by Natalie Ann
Holy shit. If he didn’t stop soon he wasn’t going to want to leave at all.
Her nails were digging into the back of his neck and he didn’t care one bit. If she pushed herself closer to him just a fraction more, she’d feel the effect another part of his body was having right now. Hard and pulsing and ready to burst through his jeans.
He finally lifted away and put his forehead to hers, then took a deep breath in. “Are you sure you’ve never done that before?”
“Was it bad?” she asked, looking distressed.
“Hell no,” he said, then kissed her again.
Lost Time
Jessica had just run home and showered, then grabbed her bag and dashed out the door. She was on her way to Mason’s house for dinner.
It was the second time she’d be going to his house. The first time was last Sunday after work. He invited her to dinner, and though she was nervous, she was also thrilled. Going to his house made it seem more official rather than only seeing each other at work or her house.
He’d cooked her burgers and fries and she enjoyed every minute of it. Even when he joked that Aiden was the chef in the family, but he could manage to not starve on his own.
After dinner, they ended up on his couch kissing some more. That night it’d only been two days since the first time he really kissed her and she was ecstatic he was more enthusiastic than last time. She was getting the hang of his lips on hers and wishing they never left. Maybe she was making up for lost time? It didn’t matter because she was finding herself easily lost in his arms and loving his strength and warmth.
And though right now her nerves stemmed from maybe him wanting to go further, he never made a move toward it. Actually, she was more disappointed than anything. It was obvious he was turned on; she’d felt it through his jeans plenty already.
Did he not find her attractive enough? Was she that awkward? Or was it her inexperience?
She was thinking it was the last one. But he’d stopped at her house two more times after work this past week, after she’d already eaten dinner and was settling in for the night. Said he just wanted to see her since she’d be off for three days. It was unexpected and sweet and both times they ended up on her couch with lots of kissing and a bit of groping.
She found she loved the feel of his hands on her skin. Big, hard, hot. Rough feeling, but trying to be gentle. Like an elephant trunk handing you over a glass jar and managing not to break it.
Mason was more considerate than any man she’d ever known.
But here she was, it was Valentine’s Day and he’d asked her to dinner at his house. Said they could go out, but she knew he didn’t care for it, so she agreed to have a night in instead.
She had plans for the night. If she could work up the courage.
She parked her car in his driveway, then took a deep breath and looked around his property. He lived out in the country. There were houses around, neighbors she could see, but no one on top of each other. She’d asked him how he took care of the place since it seemed he always worked. He said he found it relaxing when he could squeeze out the time to do it, and surprisingly she could see him driving around lost in thought on the tractor he said he owned.
Walking up the front walkway, she noticed his porch was bare, but she’d bet he had chairs out here come spring. She was visualizing herself sitting here with a beer at night, relaxing and listening to the sounds around her. They seemed so much alike, she figured he’d enjoy that too.
He opened the door before she had a chance to ring the doorbell. He was standing there in jeans, a T-shirt and was barefoot. It was the first time she’d seen him that way.
The last time she’d come over, she’d followed him from work and they just slipped their shoes off at the door. But this seemed cozier. Homey. More like a couple coming home for the day.
Only it wasn’t her home. And they were barely a couple. Hopefully, that would change tonight, and they’d be more of a couple.
She handed her jacket to him and left her shoes by the door. Before she could take one step, he pulled her in and kissed her hard, then she fell into him like she had been every time he touched her. If she ever felt like she was Superman, he’d be her kryptonite.
“Hi,” he said.
“That’s a nice welcome,” she said.
“I’ve never seen you with your hair up before.” He tugged on her ponytail, teasing her. He teased more than she thought he would. More than she thought she’d ever like from a man.
“It wasn’t doing what I wanted, so I pulled it back. I can take it down if you don’t like it.”
He smiled at her. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it. I said I’ve never seen it up before. I can see more of your face now.”
She’d been trying to run the flat iron through it again, hoping for a nice silky look, but she must be doing something wrong because all it did was fall down like a greasy mess. She’d been running late and didn’t have time to wash it again. Maybe she used too much of that oil that she read worked good too.
“I’ll wear it up more. I don’t do much with my hair. It kind of has a mind of its own. Straight and flat, sometimes frizzy.”
He shook his head. “It looks fine. I don’t understand why women get so obsessive with every piece of hair on their head. Ella goes nuts if you mess up her hair.”
“Ella always looks so put together. When we met with the vendors the other day, I felt like a drowned rat next to her. I had come from class and had jeans and a sweater on. But she had on a skirt and silk shirt.”
Mason laughed. “She always overdresses there, but she said it’s what she wants and no one dares to argue with her.”
“If she feels comfortable like that, more power to her. I’d love to look just a tenth as put together as she does.”
“You look fine,” he said, pulling her toward the kitchen.
Fine. He said she looked fine again. Not good, but fine. Oh well.
“It smells good in here. What did you cook?”
“Nothing. Tonight I asked Aiden to make us dinner.”
