Chapter Eleven
SLOANE
TURNING OVER to face the dark window again, I huff out a breath and my eyes open for the hundredth time. I’ve rolled over so many times trying to get comfortable enough to slip into sleep that my sheets are twisted around me.
All I can think about is Mason’s hand on my jaw, his thumb sliding under my eye, so gentle, so sweet.
My body is buzzing with need for him and I refuse to touch myself, it only makes me want him more.
Every time I do, I’m left wanting to feel him.
It’s becoming a deep-seated ache that nothing satisfies.
Throwing my covers back, I slip on my thin, cotton robe to cover my boy shorts and tank top so I can go down to the kitchen for a cup of cocoa.
Tendrils of steam over the milk in the saucepan let me know it’s the perfect temperature and I fill my mug up a little over halfway and add some sweet cream and chocolate syrup.
My mom’s secret is a pat of butter. I top it off with little marshmallows and lean against the island to sip my mom’s chocolate milk recipe as I look out the large picture window over the breakfast nook.
I’m so confused. Just last week, a look or possible touch from a man made me want to scrub myself with rubbing alcohol and a steel wool pad, but now my body is practically on fire just knowing Mason’s in the house with me.
The giant grandfather clock strikes the hour and only bongs once. The house is so quiet at this time of night while everyone is sleeping, it’s almost my favorite time next to getting up before everyone to start breakfast, that’s when I make my coffee and enjoy the quiet.
I know that I’m just the maid, but the feeling of taking care of everyone in the house makes me feel good. I enjoy knowing that their bellies are full, their clothes are clean, and their house is perfect because of me. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much for a job before.
“You’re up late?” Mason’s soft, deep voice breaks through the quiet and licks around me like flames, he’s leaning against the door frame in just sweats with his arms crossed over his perfect chest, and I nearly jump out of my skin and spill my hot cocoa on my front.
“Shit!” I hiss and set my cup down while opening my robe to get the hot, wet material off my chest. “Fuck, Mason, do I need to put a bell around your damn neck?” I whisper-yell while half bending over to keep cocoa from dripping under my shirt.
He pushes off the door frame and grabs the dish towel to run cold water over it while I drop my wet, sticky robe on the floor to soak up what spilled so we won’t slip.
His eyebrows are scrunched together, but I can see the amusement twinkling in his eyes when he steps in front of me and gently slides the wet towel across my chest and collarbones.
His eyes flick up to mine, “I didn’t mean to scare you, but in my defense, you are the jumpiest person I’ve ever met.”
I grab the towel from his hand and look down as I start to wipe away what is dripping under my tank top. “You sneak up on people more than anyone I’ve ever met, how do you even do that?” I whisper, trying to keep my voice low but firm and my head down to avoid eye contact.
Sliding his hands in the pockets of his sweats, he doesn’t step away, but the action does pull the waistband down a smidge and the perfect V between his hip bones is teasing me as it disappears behind the material.
Maybe eye contact is better.
My lower belly starts to purr and everything in me wants to brush against him to beg him to pet me. I realize that I have stopped wiping the sticky liquid from my chest as I stare at his perfect rock-hard abs and I look up at him through my lashes.
His eyes are locked on mine and his voice is gruff, “It’s part of my job, darlin’.”
I lift my head and the hand with the towel drops to my side, my heart flutters in my chest as I look back at him. He’s so close that I would only have to take one step to press my chest against him and my breath quickens.
He pulls a hand from his pocket and trails a path of heat with his finger across my collarbone from one side to the other, his eyes watching the lazy movement, when I audibly swallow his lips tip up slightly and his eyes move back up to mine.
“Tell me you don’t feel that.” He practically growls.
My nipples were already puckered against the thin material of my tank, but hearing the deep, carnal growl from his chest makes them hard enough to cut glass. I press my thighs together to try and control the intense need in my hips to lean forward and rub against him.
He sees the slight movement and looks down at the tight boy shorts that I wear to sleep in and his eyes move slowly up my body, stopping for a moment on my nipples that are about to cut through the fabric of my tank before slowly moving to my lips and eyes.
My lips part slightly and I softly pant when his hand slides up to my neck and cups my jaw. He takes that step to close the small space between us and I swallow the moan that tries to slip out when his chest rubs against my sensitive nipples.
