Chapter Twelve
Maria
A week’s passed since my amazing weekend with Mason, and I’m still floating on a cloud. We’ve both been pushed back into the work-world, but this hasn’t kept us from texting, calling, and spending hours getting to know each other more and more. I feel like all thoughts are consumed with him, taking over my life. For once, work isn’t the only thing on my mind. It’s such a strange feeling. It’s not one I’m unhappy about though.
I’m once again daydreaming about Mason when a knock sounds at my door. I’m not expecting Nikki for a couple of hours so I rise and look through the peephole. There’s a man in a suit standing there. I crack the door open.
“Yes?”
“I have a delivery for you,” the man says, an envelope in his hand, and a box at his feet. I look around him and see an SUV at the curb. I hesitate a bit, but it’s late afternoon. I can’t see a robber looking this professionally dressed. I open my door and accept the envelope and box. He thanks me then turns and leave. I shut the door, then open the envelope. Two tickets and a letter are inside. There are jerseys in the box.
Maria,
You’ve been formally invited to the VIP experience at the game tonight. Please come and support the team as I’m stepping in to help coach tonight. I gave you an extra ticket for Nikki.
Love,
Mason.
I get a text right after reading the letter from Mason telling me I must come. I tell him we’ll be there. I’m not a big fan of sitting in stadiums, but how can I say no? I smile at the extra ticket. He knew that Nikki and I were supposed to go out tonight, and it’s very sweet of him to include her. Hopefully she’s game for a change of plans and this doesn’t make her want to kick my butt. It’s the VIP treatment though and she certainly likes that. It’s not something we get to do too often. I put down the letter and get back to work. I have a lot to finish before Nikki shows up.
It seems like no time at all before another knock sounds on my door. I realize it’s already five-o-clock. I put away my computer and go to the door. Nikki immediately scowls at me. She always tells me I work too much. This might be true, but I love my job so it doesn’t feel like work. That should count.
“Why aren’t you dressed? We’re supposed to be out of here right now,” she tells me as she frowns at the workout clothes that I always wear on the days I work from home and don’t have video calls to do.
I give her a grin and shake my head. “Plans have changed, my lovely bestie. We’ve been given VIP tickets to watch the football game tonight. Mason’s helping coach, and really wants us to come.”
Nikki frowns at me. “Football, really?” she whines.
“It won’t be bad. These tickets say we’re going to a suite. Mason’s also sending a car to take us so we can drink to our hearts content and get home safely. It will be just like being at a club. We’ll have music, shouting, fights, and people making out,” I tell her with a laugh.
She crosses her arms, but seems intrigued. “Fine. But this better be amazing.” I knew she’d give me a hard time but ultimately come around to it. We do things for each other all of the time. Even if we don’t want to do something, we still love it in the end because we’re together. When you’re with someone you love, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing.
“It will be.” I hand her one of the jerseys, and she rolls her eyes but obediently heads into my room to grab some jeans so she can change. It’s too bad since she looks hot as hell in her slinky blue dress that hugs her in all of the right places. She can’t show up to the game in that, though, or she might start a riot.
We get ready, and are starting to feel excited as the SUV pulls up to the curb in front of my place. We rush out to the vehicle and are instantly excited when we see drinks and snacks inside. Nikki’s mood instantly brightens. She looks around as she sits back while I pour us drinks, and she munches on a bagel dipped in salmon pate. She sighs.
“Okay, I can certainly get used to this,” she says as she holds up her glass for a toast as soon as I hand it over. This really is the only way to travel to a game. Mason’s ruining me already. I’m not complaining about this at all. I might when it’s over between us, but I’m not going to think about that because right now I can’t imagine it ever being over.
“We can’t get used to this,” I warn her.
“When in the moment, enjoy it,” she says.
“You’ve always been good at that, and I need to be better about it,” I admit. I’m not allowing myself any negative thoughts right now.
