“You thought of everything,” I tease. After the kabobs have cooled, we sit by the fire to eat. “This is delicious,” I exclaim.
“Thank you.” A shy smile graces his lips. God, he can go from sexy to adorable in less than a second.
“I’ve had a great time with you today.”
“Me too, Panda. Although, you scared the shit out of me when we tipped that canoe. I couldn’t find you for a second.”
“Don’t worry, I can swim.”
He reaches to slide a chunk of green pepper between my lips. “Do you want to tell me why you thought I was going to pushyou under?”
“It’s not that I thought you would. I just…panicked.” His eyes are a deep blue in the firelight as they stare into mine, and I suddenly find my feet interesting. “I don’t really remember much of the car accident that killed my parents, but I remember the water. We drove off a bridge into a lake, and I was trapped underwater. I remember the cold and the dark, the water pressing in. Then I woke in a hospital.”
A rough hand grips mine, pulling me down into his arms, onto a double sleeping bag he’s laid by the fire. “I understand, love.” And I think he does. Most people think they get it, that they know how you feel, but that’s bullshit. But Mason has known grief, and I suspect there’s more to his story that I’ve yet to find out. He seems to be a happy man, but there’s an undercurrent of melancholy that shines in his eyes when he’s quiet. As if he’s reaching for something he can’t quite grasp.
He pulls a blanket over us, bringing his lips to mine, and I decide now isn’t the time to question him. “Do you want to go to the tent?”
“Later,” he murmurs. “I want to love on you under the stars.” I gaze up through the treetops at the sky bursting with glittering beauty. “I’m going to drive you crazy.” Soft hair tickles my belly as he drops kisses from my navel to my breasts, his forehead forcing my sweatshirt up beneath my arms.
My nipples tighten in the cool night air. “Someone could see us,” I whisper as he slides my shirt the rest of the way off.
“This place is nearly deserted. It’s just us, baby.” The sensation of his mouth on my nipple steals any further argument. After my other breast is blessed with the same treatment, he brings his hot mouth to mine, kissing me like I hold the only oxygen in the world.
I unfasten his jeans and shove them down where he can kick them off, along with his boxer briefs. He returns the favor, then pulls off his shirt, leaving us both naked by the fire, only a thin blanket hiding us from any prying eyes. I love how he groans when I lick across his nipple. “Evie.” Sliding down my body, he licks and kisses until his tongue slips between my legs. Oh shit. Ithrow my head back, staring at the stars as he devours me. So intense. So beautiful. I have to have him. Here. Now.
“Mason.” I pull him up by his hair and grab his cock. He’s a monster, solid as steel and pulsing in my palm. “Tell me you have condoms.”
With a deep chuckle, he reaches into his jean pocket and produces one, wasting no time rolling it on. “You sure you want this out here?”
“Don’t talk me out of it now.”
“Wouldn’t think of it.”
I can’t help but cry out when he sinks completely into me, stretching me past my limit. “You’re so big,” I groan.
“You’re so tight. So fucking good.” I wrap my legs around him as he arches above me, fucking me—no—he’s making love to me. His eyes never leave mine as he takes me higher and higher until we both lose control, filling the forest with our groans of satisfaction and ecstasy.
He buries his face in my neck while he catches his breath. “You’re amazing, Everly.”
“Funny, I was just thinking the same about you.”
“Are you cold? Do you want to move to the tent?”
“Mmm, you’re warm. I just want to lie here a minute.” He flops onto his back and I cuddle up to him, resting my cheek on his chest.
It feels so good, lying here with him. The stars shine above us and the fire casts a soft glow around us, pushing back the dark. I can’t remember a time I’ve felt more relaxed and content.
* * * *
“Evie, baby, wake up.” Where the hell am I? The sky is barely light when Mason kisses my jaw. “As much as I hate to cover up that sweet body, you need to get dressed.”
Shit. We slept outside all night. Naked. At some point, Mason covered us with a sleeping bag in addition to the blanket.My hair is damp with morning dew, but wrapped in Mason’s arms, I don’t feel cold. I’m greeted with a soft smile. “Good morning, love.”
“Morning. Why didn’t you wake me to move to the tent?”
“You looked comfortable.”
“Mmm, I am, but I don’t want to flash people when they come to shower.”
