“You don’t give much up, do you?” Mason’s voice trails off and his eyes narrow at me as he lays me down, my back hitting the soft cushioning of a bed.

“What do you mean?” I feign ignorance as my heart begins to thump rapidly in my chest. He grinds his hips forward and my body temperature shoots through the roof. How much longer can I hold out before giving into one temptation there may be no coming back from?

Mason shakes his head. “You’re a mystery, Lindsey Jenkins.”

My tongue darts out and I lick my lips, my mouth now drier than a desert because it craves a thirst only Mason can satisfy. “The best kind always are, Detective.”

I watch him search my face as heat pours off him in waves of desire.

“You’re not making this easy for me, you know.” I sigh.

“Life’s not easy. Relationships sure as shit aren’t either. You’re not the kind of woman to let anything or anyone get in her way, so why are you letting the shit in your own head mess you up so much you’ll let it keep you from something that could bring you happiness?”

I look away, not able to look him in the eye anymore. I don’t want to lie to him. “Because of you.”

Mason gently cups my face, bringing it back so he can see me. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s because you’re a good man, because deep down on some level I do trust you. It’s because of those reasons I can’t let myself fall for you.”

“It’s too late for that, sweetheart. You’ve already fallen, just like I have. Now let me catch you.”

My heart soars.

I lie. “Okay.”

I’m going to hell.

Mason

Fucking finally.

I smash my mouth to hers, bruising her lips with a kiss fueled by so much more than lust. I break away temporarily, my fingers itching to rip her clothes off her. I want nothing between us. I reach behind my head to the hem of my shirt with one arm and rip it over my head. I throw it somewhere in the room, not caring where the fuck it lands. My heart races, thudding in my chest because all I care about is this moment with her, where she finally lets me in and I have my chance to fuck her, worship her, unravel her.

My hands fumble on my belt buckle until they’re tugged away by small hands with an electrifying touch. Lindsey looks up at me, sliding her tongue over her soft lips and my cock throbs as I imagine it between those lips, inside that warm, wet mouth. She splays a hand across my stomach and my balls tingle. The other works my belt and in a flash, it’s undone. The material of my pants and underwear rub against my skin as they’re pulled down, pooling around my ankles. I push them away while Lindsey shifts backward to the top of the bed, undressing herself seductively as she moves. She never unglues her gaze from my body, her eyes gleaming with greed and wicked desire as she zones in on my hard cock. A drop of pre-cum drips from the tip when I squeeze my shaft. Using my other hand, I catch the liquid and rub it over the head. A quiet moan rasps from Lindsey and I lift my head, gazing up in her direction and fuck if I don’t almost come right on the spot. She sits with her back against the headboard, eye glossing over with desire, fingers pinching her small, pink nipples. Her mouth is parted, cheeks flushed pink and I can’t take it any more. My patience has reached the end of the road. My cock sinking into her pussy is the only route from here.

My body moves on its own accord to the nightstand and before Lindsey has a chance to drift those little fingers south, I’ve got a condom on my dick and I’m hovering over her, ready to drill into temptation. No more waiting. I won’t give her a chance to back out now. With my arms either side of her head, I capture her mouth in another fierce kiss. My tongue dances with hers. Our kiss becomes deeper, longer. Lindsey pulls back for a second, and I take the chance to catch my breath. Sitting back, I palm my cock and line it up at her entrance.

“Jesus, you’re soaking.”

“Mmhmm,” slips from Lindsey’s lips as she lays there, eyes closed, hands clutching the sheets so hard her knuckles are turning white.

I tap her clit a few times with my cock, to work her up more. She shoves her hips upward, grinding her drenched pussy against me. She’s ready. We’ve had weeks of goddamn foreplay, none of it is needed now. In one swift move, I thrust into her, all the way to the hilt. Throwing my upper body over her again, this time I grip her shoulders as lightly as I can without causing her wounded body any pain. Her pussy convulses at my intrusion and I close my eyes, soaking up the moment; the way her soft skin feels on mine, the tingling urge shooting up my spine, it all has me aching for more. I pull back and slide in again, now watching her face writhe in ecstasy. I can’t help but grin. “Told you it’d be worth it if you gave in.”

Lindsey’s eyes flicker to mine and her hands fly up to my chest. Pushing against me with her weight, she squeezes her thighs around me and rolls us over, putting me on my back. I catch the grimace on her face as she moves. She tries to hide it, so I let it go. If she didn’t want to be doing what we’re doing right now, she’d have already put a stop to it. Still buried deep inside her, she straddles my waist while her fingers run over the outline of my abs. She tilts her head to the side, a mischievous look plastered on her face.

“I believe you did. So go ahead, Mase. Show me what you’re made of, baby.”

My cock fucking cheers.

“Better grab the headboard, sweetheart. You’ll need to. But promise me, if it’s too much, if you’re too sore with those ribs, tell me and we’ll stop,” I grit out, my tone low and serious. She leans forward, doing as I said and her long hair grazes my stomach, the whispery feeling sending a shiver of pleasure through me.

“Mason, stop worrying,” she demands. “Fuck me like you mean it.”

I squeeze her hips tight and move again. Thrusting harder, faster, deeper, I aim for the one spot to make her see her fireworks. My balls begin to tighten. I can’t hold out much longer; she feels too fucking good.

Lindsey moans and keeps her eyes closed tightly. “Oh, fuck.” She gasps, and there it is, fireworks.

“Open those eyes, sweetheart. I want to see you when you come all over my dick.”

Her eyes open, locking onto mine as I pound into her once more. Her pussy contracts around my cock and I’m done for.

A guttural groan falls from my lips and I explode inside of her. “Ah. Fuck.”

I come hard, fucking harder than I ever remember, while she milks me for all I’ve got. Letting go of the headboard, Lindsey collapses beside me in bed. My breathing slowly returns to normal, so I get up and head into the bathroom to clean myself up. When I look in the mirror, I see Lindsey behind me, leaning on the doorframe staring back at me. Her hair’s a sexed-up mess, those blue eyes shining contently, still completely naked. My cock throbs, hardening again already.

“You’re beautiful, you know that?” I tell her, because bruises and all, she’d never looked more at ease than how she did right now. Whether she accepts it with pride, or draws back putting her mask in place, I have to say it. I won’t hide like she does. Finally, I’ve found a woman I want and I’m not prepared to let her go. I’ll fight every obstacle she puts in my way because I know she wants me too.

She smiles brightly and it lightens my chest, knocking it open for her love. Her smile feels real. It’s not fake; she’s not pretending. She’s showing joy in the fact I’ve told her she’s beautiful and she’s not trying to hide it.

Her mouth widens and a yawn escapes as she replies, “Thank you.”

It’s all I get, but at least she didn’t recoil into her shell like I was expecting her to. I pass her the washcloth and leave the bathroom to give her some privacy. Slipping on some underwear I pick up the clothes strewn on the floor and put them in the closet.