Page 42 of Coastal Rewind

“Dad! You rocked tonight!” MJ yelled, holding his hand up for a high-five.

Mason slapped his hand before pulling MJ into his side and ruffling his hair. “Glad you had fun, little man.”

“Ryleigh and I had so much fun. We had hotdogs and soda floats and pretzels.”

“Did you buy the entire snack bar?” he asked with a laugh.

“No.” MJ sighed. “I wasn’t allowed to get M&Ms or cotton candy.”

“Oh good, glad you’ll only get a high from ice cream and processed meat but not also from chocolate and pure sugar.”

I snorted as the three of us headed out to the players’ parking lot. When we got to Mason’s SUV, MJ climbed into his booster seat and I rounded the car to slip into the passenger side.

The entire drive home MJ still never stopped talking about the game. He told us he was going to play professional ball just like his dad. He told us he was going to beat Mason’s homerun record, and he informed us that he’d play for a team that didn’t wear green because it simply wasn’t as cool as the other team’s colors.

Mason let him go on and on without making a single comment about his dreams being unrealistic or pushing him to have a different future. He just let the little boy dream.

When we got to the house, MJ looked like he was one minute from crashing so Mason hurried him inside and put him to bed.

I pulled out my phone and leaned my elbows on the kitchen counter, not quite tired enough to hide in my room. I heard the soft click of MJ’s door and the heavy footfalls of Mason’s socked feet on the hardwood.

A second later, I could feel him behind me. My breaths were shallow and I stilled.

“You look so fucking pretty with my name on your back, Sunshine,” he said in my ear without actually touching me. His voice was like silk—so smooth that I could feel it all over my body. I felt like I was going to explode. Mason backed away to the small wet bar on the opposite side of the room.

I whirled around, feeling frantic.

“Are you fucking with me?” I blurted out.

Mason furrowed his brows. “Why would I be fucking with you?”

I threw my hands to the sides and rolled my eyes. “You kiss me on my birthday and then don’t touch me again. Then you say shit like that. What am I supposed to do with that?”

Mason chuckled darkly, which only pissed me off more.

“Is something funny?” I crossed my arms and arched a brow.

“No. It’s just…most women would appreciate me being a gentleman.”

“I’m not most women, and I didn’t ask you to be a gentleman.”

Mason prowled toward me, making me take a step back until I was stopped by the edge of the island. He lifted his hand up, his pointer finger hooking under my chin and forcing my gaze to meet his.

“You want me to touch you, Ryleigh Kelly?”

I smirked at him and raised my chin higher. “Yes, Daddy.”

Mason growled before dipping his head. His lips slowly met mine. The kiss was soft but powerful, demanding. The feeling of his lips on mine sent goose bumps down my entire body as I finally got the thing that I’d been craving since the pier. That kiss was feral and frantic, this one was one that would make your toes curl.

Mason ran his hands over my hips until they were palming my ass. He gripped me, pulling me closer to him. I could feel how hard he was through his sweatpants and part of me was really proud that I did that to Mason Saxley.

He hooked his hands under my thighs and pulled me up until I was sitting on the counter, our mouths never separating. Mason stepped between my legs and leaned onto his palms so he surrounded me.

He nipped at my bottom lip as my arms rested on his shoulders lazily.

“Is that better?” he asked against my mouth.

“Much better.” I smiled as he placed another lazy kiss on my lips. “So, what happens now?” I asked, looking into his eyes.