Chapter 39 – Mason
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
MASON
King’s fingers trail lazily down my abs as he lies next to me in bed. “I was thinking about how much I enjoyed our date that wasn’t a date.”
Yeah, I enjoyed it too, and I wish we could do it more often. I roll onto my side to face him. “What did you used to do? You know, like back in Chicago? Did you date at all?”
“I wouldn’t call it dating, no. It was more …” He runs a hand over the thick stubble on his jaw. “To be honest, it was just sex. Often with guys who were as happy to not be seen in public together as I was.”
“So eighteen years of hookups? You’ve never been for dinner or a movie? Gone to a club?”
He arches an eyebrow. “You saw how out of place I looked in a club.”
I suppress a laugh as I recall how awkward he was in Xylophone, but only because I know him so well. He didn’t look out of place though. “Not even a bar?”
He shakes his head. “Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t as careful in Chicago as I am in New York. Being seen leaving a motel with a guy didn’t freak me out as much as it would here, but I didn’t want to do any of the dating stuff.”
I suspect that’s because of his father, but I don’t want to bring him up and ruin this perfectly enjoyable morning. So instead, I smirk at him. “And I thought I was the king of casual.”
“There were a few guys I saw regularly, but like I said, it was only for sex.”
A pang of irrational jealousy spikes in my chest. “And you never caught feelings for any of them?”
He grins, no doubt aware of my motive for asking.
“No. Feelings and me aren’t exactly on good terms either.
” He trails his knuckles across my cheek.
“Except where you’re concerned, and then I feel everything, maybe a little too intensely.
I think I never got over my first love, and I don’t plan on ever trying. ”
“The feeling is mutual.”
The moment stretches out between us, and I wish we could stay in this safe little cocoon we’ve built for ourselves. But the real world is out there waiting. And as much as I want to share that with him too, there’s no sense in pushing him before he’s ready.
“You think we could do the whole date that’s not a date thing again?” he asks.
I can’t stop my smile. This is a huge step for him—for us. “Do you have anything particular in mind?”
He shakes his head. “I wouldn’t know where to begin. But it would have to be like last time. Just two guys …”
“Who look like friends. I get it.” I press a soft kiss on his lips. “Leave it with me.”