Chapter 3
HARMONY HAD LOST HER MIND. Going on a date with Mason was about as dumb as stopping by his house to ask if Coop could come over and play.
She checked herself in the mirror one last time. She had to admit, she looked kind of cute in her red and white sundress with a pair of white sandals, something she wouldn’t have been caught dead in a year ago. Nothing but designer dresses, three-inch heels, and a pile of make-up that took three washes to get off her face at night.
The bell rang, followed by a happy yelp. She was becoming too attached to Coop.
And Coop’s owner.
It would be difficult to avoid Mason, considering he was her neighbor, landlord, and the Deputy Sheriff of this small town. But she was going to have to put the kibosh on her flirting.
When she pulled back the door, she bit back a gasp. Mason filled the front doorway with his broad shoulders and chiseled chest, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. He’d slicked his hair back, but not in an overstyled, greasy way.
Coop stuck his nose in, licking her fingertips.
"Wow. You look fantastic.” Mason said, obviously eyeing her outfit.
Or maybe her body.
Whatever his gaze took in, sent a warm shiver over her skin. It was a pleasant, yet unwelcome sensation.
"You look pretty dapper yourself." Dapper? Where the hell did she pick up that word? Small-town talk was already rubbing off on her. She had to admit that she enjoyed small-town life more than she thought she would. The relaxed atmosphere certainly reduced her blood pressure, however, she'd never get used to the idea that everyone knew her every move.
"The dog dresses me up nice." He smiled, holding his hand out. "Ready?"
"Just need to get my apple pie." She turned to head back to the kitchen.
Mason’s fingers curled seductively around her biceps. "My favorite,” he said, smacking his lips.
"I'm sure you say that about all sweets."
"Are you sweet?" he whispered, leaning in and pressing his lips to her cheek. "Because, you'd quickly become my favorite everything."
Her heart pounded in a way that made her wonder what made her more nervous: the fact that Mason had kissed her, or that she wanted to say fuck the barbeque and take him up to her bedroom.
"I'm more sour than sweet." She thought that might send a message that she wasn't interested, but he looped his arm over her shoulders, his thumb gliding over her bare skin. "Sweet and sour. That's a savory combination."
"Great comeback," she said with a nervous laugh. This man could easily make her want the human connection she’d sworn off. The last few months, going from one safe house after another, had been harder than she anticipated.
“Does that mean I get to taste this sweet and sour flavor?” He cupped her chin, staring into her eyes.
She couldn’t tear her gaze away, and she tried.
“You’ll have to wait until desert is served for a piece of pie.”
“I don’t want pie,” he whispered as he closed the door. “Go lay down, Coop.”
The dog made a funny gurgle, then jumped up on her sofa. She was about to tell him to get down, but Mason’s moist, hot lips collided with hers in a tangled web of passion.
Her skin burned with the kind of fire that could ignite a blaze deep in her core. One that she might never be able to put out.
She fisted her hand in his shirt, but instead of pushing him away, she pulled him closer. Her tongue coiled around his, matching his desire, and upping the stakes.
Sex.
It would be sex. Nothing more. Nothing less.
They were two grown adults with needs. Soon, he’d grow tired of her, finding out she wasn’t the girl for him. She didn’t want to get married or have kids, or any of that small-town family he wanted, and she’d make sure she told him every chance she could.
As soon as his mouth parted from hers.
And his hands stopped roaming her back side, heaving up her skirt, inch by inch.
His fingers dug into the back of her thighs as he effortlessly lifted her off the ground, wrapping her legs around his waist.
For half a second she thought about protesting, but then his foot hit the first step on the staircase leading to her bedroom.
“I guess we’re going to be late for the barbeque,” she murmured, nuzzling her lips against his neck.
“I’d say that is a safe bet.”
She stiffened at the choice of the word bet. He must have noticed because he paused mid-step.
“No betting necessary,” she said before flicking her tongue over his earlobe.
He groaned, kicking open the bedroom door. Lowering her on the bed, he quickly pulled his shirt over his head, showing off a smooth, bare chest.
His tanned skin looked so soft and silky, she had to touch it. She traced a path from his neck, down the center of his chest, raising up and pressing soft kisses as she made her way down to his naval.
It had been months since she’d been with a man and that hadn’t phased her in the least. She hadn’t thought about it or desired it. Sexual arousal had been dormant until she’d laid eyes on Mason.
Now it ran rampant, and there wasn’t a damn thing she wanted to do to stop it.
Gently, she lowered his zipper, releasing him from the confines of his jeans. His skin glistened in the sun’s rays reaching through the window like long fingers.
She ran her hands up and down, the desire building in her stomach, making her desperate.
He eased out of his jeans, standing at the foot of the bed, gloriously naked.
God, what a sight. His thick muscles flexed as he lowered himself to the bed. “Take off that dress,” he said in a dark, husky tone that rolled over her body like melting ice cream dripping down the side of a cone.
Reaching behind her with trembling fingers, she unzipped the back of her dress, letting her breasts fall out as she rolled it down to her hips.
He reached out, cupping her with both hands, letting his thumbs roll over her tight nipples. Her legs involuntarily opened. All she cared about was having him inside her, thrusting until she cried out. His warm mouth sucked and nibbled while his hands removed her dress, leaving her with only the tiniest of thongs.
Black lace.
He toyed with the elastic, rubbing against her few curls, dangerously close to her… “Oh, God,” she said with a moan as he glided two fingers inside.
He smiled like he’d found a hidden treasure.
Eager for a release, she rolled her hips with his motions, staring into his smoldering eyes, holding his passion-filled gaze, pleading with him.
He teased her, bringing her close to climax, only to stop and rock back on his heels, smiling, before starting again.
Two could play at that game.
She pushed him over on his back and straddled him, only she didn’t take the length of him inside. Instead, she rolled herself over him, enjoying the way he hissed and how his hands kneaded her breasts.
“Hang on,” he said, grabbing her hips and stopping her movement.
She frowned as he grabbed his jeans that were on the side of the bed.
“Condom,” he said.
“Good call.” How could she have been so stupid? She’d made that mistake once, and it resulted in a tragedy so monumental, she still wasn’t sure if she was over it.
Or if she’d ever get over it.
He covered himself with the condom, and she eased him inside. The pit of her stomach rumbled in anticipation of what was about to come. She thought she wanted to savor the moment. Let it build slowly, teasing him as much as he had with her, but her frantic need took over.
And he didn’t mind, his hands on her hips, squeezing hard as she rode over him, grinding wildly as her insides exploded like the finale of fireworks on the Fourth of July.
He rolled her to her back, slowing his motions as one wave of satisfaction after the other poured out of her like a fire hydrant on full blast.
His thrusts came in quicker, short bursts as he sucked on her earlobe, grunting until his body went rigid and an encore of fireworks filled her body.
For a long time, he lay on top of her, while they both caught their breath. He kissed her neck and cheek. She massaged his back and shoulders.
Minutes ticked by and neither one said a word, and the silence made her uneasy.
“We should probably go,” she whispered.
He raised up on his elbow, shifting his weight to the side. “I didn’t intend for this to happen.”
“But you had a condom in your back pocket.”
He let out a nervous laugh. “I’m a single man. I have one with me at all times.”
She opened her mouth, but he hushed her with his fingers.
“Not that I’ve needed one in a long time, and this was so unexpected.”
She didn’t know how to respond to that, except for she wasn’t sure they should do it again.
No, she knew it would have to end.
“Why don’t we get dressed and head to the barbeque. We can talk about this later.”
He arched a brow.
“Like you said, unexpected and maybe way too fast.”