Page 22 of Fun and Games

He tasted familiar now, with hints of sweetness on my tongue as his oak and honey scent filled my nose.

I wasn't taken off guard by our height difference this time when I kicked off my shoes. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. He took my ass in both hands, hoisting me up so I could wrap my legs around his hips. We nearly toppled over until he pressed me up against the wall.

We broke from our kiss long enough to catch our breath. Mason latched onto my neck and gave me a sucking kiss. My head fell back against the wall as heat flowed down my stomach and settled between my legs.

I squeezed my thighs around his waist and felt the hardening length in his jeans. A full body shiver went through me as liquid heat flooded my core.

I buried my hands in Mason's hair, pushing back strands that fell over his face, revealing his vivid green eyes. I'd been longing to brush his hair back since the first moment I'd seen him. He wore it in a stylishly casual way, but I thought it was unfair to hide his handsome face behind those soft strands.

Mason kneaded and squeezed the backs of my thighs as he held me up. My skirt bunched up to my waist, leaving my cotton panties the only barrier between me and that hardness I'd felt. It stiffened with every gasp and kiss. I remembered how it felt to have that hot shaft slide into me. My inner muscles clenched and pulsed at the memory.

Mason nibbled down my neck and along my collarbone until he reached the swell of my breasts. I let go of his hair and went to the row of buttons on my blouse. They were tiny, and I fumbled in my haste.

"Need some help with that?" he asked.

I nodded as my breath came in fits and starts. The ache between my legs was growing stronger.

Mason set me down until both feet touched the floor. His eyes glinted with hunger as he untucked my blouse from my skirt and started undoing each button one by one.

He didn't have any better luck than I did. He growled under his breath.

"I'm half tempted to rip this goddamn thing right off," he muttered darkly. "Lift up your arms."

I did so, and he took the bottom of my blouse, tugging it up and over my head, then threw it to the floor.

I slipped my hands under his t-shirt, feeling the firmness of his abs and chest. I reached for the hem and lifted it over his head. It wasn't fair that I should be half undressed when he was still fully clothed.

When his chest was bare to me, I ran my nails down his skin lightly, enjoying the flex of his muscles. Mason peppered my cleavage with kisses, then cupped my cheeks in his hands.

"You're so beautiful," he said, almost reverently, as he placed a kiss on the tip of my nose.

I froze.

Completely froze.

My hands stilled where they lay flat on his chest. My breath caught in my throat. It felt as if my lungs were being squeezed in a vise.

Mason noticed my reaction and paused. He tilted my head up to meet his eyes.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

I took in a shuddering breath but couldn't respond.

I knew it shouldn't have affected me as much as it did. It wasn't an uncommon gesture or an uncommon phrase.

But the tone of voice, the way he said it, reminded me so much of…

I couldn't help but freeze.

David always called me beautiful when he kissed the tip of my nose.

Mason was still looking at me with concern.

"Are you feeling sick?" he asked. "Did you have too much to drink?"

"I'm not sick," I told him in a hollow, monotone voice. "I'm not drunk, either. I only had the one margarita."

The concern didn't leave his face.