It was time for bed.
That was the best decision. Therightdecision.
He spun around, feeling proud of his willpower. But there was Mason. Shirtless with just a towel around his waist, he gazed down at Chase, that lust in his eyes like Chase had seen at the pond, like Chase had felt during their conversation.
And Chase knew it was over for him.
They didn’t exchange words. They didn’t need to.
Mason planted his lips on Chase’s and backed him up to the door.
Oh, that explosive kiss…
It was just what Chase’s body and spirit needed, something to pull him from his dulled awareness of life… a life without Mason.
Mason grabbed Chase’s wrists and pulled them over his head, pinning him against the door in a way that always made Chase feel so good.
Mason knew what Chase liked best. The way he dominated, took control.
Chase trusted Mason, and he liked knowing that he was all his.
He enjoyed being submissive to him.
Their kiss took Chase on a journey through some of the most incredible experiences of his life, and he lost himself in their passion. He forgot all about the pain and heartache so that he could appreciate the moment.
Mason pulled away and glanced around the hallway.
As Chase gasped for a breath, he realized what had felt like hours of making out had been mere seconds, but still long enough to have been discovered by Pa or Jasper or Emery. Fortunately, they were still alone. Just like when they were kids, it was as if the universe had conspired on their behalf—protecting them from the world, permitting them their moments to escape into each other.
They slipped into the bedroom, reminding Chase of a time when they would have slumber parties. He would sneak into Mason’s bed, curl up next to him, and enjoy soft kisses and caresses… and then later, so much more.
As soon as Mason closed the door, Chase kissed him, and they were lost in their embrace once again.
Mason dropped his towel as Chase fell back onto the bed, Mason crawling over him, his knees pressing into the mattress on either side of Chase’s legs.
Mason moved his hands underneath Chase’s shirt, up and down his abdomen.
Chase felt around Mason’s body freely, just like the kid who had enjoyed that body, but enjoying the subtle differences. God, those muscles were even bigger and more defined than they were back then. They were thick and powerful—the muscles of a man who wasn’t a stranger to labor.
“I missed you,” Mason said between kisses, his honesty like a knife severing through all of Chase’s boundaries and defenses.
“I missed you too,” Chase admitted.
Chase couldn’t help himself. He didn’t want to lead Mason on, but he also didn’t want to lie to Mason, not about how he felt. And that was something he never really could lie about with him anyway.
Mason would always know him better than anyone else.
He would always be the only one who held that power over him.
Mason kissed down Chase’s body. He licked and nipped at his flesh.
The frisky, familiar sensations filled Chase with a passion he knew he could never get from some trick. What Mason gave him in that moment came from a deeper connection between them—not just because of how close they’d become over their time together, but because they were close in a way others could never be with him. Mason had been the one he had first experimented with, the one who had showed him just how much pleasure he could have with his body throughout a time when he was just learning what it even meant to find pleasure with his own.
Chase was totally vulnerable.
Mason and Chase fought a battle with Chase’s clothes, working to remove them so they could be together again—the way they both clearly needed to be. When Mason managed to get Chase’s shoes off and throw them onto the floor, Chase lay across the mattress, glancing up at him with eagerness.
It was clear to Chase that he was enjoying what he saw, and he wanted him as much as ever.