The ride begins, filled with laughter and growing excitement. “Going in style is definitely the way to do this,” Nikki declares.
Our vehicle is shown through a special gate, and then we’re escorted to a back entrance where we’re taken up in an elevator to the VIP section. We’re taken to a crowded suite that’s decked out with food and drinks and a whole lot of happy people. The atmosphere is electric, and it isn’t long before we’re swept up in the excitement as the fans in the stadium cheer, laugh, and shout as pre-game shows are put on for them. I’ve been to a couple of games, but have never done anything like this before.
“Oh, yes,” Nikki says as she moves to the buffet table, instantly grabbing a plate and loading it up. “If all football was like this, I’d definitely become a fan.”
We pile our plates high with sliders, chicken wings, nachos, and more, not embarrassed at all about the huge amount of food we’re about to scarf down. We like food and aren’t ashamed of it. Free food’s even better. Once we’re loaded down we mingle with the other guests who all seem to be friendly and welcoming. We seem to have more food than anyone else though. Good. That means there will be plenty for more grazing later. I don’t mind sharing a buffet with light eaters.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maria,” a woman to the right says. “My name’s Claire. Mason’s mentioned you quite a bit these past few weeks.” My cheeks glow at her words.
“I hope it’s all good,” I tell her. This is so strange to be in a relationship where the man is so proud to be with me. I love it a lot more than I should. I’ve always considered myself strong, but with Mason, I’m feeling a bit too dependent on what he thinks.
“Oh, it’s all good. That man seems to be smitten. I’ve known him for years and have never seen him like this before.”
I don’t know what to say about this. I can’t say I hate it, though. As a matter of fact, it’s pretty close to perfect. Each person in this room knows I’m Mason’s girlfriend. It isn’t like he officially asked me out or anything. We’re too old for that, but it’s clear that he’s made it known I’m his. I like it.
The game begins, and the energy in the suite ramps up. People begin cheering, laughing, and shouting at the field below. Nikki and I get swept up in it all and join in with them. We know little about the technicalities of football, but there’s no doubt we’re having a great time and it’s always a fun time admiring attractive men doing what they’re good at.
“Come on defense!” someone shouts as the opposing team approaches the end zone.
“Let’s go, guys!” I find myself shouting, surprised at how much I’m getting into the game. Nikki laughs as she nudges me.
“Look at you, a regular football girlfriend now,” she says, shaking her head.
I laugh. “I guess it’s contagious. You can’t be in here and not get into it.”
We continue eating, drinking, and visiting with the fans as we shout at the team down below as if they can hear us, let alone care about our easy chair quarterbacking.
“Got to admit, I’m having a blast,” Nikki admits as halftime begins.
“With the VIP treatment we’d be fools not to be having a blast,” I tell her.
We mingle some more. “What do you do, Maria?” a man asks.
“I’m the senior editor at Seattle Skyline Publishing,” I tell him. “In a few words, I help authors bring their stories to life.”
“That’s admirable. I love it. I’ve probably read some of your authors.”
“I bet you have. It’s a great world to work in.”
“Mason’s brother’s an author. Have you ever worked with him?” he asks.
I give him a big smile. “You never know what might happen,” I say, purposely keeping it vague. He smiles.
“I hope something works out,” he says.
As the game resumes, the excitement continues to grow. Every play has us on the edge of our seats. When our team scores a touchdown the entire suite erupts in cheers. Nikki and I have shared so many high-fives our hands are sore. The time passes entirely too quickly, and the game ends before we’re ready for it to.
But then a staff member enters the suite and tells Nikki and I that our presence is being requested. This makes a few people in the room look at us with envy. We’re led away from the suite feeling high on life.
We’re led down to where the team’s together, and the second we walk into the room, the atmosphere shifts again. I thought it was electric in the suite. It doesn’t even compare to the feeling in this room with the winning team. The players are milling around, some doing interviews, some hugging, and some drinking champagne. It’s an exciting place, and one I never thought I’d want to be in before. I was wrong. I might have to find some sports authors because I’m loving everything about this. The energy alone is addictive.
