“What else?”
“Cory and I broke up a few months ago.”
“Good,” Mason mumbled. “I never liked that guy anyway.”
“You didn’t even know him. You only saw him in a picture and that was two years ago.”
“And I could tell he was a loser. You should’ve listened to me when I told you that.” Granted he wouldn’t like anyone she dated, but there was something about the guy’s eyes that didn’t sit right with Mason. “So what happened? What made you finally come to your senses?”
London stood abruptly, tugged down the tale of her shirt, and strolled out of the living room. Mason watched the gentle sway of her hips in the too short shorts and his shaft shifted. Damn his body for responding to her, especially now. He had stopped by to get her to tell him what was going on, not to ogle her and dream about what it would be like to feel her body beneath him.
Dammit. This has to stop.
Mason was slow to follow her into the kitchen. He stood back as she rinsed her hands in the sink, still no response to his question from moments ago.
What the heck had this guy done to make her clam up like this? The longer it took her to tell him what was going on, the more his protective instincts amped up.
Mason walked up behind her, blocking her in with his arms on either side of her. “Did he do something to you?” Her subtle fragrance, a mixture of some type of flower and baby powder enticed him when he lowered his head, only inches from her ear. “Talk to me. I’m worried about you.”
She blew out a breath and turned, but he didn’t step back. His gaze went to her pouty lips and the urge to taste her was stronger than ever. The restraint he’d used whenever in her presence was weakening. She wasn’t supposed to look this good to him.
His brain told him to take two steps back, but his body wouldn’t budge.
Damn, he had it bad.
“Mason, if I tell you what’s been going on, will you promise to stay out of it?”
His jaw twitched involuntarily and he gripped the edge of the counter tighter. “No. Seeing how tired you are and how thin you’ve gotten I can’t make that type of promise. At least not until I know what happened.”
She sighed loudly and pushed against his chest to move him back, but he stayed put. He wasn’t moving or leaving that loft until he found out what was troubling her. If it took all night, so be it.
*
Frustration roared through London’s body. She couldn’t handle Mason’s closeness. When he first left for the military, she thought her heart would split in two. She had loved him from a distance and regretted that she hadn’t told him how she felt back then.
Who was she kidding? Had she come clean back then, he probably wouldn’t have believed her anyway.
London glanced up at him and her heart rate sped up. His unyielding gaze bore into her, waiting for her to say something. She struggled to get her mind to work, his presence and the lack of space between them wreaking havoc on her senses. Something was definitely wrong with her. Heat engulfed her body and he hadn’t even touched her.
Her gaze dropped to his full, kissable lips, tempting her to reach up and pull his face close.
Oh what the hell.
She grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled him within an inch of her mouth. He didn’t resist. Was it possible that they were thinking the same thing? Did he want to taste her as much as she wanted to taste him?
No longer caring about the consequences, London’s lips touched his tentatively at first, but he quickly took over. He wrapped his arm around her waist and crushed her to him, taking what he wanted … what they both wanted. She melted into his embrace, enjoying the passion they both couldn’t deny any longer.
Every emotion London ever felt for him came to the forefront and her knees weakened. His tongue explored the recesses of her mouth, sending shivers racing through her. God she loved this man. Everything about Mason from his gentleness when dealing with her to his signature woodsy cologne. Add his sharp mind and strong, powerful body, and he was everything she wanted and more.
The way their bodies responded to each other was a sign that the kiss years ago hadn’t been a fluke. Deep in London’s soul she knew back then the attraction between them was real. Now she was absolutely sure. All she had to do was show him that what he felt wasn’t sisterly love. No way could he kiss her like this and think of her as a sister. Impossible.
How many times had she dreamt about what it would be like to feel his mouth against hers again? Taste his sweet lips. She longed to be in his arms like this, his hard body rubbed up against hers.
Her hands slid up his arms, gripping his thick biceps while one of his hands went behind her neck, pulling her even closer. Their kiss deepened and a moan filled the quiet space. London didn’t know if it came from him or from her. All she knew was that she wanted more. She wanted him. All of him.
She whimpered when he eased his lips from hers and touched his forehead to hers. Breathing heavily, they stayed that way for the longest until he lifted his head.
“That was a hell of a distraction and I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t enjoy it.” Nuzzling her neck, he planted a sweet kiss on her cheek before touching her lower lip with the tip of his finger. “But I still want answers. I’m not leaving here until I get them. When someone messes with my family, I want to know.” He straightened and his hands went back to gripping the counter, locking her in place.
“Mase.”
“What has that asshole done to you?”
“Grrr, Mason!” She pounded his chest with a closed fist. “Just leave it alone.”
Why had she kissed him? She was definitely losing it if she thought a simple kiss would get him to see her as a woman, and not his sister. He had told Harper he wasn’t the relationship type and that he wasn’t looking for one, which went against everything London wanted. Not only did she want him to see her as a woman, but she wanted him to see her as The One. The one he thought about morning, noon, and night. The one he couldn’t live without. The one he wanted as the mother of his children.
