Never.
That was a bit extreme. But it felt truer than ever.
GINNY CALLED MASON the instant she got home from work. Two weeks of this, and it was her favorite habit. Walk in the door. Dial him on video chat. Kick off her shoes, and chat about their days while she settled in for the night.
“What’s for dinner?” he asked.
She held up the takeout bag. “Subway. It’s consistent, and I can almost convince myself it’s healthy.”
“Meh. Healthy food is overrated.”
“After tonight, I’ll be back to making my own dinner. Unlimited frozen pizza for the win.” She’d found an apartment, and while she didn’t have much to move, her motel was paid through the weekend, so she was taking her time.
“Are you going to miss the place?”
She shook her head. “I only have one regret leaving it behind.”
“What’s that?”
“Hotel sex always feels naughtier than regular sex, and I don’t have anyone here to help me with that.” She’d given up on resisting the urge to tell him she wished he was here. They both knew it wasn’t happening, but holding the desire back felt deceptive.
Mason’s thinking face was as much a favorite as any of them. “I’m sure you could find someone local to help.”
She stuck her tongue out at the screen. “I don’t want someone local. I want you.”
“I want you too.”
The silence that settled over the line wasn’t the comfortable quiet she’d become accustomed too. There was a longing in this that made her heart ache. “Next episode?” Her question was too loud to her own ears.
“Maybe in a little bit.” Mason’s tone had shifted. “I was thinking you could give me a different kind of show.”
She knew instantly what he meant. It was tempting. It could be fun. A striptease for his eyes only. “No.” Her answer surprised her. She’d meant to say maybe, and tease him. Draw things out. Be playful. But she couldn’t take it back.
“Any particular reason?” His hurt was audible.
Why did she say it? “Because I already miss you too much.” That was why. “I dream of your touch at night. I wake up swearing I can smell you. That I can taste your kisses. And it’s all an illusion.” Tears pricked her eyes, and she sniffled. “I can’t handle that being more intense. Not tonight.”
“I understand.”
It might be easier if he didn’t. But he wasn’t hiding an asshole under his kind exterior. He felt the same way she did.
The empty pit she’d been trying to ignore since she got to Montana felt vast and unfillable right now. Maybe she should hang up. Would that make the longing better or worse than keeping him on the line? “I love you.”
Fuck, she didn’t mean to say that either. But it tasted good. She wanted to say it again and again.
He was watching her.
That was awkward. “You don’t have to say it back,” she said. “It’s what I’m thinking right now, but I don’t expect you to—”
“I love you too.”
That tore her apart and glued her together and ripped her to shreds, all in a single breath. Why did he have to be so far away? “I wish you were here. Or I was there. Or we were wherever I could be in your arms again.”
Mason frowned. “Me too.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Mason sat across from Spencer in his new boss’s office. Mason didn’t start work for a couple of days, but they were meeting this afternoon to work out the details of his contract, and make things more official than a couple word exchange at a wedding reception.
“How was the honeymoon?” Mason asked. Not that he wanted details. But it seemed polite to ask.
Spencer was all smiles. Which made sense. Lucky bastard was going home to the woman he loved at the end of the day. “It was great. Weird, taking two weeks off, but nice.”
Mason hoped he could keep up his half of this conversation. The one with Ginny last night still echoed in his thoughts. I love you. Her words were on a loop in his head, and he needed to say it back in person.
It was going to be a little while though. At least a couple of weeks. Even staying in her apartment, the last of his money was drying up fast. Especially having to pay for gas to get down here and back.
“Are you still looking forward to the job, or have you changed your mind in the past couple of weeks?” Joking filled Spencer’s question.
Can’t wait. The reply froze in Mason’s throat for half a heartbeat too long. “I can’t wait. I’m really excited to start.”
Spencer raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Mason forced out a more believable reply. He wasn’t going to spill his romantic woes to some person he barely knew. Especially this person.
“All right.” Spencer didn’t sound convinced. “How was the drive down?”
“I got in as lunch traffic was dying down, so it wasn’t too bad. I have a couple of appointments scheduled this afternoon to look at local places, so it won’t be an issue going forward.” That should help cement that he really did want the job.
Spencer’s frown deepened. That didn’t look like a good sign. “Do you not like the place in San Francisco?”
“It’s not really commuter friendly.” And every inch of it reminded him of Ginny, despite the fact she’d been gone longer now than she was there.
“Fuck.” Spencer scrubbed his face “I knew I forgot something. This is a remote job. I swore I mentioned that. I forgot to mention that, didn’t I?”
Mason’s heart skipped. He’d heard that wrong. “Remote?”
“Telecommuting. Whatever you want to call it. You’re training people in centers around the country, so you don’t need to be in this office to do that.”
“I can be anywhere in the country?” This was a dream. Mason tried to be subtle about pinching himself. Ow. Maybe it wasn’t a dream.
Spencer shrugged. “As long as it’s quiet and whatever is in the background for your webcam is work appropriate.”
Mason wanted to hug him. No, maybe not. But it was taking a lot of restraint to keep from hopping out of his chair and whooping. He only heard snippets of the rest of the conversation. His mind was already skipping ahead. Should he call Ginny? Show up on her doorstep and surprise her?