When the crowd parts and I finally see Mason, my heart thuds. He immediately stops his conversation and crosses the room straight to me. He doesn’t stop as he lifts me into his arms, swings me around, and then kisses me to within an inch of my life. Apparently, he likes winning.
Multiple people in the room cheer, making my cheeks flush as he finally releases me. With greetings like these, I want to be away from him more often. It’s worth it for this much passion when we come back together again.
“Get a room,” someone calls out, making Mason laugh and me blush brighter than before. For a woman who doesn’t like PDA, I’m hopeless when it comes to Mason. He can touch me anytime he wants.
I look over to see Nikki being shamelessly flirted with by one of the players. She seems quite pleased about this. I better check on her though. I always worry when we get divided in a place with a lot of men, especially in a room like this so full of testosterone. It could be dangerous . . . or incredibly sexy.
I take Mason’s hand as I move over to Nikki who beams at me. “Maria, this is Bentz,” Nikki says with a giggle. “He’s trying to convince me that there’s no other sport other than football.”
“I’m making progress, right?” Bentz says.
Nikki winks at him. “Maybe just a little,” she says, and the already besotted man beams at her. It doesn’t take long for men to fall for Nikki. It’s too bad for them that she loses interest before they have a chance to set their hooks.
Mason pulls me away and introduces me to some of his old teammates who all tell him he did great coaching. When I recognize one of the players who had an incredible play on the field I beam at him.
“That was a beautiful touchdown,” I tell him.
“Thanks, he replies, a permanent smile on his lips. “It’s always a team effort, but I did snag that ball right out of the air.” These men aren’t humble, that’s for sure. I like it. They have a reason to be proud of themselves. It takes a lot of training and dedication to become such great athletes.
Another player approaches, and I smile when I realize this is Kevin from our hotel meeting that feels like it happened so long ago. “Mason, are you and the girls coming with us tonight? We need to celebrate.”
Mason looks at me, his eyes twinkling with excitement. “Are you up for a night out with this rowdy crowd?”
“I’m too amped up to call it a night. Sounds fun,” I say.
It takes another hour to get out of there, but we eventually are led to multiple vehicles that drive us to an exclusive club I’d never have any hope of getting into without Mason by my side. Nikki’s bouncing in delight as we make our way in through a side entrance and head straight up to the VIP area.
It doesn’t take long before I look over and see Nikki sitting on Bentz’s lap, her face lit up with delight. I’ll have to make sure she’s okay again. She looks great now, but we’re surrounded by huge men, and I don’t think I’ll be able to stop my concerns. They all seem great, but I’ve also seen situations change on a dime.
“You’re good, right?” I call to her.
She beams at me as she waves her hand in the air. “Quit being a mother-hen. I’m fine and I stopped drinking an hour ago.” We both don’t get drunk at clubs. Too many things can happen, and we love life enough that we don’t need the liquid courage. I laugh and decide to leave her alone. If I keep checking on her, she’s going to push me out the door.
Mason then pulls me onto the dance floor, and I feel at home as soon as I’m in his arms, swaying with him to the sultry sound of the music. The heat between us is undeniable, and every touch sends shivers down my spine.
We dance for what feels like minutes, but goes on for several songs. Our bodies are in perfect sync, the rest of the world fading away. The music’s loud and the bass is pounding through my soul. None of that matters though, all that matters is being in this man’s arms.
Mason finally leans down, his hot breath whispering against my ear. “Let’s get out of here. I want you all to myself.” His voice is husky with desire and fills me with tingles.
I can’t speak. I simply nod at him with my heart pounding and my body on fire. I find Nikki dancing and tell her what I’m doing. She nods and says she’ll get home just fine, that Mason already set it up. Once I know she’s safe, I allow Mason to lead me away.
