It was late when we arrived back at the apartment. While Haley showered, Mason grabbed a blanket and a pillow from the closet. He tossed them on the couch.
“You’re not going to make her sleep on the sofa, are you?” I asked.
“Well, she sure as hell isn’t getting my bed. Besides, she always sleeps on the sofa when she visits.”
“Mason.”
He angled his head towards me and lifted his palms in the air. “What? You think I should sleep on the sofa?”
“No.”
He shot me a look like I made no sense.
“I was thinking…I was thinking you could sleep with me.”
He propped his hands on his hips and grinned at me. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
The mischievous look he gave me caused me to smile in return. “I said you could sleep with me. But that’s all we’re doing—sleeping. I was serious when I said I wanted to slow things down.”
“Oh, I can go slow. In fact, a slow comfortable screw is one of my specialties.”
“Mason!” I gave him a playful glare as I feigned indignation. “I wasn’t talking about alcoholic beverages.”
“Neither was I.”
“It’s not too late for me to change my mind.”
“I’s just messing with ya. Get your fine ass in the bed, and I’ll be there as soon as I get Haley settled.”
Attempting to not be excited in the least, I went to take a fast shower. Afterwards, I slipped on the least sexy oversized tee shirt I could find.
A soft knock sounded on my door. “Come in.”
After opening the door, Mason stepped inside and shut it behind him. I was standing in front of my dresser, brushing my hair, when I heard the lock click. I watched him in the mirror as he came up behind me and slipped his arms around my waist. His hair was damp, and he smelled clean and masculine.
“You were a big hit with Haley.”
“Was I?”
“Oh, yeah.” He kissed me behind the ear. “In fact, she instructed me not to screw this up.”
“Smart girl.”
I set my brush on the dresser and twisted in his arms until I faced him. He reached out and gently trailed his fingertips along my jawline. “You’re incredibly beautiful,” he whispered, his voice low and rough.
“Almost as pretty as you.”
He frowned. “Don’t ever call me pretty. Jaw-dropping gorgeous—yes. Kinda nice-looking—okay. Insanely handsome—even better. But pretty?”
“But you are pretty.”
“What are you trying to do to my manhood, love?”
Smiling, I clasped my arms around his neck, inhaling his scent. “How about ruggedly sexy?”
He squeezed my butt, each palm filling with my flesh. “That works, too.”
In an unexpected move, he scooped me up, my legs dangling over one arm and tossed me on the bed. A surprised squeal erupted from my lips as I landed onto the soft mattress.
Stepping out of his jeans, he climbed on the bed, quickly crouching over me on his hands and knees. I reached up and ran my hands along his rigid biceps. He was everything I wasn’t, hard and angular, and I wanted to pull him against my softness.
Cupping his nape in my palms, I attempted to lower him to me, but he held fast. I wrapped my legs around his waist, but instead of him yielding to me, my body lifted off the mattress as I clung to him.
A soft groan escaped his lips. “Is this what you call taking it slow? Because all I want to do right now is hit that.”
I could feel my nipples brushing against his steely muscles. I could feel his hard-on, unforgiving as it pressed against the thin barrier of silken fabric between us. Frozen, I realized my playfulness had put us in a precarious situation. I should have released him because he was right. I was the one who had wanted to take it slow. I should have dropped back to the mattress and bid him good night. But I didn’t.
The set of his jaw warned me that he was exercising restraint.
I lifted my mouth to his, teasing him with my lips. He dropped me to the mattress, his weight pinning me beneath him as he pressed his erection against my flesh. He squeezed my breast through the tee shirt, his thumb rubbing across my nipple, hardening it.
A strange combination of panic and excitement raced through me. I did want to slow things down, and I didn’t. I wanted him to stop, and I wanted him to keep going. Releasing a shaky breath, I tried to remember all the reasons why I didn’t want to jump into a serious relationship. I tried to remember just how wrong my last serious relationship went. It was difficult to do when just being in the same vicinity as Mason made me feel like a lightning bolt was zapping my entire body. My head wanted to put distance between us, but even now, my traitorous body was arching, begging for his touch.
I opened my eyes and found him watching me, his warm eyes looking at me with adoration.
“I love to watch your response to me,” he whispered, his hand sliding under my tee shirt and caressing my bare breast.
As he rubbed against me, the lower part of my body hummed as if voltage ran through me. I was waiting for the one touch that would send sparks scattering like pyrotechnics in a blinding display of bright light and brilliant colors.
Warning bells rang loudly. How could his touch make me toss out all my judgment and good intentions as if they were nothing more than a bucketful of mop water?
“What time is it?” I asked in a weak attempt at diverting his attention from me.
“Sex o’clock,” he said softly, that endearing smile that I found nearly impossible to resist, lighting up his face.
I reached up and touched his cheek, feeling his rough whiskers against the soft pads of my fingertips. “That’s not what my clock says.”
“What does your clock say?”
“That it’s wait o’clock.”
“Hmm,” he said kissing my cheek as he slid onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow. “I think your clock needs a new battery.”
Laughing, I smacked him playfully on the chest, his hard muscles easily absorbing the impact. I thought about the relationship that had destroyed my faith in men. “I did warn you that we were only sleeping.”
