Under His Protection (10 page)

And jealous. Yes, he was jealous over
another female, for God’s sake. He wanted to be the one who put
that bright smile on Blake’s face. He wanted to be the one who made
her laugh and act so carefree.

Mason rubbed a hand along his chin, his lips
tightening. He wanted to do a hell of a lot more than just make her
smile and laugh. He wanted to make her breathless with his touch.
He wanted to make her cry out with pleasure. He wanted to make her
come again and again, always begging for more.

He shifted again, now because his cock was
making its presence known, nudging against the fly of his
jeans.

Shit, he couldn’t take this anymore. He was
tired of pretending he didn’t want this woman. Simply put, he
wanted her more than anything he’d ever wanted his entire life.

And so why should he deprive himself of
something that would most likely be a mind blowing experience? His
uncontrollable lust for her would no longer be denied. He’d argued
with himself for days, weeks. Ah hell,
months
. Always
depriving himself of what he wanted. What she wanted.

Blake was savvy. He knew she’d understand,
convinced himself of this while he sat on the bench freezing his
ass off. She didn’t want a serious relationship and neither did he.
They’d both walk into this new situation with eyes wide open.

Sex for sex’s sake. Finally giving into the
attraction that had been simmering between them since the day
they’d met.

Breathing deep, he watched as she exited the
restaurant with her friend. They hugged each other and then parted
ways, Blake walking toward him while her friend headed in the
opposite direction.

“Sorry I took so long. Are you hungry?” One
delicate dark blond brow lifted, her lush lips pursed in a little
smirk.

“Starved.” Mason stood, striving for subtle
nonchalance though arousal coursed through his veins, making his
blood pound heavy and slow.

He’d pounce later, when they were back at
the cabin and away from prying eyes. One thing about this island,
though quaint, it was full of gossip mongers who enjoyed nothing
more than talking behind their hands about the local residents’
private business.

“I should’ve brought you a goody bag.”

She could be his goody bag. “I had a
sandwich to hold me over. I’ll grab something when we get
back.”

With a nod, she started walking, shooting
him a sweet smile. “They have the best pizza there. You should try
it.”

Well, she was certainly being friendly.
Considering her cold demeanor the last couple of days, he found it
encouraging.

Especially considering what he had planned
later.

“I thought you didn’t eat pizza.”

She glanced at him, her gaze meeting his. “I
love pizza. I just don’t eat it when there are too many criticizing
eyes watching. The media would have a field day if they caught me
stuffing my face.”

“Trust me, sweetheart, there are plenty of
criticizing eyes around this place,” he muttered.

Blake stopped in her tracks, causing Mason
to stop as well. “Did you just call me sweetheart?”

Hell, he did. “Ah, yeah. Sorry about
that.”

She shook her head slowly, her long hair
spilling over her right shoulder. “You know what, Mason? I don’t
mind. I don’t mind at all. In fact, I kind of like it.”

He just bet she did. He wondered if she’d
like it if he called her baby just before he entered her sweet
little body too. Something else he might try later. Once he got her
naked and into his bed. “Glad I can oblige.”

Damn, his mood was dark. Sexual. He needed
to get laid.

He wanted Blake naked and writhing beneath
him.

They were silent for a moment and Mason
stared up at the clear blue sky, inhaling the cold, crisp air deep
into his lungs. He felt the need to fortify himself, prepare for
what was about to happen next.

Because something was definitely going to
happen between them, he had no doubt of that. And yeah, he felt
like an ass for plotting it but hell, he was done putting her off.
She wanted him. He wanted her.

Why deny each other any longer?

“Do you think they gossip about me? Here on
the island?”

Her question startled him out of his
reverie. “Absolutely. They gossip about everyone.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve been sitting on one public bench after
another for the past week and I hear the stories. Trust me.”

“Mmm, hmm.” She was quiet and he placed his
hand at the center of her back when they crossed the street, the
cabin looming in the distance. “Do you think they gossip about you
and me?”

