Stronger Together (bxb) ✔

Chapter 57 - Chase

Chase's POV

"Welcome to my home, little lamb," Diego says, ushering me into his house. He has an open floor plan, and from our place at his door, I can see his spacious kitchen, living room and dining room.

Navy blue, grey and white adorn his living space. From the walls to the furniture, everything is beautifully coordinated in those colours. The brownish grey, laminated wood floors, interrupted only by a fluffy, light grey rug in the living room, spreads out before us. Large windows, letting in the orange cast of the setting sun, can be seen in every direction.

"Are you hungry? Or thirsty? Are you sleepy? Do you-"

I giggle and peck Diego's cheek, interrupting his rambling. "I'm not a great cook but I make the best mac and cheese," I say, peeking up at my slightly flustered boyfriend.

A warm smile spreads across his face. "You'll cook for me!"

I giggle again and nod. From the time we were teenagers, Jesse was cooking for our entire family. Then when we moved in together he continued that practice and he would cook for me.

In recent years, I've started helping him out more in the kitchen and can now cook about half of the dishes he can, though not as well. The only dish that I can make better than Jesse is surprisingly mac and cheese.

"I'll see if I have all the ingredients," Diego says, grinning at me before pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.

"I actually brought the ingredients," I mumble, stooping to open my little carry-on. I pull out a tiny cooler which contains the cheese, lettuce and chicken breast, along with a grocery bag filled with the other ingredients.

Diego's arms suddenly wrap around me, pulling me backwards. My back is against his chest and his arms around my waist, while he props his head on my shoulder. He places a tender kiss there, before whispering, "I love you so much, Chase."

I twist a little in his arms to gaze into his cocoa bean coloured eyes. "I love you too, DiDi," I reply in a whisper before giving him a soft kiss on the lips. He smiles in response, squeezing me closer to his body. I turn back around and lean against his chest, gently playing with his fingers on my stomach.

We sit like this, on the cool floor, for a few more minutes before I twist around once again in Diego's arms. "Should I cook for you now?" I ask in a soft voice and he smiles and nods in response.

Diego helps me carry everything to the kitchen and after declining his offer to help several times, I start to cook. "Why do you only have one change of clothes?" Diego inquires as I put the macaroni in the pot to boil.

My eyebrows knit together. "I'm only staying over tonight."

"Yes but you have no pyjamas," he retorts and I giggle before turning around.

Perched on the countertop opposite me, Diego raises his eyebrows. I saunter over to him and stand between his legs, a huge smile plastered on my face. His hand drifts up to caress my cheek. "Was a certain little lamb going to sleep naked?" He asks.

A tiny giggle escapes me and I shake my head before leaning forward and burying it in Diego's chest. "No, but I thought maybe I could sleep in your clothes," I mumble against his neck.

The faint smell of manly musk and mocha that defines Diego's smell lingered on the shirt he lent me when we went to his island. That night, his smell comforted me, guiding me into a land of sweet dreams. The only other times I've slept like that since the incident were when Diego slept over at my house.

However, the reason I want to sleep in his clothes is because I've always wanted to sleep in a boyfriend's clothes. Of my previous boyfriends, Mike was the closest I've been to any of them, but he never let me wear his clothes.