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Mason

My eyes fall to Hope’s bare feet as she swings them subconsciously from her perch on the counter I’m reminded of the moment I noticed her for the first time, her bare feet captureds She sets her drink down and ski away a drop of water

"Are you nervous about today?" I ask as I rest my hands on her hips

She nods "I could use a distraction," she whispers "Any ideas?"

Oh I have plenty of ideas "H" I wrap one of her legs around ers up the other "Unless you already have so in ht "We could play Scrabble"

I crinkleat all "You want to play Scrabble?"

"Dirty words only and loser has to do whatever I--I mean, the winner--says for the next…" She looks down at her cell phone and glowers "Uh, I only have a little over an hour"

"An hour isn’t enough tirin at her "What else can we possibly do for the next hour…?"

"I guess I could repaint my nails They are a little chipped"

I shake my head slowly "Nu-uh That’s no fun for me and I can’t stand the smell of that shit"

"Huh Well, I’e with the big attitude"

I glidethe back of her neck "Hope, if you aren’t naked in the next thirty seconds I’ll--"

"You’ll what?" she challenges

Challenge accepted

I bring ue across her bottoerly I take her face into my hands and tilt her head back to deepen the kiss She hooks her other leg around my hip and squirood Fuuuck An hour I wanther into a blissful frenzy I want us sweaty and breathless, ourme into her hard Fuck it I’llher shirt over her head "Where?" I pant We’ve been christening my apartment since I moved in A new place each time We’ve already covered all the counter space in the kitchen

"Fifty-five et inside of h a s her jeans "We cannot have that"

She drops her lashes, hooding her eyes, and licks her lips God, she’s perfect Sliding her hands under my shirt, she caresses my stomach in slow circles Myher off the counter Resting her on her feet, II kneel in front of her to free her feet fro to place a wet kiss against each scar on her inner thigh

Hope shivers and traces rin as I pull her down to the floor with er She works ht where her pulse is throbbing furiously "I love you," I say against her heated flesh

I raise up and help her get my jeans off She pushes me until ainst the chilly surface of the cabinet door It does nothing to coolrowl into her shoulder "The kitchen floor," she says softly, "is christened" As she ainst the cupboard and grind ot on the pill and we stopped using condoms, my perforets on top and ridesto need the whole hour after all

"Mason," she sighs, "you feel so good"

Shit I nearly release ht there, but I slide her off id floor, but I have full intention of war her up I lower my mouth to her stoh, working ue out and taste her Her legs try to close and I hold the before her hips are co inrip her bare hips as I rock into her Her legs circle my waist as she closes her eyes andain I dipher deeply And I know the best decision I everass today Mason’s distraction techniques wore ht I have a lot going on this week

The first being the reason I’h this cold downpour toward the shitty brick building in front of ht door and stare at it Mason wanted to coed, actually, but I wanted to do this alone

Now I’u of candy I should have brought so as I reach for the doorknob I drop it quickly and head back the way I ca, I pull outthe aluminum hard and I can’t concentrate

If I call Mason, he’ll show up and I’ll feel… I don’t know, but I’ll feel like I’ I’o in there just to make him happy This will help us, but it has to be done for er hovers over Guy’s naiveI put my mind to

Daether as I shiver

I can’t do this I can’t

My head falls back into the cool brick wall and I pinch htly I will not cry

I blow out a frustrated breath and scroll throughsend before I can change ?" Chase asks ih the BS

"I can’t do it," I o to an appointment--you just don’t want to There’s a difference You’re already…fivespace and a young guy gets out of the passenger side IHe can’t be more than thirteen or fourteen He looks up as he approaches the door that I’ passes silently between us and he nods Without a word, he reaches aroundin--he’s holding it open for me

Panic rises in my chest and my heart pumps furiously

"Hope, you can do this," Chase states firo"

I nod I don’t know if I’esture, or if I’ the kid Either way, I end the call and tuck h the threshold into what I expect is the entrance to Hell