Chapter Four
Mason
Before
“Well, you didn’t disappoint.” Payton was lying naked in my arms in my king-sized bed, her luscious body surrounded by my royal blue bedding. The moonlight was streaming in through my window, and I was trying really hard not to be bummed that I was leaving tomorrow.
“Did you think I would?” I kissed the top of her head and let my other hand caress her bare rib cage. I may be into one-night stands, but I liked to cuddle. I was a player with a heart of gold. “I promised I’d make it count.” Over the past two hours Payton had kind of wormed her way into my heart. I wasn’t in love or anything, but I liked her. None of my lines worked on her. She called me out every single time. It was different than what I was used to. Refreshing and fun.
“I actually did. I thought you would be all talk and subpar action.”
I scoffed. “Well, I thought you would be all meek and naïve.” I didn’t, not really. But I had to counter with something.
She let out an amused sigh. “I have three older brothers, Mason. If I didn’t have a backbone I’d still be locked in my room sporting pigtails and a Rainbow Brite sweatshirt.” Her statement made me think back to yesterday when M Kat told me she was pregnant. I’d for sure try and lock up my little sister and throw away the key, especially if she looked like Payton. Gorgeous fresh face with a body made for sin? Irresistible to scoundrels like me. “Where are you headed next?”
Payton was sexy and she was a wildcat in bed (and the pool and the shower), and she was smart and driven. She was the whole package and she was going to make some guy the luckiest man alive one day. “Seattle. Then San Diego, then Baja. Baja should be a blast. I’ve always loved it down there.”
She rested her chin on my chest. “Do you surf?”
“Yeah. I learned when I was a kid. My dad shot a film in Baja. We were there for four whole months. It was amazing.” I put one hand behind my head. “What about you? What do you do when you leave here tomorrow?”
“I graduated last week and I start my new job on Tuesday. Not nearly as exciting as traveling through North America singing and surfing my days away.” She laid her head back down and started tracing the tattoos on my pec, music notes from the first song I’d ever written. “But I’m excited to actually start my career. School was grueling. I’m ready to put it all to use.”
It was three o’clock in the morning and I knew the sun would be coming up soon, but I wasn’t ready to let her go. I liked the sound of her voice. It was soft and it almost put me in a trance. Put me at ease. “What made you want to be a nurse?”
“My family is full of nurses and doctors and surgeons and paramedics. It’s just kind of what we do. It’s in my blood.” She kissed my chest and my dick began to grow hard again. This would be a record, even for me. She looked down when she felt me against her thigh. “Really?”
I shrugged. “What can I say? You make my dick happy.” I winked and she laughed as she climbed on top of me.
“Condom.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She’d yet to let me forget. That also wasn’t something I was used to. A girl not trying to get me to knock her up. I grabbed yet another one from my nightstand and slid it on.
She sank down on my cock and started a slow tantalizing grind. I looked across the room, watching her ride me in the reflection of my mirror and the glow of the moonlight. My hair was messy, sticking up everywhere from her constantly running her fingers through it. My jaw was set since I was trying like hell to hang on. She felt so fucking amazing on top of me. I ran my hands up her slender back, watching my forearms as they flexed. We would make one hell of a Tumblr GIF.
Fuck, Payton turned me on. I ran my hands up her thighs, gripping her ass. “Ride me harder, baby.” Her skin broke out in goose bumps as she did what I asked. This was one girl who I would actually miss tomorrow. If I were a different guy, with a different life, I wouldn’t let this one go.
***
I woke up when I felt Payton climb out of my bed. The sun was coming through the blinds, but it was still early. She was fumbling around looking for her clothes. “Hey, come back to bed.” I patted the mattress next to me. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t ready to kick a girl out. I wanted to spend the morning with her, have breakfast. Have more sex.
“I can’t. I need to go.” She didn’t meet my eyes, just kept looking for her shoes.
“Stay, we’ll grab something to eat. My flight doesn’t leave until this afternoon.” I was sitting up now, my sheets pooled around my naked waist.
