The countdown had already begun.
Chapter Thirteen
Fireball.
Last night had lent new meaning to the endearment Mason had bestowed on the beauty curled up against him, all warm and soft and curvy. He stretched out in her bed, early morning sunlight streaking through the shades, creating bright lines on the floor.
A contrast to the lines they’d created on the kitchen floor last night. More like imprints. Before scrubbing the kitchen and showering, they’d gotten creative with the chocolate, especially after Jill had heated some in the microwave, giving it a warm, liquid texture. He especially liked the way the chocolate had dripped off her delectable nipples, down her belly and around her sweet folds, and how, when he’d taken special care to lick her clean, she’d made the sexiest damn sound he’d ever heard.
Ah, hell.
He was rock hard again. How could that be? He should be dead. He’d already used the condom he’d had tucked in his wallet and the one they’d rescued from his pants pocket before tossing the cargos in the wash. And they hadn’t needed a condom when the chocolate had been poured, because once he’d licked her clean, she’d drizzled it on him and licked off more than chocolate when he was balls deep inside her warm, wet mouth and she refused to let up until he gave all he had.
Still, according to his raging hard-on, he couldn’t seem to get enough of the woman.
“Mmm…” Jill stirred next to him. “Good morning. Is this present for me?” she asked, stroking a hand down his dick, making him see stars in the daylight.
“Easy there, Fireball,” he said, removing her grip. “We’re all out of condoms.”
She giggled and refastened her hand around his throbbing arousal. “No we’re not. I have one in the drawer,” she said, kissing a scorching path across his chest. “I got it at your sister’s bachelorette party. It was in the bags Jordan handed out.”
Jordan McCall. He smiled. Figured. The beauty was a sheriff, a strong, clever woman, and a good friend to his sister down in Texas.
“Remind me to thank her,” he said, opening the drawer.
“Wait.” Jill stilled as she stared at the clock. “I have less than forty minutes to open the shop. Unless you can make this super quick, He-Man, it’ll have to wait.”
“He-Man?” He chuckled, flipping her on her back and sucking a pebbled peak into his mouth. “There’ll be no waiting,” he said against her soft skin as his hand traveled south and he slipped a finger inside.
Ah, hell yeah.
She was already warm and wet. He drew back and stared down at her flushed face, beautiful, dark gaze hazy with need. “This might be super quick, but you’re going to enjoy every second.”
He was reaching for the condom when the doorbell rang, followed by a loud knocking.
“Jill? Mason? Open up,” Ben said, his muffled voice distinctive even through a locked door and walls.
Why the hell was his brother here? If it had been an emergency, he would’ve called, and Mason had already checked his phone ten minutes ago. There were no missed calls or texts.
Which meant his brother was here to see Jill.
His heart lurched. Old, unwanted, dark feelings rushed to the surface as he glanced down at the woman whose face was beet red.
“Shoot. I forgot to tell him I didn’t need a ride.”
Or that she’d found another…
Jesus, he was such a damn idiot. Clamping his jaw, he rolled off her and reached for his clean clothes on a nearby chair, while she slipped into the robe hanging on the back of the door.
Christ, was his brother seeing Jill while Lea was in New York? Even as the thought formed, his mind balked. No. Ben wouldn’t do that. Ever. He didn’t think Jill would either, but…hell, he never thought Renee would and yet she—
The sound of the front door opening brought his mind back to getting dressed. Fastening his pants, he kept an eye on the entryway visible from inside her bedroom.
“Hey, Ben,” Jill said, swinging the door wide. Face still flushed.
His brother stepped inside, wearing his ACUs, his keen green gaze running over the woman gripping the belt on her robe before fastening on him as he pulled on his shirt.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt,” Ben said, nodding to him, expression contrite before his attention returned to Jill. “But just because I found Mason’s Jeep in your driveway, I didn’t want to assume you had a ride to work.”