“He has no problem doing that for you?” she asked, trying to hide her shock.
“Of course not. He says it’s easier for him to do it than try to show me, not that I really want to learn. Still, he likes doing stuff like this.”
She sat in a chair by the island while he opened up the oven and pulled out a pan, then took the cover off. “Chicken Cordon Bleu and mashed potatoes. I requested the potatoes and he rolled his eyes at me.”
“Why?” she asked. “Mashed potatoes are awesome.”
“That’s why. You’ve said that before.”
Aww. He remembered. “Thanks,” she said, standing up and walking around to kiss and hold him tight. She liked feeling his much bigger body against hers.
“Come on, let’s eat while it’s warm. I thought about getting a bottle of wine.” She scrunched up her nose and he laughed. “But figured you like beer so I’d stick with it.”
“Good choice.”
“You seem nervous tonight,” he said halfway through dinner. “Everything okay?”
It was now or never in her mind. If he said no, then she’d just go home and cry in her pillow, but she didn’t think he would. Not with the way he’d been staring at her all night, smiling at her, reaching for her hand. He had to be feeling the same things she was. He had to.
“I was wondering about something?”
“What’s that?” he asked, lifting his glass to his lips. Had she ever noticed how nice and full his lips were? Yeah, she had.
“I thought maybe you wouldn’t mind if I stayed the night.” There. It was out of her mouth. She hadn’t been swallowed up into a hole nor did she feel any heat rushing up her face. At least she didn’t think so.
He started to cough. Great. Just what she needed. He was shocked she’d said it and was choking. And... there was the heat filling her face. “Sorry,” she said. “Forget I asked.”
“No,” he said, reaching his hand acros
s the table for her. He was always reaching for her hand. She didn’t know men did that, but she was glad Mason did.
“I’d like that a lot. I don’t want you to ask because you think I want it. I want you to stay because you want to.”
“I do. I really do.” It seemed like she had been waiting for this night for years rather than only two weeks.
“Then I’d like very much for you to stay. Only if you’re comfortable with it.”
“I’m not so sure how comfortable I am. I mean I’m a nervous wreck, but figured I’d be whether it’s tonight or ten years from now. Please don’t make me wait ten years.”
He laughed and stood up, pulling her up with him and hugging her tight. “Never. I won’t make you wait anymore because I don’t want to either. I just want you to be sure.”
“I am.” She moved away from him. “I just need to go get my bag. I left it in the car because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to work up the nerve to ask.”
“I’m glad you did. I like that about you. That even when you’re nervous or scared, you don’t let it control you.”
She’d done that too much in her life and didn’t want to anymore. She was a woman and, damn it all, she wanted to feel like one.
Mason Fierce was going to show her she was a woman tonight. He was going to be her first lover.
She all but ran to the front door and slipped her shoes on, then went out to her car before she realized she’d locked the doors and didn’t have her keys.
Really?!
Back in the house she went, pulling her keys out of her purse, then getting her bag and returning inside.
When she walked into the kitchen, he was rinsing off the pan the chicken had been in. “I should have helped you clean up. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry. It’s all done. I’m going to let it soak. What do you want to do right now?”
“You’re asking me? I was kind of hoping you knew,” she said, smiling at him. She was teasing, but really wasn’t. She had no clue what to do next. Sure, she knew what sex entailed. She wasn’t stupid. She didn’t know what the next move would be to get to that step though.
“I know, don’t worry about that. I just didn’t want you to think I was going to toss you over my shoulder and carry you to my room.”
“I might like that,” she said. The image of that alone was sending flood waves of heat all through her body.
“You’re not making this easy on me,” he said, pulling her in against his chest. She felt not only the heat of his body next to hers but something else. Something she’d been feeling the last few times they’d been close. Something rock hard in his jeans and pressing against her waist. A beast wanting to be unleashed.
Wow, her mind was working overtime. She was both scared and excited at once. Thrilled even.
“I wasn’t thinking of that. Is it a problem? I mean, is it hard on you?”
“It’s hard all right,” he said, smirking, “but I’ll be just fine.”
“Can we go upstairs now? I just think I want to get it over with.”
“Thanks.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” she said, stepping back. “I’m so nervous. Please tell me if I mess up. If I do something stupid. And don’t laugh or get insulted if I say something ridiculous. Or make funny noises. I mean that might happen. I just don’t know. And wow, maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
“Stop,” he said pulling her back against him and lifting her chin with his hand. “When people make love, whatever they say or do is right. Whether they laugh or cry, it doesn’t matter. It’s all in the heat of the moment. I’m not going to be thinking of anything other than making sure I don’t hurt you and that your first time is memorable.”
He said making love. Not sex. What did that mean? She never thought of any of that—what he said. It all made her feel squishy inside now too. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“I’m not sure I can take too many surprises tonight, but what is it?”
She liked the smile he was sending her. Part tender and part sexy and a whole lot of heat. His eyes were dark and almost burning her soul.
