a person since high school and really made a life for himself by getting into construction. He helps develop non-profit buildings and community housing in different areas of the state and I admire him for that. Plus, he is so fucking sexy. I always thought he was back in high school, but didn’t want to disrespect boundaries of sexuality. But I always wished I was with him instead of his best friend.

  “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Thank you for being an amazing host and offering your space up for me,” I say with a smile, standing up from the couch to stretch. I can feel his eyes burning into my skin as my shirt rides up. I feel butterflies floating around in my stomach as I peek down, confirming I was right. He’s practically salivating, looking at me. Is he still straight? There’s no way. I watched him get hard while looking at me earlier, when he was on the phone. Maybe it was nerves or he was thinking about someone else.

  “The spare room is down that hall, on the right. Make yourself at home, Grant.” Aspen motions his hand behind him, directing me to the hall behind the living room.

  “Thank you again. Have a good night, Aspen,” I say softly, walking past him to head to the room I’ll be calling mine tonight. I get a hint of his scent as I walk by, waves of spice and pine filling all of my senses, intoxicating me. I shiver, fighting off the dirty thoughts that pass through my mind as I walk into the room.

  Putting my stuff down on the solid oak, log framed bed, I shuffle through my stuff to find something to wear for bed.

  I haphazardly packed before heading out, and I managed to only pack myself five pairs of boxers, two shirts, and one spare pair of pants. Great. Looks like I’ll be sleeping in just boxers so I have enough clean clothes to last the weekend.

  Heading into the hallway, I head towards the bathroom. I know a shower would help me relax right now, seeing as how I can’t sleep after trying for an hour.

  I stop in front of the bathroom door as I realize it’s occupied, steam rolling out into the hall. The door isn’t shut all the way and I’m entranced by what I find myself in perfect view of. Aspen. Partially hidden within the steamy shower. The curtain isn’t fully closed, giving me full viewing access to see his toned, wet body in all its glory. He’s so fucking gorgeous, it should be illegal to look that good.

 

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