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  Chloe tilted her head to gain better access, needing to explore further. His stubble-rough chin chafed but it only added to the delicious mix of sensations rippling through her.

  Groaning low, he dipped his tongue between her lips.

  With a tentative touch of hers, Chloe sighed with delight. She slid one hand into his hair while the other searched for access into his shirt.

  All too soon, he pulled back. “We should get out of here before we get arrested.”

  She managed a breathy laugh. “I think you’re right.”

  “And I think you’re right about the hostess.”

  They both turned to find the woman glaring daggers at them.

  Chloe just gave him a smug smile. “Told you.”

  When she reached for her purse, Mason put his hand on hers. “Allow me.”

  Shaking her head, she extracted her hand from his though it was the last thing she wanted to do. “I invited you. I’ll pay this time. You can get the next one.”

  “So, there will be a next time?”

  She grinned. “Unless you can think of a reason not to.”

  There was none she could think of and she hoped there weren’t any for him either.

  He shook his head. “All right. But at least let me give you a ride back.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” Chloe had taken a cab to the restaurant not sure if things would go well. Thankfully, their first meeting couldn’t have gone any better.

  But how would the night end?

  Her skin tingled from the thought of them taking what they were doing for months now, to the next level. Her hands trembled just from the anticipation alone.

  They only ceased when he enclosed them with his. The gentleness of his touch drew her gaze to meet his. “I feel it too.”

  His gruff admission warmed her, sending tendrils of heat surging from somewhere deep inside to suffuse every part of her.

  The drive back was silent, as if they were both anticipating what was to come and not wanting anything to spoil the moment.

  Equally aroused and anxious, Chloe shifted in the soft leather seat, studying the luxurious interior of the Ferrari Mason controlled with perfect precision. The purr of the engine and the rhythm of the way he shifted gear lulled her.

  That was until they reached the street where their buildings stood.

  Excitement streaked through her as he opened the door for her and took her hand. Mason led the way to the sidewalk in front of her building.

  “I had a wonderful time.” Her words were breathy and no wonder, since she couldn’t seem to catch her breath as she gazed up at him.

  “As did I.”

  He was so close. Barely a hand’s span away. Chloe inhaled the scent of him, getting dizzier and dizzier with each breath. The size of him, so broad and tall, made her feel safe and protected. He exuded strength. Power. It was as though everything about the man was made to arouse her.

  Chloe smiled up at him. “Would you like to come up for a nightcap?”

  “I’d love to.”

  As they walked past the concierge desk it hit her that her fantasy was about to come true. It took all her concentration to keep upright as her knees threatened to buckle. The stairs were a definite challenge. Without Mason’s arm around her waist keeping her steady, she would have definitely taken a tumble.

  The trembling in her hands jangled her keys as she tried to unlock the door shattering the silence. Mason took over, helping her turn the key and opening the door.

  When she started inside, he took her hands and stopped her.

  “I want you to know that nothing has to happen tonight.” Chloe lifted her eyes to meet his. Her chagrin must have come through because he shook his head. “I just wanted to be clear. I’m not pressuring—”

  The rest of his words were cut short as Chloe reached up and gripped his hair as she dragged him down to meet her in a searing kiss.

  She didn’t want to be the one to force things either, but after the past few months it was inevitable that their first face-to-face meeting would be incendiary.

  The slightly clumsy, near frantic, mashing of mouths quickly turned into a more coordinated attack. Lips parted, tongues dueled, teeth scraped in their desperation to taste and explore.

  Mason tilted her head to allow him deeper access and Chloe took advantage of the move, moaning her delight. She tugged him closer so that her aching breasts pressed against his solid chest. The need intensified.

  Lust flowed through her veins like lava, as Mason continued to plunder her mouth and leeching her mind of all thoughts but to get skin to skin with him. All too soon the need to refill her lungs all but forced her to break the kiss.

  Chloe smiled up at him as she eased her hands under the shirt she’d tugged free of his waistband. “I’m not pressuring you, am I?” she teased.

  Mason grinned. Lifting her, he strode in and kicked the door shut. “You’ll find I do my best work under pressure.”

  Laughter bubbled out of Chloe as Mason made short work of her clothing. A low growling sound came from deep inside him as he raked his gaze over her bared body. Her skin burned under the heat of his gaze. The hunger in his eyes only made her body throb more.

  “I wanted to take this slow, but after months of foreplay I don’t think I can.”

  Chloe licked her lips, still tasting him there. “We can do slow later.”

  ****

  Mason followed the pink tip of her tongue’s progress along the seam of her lips before doing the same with his own. Her taste was indescribable. As was everything else about her. Chloe was magnificent. And now that he had her in the flesh he was going out of his mind.

  He’d been in a constant state of arousal since hearing her voice over the phone. Dinner had been a delicious torment. But now he had her ready and willing, away from prying eyes.

  It took all he had to show a little bit of deference, that he had some style, and wasn’t about to take her like a mindless rutting beast. With her writhing naked against him, it wasn’t easy.

