Page 110 of Letting Go at 40

Mason’s brows pinch.

“With tonight. This moment. You. I’m impressed.”

“Anna,” he whispers, twisting his body so we face one another, resting on our sides. His finger skims the edge of my face, brushing back hair that’s come loose from my ponytail. He leans forward and kisses me, soft and tender. Like a whisper of the wind or grains of sand scattering over the beach, the touch is nothing more than subtle sips. When he pulls back, he traces down my nose and around my eyes. Over my lips and along my chin.

Memorizing me again. Memorializing this moment.

I don’t want to forget a single second myself.

And this night, this moment, feels monumental.

“Mason.” I swallow hard, then plunge on. “Make love to me.”

Chapter 38

4 Months Ago

May

Birthday Presents

[Mason]

Make love to me.

I’d promised myself I’d be good. I wouldn’t push or do anything other than kiss her, maybe taste her, but hearing her say this . . .

Pressing on her shoulder, I guide her to her back, peppering her face with more kisses. I move over her chin and along her neck, blazing a trail of kisses to her bare shoulder. Once there, I roll her again, so I can kiss her upper back until I reach the zipper of her dress.

She wore this strapless dress that plumps up her breasts and has given me a delicious view of her skin. Taking my time, I unzip the dress, kissing along her spine as each vertebra is exposed. She isn’t wearing a bra. Pushing open the material, I rub my hand along her back a few times and she shivers.

“Cold?” I whisper, catching her eyes.

“Nervous,” she admits.

“I’d never hurt you, sweetheart.”

“I know.” Her gaze holds on mine, willing me to take her acceptance. She knows.

“Your body is everything.” She is everything to me.

She timidly smiles at me. The side of her face rests on the blanket and I roll her to her back once more, tugging the dress down to expose her to me.

Her nipples are hard pebbles in the cool evening air. Her breasts are plump swells that I’ve sucked on and nipped. We’ve been naked before but tonight feels different.

Raw. Exposing. Real.

This is it. I’m finally going to make love to Anna.

And I’m a nervous wreck. I don’t know how to go slow. I don’t know how to be gentle when I simply want to ravish her, take her, imprint myself inside her.

Still, I take my time, brushing my fingertips along her collarbone and down the center of her body, swirling around her heavy breasts before pinching the nipples.

Anna arches her back, watching me until the pleasure takes over and her lids lower. I lean forward, hungry to taste her skin and nip at those peaked nubs. Her fingers dig into my hair, holding me in place as I pay attention to one and then the other breast. Marking her with eager suction and tender bites.

I move down her body as I often have, heading for where she’s sweet and ripe, always ready for my mouth and tongue. Anna is innocent but learning, craving. She’s admitted when she hasn’t done something before. She’s enjoyed what I’ve done to her. The touches. The kisses. The way I do them.

Tonight, I’m learning a lesson in patience.