“You did,” he agreed, that contagious smile spreading across his handsome face. “I was just hoping I could change your mind.”
“I’m sure you can,” I whispered. “Just not today.”
“Has someone hurt you?” he asked, his voice gentle as he entwined his fingers with mine, our hands resting against my abdomen.
Glancing up at his face, I was surprised that he had read me so easily. “Yes.”
His thumb began rhythmically caressing. “Want to tell me about it?”
“I was engaged.” Pausing, I swallowed, not wanting to ruin our moment together. “We had a nasty breakup.” I shrugged my shoulders. “That relationship is over, and I don’t want it to ruin our evening. I’d much rather concentrate on you.”
“And I want you to concentrate on me. I’m incredibly attracted to you, Lexi, and things are different with you. If you want to take things slow, we’ll take them slow. I definitely think you’re worth waiting for.”
Happiness filled my heart, and I bit my lower lip in an effort to keep the silly grin off my face.
“Let me get the light.” I watched as he rolled over and hopped off the bed. His boxers rode low on his hips, and I couldn’t keep myself from admiring his body.
He hit the light switch, and darkness enveloped the room.
Totally blinded as my eyes attempted to adjust, I felt the mattress dip with his weight as he crawled into bed. A soft sigh escaped my lips as I turned on my side, facing away from him.
His hands groped me in the darkness, and he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me against his warmth.
“Sweet dreams,” he whispered. He tightened his hold and kissed the top of my head.
“Sweet dreams.” I lay still a moment, his tight hold restricting my air intake. “Mason?”
“Hmm?”
> “I can’t breathe.”
He relaxed his hold. “Sorry, love. I’ll give you some leeway, but I have no intentions of letting you go.”
Feeling wanted was an incredible sensation, especially when I hadn’t felt that way in a very long time. Lying in the darkness, I rested my arm on top of his and stroked it gently, contentment filling my soul.
And as my eyelids grew heavy, I couldn’t prevent my thoughts from envisioning a future with him.
Chapter 12
Hanky Panky
Mason
I woke up to Lexi snuggled against my side, her small hand resting on my chest. Gazing down at her, I realized that she was still asleep, her dark hair disheveled with tresses spreading everywhere in disarray. She wore no makeup, and her hair was a mess. And even though I really appreciated her beauty when she was all dolled up with those sexy dark red lips, I thought she was even more beautiful now. Maybe her compassion had swayed me. I think the night that I was wasted, her touch had done something to me, bewitched me, entranced me. Hell, I didn’t know, but I hadn’t been able to get her out of my mind since.
Covering her hand with mine, I thought about what a difference such a small thing as a woman’s hand could make in the life of a man. Her hand was soft and warm. It was an extension of her kindness and compassion. Just having her near me made me feel things that I hadn’t felt in a very long time. Shit, maybe some things I had never felt.
Hugging her to me, I kissed the top of her head, noticing how great her hair smelled.
She stirred, and her eyelids slowly opened. Looking up, she rewarded me with a tantalizing smile. “What a great way to wake up,” she whispered.
“It is a great way to wake up, but I can think of one even better.”
Her lips turned down in a pout. “Like what?”
“Morning sex.”
Laughing, she rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed. “Is that all you think about?”
I reached for her, pulling her back toward me. “Well, look at you. Who could blame me for wanting to participate in a little hanky-panky?”
She curled against me. “What time is it? And don’t you dare say ‘sex o’clock’.”
I chuckled. “Wasn’t even.” Picking my cell phone up from the night stand, I glanced at the time. “Almost noon.”
“Noon!” She shot up in the bed.
“What?”
“We have a guest!” she screeched in a hushed tone. “Shouldn’t we make her breakfast or something?”
“First of all, she’s not a guest. She’s my sister. She’s used to fending for herself.”
Lexi groaned. “We don’t even have much in the way of groceries. I should definitely go get some groceries before work. You think she’d want to go with me? It’d give us a chance to get to know each other.” Her brow furrowed. “Or maybe you’d rather spend time with her while I go get the groceries.”
“I’m supposed to meet Hawk and Cade at the gym. Why don’t y’all go get groceries while I do that? Maybe we can meet back up here and eat before we go to work.”
“Okay. I’m going to jump in the shower.”
“I’ll let Haley know what’s going on, and I’ll see you later.” I got out of bed, located my jeans, and pulled them on.
Lexi stared into her closet, and I slid my arms around her waist, pulling her back against me. Kissing her temple, I whispered, “See you in a little while.”
“Bye.”
Releasing her, I went to find Haley. My bedroom door was open, so I peeked in. She was nowhere to be seen, and the bathroom door was open, the light off. I quickly changed into my gym clothes, grabbed a ball cap, and headed toward the living room.
Haley sat on the couch, nibbling on a piece of toast while she watched television.
“Hey,” I called.
She turned to look at me. “Hey.”
“Get ready.”
“For what?” she asked, surprise etched on her face.
“You’re going to the grocery store with Lexi. Here.” I tossed my credit card down on the coffee table in front of her. “That’s for groceries. And get me some shaving cream.”