  Mason picked her up and held her tight to keep her from rubbing against him and draining what was left of his brain power. Only that set him up for a new set of quandaries. Firstly, her mouth was level with his. So what else could he do but claim her lips yet again? Secondly, the new position also pressed her breasts against his chest. The hard points of her nipples burned him through the shirt. And lastly, with her legs wrapped around his hips she was spread wide. Perfect position to simply unzip and plunge into her.

  The heat of her pussy against his aching cock was too much. Especially when she started to rock herself against him. The mewl of delight that came from her was the last straw.

  Mason pressed her against the wall, freeing up his hands. Chloe gave him a triumphant grin as she tore open his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. She pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses on his shoulders and chest, succeeding in adding to the madness fritzing out his brain cells.

  Within seconds, he had his trousers undone, his cock out, and a condom on.

  Chloe gripped him in her hand and nudged the head just inside her, allowing him to push his entire length into her in one long thrust.

  Being gripped tight by her body was enough to make his knees sag and his head swim. The moan in his ear was enough to tell him she experienced the same tilting of the world.

  And they hadn’t even started yet.

  Closing his hands around her waist, he eased out of her then plunged back in, trying to get as deep inside her as he could. Her nails clawed into his shoulders when he hit bottom.

  “You feel so good.”

  He could only groan in response as he pushed into her again. And again. Then there was nothing but the pursuit of oblivion.

  She met him thrust for thrust, sigh for sigh, moan for moan. Everything he gave her, she took and returned until they were slamming against each other, doing their best to push the other over the edge.

  There was no way he was going to come before she di
d.

  Chloe let her head drop back against the wall as Mason plunged into her. The stretch of him filling her completely, the bump of his pelvis against her clit, and the drag of his cock over it drove her inexorably insane. He knew exactly how to move, how much power to use, and where to touch her to wind up the pleasure.

  Unable to do anything but feel, Chloe did her best to reciprocate but the onslaught of delight made it difficult to do much more than hang on and meet his ferocious thrusts.

  His mouth closed on her throat, a gentle caress before he nipped her with his teeth. Mason soothed the spot with his tongue before doing it again. Rough, then gentle, he confused her already mixed-up senses to a fever pitch as he continued to drive into her.

  His madness was contagious. Chloe’s only goal was to meld herself with him. To drown him in the same pleasure he gave her.

  As much as she wanted to make him come at the same time, her body wasn’t cooperating. It was too much. Mason knew exactly what he was doing and was driving her swiftly toward a mind-melting orgasm.

  Chloe leaned down to bite his earlobe and moan, “I’m so close, Mason.”

  The fire in his eyes when he lifted his gaze to meet hers told her just how close he was too.

  She closed her teeth around his luscious bottom lips next. “I want to feel you coming inside me. I need it.”

  “Shit.” His arms tightened around her as he pounded into her.

  Chloe delighted in making this big strong man lose control.

  It took only a handful of thrusts before she started to tingle from head to toe. Fire licked her veins as she convulsed in his arms. Pleasure erupted, scattering her senses until there was nothing but Mason and sublime sensation.

  He plunged one last time, holding himself deep as he emptied himself inside her with a groan. Chloe clung to him as they fought for breath.

  Mason sagged against her for a long moment but she didn’t doubt for a second that she was safe in his arms.

  He dropped his head back to smile at her. “Well, that answers a question I had about what would happen if we ever got naked together for real.”

  “I thought we’d hold out longer. Or at least you would last a little longer.” Chloe laughed when he grazed her throat with his teeth at her teasing. “All right. I knew we’d be combustible. How could we not after these past few months?”

  “It rather was like really long foreplay, wasn’t it?”

  “Given your performance, I didn’t realize you knew what that was.” She giggled as Mason growled and rolled his hips letting her know of his impressive recovery time.

  “I guess I have a lot to prove.”

  He bounced her on him, sending sparks of desire through her languid body. Seemed she hadn’t gotten enough of him yet either.

  Mason didn’t need directions to the bedroom.

  Chapter Six

  Mason ran his hand down her side, enjoying the silk of her skin against his own. They’d spent the whole weekend ensconced in Chloe’s apartment, and exhausted as he was, with the sun starting to rise on a brisk Monday morning, he didn’t want to leave. He wanted more.

  Gently, he touched the slight bruises he’d left on her skin. Mason smirked when the scratches she’d left on his shoulders and back made themselves known at his movement. Things had gotten a bit rough but as far as he could tell Chloe was as into it as he had been.

  After a torrid few days, she was his match.

  Chloe was an incredible woman. Not just a body, she had brains and banter as well. Their conversations were fun, surprising. Memorable. They had talked about everything. He couldn’t believe he’d told her the things he had. But then, she probably felt the same way when she told him about her family.

  Mason had never felt closer to any woman before.

  Running his tongue along the line of bruises along her hip, he ignored the throb in his groin and waited for her to wake.

  Not to disappoint, Chloe stretched with a sigh before greeting him with a smile.

  “Morning.”