She glanced at him then, gaze open, slightly worried, waiting to see what he wanted, allowing him to reply. Trouble was, he had no damn idea what he wanted. Or felt. Other than confused as hell, and angry. But at whom? And he could also see something else in her gaze. Mistrust, but of a different kind…she expected him to let her down. Prove that he was just another guy she couldn’t depend on.
“Yeah, I’m taking her,” he finally replied. He sure as shit was not one of those fuckers. No matter what, he dealt with his responsibilities head on, and damn, he was trying not to be warmed by the relief that brightened her gaze.
She turned back to Ben. “I’m sorry. I…didn’t think to call you.”
“No problem.” His brother smiled. “I was up anyway. Had to drop Lea off at the bus station. She’s going to stay in the city this week since I’ll be working late due to the upcoming drill weekend. She’s only coming in Friday night. As a matter of fact, I might actually need you to pick her up.”
“Sure, no problem,” Jill said.
“Thanks.” Ben nodded. “Her car is at the resort. Sorry she needed to grab it off you yesterday. I can take you to get it after work, if you want.”
She smiled. “Yes, thanks.”
Mason noted it wasn’t one of the brilliant ones, or heated ones she laid on him, and he began to relax. Then called himself all kind of names for even entertaining the thought that those two were having an affair.
Jesus, he needed to move past that shit.
He leaned against the bedroom doorframe, mere inches behind the beautiful woman who’d shared body and soul with him last night. She had a great body and wonderful soul and didn’t deserve his mistrust. Yet, he knew…he knew this was probably not the last time he’d jump to the cheating conclusion.
He was just too screwed up.
“I only need it for a few days. I’m supposed to get my insurance check this week. Hopefully, I’ll have my own car again by Friday.”
“No problem. See you later,” Ben said, then shifted his attention to Mason. “And I guess I’ll see you soon for breakfast, bro.”
He nodded. “Yep.”
Then Ben was gone, leaving him alone with Jill, and the elephant in the room.
His mistrust.
“Thanks,” she said, walking to him, resting her head on his chest while her arms wrapped around him tight.
“For what?” he asked, automatically dropping his hands to her waist. “Thinking for a moment that you and my brother were having an affair?”
She drew back and stared up at him, and he braced himself for her tears, or wrath, or slap. Lord knows he deserved all three.
None came.
Instead, she graced him with a beautiful, honest, pure smile. “No. For coming to the conclusion that we weren’t having an affair. For working your way past your mistrust and seeing the truth. For giving me the benefit of the doubt. But most of all,” she said, reaching up to cup his face. “For offering me a ride to work even when you still weren’t sure if I was sleeping with your brother.”
He blinked down, totally blown away by her words. “You’re not mad that I thought you were sleeping with Ben?”
“No. Given your levels of mistrust, and what Renee did to you, I would’ve been shocked if you hadn’t.”
The woman was too much. Too sweet. Certainly too damn sweet for the likes of him.
“No, I’m not,” she said as if reading his mind. “I just happen to have trust issues, too, and know where you’re coming from.”
“Then let me reassure you here and now, I do not aba
ndon, Jill. I would never abandon you.”
Her gaze was hopeful, and he could tell she wanted to believe him. But she didn’t. She pulled away and walked to her closet to pull out clothes.
“I know you wouldn’t mean to, but things happen, and eventually, you—”
“No,” he cut her off, grabbing her arm to swing her to face him, navy sweater dangling in her hand. “Don’t lump me in that category. You don’t know me well enough to put me with those assholes.”
She sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. We don’t know each other that well, and I’m not even exactly sure what it is we’re doing. Are you?”
“Hell if I know.” He released her and blew out a breath.
She set the sweater on the bed then stepped in front of him. “Do you want to keep doing it?”
Big brown eyes stared up at him, eyes capable of a heat that could bring him to his knees inside of two seconds, or brimming with utter satisfaction that made him feel like a king.
Two things he was not ready to give up. Not after tasting her, slipping inside her slick warmth, hearing his name on her lips as she came undone around him.