“They probably have our relationship figured
out.” He’d tried to keep the Secret Service part of him tamped
down, but the locals knew her and in turn, probably figured out who
he was to her.

“Well, they’re one up on me, then.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“At least they have our relationship figured
out. I know I certainly don’t.” Confusion rang in her voice.

“Do you want to figure it out?”

“Are you trying to confuse me?”

He stopped walking, as did she. The wind
whipped her hair across her face and he was sorely tempted to reach
out, brush the strands away from her cheek. Let his fingers linger
on her soft skin.

And he knew it was soft since he’d touched
her before. He wanted to see if she was that soft everywhere…

“No,” he finally said. “I don’t want to
confuse you. I think everything is finally crystal clear. At least
for me.”

“Really?” She frowned.

“Oh, yeah.” He kind of enjoyed the little
banter they had going on. It was like foreplay before the actual
foreplay. “Definitely.”

“Well, I hope you show me the light.”

“You can count on it.” She turned before she
caught sight of his leering grin.

* * * *

What the heck was he talking about?
Confusion swirled within Blake as they entered the house, Mason
right behind her. And that confused her even more.

He rarely stood too close to her anymore,
choosing to avoid her like the plague since their last blissful
moment together. Only with her out of duty, doing his job like the
properly trained and highly moral Secret Service agent that he
was.

And so she’d let him be. She’d pushed him
too hard, too fast and it had fallen apart. No way did she want to
make him angrier or give him reason to dislike her.

So she’d focused on her art instead. Locked
herself up in her studio and worked long into the night. She didn’t
think he really knew or paid attention to what she did and she
didn’t tell him either. She’d only come out of her studio because
of her lunch date with Suzanne.

Now she was eager to get back to work.

The front door shut and the sound of the
lock turning rang loud in the foyer of the cabin. Blake turned to
see Mason leaning against the door, his thick arms crossed in front
of him, a grim expression on his face.

Dread filled her. He looked ready to do
battle. With her.

For once, the man had the upper hand. She
wasn’t near ready for yet another go round with Mason.

“Is everything okay?” Her voice sounded
small, frail and she wanted to smack herself. She especially hated
appearing weak in front of this man.

He shook his head slowly, his piercing gaze
never leaving hers. “No.”

That one single word reverberated throughout
her body, making her tremble, her stomach bounce with nerves.
Swallowing hard, she ventured another question. “Did I do something
wrong?”

Oh, now she really sounded pitiful. Why did
she have to phrase it that way? What could she have done to him
anyway? Not like they’d spent any quality time together.

“Baby, you never do anything wrong.”

Her mouth dropped open. The little thrill
that skittered down her spine at him calling her baby in that
deliciously rough voice barely registered. She was too surprised by
his entire statement.

“Then what is it?”

Pushing away from the door, he approached
her, his stride slow, predatory. She stood completely still,
everything frozen in place, waiting for him. Fear and anticipation
rippled through her body, making her shake.

Mason stopped in front of her, so close she
could smell him, feel his body heat reaching out to her. “I’m sick
of doing...this.” He waved a hand between them.

“Doing what?” She frowned. He confused her
so much.

“I don’t want to deny myself—or you—any
longer.”

Blake gasped when he encircled her waist
with his arms and hauled her close, pressing her firmly against his
muscular body. She reached out, rested her hands on his chest,
curling her fingers into the soft fabric of his shirt. A shiver
stole over her, stealing her breath, and she couldn’t believe this
was happening.

“Wh—what are you doing?”

“Doing what I should’ve done a few days
ago.” He dipped his head, his mouth brushing against hers. It was
as if a thousand fireworks just exploded between them. All dazzling
light and deafening sound, his kiss sent a roaring into her ears, a
flash of color behind her closed lids. She clutched at his shirt,
felt the warmth from his flesh burn her fingertips. When he touched
his tongue to the seam of her lips, she nearly jumped out of her
skin.

“Open up, baby,” he whispered. She actually
felt the smile curve his firm lips. “Let me in.”