Grabbing my keys, I headed toward the front door.
“Where’re you going?”
“To the gym. I’ll meet y’all back here a little later.”
“Bye,” she called as I walked outside and pulled the door shut behind me.
It didn’t take long to drive across town to the gym. Hawk and Cade were shooting the shit with the cute fitness model working the counter.
“Guys, what’s up?” I asked, approaching them.
Turning to face me, Cade slid his arms off the counter. “Waiting on you, as usual. Damn, dude, where’ve you been lately?” He pointed at me. “Look at those puny arms. I think you’re losing muscle mass.”
I flexed an arm. “I might’ve been preoccupied lately and missed a few workouts, but losing muscle mass? I don’t think so.” In reality, it was easier for Hawk and Cade to maintain their muscle. Hawk had plenty of free time to work out at the fire hall, and since Cade and his brothers owned the gym, he practically lived at it.
Cade scoffed. “If you say so….”
“Does your preoccupation have anything to do with Lexi?” Hawk asked, pulling on his weightlifting gloves.
“Are your lives so dull that you have to live vicariously through me?”
Hawk grinned. “I don’t think rushing into burning buildings classifies as dull.”
“I was referring to your sex life.”
“Ouch.” He squeezed his hands into fists, allowing the gloves to adjust accordingly.
I almost felt bad for saying it because Hawk wasn’t one for hook-ups. He was one of those guys that would treat a girl like his queen. I’d seen him do it, although none of the relationships seemed to last for more than a few months. And even though I’d asked him what happened, Hawk wasn’t one to kiss and tell. I’d never heard him say anything derogatory about any of his dates. I sure as hell couldn’t say the same for me. Or Cade, for that matter.
“I’s just messing with you, man,” I said, my guilt getting the better of me.
Cade looked at Hawk. “No, he was trying to take the heat off of him by throwing it on you. Notice he never answered the question.” Cade turned to me. “If you’re not interested in that little hottie rooming with you, just let me know. I’ll make her an offer she can’t refuse.”
“Stay the hell away from her,” I warned him, my tone taking a little bit more anger than I’d intended.
Cade laughed and turned back to Hawk. “Does that answer your question? Cade slapped me on the back. “Man, I haven’t seen a woman get under your skin like that since Rachel.”
I scowled, hating that he brought her name up. “Are you ready to lift weights?”
Lexi
Haley and I had finally carried all the groceries to the apartment. While I normally liked taking the stairs because it was a good way to burn a few more calories, I wouldn’t have minded an elevator.
Glancing at the bags piled all over the counter, I took note of the storage space, wondering if I was going to have room for everything. Spotting the flowers that Mason had given me, I picked up the vase and lifted it until I could easily smell one of the roses. Its heady fragrance made me breathe in even deeper than I’d intended.
“He really likes you.”
My attention was drawn to Haley. I hadn’t realized that she was watching me. “You think so?”
“I know my brother.” She put the luncheon meat in the refrigerator. “Heck, he practically raised me.”
“I like him, too.” I thought about the day I’d first met him. “I hadn’t really planned on liking him, but I think it’s that damn grin of his. It just makes my heart melt every time.”
She gave me a smile that was virtually identical to his. “The girls definitely notice him. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to tell my friends to shut up. If they ever laid eyes on him, that’s all they wante
d to talk about.
“And I’m talking from elementary school all the way to college.”
I set the flowers back down and went back to putting up groceries. “Yeah, I kinda sensed that he was popular with the ladies.” I threw her a package of sliced cheese, and she caught it and put it in the refrigerator.
“I’m sure you don’t have much trouble with men, either,” she said as she turned around and waited for me to throw her something else.
Tossing her a container of margarine, I groaned. “I have more trouble than you think.”
“I’m with you, sister,” Haley agreed with me. She laughed. “I’d give up on them if I didn’t want one so bad.”
“You have plenty of time. Besides, you know how that works—as soon as you stop looking for one, one’ll find you.”
“Is that what happened to you?” she asked, catching a bag of frozen corn. “Had you stopped looking?”
Dark memories tugged at my mind. I didn’t want to talk about it, but I finally decided that it wouldn’t hurt anything to answer her question. “Yeah. I guess I had.” Concentrating on the bag in my hand, I pulled out some canned goods, lining them up on the counter. “But it’s not like Mason and I are exclusive or anything.” I pulled out a carton of ice cream.
“Here,” Haley said. I looked up, and she was holding a can of shaving cream in her outstretched hand. “Will you put this in Mason’s bathroom?”
“I’ll trade with you.” I took the shaving cream and handed her the ice cream. I walked down the hall, through his bedroom, and into his bathroom. Spotting his old can of shaving cream, I opened his shower door and put the new can on the shelf beside it. Wondering if the old can was already empty, I tried to spray some in my palm. It sputtered mostly air with a few foamy remnants. After closing the shower door, I set the old can down on the vanity while I rinsed and dried my hands. Picking it back up, I searched the room for a garbage can, spotting a small wastebasket in the corner. I tossed the old can away and noticed something lying on the floor beside it.
Wasted Page 11
