Page 16 of Unburied

“Yours? I’m sorry⁠—”

“You should be.” He cut her off, lightly massaging her scalp, and a tiny tremor racked her body. “Did you really think that cutting your hair was going to turn me off?”

She licked her lips before she answered. “It was worth a try.”

He chuckled at her stubborn response. She felt this as much as he did; he knew she did. “Do you really want me to go away, Virginia?”

Her lids closed as he continued to knead his fingers into the base of her skull. “That would probably be for the best.”

Had there been any conviction in her voice, he would've let her go. But her words were low and breathy, and her muscles relaxed as she pushed her head against his hand like a kitten seeking to be petted.

He curled one hand into her hip and pulled her into him so his mouth was next to her ear. “Better for you, maybe. Why are you fighting this? You know you want it as much as I do.”

Her head brushed his chin as it shook back and forth. “You had your chance. One time.”

Once would never be enough. This thing between them was real. Intense. It was never just a fling. “That won't work for me. I want a lot more.”

From his vantage point, he watched her throat ripple as she swallowed hard. “I… I can't.”

“You can,” he encouraged. His lips traveled over the shell of her ear before he kissed his way along her jaw and down her throat. Sliding his hand from her hip around to her belly, he pulled her fully against him. She inhaled sharply as he lightly bit down on her neck, and her hands flew to the arm he’d wrapped around her.

Instead of pushing him away, her fingers curled into his skin, holding him close. He nipped the same spot a second time, then licked her skin to soothe away the sting.

“Come on, Virginia.” His lips brushed her throat as he spoke, her heady scent filling his nostrils. “Let me prove it to you. Give me another chance.”

Her fingers curled into his arm, and her lips parted slightly. Her resistance was wavering; he could feel it. “I⁠—”

“Vivi?”

At the sound of her name being called, Vivi ripped herself from his arms with a gasp, eyes flying open wide. Mason's jaw clenched, and he could practically hear her heart racing from where she now stood several feet away. He fished a folder out of the cabinet just as Knox stepped through the doorway.

Knox’s gaze bounced between them before moving back to Vivi. “You good?” She nodded shakily. “Fine.” Knox looked suspicious, so Mason spoke up before he could question it further. “I came in to file this and scared her.”

Knox flicked a look at Vivi, who nodded, looking grateful for the excuse. “Yeah. Sorry, he just startled me.”

Knox nodded. “He's a sneaky bastard. Hey, can you confirm with Mrs. Howenstein?”

“Sure.” She smiled. “I'll take care of it.”

“Thanks.” He rapped his knuckles against the door jamb, then disappeared.

They remained frozen in silence until his footsteps had receded down the hallway. Then Mason turned to her. She looked shaken, abnormally pale, something akin to humiliation or regret etched deeply into her features. He needed her to look at him. He needed her to know that what they’d done—what they were doing—was okay. “Virginia.”

Avoiding his gaze, she backed toward the door, already shaking her head, her eyes full of apprehension. “Vivi…”

She held up one hand in his direction as if to ward him off, then fled from the room. He watched her go, mentally cursing Knox and his terrible timing. He'd been so close to convincing her to give him a second shot, and his intrusion may have spooked her for good. He refused to give up, though. He wasn't going to let her go without a fight.

CHAPTER

NINE

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Heat climbed into her cheeks as the old adage sprang to mind. She couldn’t believe she’d almost fallen into the same trap. But the second Mason got near, her hormones went into overdrive and shut down her brain function. She didn’t want to still want him—but she did. And he knew it, too.

Inwardly, Vivi seethed as she stomped toward the grocery store. Why couldn’t he just take a hint and leave her alone? Was that what she really wanted? A little voice at the back of her brain asked. Did she really want him to leave her alone? She could give him another chance, see where it went…

She mentally batted away the suggestion. He didn’t deserve a second chance, no matter how tempted she was to give in. She had to admit, he’d apologized several times and seemed determined to work his way back into her good graces.