But that was never going to happen, and the sooner she got it through her thick head, the better she would be.
“Lon—”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Dammit, London. Why not?”
“Because you might hurt him and …”
“And what?”
“And I don’t want you to do anything that will make you end up in jail! He’s not worth it. He’s a non-entity at this point.”
“Let me be the judge of that. As far as me getting into trouble … depending on what he’s done, that might not be an issue. But we won’t know until you tell me what the hell is going on.”
London lowered her head, her chin touching her chest. Mason had always come to her rescue whether she wanted him to or not, but they weren’t kids anymore. He was a trained killer and could probably take Cory out with one arm tied behind his back.
Mason lifted her chin with his finger and their gazes locked. “I can take care of myself,” he said as if reading her mind. “You’re important to me, London. You’re family.”
Frustration jockeyed around in her gut. Therein lie the biggest problem. She wasn’t his family and so help her if he said anything about her being like a sister, she was going to throat punch him.
“Talk.”
Sighing loudly, she folded her arms. “He um …” She felt Mason stiffen. This is a bad idea.
“He what?” Mason asked impatiently. “You either tell me what the hell he’s done or what he’s doing to you, or I will find that motherfu—”
“He was stalking me. Sort of.”
“Sort of? What the hell does that mean? He’s either stalking you or not. Has he hurt you?”
“No. He hasn’t physically done anything to me since …”
London startled when Mason held her chin between his finger and thumb, his face only inches from hers. His touch was light, gentle, but the look in his gorgeous brown e
yes was anything but. “He put his hands on you? He hit you?”
London wanted to avert her gaze, but couldn’t. Having Mason so close to her, touching her, staring into her eyes had her brain malfunctioning.
“No,” she finally said, and his eyes softened. “He pushed me against a wall because he thought I was cheating on him, but he didn’t hit me.”
The hardness in Mason’s eyes returned. London wanted to tell him that though she never cheated on Cory, her heart didn’t belong to him. She loved only one man.
“Were you?”
Her eyebrows pinched together. “Was I what?”
“Cheating?”
“Does it matter?”
Dropping his hand, Mason stepped back. “No. It doesn’t. You said he was stalking you. Did you go to the police?”
“They said there was nothing they could do since he hadn’t done anything. After I moved out of our place, he would just show up at the oddest times. At the grocery story, when I was leaving work, or whenever I was on assignment, he would be there. He had to be following me or had someone following me. That’s the only way he could have known where I was or what I was doing. It had gotten to the point I was afraid to go anywhere by myself, worried he might be there. But he never touched me or said anything. He would just look at me.”
Mason turned and rubbed the back of his neck. With his right hand, he balled it into a fist and then opened it slowly. She had noticed the same movement earlier, and wondered if he was massaging his war injury.
“For the record, I didn’t cheat on Cory. I just never loved him. Toward the end of our relationship, I wasn’t even sure if I liked him. I stayed with him because …” She shrugged. “I’m not sure why I stayed. I guess … I guess I just didn’t want to be alone,” she said quietly, hating that she was one of those women. She couldn’t have the man she wanted and settled for less than she deserved.
Mason turned to her. “Baby, you will never be alone. You’ll always have me, Cam, and Harp. And my folks love you like their own.”
London shook her head. “I know, and I love you guys. But, Mason, sometimes a woman needs more.”
“I understand wanting more.”
When he didn’t elaborate, London moved past him and opened the refrigerator, pulling out the pitcher of iced tea she’d made earlier that day. She grabbed a glass from the cabinet near the sink.
“Do you want some?”
“Nah, I’m good.” He leaned against the breakfast bar, legs crossed at the ankle. His gaze followed her every move.
“Did you return to Atlanta because of Cory?”
She took a sip of her tea thinking about how to answer the question. “He’s part of the reason.”
After that Thanksgiving night, when Mason told her they could never be more than friends, she started dating Cory exclusively. Before then, they went out a few times, but it was nothing serious. After dating for almost two years, he started talking marriage. London kept stalling, hoping what she felt for him would turn into love. That never happened. When she finally broke things off with Cory and packed up to leave, he made it clear he wasn’t giving up on their relationship.
London sipped her tea, trying to ignore the intensity in Mason’s eyes. She was ready to settle down and have a family, but not with Cory. She didn’t know how she could move on until she dealt with her feelings for the handsome man standing across from her. Loving Mason affected every relationship she ever had—which only intensified after they shared that kiss right before he left for his last tour in Afghanistan.
Thoughts of what Harper told her about him wanting children, but not a wife, floated around in London’s mind. Could she really consider an arrangement like that?
“What’s the other reason you moved back?”
London hesitated. Should she tell him that she was madly in love with him and could barely think straight whenever she was near him? No, she couldn’t. He’d run and their friendship would be non-existent. She couldn’t risk that. She wouldn’t.
“I wanted to come home. I missed you guys and I needed a change. I’m ready to start the next chapter of my life.”