“Yes. Do you?” His heart hammered in his chest as he waited for her reply.
“Very much so, Mason.” She grabbed his hand and brought it to her lips. “I like being with you. A lot. But the last thing I want to do is put pressure on you.” A shaft of heat flashed through her eyes. “But given our past, it’s probably best if we take this slow. Don’t put any expectations on one another.”
“I agree,” he said, liking where her head was at. Slow worked for him. “As long as you don’t see someone else. We’d have to be exclusive, Jill. I won’t share. And I don’t abandon. ”
“Of course. You either.”
She smiled up at him, gaze open and warm, and he felt contentment for the first time in nearly an hour.
“We don’t see anyone else, just each other once in a while.”
“Yes.”
Jill slipped her arms around him again, brushing his body with her soft, supple curves, and this time, Mason held her tight, feeling as if he’d won something, yet he had no damn clue what.
Chapter Fourteen
Friday evening took forever to make an appearance. Jill had been busy all week, between work and finding a new car, she’d hardly had time to think. Yet she did. At times, it had been difficult to concentrate on anything other than the way Mason had tasted coated in chocolate. The heat in his gaze. The heat in his body. How he’d taken her on the floor, and in her bed, and how his gaze had turned to near espresso when she’d had him in her mouth.
Heat rushing to her cheeks, and other parts south, she drew in a ragged breath, grateful Teresa had already gone home, leaving Jill at the shop alone until closing, an hour away. Which was good, since Gwen was on her way to pick up Lea from the bus station, giving Jill time to get their sweet treats and coffee chasers ready.
And think about Mason.
Their first night together had been beyond memorable.
And it hadn’t just been due to the chocolate. It was the connection. The way he knew her body and what it wanted, needed before she even knew. The way he’d put her first, even though he’d been fighting his ability to trust her.
I don’t abandon.
His words constantly echoed in her head. She wanted to believe them. God, she wanted to, but experience had taught her no one, no matter how good their intentions, could promise such a thing. Including Mason.
It didn’t stop her from admitting she was falling for the guy. She missed him. Hadn’t seen him all week. She knew the resort had picked up an unexpected bus load of vacationers, which kept him busy taking others on adventures. And that this weekend he had drill, a three day drill as Lea had informed on their Skye call last night, where the soldiers stayed at the armory from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. At least she had a shot of seeing him since the armory was visible from her shop. And, she hoped maybe he’d stop in on his way home Sunday.
But she also knew they’d agreed to take it slow, which meant no calling when she needed to hear his voice. All right, so she’d picked up the phone, numerous times…a day…but never placed the call. Slow. No pressure. Thank God he’d called her twice, because she’d been losing the battle with her willpower.
No driving to the resort after work for no reason in the hopes she’d bump into him. Although yesterday, when she’d gotten her new car, her three year old used car, she’d considered driving to the resort to show him.
But then common sense had kicked in.
If he’d wanted to see her that bad, he would’ve jumped in his Jeep after work and parked in her driveway. He knew where it was, how to get there, how to do a good many things.
So did she. Too bad deploying patience wasn’t one of them.
“Here’s the city girl, and she needs chocolate. Stat,” Gwen said, breezing into the shop, her smiling sister in tow.
Lea waved. “Hi, Jill. Yeah, stat.”
“Hey, you,” she said, returning her friend’s smile as the pretty brunette sat down and smacked her lips. She set their chocolate treats on the counter, using her new blend, curious to see the sisters’ reactions, especially Lea’s.
“Where have you been all my life?” The woman salivated over her plate. “What’s it called?”
“Chocolate Overload. It’s similar to a Black Forest cake, but instead of cherries, I substituted more chocolate, then drizzled the rest over the slice.”
Lea stared at the dessert. “It looks too beautiful to eat.”
“Well, if you’re going to have trouble, just slide it my way,” Gwen said. “I have no issue with decimating that beauty.”