  “Have you been up long?” She reached for the end table to flip up her phone to check the time. Chloe groaned at the day. “Monday.” There were a few notifications that she swiped away almost viciously before dropping her phone with a crack.

  “Everything all right?”

  She nodded but the slight furrow of her brows belied her actions. Something was definitely off. But did he want to push her? Their relationship was still new and on shaky legs. Just because the sex had been off the charts didn’t mean he had the right to barge into her life. But he sure as hell wanted to.

  Mason shook off the urge to take over and do everything he could to make sure that expression never crossed her face again.

  “I’ve got to get going.” He didn’t like the way her eyes shuttered further at his statement. “Will I see you tonight?”

  “It’s kind of hard not to.” She flicked her gaze to the windows.

  “I meant,”—he brushed his lips against hers—“in person. Why don’t we have dinner at my place?”

  Her body relaxed. “That sounds nice.

  “Great. I’ll set it up.” Mason hadn’t realized how tense he’d become waiting for her answer. He shook it off. “Come over at seven?”

  “All right.”

  He’d have to be deaf not to hear the tension in her voice.

  Mason had to ask. “What’s wrong?” Did she regret what they’d done? Chloe looked reticent, even a little frightened. “And don’t say nothing.”

  Squaring his shoulders, he looked at her directly. “If you feel remorse over this weekend then just tell me and we can end this right here.”

  She immediately shook her head sending her hair fluttering around her shoulders. “That’s not it at all. What we have is wonderful.”

  “But…”

  Chloe stared at him with wide eyes, which caused his temper to flare even more. After their time together, after he’d opened up to her as he never had to anyone else, she was still holding back.

  Had he put more stock in what they had than she did?

  Then the doubts started to creep in.

  Wasn’t he good enough for her out of bed? Mason hated to even think it, but could he not be enough for her in bed either? His father’s scornful voice echoed in his mind.

  He wasn’t good enough. He never would be. For anyone.

  “Mason…”

  Chloe ran her hand down his arm but he couldn’t bear her touch. Not right now. He slid off the bed.

  Pulling his clothes on as quickly as he could, he barely spared her a glance. He needed some space and time to sort his head out. It wasn’t fair of him to dump his shit all over her. “I just remembered I have to stay late tonight. We’ll have to reschedule dinner.”

  She opened her mouth to say something but clamped it shut before muttering, “Fine.”

  The single word told him it was anything but. Mason didn’t let himself care. “I’ll see you.”

  Without a glance back, Mason walked out of the room. Out of her apartment. Out of her building. And out of her life?

  And the regret swamped him almost immediately.

  Beating himself mentally, he stormed into his own apartment and carried out his morning routine on autopilot. Mason arrived at his office before he knew it, and from the way everyone was avoiding him, they knew he wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone’s shit. Least of all his own.

  Unease gnawed at his gut. It hadn’t taken him long to regret what he’d done—what he’d said—to Chloe. The truth was he hadn’t even given her a chance to talk. There was no way he could be positive that whatever she was thinking had anything to do with him.

  It had been a gut reaction and he might have ruined the glimmer of something more because of it.

  Mason glanced at his watch and groaned. There were still several hours left in the workday but that didn’t mean he couldn’t start planning a way of sorting out the mess of his own creation.

  Chloe deserved more than
what he’d hurled at her.

  More than him.

  But the more he thought about her, the more he wanted. The more he needed. Chloe was everything he looked for in a woman and then some.

  He needed to get over himself and try to make things work. Otherwise he’d live to regret it. Hell, he was regretting it now. Why did he have to wreck everything?

  Because it was better to destroy it before it hurt him. Just like his parents had. Just like his ex had. Just like every relationship he’d had since. It was just better to enjoy each other for a while before moving on and going it alone.

  At least it had been.

  With Chloe things were different. Sure, he might not know everything about her but the things he did know he liked and wanted more of. She was gentle, sincere, smart, funny, gorgeous, and brought him to his knees sexually and otherwise.

  Mason growled as he rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.

  There had to be a way of making things up to her because he couldn’t walk away. Not from her.

  ****

  Chloe had been like a zombie the entire day, all but sleepwalking through everything. The weekend had been physically exhausting and exhilarating in equal parts. But then that morning had been a total mess.

  What had happened?

  One second they were sleepy and happy and the next Mason was blistering with barely restrained anger.

  She thought about it again, running the events of that morning over in her mind for what had to be the hundredth time. The mood shifted, at least on her part, when she’d seen a dozen texts from Charles.

  Should she have told Mason about them? The last thing she needed was to drag him into the drama. Or perhaps she should have. Mason was a part of her life now … at least for the moment. He should know what Charles had been up to.

  In any case, it would help to have someone on her side, if he was even interested any longer.

  The thought that he might be using her just as Charles had entered her mind in a brief flash. Chloe wanted to believe that he was different, that she’d found her match. Mason was smart, sexy, and besides being able to give her pleasure she never imagined, he understood her. At least the parts of her she’d allowed him to see.