Chapter 9
M ASON DRUMMED HIS FINGERS on the steering wheel an hour later as he drove down the highway, headed to meet Hunter at Little Creek for a game of one-on-one.
He flashed his military ID at the gate, nodding at the guards.
A few minutes later he was pulling into an empty parking space and climbing out of his SUV.
He grabbed his basketball, water canteen, and a spare towel from the trunk, slamming it shut, and walked back toward the edge of base where the guys liked to play ball.
Hell.
His mind had been going a million miles a minute since he woke up this morning. Since he’d hurried over to Taylor’s last night. He hadn’t liked leaving her alone earlier, but what was he supposed to do?
He’d spent the night. Kissed her. Pleasured her.
Admired her gorgeous breasts and felt the heat of her against his cock as she’d straddled him.
Then he’d jumped up out of bed before he took things too far. Before he’d tugged down those satiny shorts, the delicate fabric the only thing separating her from him. Before he’d freed his aching erection and claimed her right then and there.
Mason wanted them to go out on a proper first date, without the distraction of her ex or his friends or anyone else around.
He wanted to show her that she was important to him. That he wasn’t just looking for a quick lay.
The image of her sitting astride him, lifting that skimpy little camisole over her head would be forever emblazoned in his memory though. She had perfect, full breasts with rosy, round nipples. He’d been shocked by her boldness—Taylor was always blushing and quiet around him.
Looking away if his gaze was too intense.
The fact that she’d been comfortable enough to partially strip in front of him spoke volumes.
She’d looked almost hurt when he hadn’t wanted her to reciprocate, but hell.
He wanted to take her out. Take his time getting to know her better, hearing her laugh and watching the rosiness spread over her cheeks.
And then spend an entire night exploring her body.
Kissing her and pleasuring her before finally working up to claiming her as his.
It had taken everything in him not to free his aching cock from his shorts earlier. Not to lift her up and then pull her back down on top of him, allowing him to sink straight into heaven.
“No one else could make it?” Hunter asked, cocking his brow as Mason sauntered over to the court.
Mason dropped his towel and water to the ground. “Negative. Guess those guys were out late and had better things to do this morning.”
Hunter smirked. “No surprise—they’re all single. Except for Colton, but I’m sure Camila is keeping him occupied. Which begs the question of what you’re doing up so bright and early on a Sunday morning. Shouldn’t you have taken a pretty lady home last night as well?”
“I was with Taylor,” Mason said, cutting right to the chase.
Hunter raised his eyebrows. “With her as in you spent the night? Then what the hell are you doing here?”
Mason chuckled. “Shouldn’t I ask the same of you? Last I checked you had a woman yourself keeping your bed warm.”
“Yep. But Emma’s getting ready for some reading at a bookstore in Williamsburg this morning.”
“On a Sunday?”
Hunter shrugged. “I guess its popular with the academic crowd over there.”
Mason nodded. There were several colleges local to the Virginia Beach area, and Williamsburg was only an hour away. Emma had started guest lecturing at The College of William and Mary after moving from London to Virginia Beach.
“I offered to come, but I think she prefers if I don’t,” Hunter added with a chuckle. “It’s some archeologist reading about his latest archeological dig. Much more Emma’s cup of tea—pun intended. She knows I don’t particularly enjoy sitting through those things.”
Mason snorted. “Cup of tea? Hell man, you’re starting to sound like her. What’s next? Sharing make-up tips?”
“I’ll let her know you’re interested,” Hunter ribbed him.
“Is she going on any more digs soon?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Hunter grumbled. He’d met Emma in London after she’d gotten back from a trip to the Middle East. She’d accidentally stumbled on some information a terrorist cell was after, and they’d chased her from London all the way to the States to obtain the documents.
“I hear you, man.” Mason grabbed the basketball and began dribbling, moving around on the court. “Wait until Emma hears that you think her lectures are boring,” he added with a chuckle. “I can’t see that going over well.”
“She doesn’t have to wait to hear it—she already knows it. Luckily we’re compatible in other areas.”
Mason snorted, jumping and shooting the ball through the air. The chemistry between Hunter and Emma had always been red hot, and he had no doubt they set things afire between the sheets.
Hell.
If his morning with Taylor was any indication, their bedroom would combust when they finally made love for the first time.
The basketball he’d shot sailed through the net with a swoosh , and Mason grinned.