Her friend moved the plate in the opposite direction, twisting until her shoulder blocked her sister. “Nope. I think I can manage. You just worry about your own treat.”
Laughing, Jill set out their coffees and watched while the sisters took their first bite. Twin moans of ecstasy echoed through the shop as they made the O face. She took that as a good sign.
“Holy hell, Jill. Is this a new blend? My God, it’s delicious,” Lea gushed, shoving another forkful in her mouth. “It’s almost better than sex.” The woman lifted her head and glanced around. “Don’t tell Ben I said that.”
Gwen nodded, not bothering to look up from her dish. “I concur. And require more.”
Cutting another two—bigger—slices, she silently deemed the new blend a go on Lea’s secret gift. “It’s just something I cooked up last weekend.” With the help of one delicious guardsman. Which they did not need to know. She slid the plates in front of the woman, then finally settled down to eat her own slice.
Her mouth watered. Damn, it was good. So good. The smooth, creamy, bitter, sweet, and salty tastes were the perfect blend, and would forever remind her of Mason.
“What are you going to name it?” Lea asked, finishing her second slice before reaching for her coffee.
“I think you called it right, sis. Better Than Sex,” Gwen replied.
As much as Jill loved the suggestion, it wasn’t feasible. “Since minors are a big chunk of my clientele, I’m afraid I have to go with something more PG rated.”
“Party poopers. Okay,” Gwen said with a sigh. “How about…Better Than Nookie?”
Lea snickered. “I think sex has to be taken out of it all together, sis.”
“Now who’s the party pooper?” Gwen grumbled. “Better Than Men?”
Jill exchanged a look with Lea. Yeah, the former model was holding in some serious aggression for testosterone carriers.
“How about if I just call it Better Than and let the customer fill in their own blank?” she suggested, sinking her fork into her cake.
“Ooh, I like it,” Lea said, sipping her coffee. “Now, maybe you can fill in the blank and tell us who you had sex with this week?”
“What?” She choked on the dessert that hadn’t quite made it down her throat before her friend hit her with that question. How the he
ll had she known? Oh, right. Ben.
“Who had sex? Jill? When?” Gwen sat up and stared at her across the counter. “Damn. You did. You’re flushed and happy…”
“Wearing a sappy grin. You’ve had sex,” Lea finished. “When did you and Mason finally get together? I want details now, woman.”
“Mason? Damn. Yeah. Spill.”
Both sisters sat with their arms folded across their chests, matching determined expressions on their face. Shit. She wasn’t getting out of this.
“All right, fine. Yeah. Mason and I had sex,” she admitted, reaching for her coffee. “It was just one night, and I haven’t seen him since.”
Lea frowned. “What do you mean you haven’t seen him since? Define ‘haven’t seen him since.’”
“We had sex Sunday.”
“Define sex,” Gwen interrupted. “What kind?”
Lea nodded, eagerness lighting her gaze. “Yeah. Wild monkey? Off the wall? My fav, by the way. Slow and hot and…damn. I have to wait until Sunday before Ben comes home. He and some of the guys are staying at the armory all weekend after drill because a few soldiers are traveling too far to go home at night. Sheez, with all this off the wall sex talk, I need him home at night.” Her friend fanned herself. “But, enough about me. Spill. What kind of sex did you and Mason have?”
“Great, incredible, very memorable sex Sunday, then he dropped me off here at work on Monday morning, and I haven’t seen him since.” Which sucked. She was beginning to regret her decision not to call him. What if he’d changed his mind about seeing her? What if he was trying to figure out a way to let her down easy?
“Well, the resort has been swamped this week,” Gwen offered with a tilt of her head.
She nodded. “I know.”
“Any texts or calls?” Lea asked.
“Two calls.”
Gwen narrowed her eyes. “Who made them?”
“He did.”
Both sisters wore matching grins again.
“What?” she asked, glancing from one set of knowing blue eyes to the other. “What difference does it make who called?”
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