“Did you hear me?”
She could only nod.
“Good.”
Natalie reopened her eyes, feeling a spark relight inside her. Re-energized she began to push against him, giving into him as hard as he gave to her, watching as his eyes darkened with intensity as she scratched and playfully bit him as only a villain could. His fingers gripped her tighter as he pushed harder, his face pressing into her neck until he groaned loudly and collapsed.
In between heavy pants, he said, “There will never be a sweeter honey than you.”
And, yes, it was completely sappy, but she couldn’t stop the smile from forming on her lips. “Well, you are the expert.”
A soft chuckle escaped him.
The moment was complete bliss and she wanted to laugh her ass off before doing it all over again with him. She was almost devastated when Mason rolled off her, removing the weight of him, as he padded into the bathroom.
But, good God, she’d never experienced sex quite like that. How was she ever supposed to recover and go back to her life the way it was before?
After she’d returned from her own bathroom break, Mason pulled her onto the bed again, wrapping her in blankets and cuddling into her, releasing a sigh of complete contentment. “Ireallylike you,” he said into her shoulder.
She ran her fingers along the arms holding her, enjoying the feel of him. “Yes, I think that’s pretty obvious now.”
He brushed the hair from her neck, pressing a kiss there. “I know we kind of had a conversation about this before, but… Surprising as it sounds, you were right. I’m not the type of guy for flings. I get attached. I can’t help it. We both know if this thing between us becomes a relationship, you’re definitely going to be the stronger one out of the two of us. And I’ve already put myself on the hook here, waiting for whatever you’re willing to give me.”
Natalie didn’t give her standard answer. For the first time, she paused. As much fuss as she gave about not wanting to get attached, something was different. She didn’t want to give him up. She may get something from her trips to Tahoe, but she didn’t get anything close to this. Perhaps there was something to be said for allowing herself to become familiar with a person, to let him become familiar with her. Justifications were being created in her mind. Why couldn’t she continue to see him? As Mia had said, the only person standing in her way was herself. As long as she kept her head and heart on a leash, maybe she could survive and be okay. The temptation of it all had been born and she ached to grasp hold.
Mason continued rambling. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that maybe if some charming, good-looking guy strolls into the coffee shop—”
She smiled to herself. “What do you mean ‘maybe’? That happens all the time. One of them is a regular. Orders the same drink every time.”
“Okay,whensome charming, handsome guy strolls into the coffee shop and asks you out, maybe you’ll say no because you only want to be with me, just like I want to only be with you.”
Natalie flipped around until they were facing each other, popping her head on a bent elbow as she studied him. “I see. Can I at least ask what this imaginary handsome, charming man’s name is?”
“Does a name really play that much into your decision-making process?”
“Sexy people have sexy names. I’d like to know what I’m dealing with here.”
His brow furrowed as though he was giving it serious thought. “Alejandro.”
She snorted a laugh. “Alejandro?”
“That was the sexiest name I could think of off the top of my head.”
“Okay, so Alejandro walks into Pony Expresso with his piercing green eyes and sparkling, perfect smile, sees me with my messy hair, tired eyes, and smudged makeup, is instantly swept away, and asks me out? Did I get it right?” The whole situation was way too close to what happened when she met Stephen, and—unlike that first time—her ex no longer sounded appealing in the least. But she didn’t want to think about him, not when she had Mason right here who was a hundred times better.
“Well, shit. Now he sounds too handsome and you guys have the potential to bring beautiful children into the world. That was my fault for naming him Alejandro in the first place.”
Natalie ran a finger along his chest. “I guess I would say,Sorry, Alejandro. You’re too late. I’m currently seeing someone.”
There was a pause in the room. “Really? You’re okay not having a sexy man-god like Alejandro?”
“Of course. My imaginary Italian boyfriend, Valentino, is way sexier.”
Mason plopped onto his back in a dramatic fashion with a groan. “You know what? I know when I’m beat and can’t compete.”
“You can, because you’re real and they’re not. I mean, sure, your name is Mason Lavigne and it sounds like you should be the owner of a fancy hat shop in the French Quarter, but I still like it. And you can’t tell me you don’t get gorgeous gardeners coming into the nursery from time to time.”
Natalie pulled herself to a sitting position, straddling Mason’s body. She cupped her breasts with her hands and said, “Okay, just imagine I’m some blonde bombshell named Carlotta with actual boobs.” Her voice switched to breathy and husky. “Hey there, big boy. I’m looking for a good pollinator, and you look like just the man who can help me out.” She shimmied her shoulders for added flirtiness, flicking her hair back.
