When I'm Gone (Rosemary Beach #11)(31)

I made quick work of brushing my teeth and hair before going into the living room to face him after last night. The fact that he was here still amazed me. He had come to stop me from going on a date with Thad. And in return, I’d freaked out on him while doing something as simple as kissing and touching.

I opened the door and stepped into the room, and my eyes went straight to the tall form of perfection standing at the window with his back to me. He was on the phone. He was still wearing the jeans and T-shirt he’d had on last night, but his duffel bag sat on the sofa. He had come prepared.

“I’d rather not come, Harlow. I like Tripp and all, but I wasn’t planning on being here this weekend, and I didn’t come down for his party. I have other things I’d rather do tonight,” he said in a frustrated tone, although he was still talking in a quiet voice.

His jaw worked as he listened to whatever his sister was saying. It seemed she really wanted him to go to a party tonight. I started to speak up and tell him he should go.

“Fine. I’ll go if Reese wants to. But if she’d rather not, we’re doing something else. End of discussion. Now, I love you, but I gotta go. I was going to try to make some breakfast before she wakes up.”

I closed my mouth and stared in surprise at his back. He wanted to take me? To a party with his crowd? And he was going to make me breakfast? Not blurting out that I loved him was hard, because after listening to this conversation, I wanted to open the window and alert all the neighbors that I was in love with this man.

He turned, and his gaze locked on mine. A slow, sexy smile touched his lips, and I was sure I might swoon right here on the spot. “I gotta go. She’s awake,” he said into the phone, and ended his call.

I stood right where I was, unable to move, with that gleam in his eyes and the warmth of that gaze slowly trailing down my body and back up again.

“You even wake up gorgeous,” he said in a gentle tone.

“Thank you,” was my silly response. I didn’t know what else to say.

“You hungry? I was going to take inventory and make us some breakfast,” he said, as he walked over to the kitchen. “I’ve already made coffee.”

“Yes, but I can make breakfast. I make really good homemade waffles.” I followed him into the small kitchen area.

He glanced back at me over his shoulder. “Homemade waffles? Sold. All I can do is eggs and toast.”

“Then you go sit over there, because both of us are not fitting into this kitchen.”

He was pouring more coffee into his cup. Then he turned and walked back out of the corner hole I had for a kitchen. I may or may not have been checking out his butt in those jeans. I had to snap my head up when he turned back to me.

A knowing grin lit up his face, and he took a few steps back in my direction and placed his cup of coffee on the bar. “I’m going to admit something that I think you should know. I’m a bit of a caveman. The idea of you cooking for me turns me on.” His voice dropped as he said the last part, then he bent his head and pressed a warm kiss to my lips.

I was ready for another round of kissing if he was. I went up on my tiptoes eagerly. I was five foot nine, but Mase was at least six-three or six-four. He made me feel short.

His hand slipped around to my lower back and pressed me closer to him, just before his mouth opened and I was given the yummy taste of his peppermint goodness. I moved my hands from his arms to his neck to help pull me up even farther on my toes.

Mase moved his hands over my butt and cupped it, and for a moment, we both stilled. When panic didn’t set in, I leaned closer, and Mase inhaled sharply, then pulled me up his body while holding on to my bottom.

Just when I was getting ready to explore his lips some more, he broke the kiss and took a deep breath. “Reese, baby, I’ve got a thing for your ass. I’ve had a thing for your ass since day one. And now that I’ve got my hands on it, I need a minute to calm down without your hot little mouth turning me the f*ck on,” he said in a husky voice that made me shiver.

I ducked my head to hide my smile. He liked my butt. It was too fat, but he liked it. I couldn’t keep from grinning.

“I see that smile,” he said teasingly, as he squeezed my bottom in his hands and then groaned. “Fuck . . . that’s nice,” he said in my ear. “Either I carry you over to that sofa and continue to hold the finest ass in the world in my hands while I kiss you, or I let you go so you can make those waffles. Your choice. I want to do what you feel comfortable with.”

This man and his words made me feel like goo inside. All melty and mushy. Who needs breakfast, anyway? “The sofa,” I whispered, and he let out a pleased growl as he picked me up off the floor. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and he kept his hands on my bottom. In three long strides, we were sinking down onto the sofa. I felt the stiffness under my bottom, and he stilled.

I would not panic. This was Mase. This was Mase.

I kept my eyes locked on his handsome face and watched in fascination as his eyes flickered with something so sexy and needy that it made my center ache.

“You can pull your legs out and hold yourself up over my lap, if feeling what you do to me makes you nervous.” His voice was tight, as if he was hurting somehow.

I moved so that my legs were folded on each side of his and I was straddling him. Just like last night. If I sank back down, I would feel his erection against me. But there was a tingling ache there that hadn’t been there before. The idea of putting any pressure on it excited me.