Page 67 of Forever Your Touch

He tweaked her nose like he did Delia’s sometimes. “Told you so. How’s that working out for you?”

“I’m happy for the first time in a long time. I’d forgotten how to be me. The clumsy, sassy girl who smiled all the time and laughed at herself. I like me.”

“I like you too, Josephine, just the way you are.” He couldn’t stop the smile if he’d wanted to.

“You’re mostly the reason I’m so happy. If it weren’t for you, I’m not sure I could have found my way back to myself.”

“You’re stronger than you think you are, Josephine. You would have found your way back, but I will take all the credit because I’m just that damn awesome.”

“You’re just that damn cocky.” Jo laughed and threw a grape at him. “But I like you anyway.”

She was back to being happy, and his head dipped down, intent on doing the one thing he’d been wanting to do for months.

He kissed her.

Mason had kissed a lot of women. Enjoyed it too. But none of them was Josephine Maxwell.

When his lips met hers, fire licked across his skin, and the most euphoric feeling captured him. Kissing Jo was like coming home. He deepened the kiss when she didn’t pull away. He’d wanted this for so very long, and now that he had it, he couldn’t get enough.

Josephine was shocked for the barest of seconds when Mason kissed her. But only for a second. The slow burn set in, and she let herself get lost in it. Heat pooled in her belly when he deepened the kiss, and she groaned, her hands going up to tangle in his slightly too long hair. Her tongue snaked out to duel with his, and he pulled her into his lap. She wrapped herself around him, trying to get as close as possible.

It was over all too quickly.

He pulled away and tilted his head, trying to gauge her reaction. Not that she blamed him. They’d just been talking about Ray.

“Wondered when you were going to get around to doing that,” she whispered. “I thought maybe I was going to have to do it myself.”

“Is that so?”

“That would be so.” His eyes were sleepy with desire, and she wanted nothing more than to kiss him again, but they needed to talk. It was long overdue. “You done trying to skirt around the subject of you and me?”

She could see his shock and laughed out loud. Jo definitely wasn’t the same person she was a month ago.

“New Jo, remember?”

Mason turned serious. “You and me?”

“Unless you don’t want there to be a you and me?”

“No,” he blurted. “I never said that, I just wanted to give you time. You were healing, and I didn’t want to push.”

“I’m not as blind as you think. Not to say I haven’t fought my feelings for you from day one, but I see everything you do for me, how you treat me, how you always put me first. Who couldn’t fall for that?”

“So, you’re saying you want to give the idea of us a try, then?” His eyes burned with hope, and Jo was lost all over again. This man could make her get lost in his voice, his eyes, his expressions, his words. It took a while for her to get past the idea that being with Mason was cheating on Ray, even if they weren’t together. Once she stopped focusing on her ex and paid attention to the man in front of her, she understood.

“I do. I’m not saying I’m ready to jump from one frying pan into another one. This has to be slow, Mason. It has to be right. So, if you’re willing to take it nice and slow, then I’m willing to give you and me a try.”

“Thank fuck,” he breathed out and kissed her again. “I was afraid you’d tell me to fuck off and to get the hell out.”

“Well, no, I wouldn’t have said that.”

“No?”

She shook her head. “You’re my ride.”

He was silent for a heartbeat, and then he burst out laughing.

Jo grinned at him. “Wasn’t expecting that, were you?”

---