“I don’t like the thought of you staying home all alone,” he whispered gently. “I’d feel much better if you were safe with me.”
Nodding, I couldn’t resist teasing him. “I’ve been fine every other time I’ve stayed home alone, but you’re right. We wouldn’t want to take a chance that there might be a burglar.”
“Don’t even say such a thing,” he nearly growled, his eyes narrowing. “The thought of anything happening to you…just don’t.”
Laughing, I tangled my fingers into the back of his hair, holding him close. “I’m a grown woman, Mason. I can take care of myself. Sure, my parents still treat me like a little girl, especially my dad, but you really don’t have to worry about me.”
“But I want to worry about you,” he said slowly, as his fingertips drifted along my cheekbone. “Emily, beautiful, I’ve never felt like this before. It’s a huge mess of desire and curiosity and fear that I might do something to screw things up.”
“I’m sure you did fine with other girlfriends,” I said, trying to seem relaxed. But the thought of Mason with any other woman actually made me a bit sick, even though that wasn’t fair. He must have had many girls in his lifetime.
“I haven’t had a real relationship in at least ten years,” he said gruffly.
That revelation made my breasts feel heavy, swelling my nipples into little points. Even when Mason touched me casually, flames licked up my spine. But as he dropped his hand to my breast, caressing gently, the desire peaked, making me twitch in his arms.
In that moment, I realized that I’d never actually been completely aroused before I met him. The analytical part of my mind wanted to untangle the effects. The emotional part of my mind was reeling from the fact that a man as breathtaking as Mason was genuinely infatuated with me.
“Why me?” I suddenly sputtered awkwardly. “I mean…I just can’t understand why…I guess I wouldn’t think I was your type.”
His thumb rubbed gently over my nipple, making
me gasp. “Angel, there are so many things about you that I absolutely adore. You’re beautiful, of course, but there are many more layers.”
Those perfect lips grazed mine slowly before he spoke again.
“After I told you I was interested in you personally, not just professionally, you still worked your cute little ass off. I love the way you see things, and process information. I love the way you try new coffee with an open mind,” he chuckled.
“You don’t mind that I dress like a finger painting, and always wear animals?”
He picked up my tiny silver seagull necklace, making an extremely lame attempt at imitating the bird’s cry while I giggled.
“I love that you’re playful,” he said softly. “I don’t know how to do that. But I want to learn,” he looked into my eyes, and I melted, “for you.”
It was too soon. There was so much more to learn about Mason. But love was already creeping in the back door of my heart, tiptoeing around, and looking for a place to get comfortable.
“I never knew what I wanted in a boyfriend before,” I confessed. “But I can’t believe the way I feel around you.”
He placed my necklace back against my throat, then trailed his fingers down to cup my breast again. “Emily, I’ve never had a woman I wanted to spoil before. You’re going to tell me if I go too far, right?”
“I don’t care about material things,” I said, snuggling closer against him. “It’s the other things that I think I want.”
Mason stared into my eyes, then nodded slowly. “I want that too, as soon as you’re ready.”
The only thing preventing me from answering at once was the giant lump in my throat.
“I think I am.”
10
_____
Mason
My head was spinning. I craved Emily more than I craved coffee. Having such a stunning woman under my roof and in my arms was incredible, but I had to make sure that she understood this wasn’t simply physical urges.
Taking her hand, I led my lovely girl slowly upstairs, allowing her to take a good look at my home on the way up to the master bedroom.
“You know when you mentioned something about those psychological studies, and planting the seed of likability before you need it?” I asked.