As soon as we’re in the back of the vehicle, he pulls me onto his lap and kisses me the way I’ve needed to be kissed for an entire week. The chemistry between us is explosive, and there’s no chance I’ll ever get enough of him.
He moves to my neck and sucks, causing goosebumps all over my skin. “I’ve thought of nothing but you this week. It’s making my work suffer,” he admits before he licks my skin.
“Me too,” I admit, utterly breathless. “I’ve been the same. You might not realize it, but there’s normally nothing that can pull me away from work. You should be impressed.”
He smiles, his eyes dark with promise. “I’m always impressed when it comes to you. Each moment we have together will only get better,” he assures me. The city lights are sparkling all around us, but none of it compares to Mason. I silently plead for the driver to speed up. We need a bed, and we need it now.
We somehow manage to make it back to his place, and I don’t even see it as we rush inside, our arms locked around each other and our clothes beginning to fall away as soon as the door’s shut. This desire is addictive.
We somehow make it to his monstrous sized room, but I’m not looking at anything around me. How can I focus on anything else with Mason in front of me? All I see is this man. He steps back and begins taking off his clothes. I’m shaking before him as I reach for the bottom of the jersey and shakily lift it over my head. His eyes burn as he removes his clothes, and I somehow slip out of mine.
“You’re so beautiful,” he gasps as the rest of my clothes drop away.
“You’re mouthwatering,” I whisper.
He pulls me back into his arms and I melt against him, my breasts aching as they rub against the solidness of his chest. He backs me up against the bed and we fall onto it, a tangle of limbs, lips, teeth, and tongue.
Mason kisses me until my head goes light. He moves down my jaw and continues his descent, peppering kisses over my neck and down my breasts. I gasp as he gently sucks a nipple into his mouth causing goosebumps to erupt over my body. I cry out and arch into his touch and he smirks before continuing down my body, licking and nipping a path down my navel, using his hands to caress my heated skin before finally lowering himself.
When he reaches my core I tremble as he lifts one of my legs onto his shoulder, spreading me open for his pleasure. I impatiently wriggle my hips. He smirks, but he doesn’t tease me. Mason immediately swipes his tongue along my heat before sucking my clit until I’m screaming in pleasure.
As an orgasm washes through me, I’m barely aware of him turning my body so that I’m lying facedown on the bed. I feel Mason crawling back up my body, spreading my legs open with his own. His hard length rubs against my slit a moment before he plunges deep inside of me as the last of my tremors are fading. This sends heat right back through me, and I hold him tight as he surges in and out of my hot body.
I gasp and moan, making sounds I didn’t even know were possible as the new angle makes him hit me in all of the right places. Sex with Mason has always been great, but this is otherworldly. I close my eyes and clench one fist into the sheets while the other one moves down and grasps his thigh, seeking some kind of purchase.
Mason wraps one arm around my chest, his hand gently resting on my neck. He brings his head next to mine and continues to lavish my neck. His other arm snakes around my front and his finger finds my clit, sending me over the edge again.
This right here, right now, is my favorite place to be. Lying skin to skin, hearts beating as one is what I need most in the world. I tremble as fire rocks through my body, shuddering with every new thrust. Mason collapses on top of me and I feel so right in this moment.
I grumble as he rolls off me, but smile when he immediately drags me into his arms in a position where he’s not crushing me. I’m hopelessly falling in love with this man. There’s no turning back now. This is normally where I’d panic, but I feel too good to do that. I have no doubt that we’ll figure it out. For now I’m more determined than ever to live off of food and sex alone. It’s a pretty dang great plan.
It takes a while as I don’t want to miss out on a single moment with this man, but eventually exhaustion pulls me under and I go to sleep with a smile on my lips where I’m sure to dream about this man. I’m okay with this. I’m more than okay with it. I could be very content to do this for the rest of my life.