“Poor baby.” He squeezed me harder.
“At least I don’t have to get tackled,” I muttered.
“I would hope not,” he noted dryly. “Otherwise I’d have some serious questions.”
I smiled before a huge yawn took me by surprise.
“You should get some sleep,” he murmured, and I was sure I felt him kiss my hair.
“Yeah, it’s late.” At this rate, I’d only be getting a few hours of sleep, but it had been worth it.
He reached over and hit the light, sending us into darkness.
“Night, Mason.”
“Night, baby.”
Chapter 4
ELLIE
Iwoke up to my alarm the next morning, groaning as I reached over to turn it off. It took me a moment to place what the warm heat behind me was before I grinned from ear to ear. Mason was spooning me.
His arms squeezed me, and I turned to face him, hoping I didn’t look too rumpled from sleep or have terrible morning breath.
“Mornin’.” His raspy voice went straight to my core.
I was rendered speechless for a moment at the sheer beauty of him half-asleep. I’d never lusted after someone so much, and I also liked him a hell of a lot. The combination, and to feel it so soon, was intoxicating.
We eyed each other intently for a few moments, his gaze traveling from my eyes and down to my lips, and my heartbeat immediately increased its tempo.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t kiss you last night, since you let me stay,” he rasped. “But it’s not last night anymore.”
The second his lips touched mine, it was as though a spark had been lit.
He groaned and pulled me closer, his mouth coaxing as his tongue met mine. My entire body liquefied, heat pooling between my legs as his hands pulled my hair gently, gripping the thick waves at the base of my neck. We lay side by side with my leg thrown over his waist, and I fought the urge to grind into him.
In a decisive move, he rolled us so he was on top, his powerful forearms braced on either side of me as he continued to take my mouth. I felt completely enveloped by him and, despite his size, completely safe and cherished. I wanted him to take me like I’d never wanted anything in my life.
When he broke away, his forehead resting against mine, I felt as though I’d lost something incredibly significant. Our breath intermingled as we both fought for composure.
“I have to stop before I can’t,” he panted, pulling back, his pupils dilated as he gazed heatedly down on me.
I licked my swollen lips and returned his gaze, daring him not to kiss me again.
“Christ, Ellie, I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you,” he whispered raggedly. “But if I don’t stop now, I won’t be able to, and I don’t want you worrying about being late for work the first time I’m inside of you.”
“Okay” was the only response I seemed capable of coming up with.
He backed off me, the muscles in his arms rippling, the large bulge in his jeans making my mouth water all the more.
The proof that he wanted me made me feel powerful and sexy in a way I never had before.
“Why don’t you get ready, and I’ll give you a ride to work?” he suggested with a dimpled grin as I sat up, trying to get control of my raging hormones. His eyes flitted briefly over my chest, heat flaming in those brown depths before he cleared his throat and looked away.
I looked down and blushed when I saw my hard nipples poking out through my thin tank top. “Um, yeah, I’ll just go do that,” I agreed hastily. “Oh, but I was going to take Kodi to day care today. I typically just walk him there, since it’s down the street.”
“We can drop him off in the Rover,” he replied as I once again grew distracted by his mouth. “Shower, babe,” he prompted.
