“Are you going to be attending church, Brooke? I honestly can’t imagine going to confess my sins and seeing you there. I think I’d end up just dragging you into the confessional with me and saying, ‘Here. She’s it. Give me my penance’.” He releases my breast and slides his hand back to my hip.

I’m his only sin?

Whoa . . . that might be the best compliment of my life.

I resume staring at the numbers above me as the ache in my breast slowly subsides. I bite back a smile, saying, “I haven’t attended church since I was a kid. Well, not regularly anyway. I go every Easter to appease my Nana but that’s it.”

“So, you’re free next weekend?”

“I think so. Why?”

“I’d like to steal you away if you’ll let me. Weather permitting.”

The elevator finally comes to a stop and I pull away, peering back at Mason over my shoulder as I step out onto the floor.

He looks content, and so sure of himself, like he already knows I’m going to say yes to this.

“For the entire weekend? What exactly do you have in mind?”

With a cocky smile, he steps off the elevator. “It’s a surprise.”

I spin around, staring at the man slowly advancing on me, and it all clicks in an instant as our conversation from the restaurant trips my subconscious.

“Oh, no you don’t.” I hold my free hand up as I continue my slow retreat backwards. “Weather permitting? Busted. I told you. I don’t do camping.”

He feigns seriousness. “Who said anything about camping?”

“I’m not going! I’m busy anyway.”

“No, you’re not.” Quickening his strides, he reaches out for me and grabs my arm. We both come to a stop inches from my door. “You just said you weren’t doing anything.”

“I said I think I’m free, but now that I really think about it, I remember I have plans. Ones that don’t involve nature or mosquitos carrying the West Nile virus.”

I wrench my arm away, ignoring his quiet laugh, and open my clutch to rustle out my keys.

Seriously? He is completely insane. You couldn’t pay me to go spend the night out in the wilderness. Naked sleeping bag sharing, or not. There is no fucking way I am agreeing to this.

When I look back up to give him more shit, Mason is watching me, his scorching gaze torn between my lips and everything lower.

I forget about camping, or suggestions of camping. I forget about bugs and wild animals as I slowly drink him in, from his unruly hair, still disheveled from my fingers to his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.

He’s holding back.

Why? There’s no need. Doesn’t he know how badly I want this?

Anticipation plucks in my belly as I stare at the erection pressing hard against his zipper. As I remember what it felt like minutes ago, sliding between the cheeks of my ass.

Well, if he’s not going to give it to me, I’ll just take it. No problems there.

I drop my keys back into my clutch and fist his shirt, urgently pulling him until my back hits the wall just beside the door and his body has no other choice but to crowd against mine.

He moves willingly with a moan, his hands bracing himself on either side of my head, boxing me in.

I arch my back and press my hips out away from the wall, grinding into his stiff length. “Mm. You know I never got to properly thank you for what you did earlier with that wicked mouth of yours. I’m also very sad to admit I can hardly remember what your cock looks like. Care to whip it out and kill two birds with one very hard stone?”

With shaky hands, he grabs my waist and drops his head beside mine. “Brooke,” he whispers, so faintly it’s as if he’s trying to resist everything at this moment, including words.

“My turn.” I slide my hand between us and cup his length.

He hisses a curse against my ear.

“God, I forgot how big you are. You might actually kill me.”

Turning my head, I claim his mouth, sucking on his lips, his tongue, pressing gentle kisses between ones that somehow feel more important or greater than any act of desperation. I lose my mind for a second, a stillness takes over and I allow myself to get lost in this kiss, forgetting about everything I want to come after and just giving in and giving up.

How does he do it? How does he make me want to just do this for hours and hours and hours? Sweetly surrender myself over to him and everything he makes me feel.

Shit. Snap out of it, Brooke. Remember why you reached for him.

I break away, panting against his mouth, watching him suck my taste off his bottom lip.

“Come inside, Mason, before I drop to my knees right here in this hallway. I want you on my bed while I suck your dick, but I’m not picky. Here is fine too.”

I press harder against his jeans and he groans, his fingers digging into my skin, his arms locking up and trembling.

I go in for the kill, planting a kiss to his jaw and whispering, “think how good it’ll feel fucking this pretty little mouth.”

“Jesus Christ.” He pushes against my waist and leans back, blue eyes blazing as he stares at me. His other hand comes around and grabs my wrist. “Baby, stop.”

“Why?”

“Because . . .” he trails off, pinching his eyes shut as he gently removes my hand, forcing it against my side. He exhales a rigid breath. “Because, I want this to be about you.” His eyes flash open, and there it is again, that struggle so obvious it’s as if it’s vibrating across his skin or flashing in neon letters above his head.

Please, Brooke. You’re killing me.

I stare up at him, confused. Why are you fighting this? I don’t understand.

His free hand glides up my arm, stopping just above my elbow where his thumb begins moving softly across my skin. “What I did earlier, it wasn’t just so you’d return the favor. I would never think like that, Brooke. When I touch you in any way, it’s because I want to touch you. Or I fucking need to. I’m not trying to get something in return.”

I wet my lips, feeling slightly awkward for even insinuating that Mason was fishing for his own release by getting me off. But honestly, what man is that selfless to not even consider his own needs?

His hand forms to my cheek. “Stop thinking so much. Let me enjoy you.”

“You can enjoy me but I can’t enjoy you? That hardly seems fair.”

“Brooke.”

“Mason.” I try to pull free from his grip, but his fingers wrap around me tighter, keeping my arm pinned where it is. I open my mouth, ready to argue, to ask nicely for the use of my hand when a thought settles over me.

Maybe Mason doesn’t want to risk the chance of getting caught by another tenant, and that’s why he’s keeping me from very publicly groping him. Maybe what we did earlier in the photo booth was all the thrill he can handle for one night.

He wants privacy for everything I’m offering? I’m good with that. I don’t need an audience to relish in every thick inch of this man.

I allow my arm to go limp, yielding to his hold. “All right. Fine, I get it. We don’t have to do this here. And I was half serious offering it anyway. I’d rather not get rug-burn.”

He watches me curiously as I lift my clutch between us.

“Come on. Joey and Billy won’t bother us. They’re most likely passed out already and they both sleep like the dead.”

I go to spin around but Mason slides his hand back to my waist and keeps me facing him.

“I’m going to go.”

“What?” I look up into his eyes, my entire body tensing. “You’re leaving?”

Is he serious? Why would he leave?

A hint of a smile touches his lips. He bends down, brushing his mouth against mine. “Yeah,” he mumbles, gently kissing me, barely even the feel of skin on skin.

It’s more like the promise of a kiss, or the idea of one, when you think of something hard enough or for long enough it almost starts to feel real, blurring the lines of reality and fantasy.