Page 14 of Love Me Ever After
I didn’t fancy her chances but didn’t want to disappoint her. “We’ll see,” I said, noncommittally. “I’m going to go to bed now. Just in case I take you up on your offer.”
Sara stretched out on the sofa, already calling Noel, as I got up and went upstairs. “Night, babe. See you in the morning.”
Once in bed, I was suddenly wide awake, sleep evading me. Rolling over onto my back, I picked up my phone and started scrolling through old photographs of Mason and I. Day trips, nights out with friends, holidays to Mallorca to see his parents, all great memories.
And that’s where I should leave them—firmly in the past.
I switched my phone off, rolled onto my side and screwed up my eyes, waiting for sleep to claim me.
Mason traced a line along my jaw, the feather light touch of his finger sending bolts of desire down my spine. “Jesus, Ems, I’ve missed you, missed this,” he murmured. His finger slid down the side of my neck, dipping into the space between my breasts before moving to my nipple. The soft pressure as he pinched it between his thumb and forefinger pooled need between my legs.
I let out a tiny moan as he captured my mouth with his, pulling me flush against him. His hard cock pressed into my stomach and all I wanted was for him to be inside me. “Yes, Mason, please,” I breathed, breaking our kiss for a moment to lose myself in his intense brown eyes. “I’ve missed you too…”
My eyes flew open, and I clapped a hand over my mouth, my breath coming in short gasps as I tried to comprehend what I’d just dreamed about. I was covered in sweat; the covers half off me. Wriggling around, I tried to straighten the duvet, trying to ignore the need throbbing at my core. There was nothing dream like about that, it very much pulsated with reality. My whole body was on pins, strung out and needy. Sneaking underneath the bedclothes, I slid my hand beneath my sleep shorts and started to stroke myself, imagining how the rest of the dream would have panned out, had I not woken up. It brought me close to the edge quicker than I thought it could and I came silently, biting down on my bottom lip, thoughts full of Mason.
When I woke in the morning, I couldn’t shake the dream I’d had. Despite all my protestations to Sara that I wasn’t interested, my subconscious clearly thought otherwise. I groaned, rubbing a hand across my forehead, the niggling headache reminding me of last night’s wine and that I needed to eat something, preferably heavy on the carbs. Before I headed downstairs, I checked my phone.
Sara: Gone over to see Noel this morning. Will call you later with the deets for tonight xx
Right now, I couldn’t think of anything worse than meeting a bunch of new guys that I wouldn’t be interested in. All I wanted to do was stay in my room and avoid Mason in case he could tell I’d had a dirty dream about him. My stomach gurgled. Avoidance would have to wait as hunger won out.
It was almost ten thirty and I never slept that late. At least I didn’t have any plans for today and I could veg out on the sofa with a good film. I pulled on a pair of leggings and baggy t-shirt, teasing my hair up in a bun.
I had no idea where Mason was, although the smell of bacon coming from the kitchen was a pretty good indicator. I stopped stock still in the doorway. Mason stood at the grill, turning bacon, dressed in nothing other than a pair of boxer shorts which clung to his tightly muscled arse. I swallowed hard, clocking the Celtic-looking tattoo on his left shoulder blade. That was new. Hearing a noise, he half-turned towards me and lifted his chin in acknowledgement.
“Honestly, Mason, can’t you at least put a shirt on?” I grumbled, trying to avert my gaze from his ripped body—something else that was new. Did he have to be so hot and tatted? Memories of my dream popped front and centre of my mind, although I didn’t remember him lookingthat hotin dreamland. It was all I could do not to sigh out loud. “How would you feel if I pranced around in just my bra and knickers?”
He glanced over his shoulder, taking in my thrown together outfit. “It would be an improvement on that.”
Trying not to stand too close to him, I reached into the fridge and grabbed the orange juice. “Want some?” I asked.
“Please.”
I got two glasses from the cupboard and poured us both a juice. “Um, don’t suppose there’s enough bacon for me is there?” I almost fluttered my eyelashes at him but stopped myself.
“I guess. I’ll do eggs too. Can you sort out some toast? Then there should be enough for both of us.” He huffed just like he used to when I stayed over at his and persuaded him to cook me breakfast.
Turning my back on him and attempting to stifle a smile, I did as I was asked. “So, when did you get the tattoo?” I blurted out.
“About eighteen months ago. Whit and I had a bet, who made the most commission in my first quarter there. She won and dared me to get a tattoo. We went to a place called Three Kings Tattoo in Brooklyn. Can’t deny it hurt like fuck.” He chuckled to himself.
Whit.Of course it had something to do withWhit. It seemed as if everything Mason did these days revolved around her. Inwardly, I shook my head at my irrational thoughts.
“I never knew that was something you were into.” The toast popped, but it was barely cooked so I pushed it down again.
“Neither did I. When she suggested it, I thought she was crazy, but I don’t back out of a bet.”
The smell of burning bread started to assault my nostrils. That was the problem with our toaster, you could go from uncooked to charcoal in a matter of seconds. Rescuing it before it became inedible, I tossed the slices onto plates and went to stand by Mason as he finished cooking. Burning bread gave way to his musky scent, one so familiar to me, reminding me of all the times we stayed over at each other’s houses and cooked breakfast together.
There was no getting away from it, no matter what I’d told Sara last night.
I was still hung up on Mason Miles.
7
Mason
I spentthe whole weekend trying to avoid Ems again. After the weirdness of Friday night, I needed to get some distance to sort my head out. Fraser, Luke and I met up with some of the rugby lads on Saturday night, which ended up getting messy. I had vague recollections of me word vomiting all over Fraser with how I thought I still might have feelings for Ems and what did he think I should do about it? He told me to find another bird and move on. Then I had the same conversation with Luke, and he said exactly the same thing.