“I can’t.” She pulled her shirt over her head and stepped into her boots. “Uh, thanks for last night though. I had fun.”
Of course she had fun. I was a fucking stud. “You’re really just going to leave? When I’m asking you to stay?” Did she have any idea how many chicks would have jumped at the chance to stay a little longer? How many girls basically begged me to let them stay for breakfast? And she was all but racing to get out of here.
“Yeah, I, uh, I have plans and I really need to get home.” She piled her hair on the top of her head and finally looked at me. “My cab should be here any second.”
She’d planned on sneaking out of here, and that thought alone made me say my next words. “I’d love to see you again.”
Payton raised an eyebrow, a smirk on her face. “I thought it was one night with a rock star? Not a night, breakfast, and a second date.”
Had she just used me? Had she really only wanted one night? I doubted she was one of those chicks that would bang someone famous just to prove she had. No. I was guessing her aloofness had more to do with protecting herself than anything else. Which meant she was smart. Smarter than any of the other chicks I’d ever slept with.
“I said I’d love to see you again, not that I’d be able to.” I waited, watching her reaction. She didn’t so much as blink. “I’m traveling nonstop for the next year and a half.” I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. “But, maybe we can keep in touch?”
She stared at my cell for a good thirty seconds before she grabbed it and entered her contact information. “Yeah, sure.”
When she handed it back I took her hand and pulled her to me. She had to put one knee on the bed to keep from falling over. “I think you’re the coolest chick I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, Payton Adkins.” I met her halfway and kissed her perfect lips one more time. “Talk soon?”
“Sure.”
And with that, she was gone. I rarely asked for girls’ numbers. Like almost never. But there was something about Payton. Something that drew me to her, something that made me want more. I didn’t want her to feel like a cheap one-night stand, because it turned out I didn’t see her that way.
About an hour later I finally decided to get my lazy butt out of bed. And the first thing I did? Text Payton. I wasn’t in love. That wasn’t for guys like me. I wanted to be a bachelor until I was old, then I’d find some hot young piece and start popping out kids. It was a good plan, a fool-proof plan that promised years of fun in my future. But, that being said, I did like Payton. And I didn’t want her to think I’d asked for her number, never to use it.
Me: You get home okay?
I sat my phone down and headed into my bathroom, brushing my teeth while staring at the shower where we’d screwed against the tile.
“Put your hands on the wall Payton.” I waited until she did what I told her, then I used my foot to kick her legs farther apart. “You ready, baby?” I grabbed a handful of her wet hair as I slammed inside her tight body. My head fell back and my knees threatened to buckle. No one had ever felt that good wrapped around my cock.
I was getting a hard-on just from the memories alone. I didn’t rush to my nightstand when I heard my phone ding. And I most certainly didn’t stub my toe in the process.
Payton: I did, thanks for checking. Very un–rock star of you, friend.
I couldn’t help but smile at her response.
Me: Well, what can I say? Of late, I have been raised to be a gentleman.
That was the truth. M Kat demanded no less from me, and I loved her for it. She was an amazing mom and my baby sister was going to be the luckiest kid in the world.
Payton: Tell Kate I said thank you.
Before I could type out a response my phone started to ding again.
Payton: Wait. No. Don’t tell Kate anything about last night, or this morning. I don’t want her to think I’m a one-night stand kind of girl.
I chuckled.
Me: She won’t think that, because I don’t think that.
Payton: You don’t think that? You offered me a one-night stand and I accepted. I did the walk of shame. It’s official.
Me: If you were just a one-night stand, I wouldn’t have asked for your number. And I certainly wouldn’t have checked on you. I lied before. I’m an asshole. Don’t tell M Kat.
Payton: Your secret is safe with me.
I wasn’t lying. I really was a bit of an asshole. Which was evident by the fact that I forced myself to put my phone away. She’d texted last, which meant the ball was in my court and that was where I wanted it to stay.