Page 23 of Love Me Ever After
I screwed up my eyes before opening them, staring directly into his intense gaze. “I hate that you’re right.”
A smile broke out across his face. “You should know by now I’m always right.” He released his grip on me and suddenly I was bereft, as if he’d broken the bond between us. “Ems, I know it’s been a long time, but tonight meant something to me and I know it did to you too.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but he placed a finger on my lips, tracing the outline with his nail and sending the butterflies into overdrive.
“I’d really like it if we could give things another try.” He dragged the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip and pulled away, leaving me hanging.
There was a small part of me which wanted to say no, we shouldn’t go back, that it wouldn’t work a second time around. Circumstance had pushed us apart and, at the time, it had been my stubbornness not to agree to a long-distance relationship. I was hurt and angry by thesituation, not by Mason or his actions.
But he’d been back in my life less than two weeks. Was I really prepared to fall straight back into a relationship with him?
“Ems, say something.” His eyes bored into mine. “If you don’t want to do this, I’ll back off and find somewhere else to live. But I really do believe we could make it work again.”
I reached for the vodka and downed a huge mouthful, stalling for time. What Mason was asking was pretty big. I wished Sara was home or I could get hold of Georgie, just to get someone else’s opinion. Thing is, I knew exactly what they’d both say.
Both would tell me to go for it.
Taking another swig of my drink, wincing as it burned a path down my throat, I placed it back on the table. “You don’t need to find somewhere else to live.”
Expectation radiated from him. “Does that mean—”
Not letting him finish, I shifted my position on the sofa, moving towards him. My hands went to his face, cupping it between my palms and I leaned forward, gently meeting his lips with my bruised ones. This time, our kisses were soft, slow, tender, but with no less meaning. He threaded his fingers through my hair, gently pulling me closer. Breaking away, he gazed deeply into my eyes, as if seeing right through to my soul.
“I want this, Ems, I want you. More than anything.”
And this time, when his lips met mine again, I could tell exactly how much he wanted me.
11
Mason
When my alarmwent off on Thursday morning, I reached over and pressed snooze without opening my eyes. Rolling onto my side I stretched, expecting to encounter Ems only to find her side of the bed empty. Blinking hard, I propped myself up on one elbow and looked around, finding my room empty. Assuming Ems must be in the bathroom, I flopped onto my back and stared at the ceiling, reflecting on the past twelve hours.
I hadn’t planned anything that had happened.
I didn’t expect to sleep with Ems again.
I didn’t expect to ask her if she wanted to give our relationship another go.
I didn’t expect her to say yes.
The phone sprang into life with the alarm again and I realised I’d been laying there for ten minutes with no further sign of Ems.
I hoped she hadn’t changed her mind.
Hauling my body out of bed, I poked my head out of my room, listening for any sounds to indicate where Ems might be. The house was in silence, so either Sara and Ems were still in bed, or I was there alone. Either way, I needed a shower and some breakfast.
There was still no sign of life when I got downstairs, except evidence one of them had eaten as there was a cereal bowl, spoon and mug in the sink. I made toast and a cup of tea, sitting at the kitchen table to eat them as I briefly scanned my emails on my phone. The only downside of a two-day conference was catching up on all the work afterwards. It looked like I’d had a good response to the feelers I’d put out for the Head of Software role, with some positive vibes from a couple of people I’d headhunted previously. Although it was never a good look to tap up previous candidates within months of placing them, enough time had elapsed since I’d last spoken to them, they were fair game.
While I read through a reply asking to meet to talk more about the role, a message flashed up on the screen.
Ems: Had to leave early. Lots to do today. Can we do something tonight? x
Oh, I had plenty of things we could do tonight, mostly involving us not leaving my bedroom. We hadn’t done anything more at home last night, but I was desperate to taste her again, watch the expression in her eyes as I thrust into her, hear her moans as I made her come.
Fuck.
Forcing away my thoughts, I replied.