Sliding his thumb across my lower lip, his gaze is locked on mine, “I don’t think you realize how beautiful you are with the flush of arousal under your skin.
” His other hand slides to my back and pulls me against his large erection, “I can smell how turned on your are and it’s making me so fucking hard, I want to taste you so bad. ”
When his lips crash over mine, all thought is silenced and my hands go to his shoulders, my fingertips dig into his skin. I want him, more than I want anything, I arch my back into him and he swallows the moan that escapes my throat. His tongue spears into my mouth, caressing mine.
Lifting the hem of my tank, he slides his fingers under the fabric and his rough palm moves against my skin, the warmth leaving a trail of heat across my back. I circle my arms around his neck and push up onto my toes to make my body more flush to his.
I’m met with his rock-hard shaft against my hips and I shiver when I think of how good he feels inside of me.
When he slips his hand into my shorts and squeezes my ass as he presses me hard against him, groaning deep in his chest, I tilt my hips toward him. I don’t even make the conscious decision to do it, when I’m with him, my body’s not mine anymore, its his.
The kiss is hard and desperate, his tongue exploring mine, his lips firm and demanding.
I move a hand to his neck and squeeze his nape.
When he moves his hand around my hip and his finger slides between my slick, wet folds I gasp and he growls, “You’re so fucking wet for me. I love how your body responds to me.”
Even though a part of my brain is screaming at me to stop, my body has taken control and all I want is to feel him.
When he pushes a finger in me I almost come right then, but my brain pulls up a memory of sitting in an alley all night because I didn’t have enough money for a hotel room and I try to pull away.
“Wait.” I breathe, breaking the kiss.
His breath is hot against my ear, “You sure, cause I can feel you squeezing my finger, darlin’, I know you want to come, I can do that for you right now.” He pushes a second finger into me.
The building pressure behind my clit is playing tug of war with my mind and my hips move against his hand, I drop my forehead to his chest as my brain and body battle over my next move.
“Stop, we can’t do this.” I pant. He stops moving his fingers but doesn’t pull out of me, my fingers are clamped over his shoulders, digging into his skin, so my knees don’t give out.
I’m so close and he knows it, when I don’t move away from him he presses the heel of his palm against my clit and curls his fingers into my sensitive spot and I see stars, the pressure moves out to every part of my body before it starts to pulse from my center and I press my mouth to his chest to muffle my moan.
“Oh, fuck.” I hiss as I pant with each delicious pulse.
His other hand cups the back of my head as he moves slowly inside me until the pulsing in my core stops. I stay still, my forehead still on his chest as my breaths slow down and the euphoria starts to wear off. He keeps stroking the back of my head, threading my hair through his fingers.
Letting my hands slide from his shoulders to his chest, I take a deep breath, “We can’t do this.”
His lips rest on my head, “Tell me why.”
Grasping his wrist, I pull his hand out of my underwear, slightly embarrassed at how wet his hand is.
“It’s just not a good idea, this can’t lead anywhere that ends with both of us happy.
” My heart squeezes in my chest because I want nothing more than to get lost in him, but I don’t want to feel the hurt of losing him.
“You don’t know that.” He says, his breath is hot against my head.
I lift my head to look into his eyes, “You haven’t been here in over a year and you’re leaving in a few weeks.”
His eyes volley between mine and he moves his hand from the back of my head to cup my cheek. “I haven’t had a reason to come back here before, I live close to work out of convenience.”
My mind is racing to think of something that might put him off, “I’m not a casual sex type of person, Mason, my night with you was the first time I have ever done that and it was because I was lonely. I also don’t share. We’re very different people.”
Gently pushing him away from me, his hands fall to his sides and he steps back a few steps. I lean over to grab my robe from the floor and turn to go up the stairs.
His hand grabs my wrist and I look over my shoulder, “We’re not that different.
” He steps up to me and his chest bumps my shoulders as his hand possessively comes around my waist, his lips dipping to my ear, “Just so you know, I’m going back to my room to get myself off with the hand that is covered in you and I’m going to think about how beautiful you look when you come for me.
” He rubs his beard against my neck and his voice growls with an edge that I’ve not heard before, “And let me be clear on this, there’s not a fucking chance in hell that I will ever share you with anyone. ”
My stomach flips as he lets go and steps away from me. I don’t have to turn around to know I’m in the room alone.