He finally grinned. "Well, I don't snore. At least I don't think so."
"All right, maybe you're a slob."
"I'm not a slob."
She grinned. "Well, I don't know that either. I'm willing to try and find it all out, though. I'm willing to see if we can get along and like spending time together. I'm willing to do that. Are you?"
She saw him swallow. She saw the indecision in his eyes. and she figured what the hell. She reached up on her toes, and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. Her hands slid into his hair. His scalp was warm. His shoulders were broad. His body was firm, and she pressed her lips to his.
He stood still for a while, but she kept kissing him. She pressed her breasts into his chest, and his kiss grew firmer, more urgent. She moved her fingers in his hair, massaging his scalp. And then his arms wrapped around her and pulled her tightly to him.
And her heart felt alive.
She felt alive.
She felt alive for the first time in, well it seemed like forever. It seemed like forever.
12
Mason's heart pounded in his chest as he felt Carley's body pressed against his. He really wanted her. He just didn't know if he could handle it if she couldn't deal with him. He'd given up so much in his life for the military, for his career. One of those things was emotional entanglements with anyone.
He'd had women, but no relationships.
This was the first honest-to-goodness time in his life that he wondered if he could make it work. He sure wanted to. He felt differently about Carley. She was, oh, she was something.
She smiled all the time. She was happy. She was smart. She was beautiful. She was a bright ray of sunshine every time she walked into the room. Who wouldn't want someone like that in their life?
She was running her own business. She was self-sufficient. That's what he wanted. That's what he'd always wanted. He didn't realize it till just recently.
He'd woken up this morning excited that he'd be seeing her today. He'd never woken up in the morning excited to be seeingsomeone. That's really all he needed to know, right? Let the chips fall where they may.
His hand slid down her back. He cupped her ass and squeezed. She felt good in his hands. Like she was born to be there. Her scent was unbelievable. She smelled citrusy and more. Her body pressed into his felt perfect. She was soft in all the right places and firm where it mattered.
His lips moved against hers and he pulled her tighter to him. His cock roared to life.
She whimpered when she felt the hardness pressing into her. Her hands gripped his hair, and she tugged tightly. Dammit, that excited the shit out of him.
He pushed into her and she did it again. She tugged at his hair and fisted her hands in it. He walked her back against the counter and pushed himself into her again.
And she moaned.
He needed to get out of his head is what he needed. She was right. He had to start living a life. What he really needed right now was Carley.
Her hands left his hair. And quickly slid down his body and under his T-shirt. Her hands on his bare skin made that old electric current sizzle right through him.
Her hands were soft. They were smooth as they brushed over his body.
Up his chest.
Her thumbs rolled over his nipples and his breath stopped for a moment.
Then her hands slid to his back and fully embraced him, and his heartbeat increased.
Slowly her hands slid down and tucked into his sweatpants. His mind damn near went blank.
Her hands smoothed over his ass and pulled him into her tightly.
His breathing came in spurts, and he pulled his lips from hers for a moment. He lay his forehead against hers. "Carley." He swallowed to wet his throat. "If we do this..."