First Choice, Second Chance, page 8
He was slowly losing his sanity. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on and keep her away from him. It wouldn't be long if she really wasn't leaving. His attention finally came back to the table when Brian waved at someone over his shoulder. He glanced back, and Ashley headed their way. "I'll get going if you want to ditch me for your wife. I don't have a problem with it."
"No, it's fine. I told you she was having a girl's night. I'm going to talk to her for a couple minutes."
"It's fine," Mason said, but he stood up and headed over to the bar to give them a few minutes. It sometimes hurt to see the two of them together. He and Lila could have had that if she'd chosen him seven years ago.
He ordered a bottle of beer while he leaned against the bar. He had taken the first sip when a hand touched his back. It wasn't Brian's. He knew that right away. The other man might have a slighter frame than him, but that was definitely a woman's hand on his back. He doubted it was Ashley. She'd touched him before, not in any kind of sexual way, but a hand on his arm, a friendly hug good-bye. That had never sent this electrical surge through him. Only one person had ever been able to do that.
"Lila," he said before turning to her and almost lost all the breath from his lungs. Her curls were pulled back from her face and pulled up into a clip on the top of her head. His gaze moved down and took in the tight shirt, the neckline scooped low. It wasn't too tight, but it fit snug against her body. Then, even lower to the skirt flowing down her legs. The outfit was topped off by low-heeled sandals. Her toes peeked out, and he could see they were painted a bright blue. He wasn't sure why even that would turn him on.
"Mason." Her eyes shone as she looked at him. She looked like she might be a little tipsy, but certainly not drunk.
He glanced over her shoulder. Brian stood beside Ashley, his arm slung around her waist and a smirk on his face, and Mason knew. "I think we've been duped."
"I realized it when Ashley said she saw Brian here. I saw you sitting with him."
That was why Brian had been so insistent they come out tonight. It had all been a set up. "Bastard," he muttered, but with no heat behind the word.
"Is it okay if I join you for a drink? I know you hate me, but I hope I can at least sit here."
"I don't hate you," he said but didn't even look at her.
"Could have fooled me. The way you've been avoiding me since I came back. The way you look at me when you can't avoid it."
He turned to her finally. "You think that's because I hate you? When I look at you, I remember what we used to have. And you broke my fucking heart. I don't think I could survive it again. I barely did the last time."
Her fingers trembled as she reached for the mixed drink the bartender brought her. "I'm sorry, Mason. I really never thought about how much I would hurt you. We were eighteen. I was sure you'd move on."
"I tried to drink the pain away. Instead, I almost drank myself to death and nearly killed my father in the process."
"What are you talking about?"
"I should have been out there on that tractor the day of his accident. I was still passed out in my bed. He went out on his own. When I finally stumbled out of the house, I found him pinned under the tractor. It's my fault he can't go a day without being in excruciating pain. My fault he's probably going to have to sell the farm. It's all my fault because I couldn't handle you leaving."
"Oh, Mason," she said and put her hand on his arm.
Mason closed his eyes and soaked in her touch. He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't keep pushing her away when all he wanted to do was hold her. He didn't have to lose his heart again. They could keep it simple, just physical. It wouldn't be the first time. That's pretty much all he'd had since she left the last time. He'd tried once, but he couldn't give her the pieces of his heart Lila hadn't taken with her.
He'd be the one to walk away this time before it was too late.
He took the drink from her hand and set it back on the bar. Then, he took her hand in his. "Let's dance. It's been a long time since we did that."
Hesitation came into her eyes, and he knew she wasn't sure about his sudden change. She followed him out to the dance floor and moved into his arms as he turned her toward him. They fell into step together as the music moved to a slower song. His thumb brushed over the back of her neck as they swayed together. His mind screamed at him the whole time this was a mistake. He'd never been able to keep his heart separate when it came to her. This time would be different. As she spread her hands across his back, and desire surged through him, he feared that was a vow he wouldn't be able to keep.
Chapter 11
Lila didn't know how long they had danced. They had laughed when the DJ played one of her songs, and she had rested her head on his chest. His fingers had brushed the skin bared by her shirt when she put her arms around his neck. She remembered the things his hands had always been able to do to her. Her fingers went up into his hair until he brought his mouth to hers. The kiss had done it. It had sealed the wounds that had still felt open until he touched her again. The DJ was breaking down his equipment before she realized how late it was.
She looked around the bar and realized they were some of the few left in the bar. Brian and Ashley were not among them. "It looks like my ride left," she said.
She glanced up at him and saw the grin on his face. "I think we were set up. I met Brian out here, so I have my truck. I can take you home."
She scraped her teeth over her lip. If she got in the truck with him, she wasn't going to want to go home. Not to her parents' at least. With a glance at the clock, she realized it was nearly midnight. She couldn't even call them for a ride. She should have met Ashley here instead of riding with her. Then, she realized this was probably part of their plan, too. Strand Lila with Mason, and they'd have to spend time together. She had to admit, it was a pretty genius move. Because here they were.
"Okay," she finally said. "I don't want to go home, though. I'm sure I'll wake my parents up. I really don't want to be questioned by my father tonight."
