Page 218 of The Single Dads Club
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mason
The convenience store was about the same size as a supply closet, though it offered even less selection than one. I walked inside and looked at the overpriced toiletries, then hastily grabbed what I needed and made my way to the counter in short order.
Behind the register, a young guy fiddled with his phone and he looked up as I approached.
“What’s up, bro?” he said with a smile.
“Just needed to grab something,” I told him, then set the box of tampons on the counter.
“Lady troubles, huh?” he asked, scanning the bright pink box.
I gritted a tight smile and the fool laughed.
“You must really love her if you’re coming out here to buy her these,” the kid joked. I just stared at him, waiting for him to hand me my bag. When he did, I forked over my cash, then headed back outside, suddenly all too aware of the guy’s voice still playing in my head.
“You must really love her.”
I, of course, was doing what any grown man should do in my situation, but the words still seemed to ring true. It wasn’t a pipe dream or bullshit based on my parents’ relationship. Not anymore.
I loved Bren.
I really did.
I loved the way she smiled and the way she laughed. I loved the way her face went blank when she was surprised. I even liked how she made me work to get beneath her hard outer-shell. The way she made a person feel like, if she was telling you something, it was because she’d decided you were one of the few people worthy of her trust. She was sensual and her body responded to my touch like no other. She was gorgeous, too. But then even that didn’t matter to me much.
Without the baby, without the rest of the world, still all I wanted was her.
I rushed to the villa, determined not to scare her away with my big announcement but just as determined to show her how I felt. When I got there, I found her lounging on the beach in nothing but her bikini. The smooth, flat plane of her white stomach practically shone in the sun, and I dropped off the bag on the patio before making my way toward her.
“Got your supplies,” I gestured toward the convenience store bag as I approached.
Bren chuckled. “I’m covered for now. But thank you.”
“You’re ridiculously beautiful, do you know that?” I asked, and she smiled up at me, her sunglasses covering the light in her eyes.
“What’s got you in such a good mood?” she asked, and I sank to my knees beside her.
“You.” I tucked a piece of her golden hair behind her ear. “Always you.”
Her smile softened and I leaned over to kiss her, hoping to show her all the feelings that had overwhelmed me on the way here. In every push and pull of our mouths, I wanted her to know that I needed her, that she was everything to me.
“I want you,” she murmured.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
She nodded.
“So have me.”
Her tongue swept out to coax mine, and I savored every stroke. Weaving my fingers in the silky strands of her hair, I moved to cup the back of her neck, losing myself in the feel of her lips as she kissed me.
Slowly I worked the buttons of my shirt until I shrugged it off and let it fall onto the sand. We were utterly alone in front of the villa—miles from any other people—and I intended to make the most of it. I palmed the weight of her gorgeous breasts in my hands, but before I had the chance to pull away her bikini, she shook her head.
“I haven’t forgotten last time. You wouldn’t let me. But now…” She reached for my fly and unzipped it, then tugged my pants and boxers down in one motion.
“What do you mean?” I asked, and she guided me back down against the chaise lounge chair, kissing the hard muscles of my chest as she sank to her knees beside me.
