I smiled at the romantic man who wanted to walk in the rain. “Okay. Let’s walk.” Popping open my umbrella, my heart did that pattering thing again. Stuffing my hand in my pocket, I walked along with him in the gentle rain. Our shoulders bumped together as I listened to him wax poetic about his older brother. Every step we took and every sweet word out of his mouth convinced me I needed to be honest with him.
When we reached the walkway that led to the front door, I reached for his arm. Mason turned and looked at me, his smile as beautiful as ever. With my heart beating at a quick pace, Istepped closer and wrapped my hand around the back of his neck. Mason stared unblinking into my eyes as I moved closer. “Thomas?”
I dropped my umbrella to the ground and moved under his. Swiping my thumb over his lips, I took advantage of the moment. Taking my shot. “In New York, you said you wanted me to be your person. Is that what you really want? To be with me as more than your friend.”
His eyes stayed riveted on mine. “Yes.”
“Good,” I replied softly. “You wanted me to kiss you. Do you still want that?”
He sighed as he melted against me. “Yes,” he exhaled, leaning into my touch.
I grinned as I slipped my arm around his waist, pulling him closer. “I want that too. I can’t think of a better time or place than right here, standing in the rain, to tell you I’m crazy about you. I don’t want to be just your friend anymore. I want to be your everything.”
His eyes widened. “Am I drunk again?”
Chuckling, I pulled him closer, where his cheek rested next to mine. Whispering in his ear, I wanted to make sure he heard me. “No, sweetheart. You’re not drunk or dreaming. This is me claiming you.” He sighed as a shiver ran through him. “I want to hold you in my arms and kiss you in the rain, Mason. Right here for all of London to see.”
My fingers registered the smile on his face. “Then what are you waiting for?”
I pulled back and drank in his handsome face. “Nothing. But I think it’s wise to go slow and give you time to focus on this before we start anything. Are you okay with that?”
His smile was breathtaking. “I’m more than okay with that.”
Mason leaned in as our lips met. My tongue swept across his lips before finding its way inside his mouth. It was as naturalas breathing, kissing the man I couldn’t get enough of. As the rain fell around us, we wrapped ourselves around one another on that sidewalk in London. An overwhelming realization that I was where I was supposed to be settled inside me. And more importantly, I was with the person I was meant to be with.
Chapter 18
Mason
I stretched out on my side, watching Thomas sleep. He’d passed out on my bed after an intense make-out session that left me wanting more. Now I was too amped to sleep. It was exactly how I felt the night before the Super Bowl, both excited and nervous about the next day. Even though we were fully clothed and exhausted, I wanted to commit his words to memory from our kiss in the rain. There was no way I could stop smiling, much less sleep after that.
He inhaled deeply, then opened one eye. I smiled as his mouth tipped up. “Why aren’t you sleeping?” he whispered, reaching out to run his hand through my hair. My eyes closed, wanting to savor and memorize every touch.
“I can’t. Every time I close my eyes, my brain goes right back to you. And I’m too excited.”
Thomas’s soft chuckle made butterflies swarm in my stomach. “As much as I love knowing I affect you that way, you’ve got to sleep, Champ. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
He was right, but I wasn’t concerned about Axel any longer. I wanted the other word. “I like the other name better.”
Thomas leaned closer until his lips met my forehead. “You prefer sweetheart?”
I opened my eyes as his palm cupped my face while his thumb skated across my cheek and lips. I loved him touching me like that. “Yes, that’s the one. Makes me feel special.”
His eyes were heavy. “You are, Mason. If I promise not to disappear, will you try to sleep?”
I sighed. “Can I hold you?”
His face lit up like I was the most precious thing ever. “Absolutely. How do you want me?”
My cock stirred, making an untimely appearance. “That’s a loaded question. Are you a side sleeper?”
“I can sleep sitting up, thanks to the military. You learn to catch z’s whenever you can. How do you sleep?”
I breathed deeply. “On my side.”
“Would you rather I hold you?”
The butterflies did their thing again. “Yes, but I think I need to spoon you to make my brain shut off.”