“When we get upstairs. Can we go up there now?”
He threaded their fingers together and pulled her toward the stairs. She’d yet to see anything other than his first floor. His house was nice and big, but not so big that she felt lost in it. It was more like perfect.
Now her night would be perfect too.
Just A Wonder
Mason wanted to grab another beer but decided against it. He was trying not to sweat right now.
He’d been waiting for this night and figured he’d have even more time to wait. On one hand, he was glad that wasn’t the case. On the other, he was terrified of hurting her.
Not just physically, but emotionally.
She was so inexperienced. So naive about some things. He wasn’t used to being in a relationship and hadn’t been in one in years. Not since the last few times he’d tried, and the women told him he didn’t pay enough attention to them. He wasn’t considerate enough. Didn’t show enough romance. Oh, and didn’t communicate well.
But he was trying to get his brewery off the ground back then. Trying to get the business up and running the way he and his siblings knew it could. He was only able to focus on one thing and those women weren’t it.
It wasn’t excuses, in his mind, but just facts. And maybe some of it was those women hadn’t pulled at him like Jessica, because doing all those things he’d been accused of not doing before seemed to come so easily with her. Maybe because all those women before weren’t ones he really saw himself with.
With Jessica, he found he wasn’t even trying, but it just happened. All the hugs and hand-holding. She seemed to appreciate it, which made him do it even more rather than worrying she’d think he was weak.
Had he been jealous that Brody and Aiden found someone? Yeah, he had. So much he was willing to try even harder not to mess this up.
The past year or so he’d been looking at his life and realizing what he was missing, but not knowing how to find it or even what it was until Aimee and Nic entered the family fold. That it fell into his lap so neatly the past few weeks was just a wonder to him, making him realize all those things he was afraid of showing to people were stupid and ridiculous on his part.
He didn’t want to lose these feelings but was unsure how to proceed.
It seemed right now he was proceeding with at least one part that he’d been dying for, though.
He opened the door to his room and pulled her in. She looked around a little wide-eyed.
“Is that your bathroom through there?” she asked, looking at a door at the other end of the room.
“Yes.”
“Okay. I’m going to go get ready.”
“Go ahead.” He sat on the bed, not wanting to remove any clothing. No use making her more nervous than she was.
She didn’t leave him waiting long. She opened the door and walked out in a silk white slip type thing. It wasn’t covered in lace, it wasn’t see through, it wasn’t even short with it stopping at mid-thigh.
But it was innocent and it was one hell of a turn on.
“I thought about red because it’s Valentine’s Day, but figured that’d be like a false confidence thing. I’m not that kind of girl just yet. Maybe next time. I mean I want to be confident enough for that, but barely had enough to buy this.”
Her words hit him hard. She was so much younger than him but much more mature. She wasn’t trying to be anyone other than herself so maybe it was time he followed her lead.
“What you have on is just fine.” She frowned at him. “What?” he asked, not moving from the bed.
“Everything is always just fine. What do I have to do to be more than fine?”
He felt horrible. It didn’t occur to him that she was taking it that way. “It’s more than fine. It’s tempting. It’s sweet and it’s sexy and it’s pushing my control. You look so innocent, just reminding me that y
ou really are. That I’ve got to take it slow when I’d rather rip that off you and bury myself so deep inside of you neither of us knows our names. Is that what you want to hear?”
He’d never been one for sweet and endearing words. Hell, he’d never been one for words at all. Now he was thinking those words might have started out sweet, but they didn’t end that way.
“Well yeah, doesn’t every woman?” He was glad she didn’t seem to take exception to what he was saying.
“But you’re not every woman,” he said, holding his hand out for her to come to him. When she stopped in front of him, he stood up and put his hands around her face, lowering his mouth to hers. “You’re my woman tonight and what you’re wearing does something to me that I’ve never felt before.”
He was shocked that not only had he had those words in his head but that he actually voiced them out loud. All she did was sigh and wrap her arms around his neck, silently telling him he was doing it right.
It was answer enough for him. It seemed being fierce didn’t always have to do with strength, but with knowing when to be soft and gentle and knowing how to make someone feel good about themselves.
“Tell me if I do something you don’t like. Or don’t want. Anything. Tell me to stop if you need it. I’ll listen to whatever you want.”
“I want you. That’s all I want. Just make me feel good,” she said.
“I will. I can promise you that.”
He kissed her again, his lips trailing down her neck, up to her ear, and over her collarbone. She wasn’t that big. Average height, but he realized she hid a lot of her body under her clothes. She had curves in the right spots and he was finally going to get to see them.
His hands slid up her sides, the cool silk of her outfit heating him up more. The sound it made when she rubbed against him, the little breathy catches she was releasing when his lips moved over her neck. The arch of her body into his silently asking for more.
He turned her and sat her on the bed, then got down on his knees in front of her. He’d been touching parts of her before now, but not this yet. He was dying to see and touch it, taste it. Make it his.