Mason brushed his lips over her neck. "He does realize you're twenty-five now, right? You're old enough to stay out as long as you'd like."
"I'm under their roof again. He thinks he has the right to know where I am. I'll send Mom a text that I'll be home in the morning. She barely knows how to work the thing, but she can read a text. She keeps it in the kitchen at night, so it won't wake her. They'll know I'm fine before they worry too much." She hoped anyway. The last thing she needed was for them to call the state police to report her missing while she was with Mason.
His lips moved across her neck, and she let out a little hum. His fingers ran up and down her back, over her spine, and the gesture sent little shivers down her.
"Mason," she murmured his name.
One hand came forward and cupped her breast, his thumb brushing over the nipple already growing hard. She'd only worn a thin bra, even though she hadn't been expecting this, and it offered her little protection now. "I better get you home," he said, his words whispering against her neck, "or we're going to be arrested for public indecency."
She groaned, but he led her to his truck. Once they were both inside, his hand found the back of her neck, and he brought her close for a long kiss. "I don't think either of us will forget tonight for a long time," he said against her lips.
At the heat in the words, she gasped, and he took that moment to slip his tongue in. It slid against her teeth, over her tongue, around the inside of her cheeks. The only thing she could do was hold on. This was a different Mason, although she could still see pieces of the old him. He'd always been able to turn her on with just a touch. There was no hesitating now. He knew what he wanted. He was going to have it, too. She certainly wouldn't be the one to stop him. Even if she feared they were going to break each other's hearts in the end.
She held onto his shoulders as his mouth moved to her neck, and he closed his lips over the pulse pounding there. Her body reacted in ways she'd never expected to feel again. Ways she hadn't felt with Kyle, not in a long time. He'd come to bed with the lights turned off, slide inside, and finish himself off. She'd had to wait until he was asleep to seek her own relief. She wished she'd realized sooner he didn't care because he got his pleasure elsewhere. He kept up appearances, when he didn't claim he was too tired from working to help her career. Making it her fault seemed to be his favorite pastime.
Mason scraped his teeth down the column of her throat, dragging her away from those dark thoughts. "Please, Mason," she begged.
He pulled back from her, his smile devilish. "It wouldn't be the first time we made out in here." A finger trailed up her bare leg. "Wouldn't be the first time you came in here."
His finger teased at the edge of her skirt. She barely held back another plea. She could imagine his hands all over her, in her. Everything else out there slipped away. "We're not eighteen anymore, either."
"Not so old we can't maneuver some necking in the truck."
What she had in mind went farther than necking. She slid a hand from his shoulder, down his chest and over his jeans. Her eyes closed when she felt him through the denim. Some things didn't change. She could tell when he wanted her. That was certainly now. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "You don't want to neck. That's not going to help this."
He let out a little growl, and she had to fight back a smile. She still did it for him, too.
She wouldn't mention how often she'd imagined him when Kyle had come to their bed during the last couple years. Now, she could have the real thing again.
"You have your own place now. We don't have to use your truck."
Mason turned from her, his hand going to the gear shift. His knuckles turned white as he gripped it and threw the truck into reverse. "You may want to hold on. We're going to have quite the ride tonight."
#
Mason didn't know what he was doing. That seemed to be a common problem when she came around him. He swore he would stay away from her. They could coexist in the same town. He wasn't some randy teenager anymore. He'd have found someone else to bury these feelings in, at least for a while. Then, Brian had dragged him to the bar and left him stranded there with her.
He could have left her. She would have found another way home. She had always been able to talk her father out of a foul mood, so her coming in so late wouldn't have been too big a deal. But he didn't want any other woman. He'd tried. Few others had lasted more than one night. Except Lexie, and even she'd given up on him when she realized he couldn't give her his heart. It hadn't been fair to her or any of the others.
He wanted Lila, no matter how much he was sure it would hurt in the end.
He navigated the dark roads until his own porch light came into sight. He'd been waiting for seven years to touch her again. He felt like he'd been at sea the whole time, afraid he'd never see home port again, never have his feet on familiar soil. Here he was, though, home again. His hands shook at the thought of it.
Then, her hand reached out and brushed over his knee. How could she ground him when she sent him flying at the same time? It should be against some law, like gravity.
"Let's go inside."
Her soft voice did things to him. He wished he could say it was only hormones, just lust. It wrapped around his heart and tugged, and his jaw clenched. This had nothing to do with his heart. They'd each get some pleasure tonight. He'd exorcise these demons, and they'd be able to deal with each other. It was nothing. One more night, and they'd be done.
He slid out of the truck and went up to unlock his door while she followed behind. His hand shook on the key as she slid a hand over his hip. They weren't going to make it to his bed at this rate. Finally the door opened, and he stumbled inside, bringing her with him. He dropped the keys on the floor before pressing her up against the closed door. When she let out those little hums of pleasure, he had a hard time controlling himself. He didn't want this to be over anytime soon. If this was the only night they had together, and he couldn't let himself think there'd be more than this, he wanted to savor it as long as he could. First he had to find out exactly what she had on underneath these clothes.