“So what was the deal with Taylor?” Hunter asked. “You up and ran out on her this morning?”
Something in Mason’s chest tightened. He had sort of done that, hadn’t he? But he was seeing her later on. And he’d rushed out the door to keep things from going too far. To keep her from regretting anything.
When he had her for the first time, he wanted her to be one hundred percent sure. Not because she’d woken up wrapped around his body after he’d rushed over in the middle of the night.
It’s not like he’d taken what he wanted and left.
He’d given her some space. Kept their plans for their date later on.
“I went over there because her ex showed up again last night,” Mason said. “Taylor got home from work, and he was passed out at her door.”
“Hell,” Hunter muttered. “The guy can’t take no for an answer, huh?”
“Negative. I had to drag his sorry ass out of there just so she could get in her apartment. I crashed on the couch in case he came back, and sure enough, he was pounding on her door in the middle of the night. Thank God I was there, because she probably would’ve felt guilty and let him in.”
“I’m surprised the neighbors didn’t call the cops.”
Mason shrugged, rebounding Hunter’s shot.
They’d abandoned their one-on-one game just for shooting the breeze.
He dribbled the ball, frowning. “I told Taylor to go to the police last night. She didn’t want to but said she would this morning.
I think her ex showing up in the middle of the night spooked her.
Hopefully it was what she needed to make the call. ”
Hunter nodded, glancing over at Mason. “She’s not the first woman to be stalked by an ex. She needs to stop this before it escalates. Showing up again and again is bad enough.”
“Exactly my concern,” Mason agreed. “Remember when Taylor was late to work Friday night? It’s because her ex was over there then, too. He showed up drunk, and she let him in.”
“Sounds like he’s taking advantage of the situation.”
“You know it, I know it, her neighbors probably all know it. The problem is, until Taylor sees it that way, she’s going to keep feeling sorry for him and letting him into her apartment.
I’m hoping last night convinced her otherwise, but hell.
If I hadn’t been there crashing on her sofa, I have a feeling she would’ve just let him in again.
And one of these days he’s going to want more than just coming into her apartment. ”
“So you spent the night at a woman’s place but didn’t sleep with her?” Hunter asked with a smirk. “Doesn’t sound like you, Riptide,” he said, calling him by his nickname.
“Not in the manner you’re thinking, asshole. Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“So you were in her bed,” Hunter said with a chuckle.
Mason threw the basketball him, and Hunter easily palmed it in one large hand, shooting it at the net. “You’ve got a one-track mind,” Mason muttered.
“Emma doesn’t have a problem with it,” Hunter said with a grin. “She rather enjoys all the attention.”
“Hell, you guys started off with a bang. Taylor and I have been dancing around each other forever. If I had it my way, we would’ve gone out months ago.”
“She was dating that asshole,” Hunter said.
“Yep. But they broke up a month ago. And we’re finally going out this afternoon.”
“How sweet,” Hunter quipped. “A little afternoon delight?”
Mason flipped him off before taking a jump shot, the ball neatly gliding into the net. Hell. Hadn’t he just been here with his buddies the other night for a game before a round of beers? It was amazing how quickly things had changed in a matter of days.
They played for another hour, Hunter besting Mason in a game of one-on-one.
“All right, I’ll catch you later,” Mason finally said, grabbing the ball as it rolled back toward him. “I need to shower and change before I head back to Taylor’s place to pick her up.”
“Enjoy your date, lover boy.”
“I plan to,” Mason said with a smirk. “But don’t worry, I’ll spare you all the details.”
***
T AYLOR OPENED THE DOOR an hour later, her entire face lighting up as Mason grinned at her. She had on a sundress and strappy little sandals and clutched a lightweight sweater in one hand.
“Is this okay?” she asked nervously. “You said dress for the outdoors, but I wasn’t sure if I needed to be more casual.”
“It’s perfect,” Mason said appreciatively. “You look gorgeous.”
And she did. The floral sundress was pretty and feminine, and the fabric in the front criss-crossed over her chest. It wasn’t meant to be revealing, but the overall look was sexy as hell. It was like her breasts had been wrapped up in a pretty little package just for him to admire.
The dress was slightly loose, falling to mid-thigh, and Mason felt his groin tighten as Taylor turned to grab her purse.
The delicate fabric dancing over her silky thighs was going to be the death of him.