For a moment, my gut clenched that another woman would be calling, before he glanced over at me. “It’s my sister; do you mind?”
“No, of course not,” I assured him, feeling foolish for my jealousy.
“Hey Em,” he greeted in his deep baritone.
“Mason Jackson, why am I the last to know that you have a woman in your life!” she exclaimed by way of greeting. “You’ve told everyone about her but me!”
Mason shot me a gorgeous grin, not seeming embarrassed in the least.
“Em, I’ve hardly told everyone. And if you’d like to stop screeching like a banshee and introduce yourself, she’s sitting right here.”
“Shit,” Emmie swore. “And I was not screeching.”
“Um, hi, Emmie,” I greeted, desperately trying to keep from laughing.
“Hi, Ellie.” She sighed. “I swear I’m not totally nuts.”
I laughed. “I don’t think you’re nuts.”
“Yet,” Mason put in dryly as I slapped him on the arm.
“Where are you two headed?” she wanted to know.
“I’m taking Ellie to Dillon for the weekend.”
“How fun. El, the house is gorgeous. So much better than that monstrosity he calls home.”
Not knowing what to say to that, despite being admittedly relieved to hear it, I settled on, “Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”
“Sounds like the press has been kind of all over you guys,” she continued sympathetically. “But unfortunately, it’s not surprising. Mace, you haven’t been photographed with a woman other than family, and Ellie, well, from the pictures, you’re clearly stunning. I’m sure they’re having a field day.”
“Pictures don’t do her justice,” Mason put in, making my cheeks warm.
“Well, I won’t keep you, but Ellie, I’m looking forward to meeting you. If you need anything, feel free to call me. I’ll have Mason give you my number.”
“Thank you,” I replied sincerely.
“Oh my god, Mom is going to be so jealous that I talked to you before she did,” she sang.
“Okay, Em, let’s not totally freak my girl out, okay?” Mason demanded.
My heart pounded at the reference to me being his girl.
“Roger that,” Emmie replied dryly. “Love you, Mace. You guys have a good trip.”
“Love you too,” he replied before ending the call. “So, that’s my sister.”
“I like her,” I assured him.
“You’d fit right in with her and her friends,” he replied sincerely, keeping his eyes directed to the road as the sun began to dip behind the horizon.
We drove in comfortable silence, Kodi contentedly snoozing in the back seat as music played quietly through the speakers.
It was dark, but I could still make out the lush forest and rugged mountain range as we neared our destination. When he pulled down a private lane and onto a long winding driveway, I sat forward in anticipation, wondering how true Emmie’s promise was that this house wasn’t like the one he lived in full-time. When I got my first look at the gorgeous house all lit up against the night sky, that thought was immediately confirmed.
The two-story log structure with a huge wraparound porch was dazzling, but not overdone.
“Someone left a light on,” I commented with an awestruck grin.
Warm light emanated from the porch and inside the house itself.
“I may have had a little help.” He shrugged with a smile as he cut the engine and went to let Kodi out of the back, who immediately began to investigate the property.
He led me by the hand up to the front porch and into the expansive living room with vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. It was incredibly warm and welcoming. I was immediately in love with the massive stone fireplace that already had a roaring fire going.
Help indeed.
“I’ll go put our stuff down, then we can have some dinner. I’m starving,” he said as he climbed the wooden staircase to the second story. I stood looking out the window, warming myself by the fire, and feeling a bit awed by the amount of trouble he’d gone to. It was incredibly romantic.
I stood gazing into the fire until he came up behind me and wrapped his strong arms around me, pulling me into his front.
“Okay?” he asked softly in my ear, making me shiver.
“More than okay,” I agreed, turning in his arms. “Thank you. This is beyond perfect. I’m floored,” I admitted.
He grinned before his eyes turned serious as they swept over my face, “I know this is all kind of intense. I just can’t seem to stop myself,” he growled. “When I find something I want, I’m incapable of doing anything halfway.”
“That’s good to know,” I murmured, grasping his tee in my fist as I lifted on my tiptoes to touch his mouth with mine.
“I want you to know,” he rasped, his forehead resting against mine, “there’s no pressure. I put your stuff in the guest room just in case. I wanted to whisk you away for the weekend, but that doesn’t mean there are expectations,” he said sincerely.
God, he just kept getting more and more amazing.
“So, are we cooking?” I raised a brow toward the gorgeous kitchen.
“Dinner’s all prepared, and the fridge and pantry are stocked. But if there’s anything else you need, there’s a market in town.”
I followed him, still trying to digest the lengths he’d gone to for me.
After a delicious dinner, I pulled some pillows off the couch and lounged on the floor, letting the warm flames lick my skin. He moved alongside of me, his face more gorgeous then ever in the firelight. He propped up on his elbow, gazing down at me. I scooted closer, and his hand came to my jaw, cupping it gently.
“I don’t think I want to sleep in the guest room,” I said quietly, meeting his heated gaze head-on.
“Thank god,” he groaned, lowering his head to take my mouth in a passionate kiss. He moved over me, his powerful body in between my thighs.
“I want you so much, Ellie,” he rumbled in my ear before kissing my neck.
I let out a moan, arching my back, trying to pull him closer. I took the bottom of his shirt in my hands, pulling it up over his head. I almost regretted not being able to study his gorgeous torso, but as he pressed his hardness against my core, the thought fled from my brain along with everything else.
He moved off me slightly, his mouth trailing down my neck as his fingers unbuttoned my blouse, revealing my black lace bra. He pulled the cups down, taking my nipple in his mouth and sucking greedily.
“God, Mason,” I breathed, completely shocked at my body’s response to him. I arched, pushing myself into his mouth as he reached around and unfastened my bra, taking it off along with my blouse.
“Christ, baby, you are so gorgeous,” he said reverently, staring at my half-naked body with a hooded gaze suffused with lust.
And I did feel beautiful with his eyes on me, like I’d never felt before. His hands trailed down to my jeans, unbuttoning them, his fingers sliding into my panties and finding me more than ready for him.
“So wet,” he rumbled as he stroked me with knowing fingers. He pulled away, and I made a noise of complaint.