“Mornin’.” His raspy voice went straight to my core.
I was rendered speechless for a moment at the sheer beauty of him half-asleep. I’d never lusted after someone so much, and I also liked him a hell of a lot. The combination, and to feel it so soon, was intoxicating.
We eyed each other intently for a few moments, his gaze traveling from my eyes and down to my lips, and my heartbeat immediately increased its tempo.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t kiss you last night, since you let me stay,” he rasped. “But it’s not last night anymore.”
The second his lips touched mine, it was as though a spark had been lit.
He groaned and pulled me closer, his mouth coaxing as his tongue met mine. My entire body liquefied, heat pooling between my legs as his hands pulled my hair gently, gripping the thick waves at the base of my neck. We lay side by side with my leg thrown over his waist, and I fought the urge to grind into him.
In a decisive move, he rolled us so he was on top, his powerful forearms braced on either side of me as he continued to take my mouth. I felt completely enveloped by him and, despite his size, completely safe and cherished. I wanted him to take me like I’d never wanted anything in my life.
When he broke away, his forehead resting against mine, I felt as though I’d lost something incredibly significant. Our breath intermingled as we both fought for composure.
“I have to stop before I can’t,” he panted, pulling back, his pupils dilated as he gazed heatedly down on me.
I licked my swollen lips and returned his gaze, daring him not to kiss me again.
“Christ, Ellie, I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you,” he whispered raggedly. “But if I don’t stop now, I won’t be able to, and I don’t want you worrying about being late for work the first time I’m inside of you.”
“Okay” was the only response I seemed capable of coming up with.
He backed off me, the muscles in his arms rippling, the large bulge in his jeans making my mouth water all the more.
The proof that he wanted me made me feel powerful and sexy in a way I never had before.
“Why don’t you get ready, and I’ll give you a ride to work?” he suggested with a dimpled grin as I sat up, trying to get control of my raging hormones. His eyes flitted briefly over my chest, heat flaming in those brown depths before he cleared his throat and looked away.
I looked down and blushed when I saw my hard nipples poking out through my thin tank top. “Um, yeah, I’ll just go do that,” I agreed hastily. “Oh, but I was going to take Kodi to day care today. I typically just walk him there, since it’s down the street.”
“We can drop him off in the Rover,” he replied as I once again grew distracted by his mouth. “Shower, babe,” he prompted.
“Right,” I muttered, making my way to the bathroom.
After a hot shower that did wonders to calm my nerves, I put on the jeans and blouse I’d brought in with me. I left my wild mane to air dry as usual and threw on a light amount of makeup. “Ready,” I announced when I emerged into the bedroom.
He was sitting on the edge of my bed playing around on his phone. He looked up, his eyes finding mine, and I felt like all the air had left the room. He rose and came to stand directly in front of me, his large hand wrapping around my waist and pulling me closer still.
The kiss was just as passionate as the first, as our tongues dueled and body heat flared. He groaned loudly, pulling away before he lost all control.
I looked up at him, licking my now swollen lips, and tried to catch my breath. I really wanted to experience him losing that control.
“Baby, you keep looking at me like that and you’ll need to call in sick,” he warned.
I blushed and looked away hastily. This side of myself was foreign to me. I’d never felt desire like this or felt so desired. I found it to be both exhilarating and mildly terrifying.
“Before we go, give me your landlord’s number,” he ordered as I was grabbing my purse.
“What? Why?” I asked, confused.
“I want to make sure he sticks to his word that he’ll have that entry repaired by nightfall. I also want a new deadbolt on your door,” he explained.
I bristled at his bossiness. “Mason, I’m fully capable of following up with him. I can take care of myself,” I huffed.
He sighed and seemed to debate something before he reached out to take my hand. “Dating me has its drawbacks, Ellie. I want to do what I can to shield you where possible. Keeping you safe is the main way I can do that. Will you please give me the number? It would make me feel good to take care of this for you.”
When he asked like that, it was hard to stay mad. He seemed so sincere and concerned. “Fine,” I grumbled.
He grinned. “Hope that wasn’t too painful for you.”
I shot him a droll look as we headed downstairs to a very excited Kodi. “I just need to put him out and feed him, then we can go,” I explained.
“I can put him out,” Mason offered, already heading for the slider. “That’s a clever setup,” he commented, his eyes on the grassy area on the patio. “Though I see why it’s not ideal.”
“Yeah,” I replied as I poured food into Kodi’s bowl. “I signed my lease before I got him, but I’ve made it work for the most part.”
He pulled me in close. “I realize my overbearing tendencies may not have made it clear enough that I love your space, Ellie. It’s as dynamic and full of light as the woman who lives here.”
I blushed at the compliment as he tipped his mouth toward me, kissing me softly. “Ready?”
I nodded, grabbing Kodi’s leash and my purse.
It was a bit surreal riding in Mason’s luxury SUV, Kodi’s tongue lolling in the back seat as we drove the few blocks to the doggy day care.
I dropped him off without issue, and we continued our journey toward my office building downtown.
He clasped my hand as we sat in companionable silence. I couldn’t explain why I felt so comfortable with him, but I did. It felt like we’d known each other far longer than a week.
“What time do you get off? I’ll pick you up,” he offered as he pulled to the curb out front.
“Oh, that’s okay, I can just take the train,” I protested.
“What time, Ellie?” he repeated as though I hadn’t spoken.
I sighed. “I don’t know. Five thirty, probably?”
He nodded, leaning over to kiss me. “Have a good day, baby.”
“You too,” I murmured, feeling a bit like I’d been hit by the truck that was Mason Jackson.
When I walked into the office, it was immediately clear that something was off. Way off. Everyone was staring at me as though I’d grown two heads and they didn’t want to tell me.
“What the hell is with everyone?” I demanded when Heather made her way to my desk, a tight smile on her face.
“Been online much today?” she asked, getting right to the point.
“Not yet; I just got in. Why?” I asked apprehensively.
“Shit,” she muttered, coming around to my side of the desk. “Brace, El,” she warned, pulling up a gossip site that I knew Lily liked. And there, in grainy photos, were several pictures of Mason and me at the show the night before. In one he was kissing my cheek. The last one showed us holding hands on the way to his car. The caption read: