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“If that’s the only offer I’m going to get, then okay, I’ll take it,” he says with a smirk. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay?”
“Of course.” I return the smile.
We both stand, exhausted from the night, and I’m ready to pass out. The memory of his kiss from earlier hits me as we stand chest to chest, and I wonder what it’d be like to kiss him again. For real this time.
“Your dinner was amazing, by the way. Sorry I made things weird.” I watch as he nervously fidgets with his shirt and then brushes a hand through his hair. I’ve learned over time that’s one of his nervous tics.
“Thank you, and it’s fine. Maybe inviting him over wasn’t the best idea, after all, but I’ll make sure he understands that I’m not interested in anything more than a friendship,” I say, wondering if that’s what he’s really concerned about. “Sorry for snapping at you,” I add.
Mason surprises me when he steps closer and brings a hand to my face. Then he brushes my hair behind my ear with a tender look. “Never apologize to me for being angry. I’d rather you not hide it anyway.”
“I think at this point, we’re beyond hiding stuff from each other.” I smile when he flashes me one of his deep grins. “Thank you for telling me about her. I know it wasn’t easy for you.” I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him tightly. “I hope you know how much I appreciate your openness.”
His body stiffens for a second before relaxing around me and closing his arms around my back. I feel his mouth on the top of my head as he gives me a small kiss. “You’re something special, Soph. I guess I can see why Caleb finds it easy to talk to you.”
I pull back slightly. “I like to think it’s because I was the oldest kid, and someone was always crying over something.” I chuckle, knowing my sisters would most likely agree.
He flashes a grin and nods. “Probably. You have a good heart too. It’s hard not to feel comfortable around you.” Then he gives me a sweet, lingering kiss on the forehead as always. “Good night, sweet Sophie.” When he pulls back, he flashes me a wink, and everything I’ve tried not to feel for him hits me in full force.
Knowing he pushed me away three years ago and after all this time because of his past makes me wonder if things would’ve ever worked out between us if he’d let himself be happy. If he’d opened up to me then or if he had never gone through it at all, would there had been a chance for us after all?
Mason walks around the sofa and toward the staircase, and before he takes a step, I hear myself calling out his name.
“Mason, wait.”
I swallow, my breaths coming out quicker, and when he pauses and turns toward me, I decide it’s now or never. He kissed me earlier today, and even though he says it was to calm me down, I believe there was much more to it. There’s no way he didn’t feel what I felt.
“Yeah?”
I stalk toward him and launch myself into his arms, wrapping my hands around his neck and pressing my lips to his. He doesn’t hesitate and holds me in place as our mouths devour each other. Mason’s hands slide down my body, then he palms my ass cheeks and lifts me until my legs wrap around his waist.
Turning us around until my back hits the wall, he holds me up with his hips. Large hands cup my face as he slants his greedy mouth over mine and teases my tongue with his. Tingles travel down my spine as he kisses me, heating my body from within, and it’s definitely one for the books. Mason kisses me with so much passion and desperation, I never want him to let me go.
Tightening my hold around him, he presses into me even harder, letting me feel how aroused he is. I grind my hips against him, and then he pulls back with a growl, pressing our foreheads together.
“Soph…” He breathes out. “Fuck, you better stop that.”
My breaths come out as pants as I try to form words. “You kissed me back.”
“You kissed me back this afternoon,” he retorts, and then we both laugh.
“Were you really just trying to calm me down earlier?” I ask.
“Yes, but I also really wanted an excuse to kiss you.” I hear the vulnerability in his tone and smile.
Mason sets me down on my feet, so I have to look up his large frame to meet his eyes. “Why?” I ask, eager to hear him say it. Say he feels what I feel. “Why did you need an excuse?”
“Because you’re not mine to kiss,” he says softly.
