Silence fills the room, and I don’t even know what to say, but the wine has helped calm me down for now. My steak is cooked exactly the way I like it, and it nearly melts in my mouth. When I look up at Mason, I see he’s studying me with a cheesy grin.
I swallow down my food. “What?”
He shrugs and continues to cut into his steak. “Nothing.”
“Thank you for cooking. This is really good,” I say before sipping my wine.
“No problem.” He winks, and I can’t help but wonder why he’s so giddy.
After our plates are cleared, he picks them up and rinses them in the sink. I finish my wine, making sure to get each drop and so does Mason. We walk into the living room, and he still has that goofy smile plastered on his face.
I grow more agitated, placing my hands on my hips and glaring at him when he turns to face me. “Do I have pepper in my teeth or something?”
Mason takes four steps forward, removing all the space between us. My breath hitches as our eyes meet, and I immediately feel as if I’m falling. His hands land on my hips, and he pulls me to his chest. “You called me your boyfriend.”
“That’s what you focused on?” I half-chuckle. “I was two seconds away from taking her out.”
He shrugs. “I wasn’t worried.” Mason arches a brow as if he’s waiting for me to confirm those words came from my mouth.
“Well, are you expecting me to deny it or something?” I ask with an eyebrow popped.
He smirks. “Well, we’ve been in limbo so—”
Before he can finish his thought, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull his mouth to mine, tasting the wine on his lips, wanting to devour him whole. I’m breathless as his hands trail up my back, and I feel as if I can’t get close enough to him as our tongues dance together. When I push away, I feel lightheaded and nearly stumble as if he stole my breath. I’m literally weak in the knees, and he holds me close to his strong body.
“Soph,” he whispers, then swallows hard. Before he can say anything else, I place my fingers over his mouth. I don’t want the moment ruined. I don’t want broken promises or expectations. I just want him.
It’s so fucking hard to pull away from him, but somehow I do, and I immediately feel the loss.
Mason places his palm on my cheek, and I lean into it, my eyes fluttering closed.
“I’m going to walk away and go to bed before I do something I’ll regret.” He inhales a sharp breath as if holding back is physically hard. “Thanks for eating dinner with me.” Then he kisses my cheek and drops his hands. “Good night, my sweet Sophie.”
“Good night, Mason,” I whisper, my chest pounding so hard I’m sure he felt it.
I watch as he climbs the stairs, then disappears. I feel as if I just let Mason walk away forever by not stopping him.
But the truth is my heart longs for him so damn much, and he deserves to know.
Chapter Seventeen
Mason
I hadn’t expected tonight to turn out the way it did.
I especially didn’t expect Sophie to go off on Serena, and I was almost too stunned to do anything about it. Knowing how Sophie felt about her, I should’ve realized that we were too close, but I honestly didn’t think about it because we’re always this way. Before Sophie, Serena was the only woman in my life, and though I think of Serena as a sister, I should’ve been more considerate of Sophie’s feelings and moved away from her the moment the lines were crossed.
As I think about it in bed, analyzing it all, I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to fix this feud between the woman I’m in love with and the woman who’s been there for me through all my shit. I’d rather they get along, but if Liam is right and Serena is hoping for a romantic relationship with me, then there’s definitely no way our friendship can continue. I’d be upset about it, though, because she’s been a great friend.
Tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable and thinking about Sophie’s soft lips against mine, I groan. She kissed me. She made the first move, something I’ve been patiently waiting for, but I didn’t want to push for anything more. It’s a step forward and hearing her call me her boyfriend is enough for me. It means she’s just as protective of me as I am of her.
Just when I’m able to finally calm my pounding heart, I hear feet padding in the hallway, and then a second later, my door swings open.
Sophie.
The light from the hallway filters behind her as a smirk marks her face. She’s only wearing a long shirt that leaves nothing to my imagination. My T-shirt. Pulling the covers back, I swing my legs off the bed and stand, studying her gorgeous silhouette. She shuts the door, then stalks toward me.