‘Are you okay? After seeing Phoebe tonight?’ he murmurs, fingers playing with my hair.
I shake my head. ‘If everything she did was out of jealousy ... that’s disgusting.’ Releasing a shaky breath, I hold my hand up in a ‘stop’ signal, as if that will help my mind from detouring towards the past. ‘I’m not letting myself think about her or give any of my energy to that situation.’ Swallowing, I wipe the corners of my eyes. ‘Let’s talk about something else.’
‘Do you remember that night we stargazed?’ he asks quietly. ‘And we made wishes on shooting stars?’
‘Yes,’ I breathe.
‘When I was overseas, I often lay outside, looking at the stars. I always thought of you. I was so scared that you hated me, and my heart hurt.’
‘My heart hurt, too.’
His thumb runs across my knuckles. ‘And then we fell asleep outside.’
‘I had theworstmosquito bites,’ I groan. ‘I even managed to get bitten on my ass!’
He chuckles softly. ‘I don’t blame that mosquito one bit.’
Lightly, I shove him, then push to my feet, stretching. A few bones in my back crack, and I rub my eyes.
‘You want first shower?’ I ask, trying to shake off the growing need building inside me. More specifically, between my legs.
His dark eyes travel slowly down my body before he shrugs. ‘I don’t mind.’
‘You go first.’
Unhurriedly, he stands. Leaning down, he presses his lips to my forehead and holds me for a moment. And then, he is gone.
26
MASON
WITH MY HANDS BRACEDon the bathroom sink, I take a long inhale as the room fills with steam. My body feels a little sore and tender after today, but not as bad as I expected it to. I glance down to the cut in my side. Thankfully, it isn’t very deep.
When I look back at my reflection, my mind wanders towards Anya. My heart thuds loudly. My skin feels hot. My need for her fills me so intensely, I feel myself growing hard at the thought. Screwing my eyes shut, I push off the vanity and walk towards the door. Opening it, I poke my head out, but the hallway is empty.
I shut the door.
I open it again.
Exhaling, I leave it open and step back, staring at the gap between the door and the doorframe. After a moment, I turn and step into the shower.
Breathe, my inner voice directs me.
This want for her. Thisneedis taking over my life.
This time, I’m doing it right. Because she deserves the world.
The hot water runs over my skin, sliding down my body as I think about her. Those eyes, that mouth, the curves that haunt my dreams. Curling my fingers around my length, I move my hand up and down, picturing the other night at the party, when she had those pretty lips wrapped around me.
‘Ah, fuck,’ I groan, not caring how loudly it slips out, as my hand begins to move faster.
I’m so hard, it’s almost painful. Each pump has me twisting and jerking, as I imagine her underneath me while I move in and out of her. The sound of the water hitting the tiles mixes with my laboured breathing as I thrust my hips forward, picking up momentum.
‘Anya,’ I say through gritted teeth.
‘Yes?’
My head jerks up, and my eyes snap open. Those round, innocent eyes peer back at me through the fog, and my mouth falls open in shock as she smiles at me slowly, her gaze dropping to where my hand is.
