“What about Nicole?” I asked, our faces only inches from each other.

“I don’t care about Nicole. I’ve tried to make myself love her but I can’t. I can’t love her when I’m still in love with you.” Mason lowered his lips to mine.

When our lips touched, it was like a dam busted open. All the feelings I had kept bottled up for all those years, rushed out. As his lips glided against mine, I couldn’t think about Nicole or Chis anymore. I couldn’t think about leaving. I couldn’t think of anything but him.

I tugged his hair as his lips continued with their torture and his tongue begged for entrance. When I finally tasted him, a moan escaped me.

He broke the kiss for only a second and locked his eyes with mine. “God, I’ve missed that sound.”

As soon as his lips returned to mine, he grabbed me by my outer thighs and lifted my legs over his hips. He walked us to the bench seat, laying me across it. The position I was in was uncomfortable with my bruised ribs, but the alcohol helped to numb it, a bit.

Laying on my back, I looked up at him. He kept one knee on the seat as he leaned over, inches from touching me. His eyes held so much more emotion than I could even understand. They stared into mine, deeply and intensely.

He raised his right hand and caressed my cheek. “You’re so fucking beautiful.” His tongue swept across his bottom lip before he moved back in.

Before, I would have been flinching at the hand that was coming toward my face, but this time, I welcomed it. I knew Mason would never touch me in the same way Chris had.

Mason’s touch felt right, like I had been starved for oxygen from the moment I left him. I was finally able to breathe again when he kissed me. In that moment, I knew. Mason was what I wanted.

I didn’t have to think about it anymore, I didn’t want to go back to Chris or anything that life held for me.

This is all I would ever want, him. It’s always been him. I was just too young to realize what I had when I had it. It took losing him and only being half a person until I finally got another chance.

His hand traveled from my breast to the hem of my shirt, when I remembered the bruises.

“Mason, we should stop.” I pushed his hand away.

He sat up, confusion showing in his hooded eyes. “Why?” he asked breathless, cupping my cheek and running his thumb under my eye.

Can he see the bruise?

I took his hand in mine. “We have to think about this. We shouldn’t rush into anything. I know you said you don’t love Nicole, but I know you well enough to know that you don’t want to hurt her either. If we keep doing this, you will hurt her.” I looked into his blue eyes.

He seemed to understand. He sat back in the seat. “You’re right. I told myself that I wouldn’t let this happen tonight. I’ve never been able to think straight when I’m with you, guess that hasn’t changed.” He offered up his sexy grin.

Mason took my hand and led me back to our seats to head back. As we sped back toward the dock, I closed my eyes and hoped I did something right for once. I didn’t want to be the other woman, I wanted him all for myself.

I tried to clear my thoughts, letting the warm night air blow over my overheated skin. Remembering Mason’s hand slowly crawling up my side with his hot lips on mine made me break out in goosebumps, despite the heat of the night.

The boat slowed and Mason cut the engine as we pulled up to the boat dock. After getting the boat in the proper spot, he hopped out to tie it down. Standing on the dock, he reached out his hand, which I took and he helped me over the edge.

We slowly walked back up the dock, neither of us saying anything.

“I should probably get home,” I said once we reached the gravel road that led to the grill.

Mason shook his head to agree. “Yeah, I should too.”

He walked me to the car and opened the door for me.

“Still a gentleman, I see.” I smiled as I climbed inside.

“Some things never change.” He met my smile with his own cocky grin, causing his eyes to burn even brighter.

Goosebumps broke out across my skin and butterflies filled my stomach from that grin. “Good night, Mason.”

“Good night, Lennox.” He closed the door and walked away from the car without a look back.

When I got home, I had emotions flying all over the place. I wanted Mason, but what did that mean?