“Just go,” I croaked, feeling my eyes pool with tears. I lowered my gaze to the floor. I couldn’t bear to look at him. We had come so close to something yesterday and now he was just walking out on it. “Just go, Mason!”
I hated him in that moment. Hated his guts because I didn’t know how I was going to get through it when he was gone. I was sure that once he walked out that door, I would shatter into a million little pieces.
I heard the sound of creaking wood and then a firm hand pressed against my cheek. “There is another reason why I have to leave,” Mason said, tilting my face upward and forcing me to look at him.
I swallowed back that awful lump, a tear escaping the pool in my right eye. “Why?”
“I can’t . . .” he hesitated. “I can’t control myself around you.”
“What do you mean?” It was a rhetorical question, as I knew exactly what he was talking about.
Mason shook his head. “You don’t understand. I’ve always been in control, Carly. Always. It’s the one thing I’ve prided myself on. But now . . .” His fingers trembled against my face and I sensed that he was fighting some inner turmoil. “You have no idea what your little teasing did to me,” he growled. “Absolutely no idea.”
“Hey, you started it.”
Mason nodded and his expression turned sad. “And now I’m going to end it. I’m no good for you, Carly, nothing but trouble. I mean, look at me — I’m going to be on the run for the foreseeable future. Is that the kind of life that you want for yourself?”
“I don’t care what you are,” I said. “I’d follow you into the depths of hell if that’s where you were going,” I said, and I meant every word.
Mason frowned. “I used to think that I was the only one for you and that no one else deserved you. But I realize now that you deserve much better than what I can give you. We were so close last night, and if we’d have had sex, this would have been impossible to do.”
Mason’s words touched me and it thrilled me to hear from his mouth that all this time he harbored such feelings for me. “But—”
“Besides, we’re stepbrother and stepsister. What will Dad and Sherry say?”
“Fuck them! Besides, they’re all but divorced anyway.”
Mason laughed, his dimples showing. “Ah, Carly. That’s what I’ve always loved about you. You can always make me laugh even if I don’t want to.”
“So just stay. Please!” Didn’t he have a heart? I was practically about to die. “Fight for what you know we both want. I love you, Mason!”
Mason’s eyes lit up to study my tear-stained face. “What did you just say?” His face was pale as if he’d been struck.
The words rushed out like running water. “I love you,” I said. “I think I have since the first day we met.”
He was silent for a long time, but all of a sudden his lips were locked with mine. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close. Electricity flowed between us, causing prickling sensations along my skin. And down below, I could feel his bulge begin to press against his jeans and my stomach.
His tongue slipped into my mouth, swirling around mine as I savored the taste. As we kissed, his hands roamed over my body, causing fire wherever he touched. I shuddered, my pulse pounding in my throat. He was only touching me and I already felt like I was in heaven. I’d never been touched this way before by any man, and it felt amazing.
He picked me up, and I let out a small gasp of surprise as he carried me over to the kitchen counter. He placed me on it gently, all while maintaining our passionate kiss.
Then he pulled away, leaving me gasping for breath, his lips quickly finding their way to my neck. He covered it with a flurry of kisses and I was sure he’d leave a hickey there, but I was lost in the heat of passion.
I felt incredible — more wanted and desired than I could ever imagine.
He continued burning my neck with passionate kisses while he deftly unbuttoned my blouse. I helped him out by taking it off and tossing it to the side. My bra came quickly after and my nipples stiffened as the cool air hit them.
Admiration flashed in Mason’s eyes as he drew back to survey my breasts.
“Even more amazing than in my dreams,” he murmured with appreciation. He wasted no time and cupped my right breast in his hand and then bent forward and hungrily wrapped his lips around my nipple.
I titled my head back and a pleasured sigh escaped my parted lips. His teeth kneaded and teased my right nipple while he took his other hand and pinched my left one, twisting and turning it.
“Ohh,” I groaned, my head spinning. I literally felt like I was going to have an orgasm already, a years-long thirst for Mason finally being quenched.