Who was she to deny him? To deny herself?
This was what she’d wanted, what she’d craved from the first moment
she set eyes on him. His strong arms wrapped around her, his hard
body pressed to hers, his mouth and tongue doing wicked things to
her. Things that made her want to give in to him.

But would he push her away again? Tell her
it was all a big mistake? Once again deny the heated attraction
between them? If he did, she didn’t know if she could take it.

“Mason.” She pushed him but it was like
shoving a brick wall, he was so solidly built. “Mason, please.”

She didn’t know how she even found the
ability to speak, what with the soft play of his lips upon hers,
the teasing slip of his tongue. But she needed to understand his
intentions.

Before it was too late and she lost her
head.

“What?” He released his hold on her. Looking
irritated, frustrated as hell and perfectly gorgeous with it, too.
The flash of arousal in his beautiful green eyes was unmistakable,
and a thrill moved through her. “Don’t tell me you don’t want
this.”

“No, I do. It’s just...” His gruff tone
almost frightened her and she didn’t want him angry. She wanted him
hot for it. Hot for her.

But she had to ask. “Are you sure you really
want this?”

His brows drew together. He looked
positively fierce. “Of course, I want this.”

“You say that like I shouldn’t question
you.”

“You shouldn’t,” he agreed, reaching for her
once again.

She took a step back. “So you’re not going
to walk away from me? Again?” Biting her lower lip, she gnawed it
with worry. No way could she admit how devastated she would be if
he rejected her again.

“Ah, Blake.” Realization dawned in his eyes
and he reached out, smoothed a hand over her head. His fingers
tangled in her hair, stroking it and she wanted to close her eyes,
his touch felt so good. “I don’t plan on walking away from you
again.”

“Do you mean it?” she whispered, hating how
weak she was, that she even had to ask.

He took her hand and pulled her close,
wrapped his other arm around her waist, aligning their lower bodies
together. She felt him, the thick ridge of his erection pressing
against his jeans and she couldn’t resist the urge to rub against
him like a cat in heat.

The low growl that he emitted told her that
he liked it.

“Of course, I mean it.” Leaning in, he
pressed a gentle kiss to the side of her neck, his hot tongue
darting out for a lick.

Relief flooded her and her heart tripped
over itself. She wound her arms around his neck, buried her hands
in his hair. Even with their differences in height, they were a
perfect fit.

No surprise there.

“Then shut up and kiss me,” she murmured,
lifting her face in invitation, closing her eyes.

When he didn’t make a move, she opened her
eyes to find him staring down at her, his expression serious.

“You know the score though, right?” His
voice hoarsened. “You do understand where we stand. This is just
sex, nothing more. It
can’t
be anything more.” He dipped his
head, the touch of his mouth upon hers little consolation to what
he just said. Her hopes were dashed with two little words.

Just sex.

And that meant she was a damn fool for
thinking it could be anything else. Anything
more.

That didn’t mean she was going to deny
herself this privilege though. She’d waited too many months for
this moment with Mason.

And she was going to savor every blessed
second of it.

* * * *

Blake stiffened in his arms for the briefest
second, the movement so slight, he probably wouldn’t have noticed
if he hadn’t been so attuned to her body, her every breath and tiny
shift.

Mason assumed she didn’t like hearing what
he’d said but he had to throw it out there. And he meant it too.
Really he did.

It didn’t matter how fucking good her curvy
body felt in his arms. Or how warm and soft her lips were. Or how
sweet her mouth tasted. This was nothing more than two people
getting together and scratching an itch. A sexual attraction that
was too large to ignore.

A little moan sounded low in her throat when
he skimmed his hand down her back, his palm settling just above the
curve of her ass. His cock raged to be set free, but he knew if he
moved too fast, he’d make a damn fool of himself.

He wanted to take his time and learn her
body. Discover where his touch gave her the greatest pleasure.
Savor the softness of her skin, skim his fingers along every dip
and valley, followed closely by his lips and tongue.