Mason remained silent. He had never been a big talker and according to Harper, since he’d returned to Atlanta, he talked even less. London wondered if it was because of the things he’d seen in the war. Or did it have something to do with losing his friend during the same accident that had injured him?
“I was sorry to hear about Andre,” London said, changing the subject. “I know you guys were close.” Andre Gibbs and Mason had enlisted in the military at the same time. They were as close as brothers. London would never forget when the family got word that there had been an accident. Mason had survived, but not Andre.
“Thanks.” Mason rubbed his hand.
“Is your hand bothering you?”
“It’s a little stiff.”
“Have you fully recovered from your injuries?”
He nodded. London had hoped the change of subject would get him talking about something other than her. She wanted to ask more questions about the accident. Mason hadn’t given anyone much more information than that they had stumbled upon a bomb.
Still standing across from each other, London had no idea what he was thinking, but his stare was a little unnerving.
“What?”
“The other day you ran into the club as if someone was chasing you. Was it Cory?”
“Nah, I’m still a little paranoid. It felt like someone was watching me, but I didn’t see anyone. Cory had me so freaked out by the time I left Charlotte, so I’m sure it’s going to take a while for me to get back to normal. He doesn’t even know I’m here.”
“Are you sure?”
London hoped she was overreacting regarding Cory. Why would he go through the trouble of hunting her down in another state?
“I’m pretty sure.”
Chapter Four
The next day, Mason stood with his arm around London’s shoulder. They were at her parents’ and grandparents’ gravesites looking at the headstones lined up side-by-side.
“Are you cold?” he asked when she shivered. As he placed a kiss against her temple, flashbacks of the day before invaded his mind.
All night Mason had thought about the kiss they’d shared in Harper’s kitchen, as well as the conversation about London’s ex-boyfriend. Mason wasn’t sure what nagged him the most—the fact that a man had put his hands on her in anger, or the fact that Mason had enjoyed the kiss even more than before. He wasn’t sure what to make of the strong feelings he was having. She had always meant the world to him, but now …
“I’m okay. I am a little surprised that it’s this chilly out here. Usually spring in Atlanta is a little warmer. I can’t ever remember it being this cold this time of year. But today, the temperature barely made it … I’m rambling,” London sobbed, dabbing at her eyes again with the crumbled tissue in her hand. “Maybe we should leave.”
“You sure? I’m in no hurry.”
Her watery gaze lifted to his and it was as if a fist wrapped around his heart and squeezed. The horrible things he’d witnessed in Afghanistan would haunt him until the day he died, but nothing cut through his soul like seeing tears in her eyes.
“Thank you. Thank you so much for coming with me.”
He caressed her soft cheek with the back of his hand. “Anytime. There’s no other place I’d rather be.” And he meant it. The more time they spent together, the more he wanted to be with her. His brain sent alerts, warning him to keep his distance, especially knowing how strong of an attraction they had for each other. But the other part of him wanted to spend as much time with her as possible and get to know the woman she had become. She was no longer Tiny, his other sister, but she was a stunning and very desirable woman. That’s the part that scared the hell out of him.
London stepped out of his hold and placed the last rose on her mother’s headstone before returning to him. “When I die, I don’t want to be buried. I either want my body do
nated to science or cremated. I don’t want you guys visiting me at some cold, dreary cemetery.”
She stared up at him and he stood dumbfounded. How was he supposed to respond to something like that?
“Okay?”
“Uh,” he fought for the right words, “can we not talk about that right now?”
Her shoulder’s sagged. “All right.”
Mason had sidestepped the conversation, but he had a feeling the subject would come back up. The military had prepared him for death, but so help him, he didn’t want to think about losing any member of his family, especially London.
They headed back to his Cadillac Escalade, his arms draped around her shoulders again. She had planned to go to the cemetery by herself until he insisted on joining her. Now he was really glad he had.
“Why don’t we go and get some lunch?” Mason suggested, helping her into the truck.
“I’m not really hungry,” she said when he climbed in on the driver’s side. “I just want to go home, or back to Harper’s place I should say.”
“You need to eat, Tiny.” Lately she was never hungry. He’d seen the time when she could eat a large pizza by herself. Yet the other day she’d barely eaten two slices. “Besides, I’m kind of enjoying your company.”
“So do you plan to force feed me or something? Because I’m serious, Mase, I’m not hungry.”
“Well then you can watch me eat.”
That got a smile out of her and it was like witnessing a sunrise. “Okay, but as long as it’s not a buffet. I will never go to an all-you-can-eat joint with you ever again.”
Mason laughed remembering the time he had insisted on her and his siblings going to a buffet during one of his rare visits home. None of them were big fans of the establishment, especially Cameron, who could whip up a gourmet meal with his eyes closed. Yet, they agreed—probably out of guilt since he was only in town for a few days—and had made a big deal about them spending time together. By the time they walked out of the place, four hours later, they were all saying that they would never again sit in a restaurant that long again.
A Passionate Kiss Page 4