Chapter 26: It Don’t Mean a Thing…

[Sacharissa]

Caprice

She felt his lips moving against hers, velvet soft, yet demanding. He angled his head for better access and very gently nipped at her lower lip, causing her to gasp in surprise. He took immediate advantage, deepening the kiss until she felt herself melt into his heat, her heart pounding, her resistance fading fast.

He pulled back for a moment, and she looked up into his eyes, dark with his desire. “I’ve waited so long for this,” Chase said huskily, gently brushing a stray lock out of her eyes.

“So have I,” Caprice whispered. “I…I didn’t know it could be like this.”

“This is only the beginning,” he answered. He bent his head to lay a line of kisses from her lips to the sensitive spot behind her ear. Her eyes closed, unable to remain open as he continued his tender seduction. She felt herself being lowered to the bed…felt the weight of him as he settled over her.

“You’re so soft…so beautiful,” he murmured in a voice made for sin. Only it wasn’t Chase’s voice, and when her eyes flew open, it wasn’t Chase’s warm hazel eyes looking down at her, but Christian’s silvery-grey gaze.

“Shhhhh,” he whispered, and before she could protest, his lips met hers in a firestorm of desire, that left her trembling with need.

“Caprice,” he sighed, as he kissed her again.

“Caprice,” he whispered, as his kisses moved from her lips, to neck.

“Caprice,” he murmured as he moved to the hollow of her throat.

“Caprice! Are you going to sleep all day? You’re going to miss the bus if you don’t get a move on!!!”

Caprice’s eyes flew open to find herself alone in her bed, Casey standing over her, hands on hips, shaking her head.

“Must have been some dream,” her sister chided, indicated the tangled sheets. Caprice blushed to the roots of her hair.

“It wasn’t a dream…it was…it was a nightmare!”

“Uh-huh,” Casey said skeptically. “So that’s what all that moaning and sighing was? A nightmare?” She ducked as Caprice threw a pillow at her. “I’m just saying…” she laughed, heading for the door.

Caprice glanced at the clock and groaned. She had 20 minutes to get ready. So much for getting up early and getting a little more study time in before school! She threw back the covers and padded across the floor. One good thing about getting up late - everyone else was at breakfast, so no need to fight over the bathroom.

Eighteen minutes later, Casey met her at the bottom of the stairs holding a bagel and coffee.

“You are a life saver!” she said, reaching for the coffee.

“Ever willing to serve. Besides…I wanna hear all about your hot dream! Judging from the sounds you were making, it must’ve been a doozy!”

“What hot dream?” asked Catherine, as she came up behind Casey, pulling on her coat.

“Caprice’s hot dream,” Casey explained.

“Oh, I know I don’t want to hear this,” chimed in Christopher, Catherine’s twin. “I am far too young and innocent,” he added, dashing out the door.

“C’mon…spill,” Casey prodded.

“Not on your life,” growled Caprice. “And besides…I told you…it wasn’t a dream. It was a nightmare!”

“Riiiiiiight! And that’s why your ears are all red. You were embarrassed by a nightmare!” Casey chided.

“I am NOT embarrassed!”

“You seem kind of embarrassed,” Catherine said thoughtfully. “Your face is really red.”

“Aaaaargh!” Caprice growled, and stomped off, leaving her younger sisters, laughing, behind her. Thankfully, the bus was just pulling up. Caprice hopped on, stalking all the way to the back. Wisely, Casey and Cat sat with friends near the front.

She took a sip of her coffee, and then proceeded to eat the bagel. Casey had thoughtfully spread it with Honey-Walnut cream cheese – her favorite! But if she thought that entitled her to pry into my dreams, she had another thing coming!

And what about that dream, anyway? What did it mean? She didn’t feel like that about Chase – did she? He was her best friend. They’d been best friends since practically as long as she could remember. Even with that whole mess between her mother and his father, they’d managed to remain close. She wasn’t in love with him…she couldn’t be! He was…he was…just Chase!

He certainly wasn’t in love with her! Besides, he was currently dating Meadow Thayer. (Why, Caprice just didn’t know. It just seemed like men always went for the obvious!) Still, ever since she had kissed him in the hot tub, something had changed. She hadn’t been able to get that kiss off of her mind…the taste of him…the feel of him…

STOP it! You are NOT in love with Chase Winterbourne! It’s only because you haven’t seen him since that damn kiss!

That had to be it! She hadn’t seen him since then, because of her grandfather’s funeral. She had left him, feeling all awkward. But as soon as she saw him again, they would just laugh about it, and things would go back to normal. Yeah! That’s it!

That did not explain where Christian came into it, however. After all, she had only just met him – and he hadn’t even kissed her! Well, just the peck on her forehead, but that hardly qualified! He was obviously just an outrageous flirt, and there was no way she was falling for that!

Still, there was that moment, just before he’d kissed her forehead - when he’d been staring into her eyes as though he’d been able to see every dream she’d ever had – when just for a moment, she’d wanted him to kiss her…when she’d wondered what it would be like to simply lose herself in his arms…

Stop it, STOP it, STOP IT! You are being RIDICULOUS! She just didn’t have time for this! She was too busy studying and prepping for the university. She just HAD to get into La Tour! She had plans!!!

And it’s not like she didn’t date! She wasn’t a complete egghead! She was going to the Welcome Week dance with Ricky Cormier, after all! She just didn’t have time for anything serious! Certainly not with Chase, and absolutely not with Christian! It was just a stupid dream, after all! It didn’t mean a thing!

Satisfied with her logic, Caprice finished her bagel and coffee, staring out the window at the passing landscape. Shaking her head, she smiled ruefully to herself. Just a silly dream. Thank goodness I am smarter than that!

[Surprised_by_Witches]

Yeah, Sweetie, you just keep lying to yourself. I'm rooting for Chase, but how do I know it won't go that smoothly?

Loved the beginning--very steamy. Where did I leave that fan?

[Lynet]

Very neatly done! I laughed out loud when I found out it was a dream. Whew! Wish I had dreams like that.

[muffin-tacos]

LOL I've HAD a few dreams like that with the weirdest people that I didn't even know that well...

Loved this chapter! I think there might be a little something between Caprice and Chase (stating the obvious), but I loved the way in her dream the person who was kissing her turned in to Christian. I think Caprice just needs a bit of lovin'.

I think Chase might be staying away from her ever since that kiss in the hot tub because he's having the same thoughts as Caprice about it all, too.