Chapter 23

 

I can’t breathe for a moment. I’m frozen, and any words I want to say are suspended in my throat, captured by the very essence of the chemistry that swirls around Mason and pounces on me like gravy soaking a biscuit.  He feels it too, I can see it by the way he’s staring at me. The electric, intoxicating energy cloaks us like a soft blanket. His gaze, and the intensity of it, doesn’t shift. It doesn’t falter.

I swallow hard, struggling to allow oxygen into my lungs. I am terrified and ignited with desire all at once. A warm, liquid feeling grows in the center of my stomach and spreads like wildfire until I feel as if my fingers and toes could shoot out fireworks at any moment.

The hallway light at the top of the stairs is dim, and it casts a soft yellowy shadow over his face, making him somehow even more attractive. Maybe it’s because I can’t see everything, and my mind fills in the parts that are too dark to see, making me want to run my hands over his well-defined muscles, exploring all of him.

All the words we want to say are caught somewhere in the realm of space and time, but in judging by the looks on our faces we don’t need verbalization of what our hearts want to communicate. Slowly, with excruciating deliberation, Mason approaches me. His steps are cautious, weary and guarded, but at the same time they are desperate and passionate.

Every muscle in my body tenses up in reaction, but not for lack of excitement. Every fantasy I could ever imagine having rushes through my imagination as I stare at his sculpted, perfectly carved muscles through his signature white t-shirt. If he touches me, even one finger on my arm, I will no doubt melt into a puddle. I will totally lose all self-control. I won’t be able to hold back anymore.

And yet here I am, hoping he does exactly that.

This isn’t just friendship. This is something more. Something all consuming. There is something magical here, something that only belongs inside of the two of us, people who can no longer control or hide their longing and compassionate burning for one another.

Right now, the world is fading away as Mason’s eyes sizzle through my soul. The atmosphere blurs and there’s nothing I can do but wait and see what happens. I haven’t left my place at the edge of the stairs, right in the middle of the grand balcony that overlooks the downstairs below.

My feet are deep rooted onto the carpet beneath my feet as if it’s quick sand, threatening to swallow me whole if Mason doesn’t make a move soon. He stands in front of me, and I inhale the scent of his rugged masculinity. It’s spicy, flavorful, and makes my pulse quicken.

Then, almost as if in slow motion, Mason extends his tan, muscular arm in a sexy, seductive way. His hand lands on my cheek and the heat burns me, rushing blood through my body.

My breath halts. I cease to exist, if only for the moment while his hand is on my cheek.

He cups my chin in his, stroking it delicately with a tender thumb. “There’s something…different about you.”

Finally, I am able to regain composure and I exhale and let out an unbalanced chuckle. “What does that mean?” I gaze into his eyes, hoping to find something I recognize…desire.

His eyes are like an open window, spilling in an island breeze that tickles my skin and billows through my hair. I’m not used to Mason staring at me this way…with so much longing. He’s usually a closed book. The pages written in a language I can’t read or understand.

But now, now I read him loud and clear, and I know he wants me as badly as I want him.

“It’s a…” Mason pauses and leaves me clinging to desperate hope. “It’s a good different.”

“Okay,” I sigh and close my eyes, absorbing the feeling of his hand still resting softly on my cheek.

“You are pure,” he says and smiles at me with the warmth of a thousand suns. “You’re compassionate and gentle. I didn’t want to believe it and I tried to stay away from you but instead of feeling better, I just suffered.”

I gaze into his eyes and feel a tingle spread across my body. I love how honest he is right now. How he’s letting me see the real him, one not hidden behind walls.

He bites his bottom lip for just a second. “I see the way you care for people…how you took care of Alexa tonight…you are a true angel.”

His words breathe new life into me. He could say anything after this and I probably won’t hear it.

“Really?” It’s a feeble response, but I am so lovestruck by his compliment that I can’t even pretend to act like a normal person right now.

Mason’s eyes gleam and he flashes a perfect, million-dollar smile at me. “Yes. I don’t say stuff like this lightly. I seriously mean it.”

I grin like a giddy idiot. I know he’s being honest because Mason is not the type of person to put on a front or be fake with people. My heart is pulsing loudly through my veins, drumming in my ears. I want him to tell me more compliments. Say more nice things. I want him to wrap his arms around me and keep me safe.

Life has been so hard for me lately, and I just need something valuable, sturdy and strong to lean up against. Mason is the perfect person to fit that role and I want to shout it from the rooftops.

Mason gives me a tender look that I can’t figure out, but his eyes cloud over with what I can only imagine is the same desire that is pulsing through my veins right now.

“Do you…” He says, trailing off as his eyes drop to the floor.

I decide to help him out, because this desire is burning too hot in my veins. I nod my head before my lips are able to express what I’m feeling inside.

“Yes…” I whisper and frantically press my lips to his.

