Even though I try to turn him away, my heart still jumps in my chest. He’s right outside my door.
I read his text, then walk down the hall to check on Luca. He’s snuggled up with his favorite turtle stuffed animal. I bend to kiss his cheek, pausing to stare at his adorable sleeping face. Then I tiptoe back down the hallway, through the living room, and to the front door. Carefully unlocking it, I peek my head out.
Mason is standing with both of his hands shoved into his pockets. “Bailey.”
I smile at him, resting my cheek against the side of the wood. “You really shouldn’t be here.” My words don’t match my body language or the burning sensation between my legs that has been there since the moment I saw him at the restaurant tonight.
“I know because Luca is home, but it was such a great night tonight that I want to end it just as well.” He places his hand flat against the door, gently pushing it open. I give into the pressure, letting my hand fall. Mason reaches out and gently clutches my hips, urging them into him. His head tilts down, and his lips land on the sensitive skin of my neck. Chills run through the right side of my body as his lips lightly kiss me. My eyes fall closed, enjoying the way our bodies connect to one another.
“I spoke with your parents tonight, and apparently, you have talked about me with them.” I tease.
“You’re my best friend’s little sister. Why wouldn’t I tell them about you?” he mutters into my lips.
“That’s the only reason?”
“Obviously.” Mason makes his way down, gently biting the hollow of my neck, giving me the chills. I giggle and pull away, happy he’s here, but the jealousy about the blonde at the restaurant is not letting up. “And I didn’t come back to talk.”
“I thought you would have gone home with that blonde woman who kept talking to you tonight,” I blurt out, not thinking before my words hit the air.
He draws his head back. “What woman?”
“The one that I saw you with most of the night. Maybe she works with you, but it seemed like she spent more time whispering in your ear than actually working.” I tuck a piece of loose hair behind my ear, ashamed for even verbalizing this.
His forehead creases like he’s thinking about what I just told him. “Wait, do you mean Christie, our head server?”
“I-I don’t know. Maybe?” I stumble over my words.
“If that’s who you’re referring to, she is my employee. It’s not like that. And even if she wasn’t, it still wouldn’t be like that.”
I nervously bite the nail on my thumb, realizing that I should have thought this through before opening my big, jealous mouth to speak. “I just saw her with you a lot tonight.”
He lowers his eyes to mine and smirks. “Were you jealous?”
“No. Of course not,” I answer, stepping away from him, but I don’t get far because he mirrors my move, leaning forward and tilting his body slightly toward me. “If you want to know, she kept trying to talk to me about her boyfriend and how he needs a job.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m sorry for bringing it up; I shouldn’t have said anything.” My eyes land to the floor as a flush of embarrassment changes the color of my face.
Mason stares at me with a puzzled look. “We agreed that if we wanted to be intimate with anyone else, we’d let each other know.” He brings two fingers up to pinch the bottom of my chin, forcing eye contact. I stare up at him through my lashes. “I plan on keeping my word, as I’m confident you will do the same. If I want to sleep with anyone else, you’ll find out before she does.” His tone is firm.
I’m surprised at how conflicted I am in response to his explanation. On one hand, I’m grateful that he doesn’t want to sleep with anyone else—at the moment at least. But on the other hand, I get hit again with that unfamiliar sting of jealousy, that it’s still a possibility that he might even consider being with another.
“You’re right.” I force a smile. “Same with me.”
His thumb glides over my bottom lip, then he licks his own. “Now, are we going to get this bedroom party started or what?”
The light rays from the early morning sun peek through the shutters and directly onto my sleeping face. I open my eyes, realizing that it’s still early, then immediately close them. I wrap the comforter around my body, rolling myself toward the middle of my bed and away from the bright sunlight. Just as I snuggle into the comforter, my lips and the tip of my nose barely graze warm skin.
My eyes fly open. I am face to face with the top of Mason’s shoulder as he is sleeping quietly on the other side of the bed. He’s on his back with his head turned away from me.
Oh, my god.
We must have fallen asleep last night. The sheet is only covering up to his waist, exposing his bare chest. I gently lift the covers up and, just as I suspected, he isn’t wearing any boxers either.
Oh, my god.
Luca comes in to cuddle with me in the morning, and he always wakes up before I do.
“Mason,” I whisper, tapping his shoulder. He stirs and slowly opens his eyes. “Mason, we fell asleep! You have to get dressed and leave before Luca gets up,” I demand, popping myself out of bed and scrambling to put on the same pajamas from last night.
