Despite my worry about tonight, my thoughts kept drifting to Mason. When we woke up this morning, I was splayed over his chest, holding onto him like he was the last available door to hang on to on the Titanic. One of his hands was on my back, holding me in place, the other was buried in my hair.
I had never cuddled with someone all night. I didn’t think I would like it. But I guess Mason was good at showing me how different life could be, if I just let go of some of the control I cherished so much.
When I tried to move off him his arms tightened around me.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he had asked in a voice raspy from sleep. I was ready to melt, and he hadn’t even done more than talk to me. This was getting out of hand.
“Bathroom?” I asked, more than stated since I didn’t really have to go.
“I locked the door to the bedroom and hid the key. So if I let you go to the bathroom, the easiest thing for you to do would be to come straight back to bed.”
Now someone normal would have been freaked out by this. But since I was anything but normal and about to enter another Mason fog—I had been touching him after all—I found the gesture oddly romantic.
“Got it. Bathroom, then back to bed.”
I lifted my head and found Mason grinning down at me. His hair was all over the place and I resisted the urge to smooth it down just to feel the soft strands glide through my hand; in that moment he looked like my every dream come true. Maybe he wasn’t so adverse to exploring things between us after all.
I felt his eyes trail me to the bathroom, so I gave my hips an extra swing. Mason’s massage had worked wonders, and it helped that I slept better than I had in a long time. I quickly used the facilities and washed my hands, taking my time brushing out my hair with my fingers and swiping some toothpaste across my teeth.
I had been nervous walking back, hoping I read the signs right.
Mason lifted the covers for me to slip back under and pulled me back into him. We were facing each other, our noses nearly touching. He entangled his legs with mine and shuffled closer, bringing our fronts flush together.
“So here is what’s going to happen,” he started while trailing a hand up my side. “We’re going to explore this thing between us.” His fingers were wandering higher, brushing hair off my face in a gesture so tender I had to swallow the sudden lump in my throat.
He traced a finger across my cheekbone and lips, making me shiver. He replaced his finger with his lips, talking in between kisses.
“We are not doing friends with benefits. You’re either in, or you’re out.” He paused for another kiss, this one on the corner of my mouth. “We’re not seeing other people. You’ll stay at my house.”
I had started to protest, but he silenced me with another kiss, this time tracing my lips with his tongue. I fell silent, my breathing speeding up.
“You’ll tell me what I can do to help you. I don’t expect you to trust me right away, but I want to know what happened with your mother, and I want to do my part. I want us to be two parts of a whole.”
God yes, I wanted that as well. I didn’t know what that warm feeling in my chest was, but I figured for once my body wholeheartedly agreed with my mind.
He kissed my upper lip, then my lower before he started talking again. “We’re going to be late for work today. I hope that’s okay.”
I had nearly laughed, but instead told him, “You’re the boss. And if nothing else I try to be a good employee and follow directions.”
“Excellent. Then as your boss I’ll tell you to touch me.”
He had barely finished talking when my hands were making their way in between our bodies, tracing his glorious abs. I explored to my heart’s content, enjoying the feel of his chiseled body. His back muscles contracted when I ran a hand over them. I did it again, just to feel them more.
He was only wearing boxers, and I sneaked my hand into the back, then let it wander to the front. Mason wasn’t a silent participant, instead he kissed me deep, while his hands made my body sing.
When I thought I couldn’t wait any longer, and Mason had pushed me to the brink only to bring me back again and again, he reached behind him into the nightstand. I nearly wept when I heard the crinkle of foil.
We had stayed on our sides, and he entered me slowly, giving me time to adjust. Once he was fully seated inside, I sighed in pleasure. He started moving and I arched my head back, unable to contain a moan.
My head came back and he captured my gaze with his eyes that were full of tenderness and passion. It didn’t take me long to fall over the edge; my orgasm was one I would remember for the rest of my life. Mason wasn’t far behind, his thrusts coming faster before he finished with one long groan.
He kissed me again and again, our bodies still connected. When he pulled away, I groaned in protest and he chuckled.
“I’ll be back, beautiful. Don’t go anywhere.”
I flopped on my back and imitated a starfish. “Couldn’t even if I wanted to.”
We had spent the early morning hours in bed, talking and kissing. We kept the topics light and the kisses heavy. It was something else I would never forget, the feeling of joy so strong I was bursting with it.