It would be rude to assume, but she felt the same way he did. He just had to get to her. He could fly. That meant leaving his stuff behind. And finding money for a plane ticket. He could drive... which meant money for gas, and too many hours on the road before he saw her again. He could just wait until he had his first paycheck.
No. I really can’t.
DISAPPOINTMENT FLOODED Ginny. Mason wasn’t answering his phone.
He’d spent the day in Malibu, though. He was probably either still looking at apartments, or driving home. For all she knew, his new boss took him out to celebrate.
With Trina?
Ginny didn’t care. Mason was hers. She didn’t doubt it.
“Hey. It’s me. I hope everything went well today. Call me back.” She didn’t like speaking to his voicemail, but if it was her, she’d want to hear his voice if she missed the call.
She settled onto the mattress on the floor in her bedroom. This place wasn’t furnished like the one in San Francisco, but her co-workers had donated odds and ends of furniture, and someone had hooked her up with an inexpensive bed. There was no frame or springs, but she was happy to have a place to sleep.
Not so happy she had to sleep in it alone.
Now she needed to bide her time until she heard from Mason. Work had worn her out, but she’d be up for several hours. She was addicted to their conversations, and needed her fix.
She opened her laptop and clicked through Netflix. Nothing caught her attention. She continued to tumble into the what to watch rabbit hole. There was some weird shit on here.
Someone knocked. A co-worker, probably. She was getting along great with the people at the hospital. She grabbed her phone, so she wouldn�
��t miss Mason’s call, and wandered into the living room.
She peered through the peephole, and her heart flipped when she saw his familiar face looking back. She had to be hallucinating. How long could she hold onto it before he vanished?
Ginny opened the door. “Holy shit, it’s you.” She poked his chest. Solid. Real. “Actually you.”
“Hey, sexy lady.”
She dropped her phone with a laugh, and threw her arms around his neck. When he squeezed her tight, all the little fractures inside her snapped back together. “I can’t believe you’re here.” Her words were muffled by his chest. “How are you here? No. I don’t care. You’re staying, right? God, you didn’t give up your job for this, did you? I’ll never forgive myself. But let me enjoy you first, before you tell me.”
He kissed the top of her head, and her rambling thoughts slowed. “Yes, I’m staying. No, I didn’t give up my job,” he murmured against her hair.
Those were the two details she needed. The rest could wait. “Inside, now. Or I’m jumping you on the porch.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He nudged her back with his body, never letting go, and kicked the door shut behind them. He cupped her face and crushed his mouth to hers. Their tongues swirled in a frantic dance.
Ginny couldn’t get close enough to feel everything at once. She needed more of him. She tugged at the bottom of his shirt, and yanked it over his head. “Fuck, I missed you.”
He kissed her again, hard and hungry. Nipping her lips and devouring her moans. “I thought I remembered how incredible you are in person. I wasn’t even close.”
“It’s only been two weeks.” She lifted her arms, so he could pull off her top. The skin on skin was nice. Still not enough, but getting there.
He dragged his mouth along her jaw and down her neck, sucking on the tender skin as he went. “Longest two weeks of my life.”
“Me too.” They should draw this out. Relish every minute.
Or get all the clothes out of the way now, fuck hard and fast, and then try things more slowly. He did say he was staying.
He gripped her hips. “The folding chair doesn’t look like it’s going to support what I want. Tell me there’s something sturdier in the bedroom.”
“Sturdier? Yes. More elegant? No.” She traced his erection through his jeans, smirking when he jerked against her hand. She cupped his hard length, teasing and stroking.
He tangled his fingers with hers, breaking the contact, and gave a strained chuckle. “Lead the way.”
They reached her mattress, and a faint cloud whispered across her reality.
“What’s wrong?” Mason asked.
She loved that he could read her hesitation without her saying a word. “This is different. Everything’s changed.”
“It is different. The only thing that’s changed is we’re not fighting it anymore.” He kissed her fingertips. “That I love you is real and potent and undeniable. There’s no pretending this is just a quick fuck, or friends with benefits. I’m not just fine with that, I think it’s incredible.”
She wrapped herself in the passion of his words. It was what she needed to hear, and she hadn’t realized it. She kissed him again, trying to get the rest of their clothes off without breaking contact.
They mostly figured it out, and tumbled to the bed in a tangle of limbs and frantic need.
He rolled onto his back and pulled her on top of him. “This is one of my favorite views.” Mason raked his gaze over her. “Seeing your stunning form. Watching you enjoy yourself.”
“So sometimes it is just about getting naked,” she teased.
He skated his palms up her sides. “Sometimes.”
She lowered herself, but instead of letting him enter her, she slid his shaft between her pussy lips. He wasn’t going to last. Hell, neither would she, but rocking her hips this way, felt incredible. Friction built between them, and the head of his cock bumped her clit.
He squeezed her breasts as she gyrated against him. When he rolled her nipples between her fingers, it tugged a cord inside that stretched through her body, pinging in her core.
