Page 30 of Anchored Love
Mason
Everyone Is Fighting But Us … Wtf –
The movie had ended,and the pizza was gone. Everly hadn’t spoken five words to me, and I didn’t know what was eating at her. All I knew was I hated the distance spreading between us. I told myself she needed sleep. It had been a long day, but I felt recharged after the nap and shower.
“You okay?” I asked for probably the third time, hoping for a different answer other than I’m fine.
“I’m good.”
I sighed. It wasn’t fine, but it might as well have been. “Talk to me, Ev. What’s eating at you?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just tired.”
“Bullshit. Tell me the truth.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I cupped her face between my hands. “Look at me.” Her gaze met mine, and I hated the sadness behind her ocean eyes. “You can tell me anything.”
“Mason…” She tried to pull away, but I held firm.
“Am I that terrible of a kisser?”
“What?” She blinked, startled. “Why would you ask me that? It’s not like it was real. It doesn’t matter.”
“Ahh. I see.” My thumb traced her bottom lip, and she sucked in a deep breath.
“See what?” Her eyes melted just a touch for me. It was small, but I accepted it.
“That kiss. You think it wasn’t real for me?”
Pain lurked behind her eyes, and I hated that. “You don’t owe me any explanations. We both knew the score when we started this. Let’s not complicate it and make it awkward.” Everly tugged on my hands, and I dropped my hold on her as she rolled from the bed. We’d moved there after finishing the pizza. “I’m going to go brush my teeth.”
I let her go, though it was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss her again. Make her see what she did to me.
She escaped to the bathroom, and I cleaned up from dinner, leaving the cart outside our door and turning down the lights.
A heavy breath escaped me. How the hell was I going to sleep next to her all night and not kiss her or make a move? She obviously felt something for me.
Racking my brain, it hit me. An idiot. I felt like such a jackass. When we kissed, I’d told her I’d make it real for everyone, but I didn’t even mention her. That was the last thing I wanted. Making it real for her was crucial. No wonder she seemed distant. I’d hurt her and didn’t even realize it. I’d make it right. Somehow.
Everly came out of the bathroom and didn’t even look my way. I shoved up off the couch and took my turn in the bathroom, brushing my teeth. When I walked out of the bathroom, she took up my side of the bed again, but I didn’t care. It was damn near perfect, and she appeared so damn beautiful.
Moonlight filtered through the curtain, shining on her tan legs and making them glow. She hadn’t gotten under the covers yet which was perfectly fine with me. It gave me more opportunities to stare at her.
Ev’s blonde hair fanned on the pillow, hands under her cheek. She was so peaceful.
I crawled up the bed, going to the middle and lying next to her. We were going to talk and clear the air once and for all. I needed her to know the kiss we shared meant something to me and that she did too.
“Ever heard of personal space?” Her minty breath washed over me as a puzzled look came over her.
I smiled, loving being in her space. “Yup.” I kept where I was.
“Okay, you ever heard of respecting it?” she clipped, inching away from me without anywhere to go except the floor. We could do this there too if she wanted. I was down for either.
“Maybe I like sleeping next to you.” She was right where I wanted, and it was time to go in for the kill.
“Mason, I think lines are getting crossed or blurred; I don’t—” I grabbed hold of her neck and claimed her lips, her words dying on my tongue as it plunged deep. Taking control and kissing her hard, I poured the way I felt about her into the kiss. Tongue dancing with hers, I dominated the movements hearing the small groan.
