Hooking a finger under her chin, I push until her now watery gray eyes meet mine again. “Whenever you’re ready to tell me, I’ll be here, but know this”—I smooth a finger over her jaw—“nothing you can tell me will change my mind. Whatever has happened in the past has helped make the woman in front of me now, and I love her.”
She sucks in a startled breath, her lips parting slightly with the shock.
Good. If I accomplish anything this weekend, it will be that she will unequivocally believe the depth of my feelings for her.
“How did you find me?”
The question catches me off guard. It’s almost hard to believe this is the third state I’ve been in today looking for her.
“Well…after taking a tour of Jersey, I continued my road trip to Baltimore.”
“You went to my brother’s?” Her eyes do a quick scan of my body like she’s checking me over for injuries.
“I’d go anywhere for you.”
Bleh. You’ve turned into a cheesy character from a romantic comedy. My inner coach can fuck off because the smile that blooms on Kay’s face has the biggest one I’ve had in weeks spreading across mine.
“Oh, put those away.” She pushes a finger into one of my dimples, which only has me grinning harder. She’s always telling me my dimples can make a girl go stupid. Telling her as much gets me a playful slap to the shoulder.
“Does this mean you’re going to admit you’re mine again?” I nip at the tendon running along the side of her neck, and her answering moan makes me want to find the nearest flat surface so we can make up properly.
“You’re such a caveman.”
I can’t help but smirk against her skin. “You know it, baby.”
The eye roll she gives me when I pull back is all the answer I need.
#Chapter34
I’m doing this. I can’t believe it, but I am.
I just hope it doesn’t all end up blowing up in my face.
“Can we get out of here?” My scalp stings when Mase’s fingers tangle deep into my hair as he asks the question.
As conflicted as my feelings have been during our time apart, the only way I can answer is with a yes.
It’s insane that he went to E’s trying to track me down. My brother may be a teddy bear with me, but he can be downright grizzly to anyone he feels has wronged me.
It shouldn’t surprise me that E thought Mase was good enough to pass muster; he’s been fighting for me—for us—for weeks.
I have to trust in Mase’s declarations. Instinctually, a part of me believes if anyone can handle the things I’m too scared to face, it will be him.
“Have any place in mind?”
Going someplace private is the smartest decision. It’s actually a miracle nobody has stumbled upon us already.
“Yup.” That devilish smirk that never fails to make me feel weak in the knees makes an appearance. Without further explanation, he lowers me to the ground, allowing my body to slide along every inch of his on the way down. Those damn dimples deepen in naughty promise.
The flip cup game is still in full swing when we return to the kitchen. I rub at my arms in an effort to chase the chill away, unsure if it’s lingering from being outside for an extended period of time, or if it’s because of the number of eyes now trained in my direction.
Warmth and calm infuse me as Mase steps up behind me, looping his arms around my middle and tugging until my back is flush to his front. A sigh of contentment escapes at how easily he is able to center me.
Why did I try to run from this?
“We good here?” JT asks, circling a finger at us.
Lips ghost over the soft spot behind my ear with a whispered, “Mine.” I should roll my eyes at this additional display of Mason’s caveman antics, but after spending weeks thinking I wouldn’t get to experience them again, I can’t bring myself to do so. His possessiveness is one of the things that got me to love him the way I do.
Besides…this has nothing on how he barreled in here, tossed me over his shoulder, and carried me away like those he is aptly nicknamed after.
“We’re good.” I nod, placing my arms on top of Mase’s, in no rush to move.
“Does that mean I get to be Ginny again?” JT drops down, shuffling closer on his knees in an over-the-top display of pleading. There are days I wonder about his sanity.
“She is definitely the most badass Weasley.” Approval shines in JT’s eyes at Mason’s comment. “The movies don’t do her character justice the way the books do.”
“Oh, man.” JT slaps the floor before jumping back to his feet. “He’s a Potterhead too? He’s perfect for you, PF.”
Tilting my head back, I catch sight of Mase’s smug expression. After weeks of me telling him I’m not good for him, I’m sure he’s loving being told otherwise.
There’s a kiss to the top of my head, and his chest expands behind me with a deep inhalation, breathing me in.
I feel the loss of him the instant he steps away, my heart only settling when his fingers thread their way between mine. “Our Uber is here.”
How did I miss him ordering one? Also, who cares? With promises to meet up with JT and the others tomorrow, we make our goodbyes.
As soon as the door to the hotel room clicks closed behind us, Mase lifts me in his arms. My legs automatically wrap around his waist and hook at the ankles. He devours my mouth like a starving man let loose at an all-you-can-eat buffet, pressing my back into the wall by the door.
If I thought the way he kissed me at the basketball house was hot, that was a small campfire compared to this raging inferno.
His tongue licks inside my mouth, and I meet it stroke