Mason’s gaze and touch and drawn out groans pushed her to the edge of climax. She ground harder against him, and orgasm spilled through her. She didn’t slow down, still needing to feel him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Mason’s focus was a narrow point on the woman riding him. Flying out here was one of the best decisions he’d ever made.
And she was gorgeous when she came. Lost in pleasure. He gripped her hips and lifted her enough to slide inside her.
Fuck, she was so tight and slick. His groan mingled with hers. He loved this. Loved her.
He set a fast, desperate pace, and she fell into the rhythm. Her orgasm was fading.
He wanted to see her come again. He slid a thumb to her clit. She gasped at the first brush, but didn’t pull away.
Ecstasy built inside, tightening in his balls, and dancing over his shaft. He stroked and coaxed her.
When her eyelids fluttered, he knew she was coming again.
Her lips were perfect and flushed. Her breasts and skin were stunning and flawless. Her gasps were soft and intoxicating as she sank into her climax.
Her pussy gripped him, squeezing him past the point of restraint. He came hard, grunting and thrusting his hips against her. Driving until he was spent.
It wasn’t enough, but it was a decent place to pause.
She lay on his chest, and her heavy breath teased his damp skin. For several minutes, their panting was the only sound in the room.
“How long are you here for?” she finally asked.
“I told you. I’m staying.” He liked the way that sounded.
“How?”
He trailed his fingers through her hair, then traced down her spine. “Turns out this is a telecommuting position.”
Ginny bolted upright, and smacked his chest playfully. “You put us through all that stress and grief, just to show up on my doorstep and say Kidding. I can work from home?”
“I didn’t know. But I almost kissed Spencer when he told me I could do this job from anywhere.”
She rolled to the side and curled up against him. “Hmm... I would have wanted pictures. Also, I would have been a little smug that Trina got to be the jealous one for a few seconds.”
“I only have eyes for you.” It was cheesy, but Mason wasn’t taking it back.
“Shameless flatterer.” She lay a series of tiny kisses along his skin. “One of the many reasons I love you.”
Hearing her say I love you was never getting old. “Because I always tell you how pretty you are?”
“Because you mean it, and aren’t just saying it to get laid. Did Spencer buy you the plane ticket, too? I might have to kiss him for that.”
Mason tightened his grip on her arm. She was joking, but he still didn’t like the thought. And he really didn’t like the idea of her thanking the person who made the flight possible. “I borrowed the money from my brother.”
“No. I’ll pay him back for you.”
“Says the woman whose furniture consists of a mattress, a folding chair, and a battered coffee table. It’s not a big deal. You’re worth it, and I’ll take care of him with my first check. He might be a jerk sometimes, but he’s got a good heart. When I admitted what this was for, he agreed it was a good cause.”
Ginny propped herself up on one elbow to look at him with disbelief. “Is that how the conversation actually went?”
“Mostly?” Mason cringed.
“Details.”
He gave an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes. “It actually sounded more like You’re fucking the hot redhead from the bar? Score, bro. Sure you can borrow the money.”
“I’ll take that.” She settled against him again.
The heat of exertion was fading, and the air was cool against his skin, but he was too content to move so they could pull the blankets over them.
“I want to stay here forever.” Ginny’s soft word
s echoed his thoughts. “Or at least for the next week. I’ll just call in sick to work. That won’t look suspicious with the new job or anything.”
“Before you do that, keep in mind I drove you insane after just four days on the road.”
“You made me fall in love.” She splayed her hand on his chest. “And drove me wild... Take that however you’d like.”
He tilted his head up to kiss the tip of her nose. “You’re going to let me stay here, right?”
“More like I’m not going to let you leave.”
“Then I’ll be here. Before work. After work. Whenever you need.”
He felt the tension drain from her, and her body molded to his. “You’d better be.” Her tone was serious.
He would be. Two weeks apart was torture, but now he was right where he belonged, with the most incredible woman in the universe.
THANK YOU FOR CROSSING the country and pre-conceived notions with Ginny and Mason. If you’re looking for another sexy contemporary romance series, with a hint of geekiness, check out THE RIVAL AND THE BILLIONAIRE.
Fourteen years ago, Mercy begged Ian to take him with her when he left town. He refused. Now they’re both back for his sister’s wedding, and Mercy is determined to show him what he walked away from. She just has to remember to hold onto her heart.
› Click here for some small town, big hearted romance in THE RIVAL AND THE BILLIONAIRE
IF YOU’D LIKE A GLIMPSE into Ginny’s past, and more sexy road-tripping, meet Wyatt in RED HUNTED. Fiona’s seeing the country with her best-guy friend Parker. She doesn’t expect to add with benefits to their friendship, and she really doesn’t expect the scorching three-way hookup with the stranger they meet in a bar. But Wyatt forgot to mention he works for the competition, and he’ll do whatever it takes to see Fiona’s company crash and burn.
› Click here to read RED HUNTED today
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Allyson Lindt is a full-time geek and a fuller-time contemporary romance author. She likes her stories with sweet geekiness and heavy spice, because cubicle dwellers need love too. She loves a sexy happily-ever-after and helping deserving cubicle dwellers find their futures together.
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