29. Lilah #4
Caught, I rushed out—well, as close to rushing as I could while also being careful of the heels—and closed the door behind me.
The low light picked up the glinting from the stones on the shoes.
I braced for pain or pinching, but they fit perfectly.
Only my inexperience with heels made walking tricky.
With every carefully teetering step, I was awash with a giddy thrill.
They were beautiful and they were mine. Other than clothes I’d made with my own hands, I’d never owned anything this beautiful before.
And I had a gorgeous dress to go with them. All because of Mason.
Then Mason invaded my thoughts, pushing out the glowing delight and replacing it with something deeper.
A stirring ache bloomed deep in my belly.
I replayed that moment over during the short walk to the kitchen.
What if I hadn’t left to give him some privacy?
If I’d stayed in the room while he got undressed?
That ache intensified. The kind awakened only by Mason.
Overly warm, I braced my hands on the counter for a moment to get myself under control. Then I had a crazy thought. What if I didn’t get myself under control?
I glanced through the open doorway into the room decorated with flowers and candles, making it one of the most beautiful I’d ever stepped into. And it was all for me.
My shoes caught the light. Other than my mom’s dress.
I’d never worn anything this beautiful before and there was another gorgeous dress waiting for me two doors away.
In the same room where Mason was currently getting undressed.
What if I didn’t try to get any of this whirlwind of feelings under control?
Mason appeared in the doorway.
I yelped, cheeks burning, absolutely sure he could see what I’d been thinking.
He’d changed into jeans and a black waffle Henley that accentuated the muscles in his shoulders, arms and chest. “Food smells good, right?” He looked to me with a smile and tilted his head. “Are you okay?”
“Totally fine.” I cleared my throat. “I’m starving.”
“Then let’s get you fed.”
Short ribs and risotto had already been plated.
He took both to the small table with a sky-high candelabra sitting at the center.
Our seats were beside each other rather than across the table.
Mason didn’t let go of my hand all throughout the meal, so we both cut the tender meat with our forks.
Probably a good thing he held my hand because I was this close to picking my plate up and licking it clean.
“I could eat this every day of my life,” I said.
“I wasn’t sure how it was going to reheat, but Galen came through.”
“Whoever he has handling his food needs a raise.”
“I’ll be sure to pass that on.” Mason extended his hand and I shot him a curious look. “May I have this dance?”
A full-body blush. “Yes, you may. But be warned, I’m in brand new heels, so your toes will be in danger.” The whole setting was even more surreal with us in our normal clothes. But he looked just as good barefoot and wearing long sleeves and jeans as he had in that suit.
We danced around the room to music playing from recessed speakers.
Mason raised his arm and spun me. then held on to my waist and glanced away before looking back and holding my gaze. A hint of sadness tinged his long, slow breaths and the way he looked at me.
“What are you thinking about?”
“A three-hour time difference. When I’m waking up for five a.m. practices—”
“I’ll be passing out as organic chemistry tries to eat my brain.”
“Will you come back for Thanksgiving and Christmas?”
“I’m not sure. Tickets are expensive, especially around the holidays.”
“Then who’s going to be my date for Galen’s party next year? What about wrapping all Zoe’s presents for Christmas?”
“You’ve done all that without me before.”
He hugged me close and kissed me so intensely that my head swam with the rush of endorphins. “I have, but I don’t want to. I want you with me, Lilah. How am I supposed to focus on anything with you thousands of miles away?”
“We’ll make it work.” I stilled and swallowed. Instead of reaching for that control, I did the scary thing. I did what I wanted. With trembling fingers, I slipped the strap of my camisole down, just like I had that night in the hot tub.
Mason slid it back up with a stern look. “Is that supposed to soothe me? I don’t want you sleeping with me to make me feel better.”
I knocked down both straps. “What if it’s to make me feel better?”
His whole face transformed and the shield he had up cracked as he stared at me with hungry eyes. “We don’t have to do this,” he said it like the words were ripped from his throat, straining to hold himself back.
He tore his gaze away from my chest and looked at me. “You’ve already got my heart, hook, line and sinker. I can wait.” His eyes overflowed with a melt-worthy expression that teetered between serene and starving.
“What if I can’t?” Before I lost my nerve, I tugged my shirt over my head, still unsure after the last time I’d tried this. “I love you and all I’ve been thinking about is how much I want you to touch me and how much I want to touch you.”
He rested his forehead against mine and rocked from side to side, our noses brushing.
“You’re too good to me, Lilah.” He said it like it hurt him.
Then both hands were on the sides of my face and that kiss from earlier felt like a gentle taste compared to the burning hunger in his touch.
“And I’m going to show you I can be better than good to you. ”