I had started to protest, but he silenced me with another kiss, this time tracing my lips with his tongue. I fell silent, my breathing speeding up.
“You’ll tell me what I can do to help you. I don’t expect you to trust me right away, but I want to know what happened with your mother, and I want to do my part. I want us to be two parts of a whole.”
God yes, I wanted that as well. I didn’t know what that warm feeling in my chest was, but I figured for once my body wholeheartedly agreed with my mind.
He kissed my upper lip, then my lower before he started talking again. “We’re going to be late for work today. I hope that’s okay.”
I had nearly laughed, but instead told him, “You’re the boss. And if nothing else I try to be a good employee and follow directions.”
“Excellent. Then as your boss I’ll tell you to touch me.”
He had barely finished talking when my hands were making their way in between our bodies, tracing his glorious abs. I explored to my heart’s content, enjoying the feel of his chiseled body. His back muscles contracted when I ran a hand over them. I did it again, just to feel them more.
He was only wearing boxers, and I sneaked my hand into the back, then let it wander to the front. Mason wasn’t a silent participant, instead he kissed me deep, while his hands made my body sing.
When I thought I couldn’t wait any longer, and Mason had pushed me to the brink only to bring me back again and again, he reached behind him into the nightstand. I nearly wept when I heard the crinkle of foil.
We had stayed on our sides, and he entered me slowly, giving me time to adjust. Once he was fully seated inside, I sighed in pleasure. He started moving and I arched my head back, unable to contain a moan.
My head came back and he captured my gaze with his eyes that were full of tenderness and passion. It didn’t take me long to fall over the edge; my orgasm was one I would remember for the rest of my life. Mason wasn’t far behind, his thrusts coming faster before he finished with one long groan.
He kissed me again and again, our bodies still connected. When he pulled away, I groaned in protest and he chuckled.
“I’ll be back, beautiful. Don’t go anywhere.”
I flopped on my back and imitated a starfish. “Couldn’t even if I wanted to.”
We had spent the early morning hours in bed, talking and kissing. We kept the topics light and the kisses heavy. It was something else I would never forget, the feeling of joy so strong I was bursting with it.
We finally made it into work around eleven, but I could have stayed in bed all day. It felt like nothing else in the world existed but the two of us.
The morning was such a contrast to where I stood now. Any happiness I felt was gone. My usually vibrant dark green eyes looked dull and the angles of my face harsh, thanks to the tight chignon I had wrestled my hair into.
I could survive tonight, and by tomorrow things would be back to normal. Tonight was the last official party before the election. I knew my mother would force me to stand next to her on Election Day. But after that I doubted she would care what I was doing or with whom. At least that’s what I hoped.
I grabbed my lipstick and powder and dropped them in the black clutch that looked just as boring as the rest of my outfit. After fiddling with the clasp for longer than necessary, I finally left the bathroom and collided with Mason.
“Sorry,” I said and stepped to the side.
“Where are you going?” he asked, sweeping a look at my outfit with raised brows.
“Out.”
“Right. I can see that. Out where?”
“Just dinner.”
A look at my watch confirmed that it was almost eight and I was running late.
“How come you haven’t mentioned this before now?”
He followed me down the stairs, his presence a comfort that I couldn’t allow myself to enjoy for long. I had a persona to put on and people to impress.
“I forgot all about it.” Or more like refused to think about tonight. “It’s just a thing at my mother’s.”
We made it to the hallway and he stepped in front of me. “You’re not going there alone.”
I blinked at the harshness in his voice. I had gotten used to the gentle version of him, and his tone took me by surprise.
“I usually show up by myself. No way would I subject anyone else to her presence.”
“Too bad then, since I’m coming with you.”
I tripped, and he caught me with a hand on my waist. “You what?”
He let me go and grabbed a coat off a hook by the door. “You heard me.”
“You can’t—” A horn beeping outside interrupted me.
“I presume that’s our ride. Let’s go, beautiful.”
I was too stunned to protest when he led me outside and down the porch stairs. A driver was holding open the back door of a black Town car.
We both got in, Mason sitting in the seat next to me and taking my hand.
“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into,” I warned.
He placed a kiss on top of my head. “I’d follow you anywhere. You should know this by now.”
We made the short drive in silence and when we pulled up to the gate at the entrance to my mother’s farm Mason whistled. “This is where you grew up?”
“Unfortunately,” I couldn’t help but answer.
The gate was open and the long driveway was lined with cars. My mother had valet services for nights like tonight, and the whole dinner was planned to within an inch of its short life.
We stopped in front of the ostentatious fountain that every McMansion seemed to require. The thing served