His hands slipped underneath her shirt, brushing her skin as he pulled it up. He stopped with it bunched over her breasts. Still so perfect. The lace of her bra barely covered the points growing hard with his gaze. He brushed a finger over the top of that lace, and her skin flushed. He wanted his mouth there, too. First, to get rid of this shirt. He pulled it over her head and tossed it out into the room.
Then, his head dipped and he ran his tongue over the lace, then under. She arched against him, her response immediate. It made him want to see if he could bring her to the edge of ecstasy with just this touch. There was so much more of her to explore, too. He didn't want to waste any time. She practically purred with pleasure. He pulled the cup of her bra down so he could get his mouth around her breast. He sucked her nipple into his mouth, grazing it with his teeth, then he released it and moved to the other one. He teased it with his tongue for a moment before adding his teeth. Her body bucked against him, like they had never been apart. He knew exactly how close she was to climax by the sound of her breathing. He hadn't even touched any more of her. He found he wanted to give this to her.
His fingers brushed across her ribs and to her back as his mouth slid across her chest and back to the first breast. Her breath caught as he ran his tongue over her already sensitive nipple. "Let go," he murmured. "I'll catch you."
His tongue caressed the side of her breast then back to circle the nipple until the tiny tremors ran through her body. He closed his mouth over the nipple, sucking on it, and felt the moment her body went taut. He could hear the breath strangle in her throat as her body gave over to pleasure. Then, she melted against the door. True to his word, he caught her, bringing his mouth back to hers.
Her pleasure was his torture because now he only wanted her more. It would be hard to hold back. He didn't want tonight to end yet. He would torture them both if it meant drawing it out.
#
Lila couldn't believe what was happening. Mason's hands and mouth still felt good on her skin. But, that mouth. He had certainly gotten more skilled over the last seven years. As good as it had been, that thought sent a shaft of jealousy through her. She didn't have the right to feel it. She was the one who had left.
Now, he led her back to his bedroom, and her heart kicked up its pace again. Her shirt stayed on the floor, her bra still pulled down to reveal her breasts. His gaze kept shooting to her as if he wanted to make sure she was still right there beside him. His hand remained firm on hers as he led her down the hallway. She brushed the tips of her fingers against his wrist. A shudder went through him, and it sent another spear of desire through her. She may have already had one orgasm, but she was ready to go again.
She took one long step to bring her right up to him and brushed against his hip. She still had her skirt on, but she could feel his hard muscle through it. Then, his hand slipped from hers to grab her hip. "Lila." Her name came as a growl across his lips. "We're never going to make it into the bedroom at this rate."
"I don't care." Where had those words even come from? She had never initiated things with Kyle, only taken whatever he would give her. In the beginning, it had been good. Then, they started spending more time apart. He'd stay home while she was on the road. She wasn't the only singer he managed, he'd tell her. Now she wondered if there had been any other clients, or if he just sucked off all her money. The more time they spent apart, the less he spent with her when she was actually home. She should have seen it coming a lot sooner.
She had to stop thinking about that. She was with Mason, where she should have been all along. "We have all night," she told him, brushing her body against his. "We'll make it to the bed."
He groaned, and she wanted to brush her lips over where his pulse pounded in his throat. She felt his groan this time as his arms came around her. Her hands moved down his sides and across his stomach. She could feel the ripple of muscle even before she tugged the shirt out of his jeans. She needed to get her hands on him, too.
"You're killing me," he said, but he didn't stop her.
Her hands ran up his abdomen under the shirt, felt the tight muscles. He'd been in good shape seven years ago. Now he was ripped. "Working on the farm agrees with you," she murmured. Then, she dropped to her knees and ran her lips over his stomach. Those muscles tensed up, then shifted as he pulled the t-shirt over his head.
"Get up, Lila." His voice was rough, but she only heard desire in it, not anger.
She looked up at him, and desire flared in his eyes. She didn't get up. Instead, she traced a finger from those muscles down to where his belly button indented. Then farther down to where his hips funneled into a narrow waist. He sucked in a breath as she opened the button of his jeans. He didn't try to stop her again. Her tongue reached out to touch her lips as she pulled the zipper down. She found him about ready to spring out of the briefs he wore. Kyle hadn't cared for foreplay, so she hadn't done much touching. She'd forgotten how that thick hardness could feel in her hands.
"If you touch that, I'm not going to be any good to you."
She didn't know where it came from, but she could feel the laugh building up in her throat. "Don't worry. I'll give you a chance to recover." Really, she didn't usually talk like this. What had gotten into her? "Right now I want to be good to you."
She glanced up at him. He had a hand braced on the wall, but his eyes focused right on her. "You don't have to do this, Lila."
She drew him out of the briefs before pushing them and his jeans down over his hips, past the muscled thighs, down over his knees. He stepped out of them, his hand still against the wall. The other one came down to rest at the back of her neck. That light touch sent a shiver down over her skin. She had to wet her lips again at the sight of him in front of her. "I want to," she finally said. "I really want to."
