Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Mason’s text had informed her that he was about an hour out, and Vivi waited impatiently for the sweep of headlights to announce his presence.
When they finally arrived, her heart raced with anticipation.
From the quiet approach, she could tell he’d brought his truck this time, though with the recent rain, it came as no real surprise.
She opened the door, ready to invite Mason inside as he made his way up the sidewalk.
Before she could speak, he swept her into his arms and fused his mouth to hers.
There was a desperation to his kiss, and she threw herself headlong into it, wrapping her arms and legs around him and holding on for dear life.
She was dimly aware of the door slamming closed before her back hit the wall next to it, and the heaviness of Mason’s body pinned her in place.
He broke away from her lips, kissing over her cheek and jaw, then spoke low in her ear. “I need you.”
He carried her to the couch and lay her back against the soft cushions, lifting her as high as the stars before they crashed back to earth together.
Afterward, they sat cuddled close together, their hearts beating hard and fast in tandem. His head rested in the crook of her neck, and his lips left a trail of soft, tender kisses along her throat.
Something between them was different, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Their lovemaking had been just as intense as ever, tinged with a sense of urgency. But there was also something more. She felt like this time, for whatever reason, was more like making love.
Whatever had happened tonight had had a significant impact on him. She sensed a vulnerability deep inside him, and she wondered if that had contributed to the change. She had no idea what transpired this evening, but she didn't dare ask him.
Though she could talk about anything and nothing under the sun, Mason kept his feelings under lock and key.
He traded trivia readily, but when it came to emotions, he was a typical guy.
She didn't want to risk pressing deeper and pushing him away, even though she was dying to know.
Was this a temporary change or the evolution of their relationship? She hoped it was the latter.
She could no longer deny that she had fallen for him, totally and completely. With Mason, there was no question in her mind where she stood. She was important to him, and he would always take care of her. She couldn't help but wonder exactly how far that extended.
Did he love her back? Was he even capable of doing so? He’d given her no indication in the past that he loved her. She knew he desired her, knew he wanted her on a physical level. But was it a thrill of the chase for him, or… more?
She tried to look at it objectively. He had practically insisted on telling her brother about them as soon as it happened. Out of obligation to his friend, or because he truly felt that deeply for her? She couldn't quite tell.
She bit down on her tongue to keep the million and one questions from escaping, to keep from telling him how much he meant to her and asking if he felt the same.
She wanted him so badly she could taste it.
She had known from the first that Mason was different.
She'd never had a man treat her the way he did.
He was possessive and jealous, but she truly believed he had her best interest at heart.
She swallowed hard, forcing down the questions, and ran a hand over the firm muscle of his upper back. “You okay?”
He lifted his head to look at her, those glowing gold eyes boring into hers. “Better now.”
He captured her mouth in a leisurely, sweet kiss, and she felt herself fall a little further.
He kissed the corner of her mouth, trailing his lips over her cheek, her nose, until he finally dropped a kiss on her forehead and gave her a little squeeze.
His arms were still wrapped around her, and his thumbs stroked her shoulder blades in long, even sweeps.
She nestled her head in the crook of his shoulder and turned so her lips brushed his throat. “Do you want to talk about it?” she whispered.
“Not yet.” He shook his head, his hold tightening just a fraction. “I just want this... to hold you, listen to you talk—about anything. Everything. Just being with you makes everything better.”
She couldn’t begin to describe the sensation that swept over her at his words.
They were so genuine, so brutally honest that they brought tears to her eyes, a direct contradiction to the elation spreading through every pore of her body at his admission.
As much as she wanted to, she wasn’t going to press.
Just knowing that he’d come to her for solace spoke volumes.
He cared about her, wanted to be with her, even if he couldn’t admit it out loud just yet.
She snuggled closer. “I don’t know how I could possibly come up with anything interesting to say.”
He snorted a little, and she smiled in response. They both knew that was a lie; she never tired of talking with him, absorbing every little thing. “I know, I talk a lot.”
His lips found her forehead again, and they brushed her skin as he spoke. “I could listen to you all day. Just hearing your voice grounds me, takes all the bad stuff away.”
It was so comfortable, and they never ran out of subjects to discuss.
There was an open quality to their conversation that she’d never really found with anyone else.
Most people were overwhelmed by it, but Mason took it in stride, countering her statements or random musings with something of his own.
Even if he didn’t have something to say in return, he seemed more than happy to listen, and she appreciated it. “Glad I can help.”
He kissed her temple. “More than you know.”