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“Thank you,” I whisper, sitting up and chomping into my sandwich as Mason takes a swig from the water bottle. Then he crashes onto the mattress beside me.
When I’m finished eating and hydrating, I lower into the spot beside him and he pulls me tight against his chest. Like he has every right to cuddle with me right now.
“Fuck, that was amazing,” he says, his lips warm against my forehead.
“Yeah…” I dare to tug his arm around my waist. Like I have every right to pull him close.
I hold my breath—waiting for thetalk—but it never comes.
Go with the flow, Karli. Just chill out.
But I’m on edge and I can’t get my rambling brain to settle down. I can never just leave well enough alone.
Scooting around on the bed, I plant my chin on his chest and find his brilliant eyes in the dim light.
“What?” he murmurs, a sleepy contented smile on his lips.
“Aren’t you…aren’t you…gonna pull out your usual list of reasons why this is all wrong?”
Shut up, Karli. Please shut up.
Mason is silent for a moment, then his thick biceps close possessively around my body. “No. Just for tonight, I want to pretend that this is right.”
One corner of my mouth lifts in a small smile. “Yeah. Just for tonight.”
I lay my head on his chest and Mason doesn’t push me away. And this time, I don’t run off. Instead, we hold onto each other, basking in how good this feels.
Surrender.
No snarky words flying like missiles in the air. No shields for our hearts to hide behind. All weapons scattered on the ground. Yet I feel perfectly safe in his arms.
This is what surrender feels like.
His breathing settles into a rhythmic pattern and I listen to his heart as it begins to slow.
Right before sleep pulls him under, I hear him whisper. “Night, Tough Girl.”
I smile, my cheek nestled against his steadily beating heart. “Night, Pretty Boy.”
31
MASON
My eyes blink open on Saturday morning and, man, do I feel good. I stretch my arms and my legs with a wide grin on my face.
Andthen, I remember why I feel so good to begin with.
I fucked Karli. Again.
Last night, I finger-fucked my best friend’s little sister against the cold bathroom sink and then I gave her two more roaring orgasms right here on these very sheets.
Come on, Mason.You dumb fucker.
Quickly, all that postcoital fog dissipates as the real world comes slamming into me, head-on. I sit up quickly and glance around, only to find that the once-occupied spot next to me is now one-hundred percent empty. I’m alone.
Karli must have gone back to her bed. Shit. Does she feel as guilty and out of control as I do?
I throw myself back down on my pillow, growling at myself in annoyance.I’m such an idiot. A stupid, horny idiot.
