Page 50 of Black Roses

I’m okay.

I’m okay!

“Can I put my hand under your shirt?” he asks.

I inhale another cleansing breath and then I nod once more.

He untucks my shirt and places a hand on the bare flesh of my stomach, causing ripples of pleasure and nervousness to tumble my insides. His eyes never leave mine as he works his hands up my rib cage all the way to my bra. He caresses me through the thin cotton before pulling the cup down to free my breast.

The sensations build as he continues his manipulation. My nipples are stiff and he pinches them lightly. A pleasurable sound escapes me, surprising even myself. This is what passion feels like. This is the exact feeling I dreamed of as a girl. No—it’s better. This feeling is beyond any of my dreams.

I dare to let my hand fall onto his thigh, giving his leg a reassuring squeeze. I smile hearing his quiet gasp, knowing what my hands on him can do. It’s the first time I’ve purposefully touched him, other than maybe that hug I gave him at the marathon. Even when he’s kissed me, my hands have lain at my side. But looking into his eyes right now, I have nothing but desire to put my hands on him.

I start to move my fingers, inching them further up towards his lap. I look down to see what I’m doing as I reach for the bulge in his pants.

In a split second my confidence turns to panic.No, please, no.I silently plea to my mind and body. But despite my attempt to gain control, waves of anxiety crash over me, pulling me under so I can’t breathe. Tears sting my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall even as frustration overcomes me.

“Piper.” He peels his hand from my breast and then removes my hand from his erection. He cradles his fingers under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. Gently, he touches my face, his fingertips sliding over my cheekbones to caress my lips. “You lost eye contact, sweetheart.” He leans down to kiss me, placing both hands on either side of my face. He kisses me until I go limp in his arms. He kisses me until I can’t think of anything but how much I want this feeling to last.

Emotionally exhausted, we lie back against the couch and hold each other. Eventually, Mason speaks in barely more than a whisper. “Thank you for tonight,” he says, pulling away, making sure my shirt is situated. “And thank you for trusting me.” He hugs me, molding me into his arms as a feeling of calm washes over me. Then he gently kisses my forehead and says with a mischievous smile, “Just so you know, I’m dangerously close to moving to New York.”

My heart falls into the pit of my stomach as my distant eyes fall to my lap. I sigh. “You don’t want to move to New York, Mason.”

“Why not?”

“New York is a dark and scary place,” I explain. “Demons lurk in the shadows. Filth lines the streets. People are homeless and broken.”

“It doesn’t have to be scary, Piper. Not if you go with someone you care about. New York can be great. Magical even.”

I shake my head. “Not for me.”

“Can we stop talking in code now and have a real conversation?” he asks. “I’m serious about you. I want you to give us a real chance. Don’t you think we deserve that? Don’tyoudeserve that?”

I spring up off the couch and walk across the room. “Thank you for the wonderful day, Mason. I had a great time.”

He shakes his head and rakes his hands through his hair. “Are you really going to ignore what we have here? You can’t possibly tell me we don’t have this incredible connection. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, Piper. Can you honestly say you don’t feel the same?”

I reach for the door. “I’m not capable of having feelings for anyone, Mason. Please, don’t follow me. I’d like to be alone.”

As I walk through the doorway, his words chase after me. “You may be living here temporarily, but you might as well be back over there—in Egypt maybe. Because you are living in fucking denial.”

The door slams shut, silencing any words that dared to come after.

chapter twenty

mason

I’m trying hard to participate in conversation. After all, Piper’s sisters did go through the trouble of securing a sitter so we could all go out tonight. It’s a momentous occasion. ‘Couples Night.’ Even Piper used the term when we discussed it earlier this week. I dare to hope she’s beginning to think of us as a couple; even after her disappointing exodus last weekend.

It’s been almost a week. Six whole days since I’ve seen her and she’s all I think about. I can’t stop imagining her lips and how they molded to mine as if we were made to flawlessly complement each other. It was amazing to be able to caress and comfort her and have her trust me, if even for a short time. And damn it if I can’t stop thinking about her breasts and how perfectly they fit into my hands. Hell, I can’t even manage to get her out of my head on the football field. Two things I live to hold—a football and Piper.

Actually, a football, Hailey and Piper.

But can they all go together? Is there any way I can work some miracle and convince her to stay?

I have five more weeks.

I shift myself in my pants and look away from her, concentrating instead on the conversation Gavin and Griffin are having in an attempt to lose my erection. We’re at a bar now, but they are busy arguing over what they ate for dinner earlier.

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