My mouth parts open, and before I know what is happening, my arms are wrapped around his neck, enveloping him in a tight embrace. I’m running my hands through his hair and we are panting, breathing onto each other’s necks with hungry impulse.

All the sexual tension that we felt before, all that frustrating horrible restraint is now free to roam. He nibbles on my ear, making me giggle and prickling my skin with electrifying volts of pleasure in the form of chill bumps.

Everything I ever wanted is all consuming me now. I have this gorgeous man who’s running his hands through my hair and rubbing my back as if he can’t get enough of me or is scared that if he stops touching me I’ll just disappear.

“You’re so beautiful,” he groans and showers my neck with delicate kisses that make me woozy and turn my thoughts fuzzy.

“You’re not too bad yourself,” I whisper back, savoring the moment as his lips caress my skin.

Mason scoops me up and carries me off to his bedroom. We both want this more than anything in the world. My heart is racing with ecstasy. My ultimate fantasy with Mason is about to come true. Holy shit, it’s going to happen.

He pushes open the door to his master bedroom suite. It smells like his cologne in here and makes my stomach flip with desire. In the center of the room, there is a huge king-sized bed that looks soft and has white sheets with a grey comforter.

There are four fluffy pillows piled on top, and I just want to get lost in them. His room is incredible, and when I notice that his bed faces a balcony overlooking the lake I can’t believe this is really happening. I feel like I’m in heaven and I’m floating like a cloud as Mason gently carries me across the room and places me stoically onto his mattress.

He strokes my cheek and delicately pushes a stray tuft of my blonde hair and tucks it behind my ear. He’s undressing me with his eyes, but before long he acts on it, overcome with the passionate need to have me now.

“Is this okay?” he whispers, his eyes seeking out mine.

“Yes,” I breathe, trying to look sexy even though all I want to do is yell get on with it already!

Quickly, he grabs a condom from the nightstand, and I admire how smoothly he pulls off this maneuver. Usually it’s so awkward and takes me out of the mood when a guy grabs protection. But Mason’s quick to get the job done, and then he’s back on top of me. He gently pulls my shirt over my head, then tosses it to the floor. He leans forward and fondles my exposed breasts with an expression on his face that tells me he also can’t believe this is happening.

The moment feels so right, so perfect and magical. The chemistry is intense between us, and as we undress each other there is a natural flow to our charisma as we move with each other and explore each other’s bodies.

I push myself up onto the bed to make room for him as he straddles on top of me, planting soft kisses everywhere. The warmth of his lips threatens to erupt the erotic nature within me. Arching my back, I moan contentedly as Mason moves between my legs, going down on me like it’s his sole purpose in life.

It only takes a few minutes for me to feel the powerful buildup of climax that erupts like liquid gold, pouring out and making me cry out with passion and pleasure. The ecstasy is thrilling, and as I lay beneath him like a limp noodle in the aftermath of orgasm, all I can do is grin up at him and take delight in the fact that he’s tender and enthusiastic about giving me a turn.

It’s only then, after I climb down from my initial pleasure that I notice he’s trembling on top of me. I grab his chiseled arm muscles. “You’re shaking,” I whisper and search his eyes.

“It’s just…” he trails off with an anxious voice. “This moment is so perfect. This is the best night of my life.”

I pull him close to me at that confession. I wrap my arms around his neck and push him close to me, wrapping my legs around his waist as he pushes himself inside of me. I gasp, crying out at how huge he is as he fills me up. Gently thrusting at first, our bodies rock back and forth in a peaceful rhythmic way.

The moment is so blissfully erotic and tender I feel as if my heart might explode or I might just pass out from the pleasure. Mason groans and I see the beads of sweat forming on his chest and shoulders as he works to bring me to completion once again.

He’s always looking out for everybody else, and I admire him so much for that. There’s an intense moment as we make eye contact through the passion. I grab his face and bring him in for a kiss, that’s messy and passionate. It’s such a perfect private moment between us and once again, I release my inhibitions and cry out with climax.

Mason isn’t far behind. His body shakes and convulses as he comes. I hold onto him, helping him as he bursts inside of me.

Afterwards, we collapse beside each other, still intertwined limb to limb, naked and sweaty.

“Wow,” Mason pants. “That was amazing.”

I roll over to face him and begin tracing an abstract pattern on his chest with my index finger. “I’m glad we don’t hate each other anymore,” I say with a grin.

Mason’s eyes light up at my announcement. “Me too. We really needed this.”

I giggle. “That’s the truth.”

I lay back and stare up at his ceiling while my breathing returns to normal. I feel so warm and perfect and content.

“Come here, you sexy little thing.” Mason reels me in and kisses me tenderly once again. I sigh and lean back into the crook of his arm, burrowing myself there while we stare outside at the star-lined night sky.

I don’t know why we haven’t been doing this all along. It feels so natural being with Mason, as if I’ve known him my whole life. Then, in the safety of his embrace, I drift off to sleep dreaming of an even better tomorrow.