He slumps over me, catching himself just in time from landing on me.
“Fuck,” he whispers breathlessly.
Now that he’s closer, I bring my hands up to his arms and rub up and down them.
I smile into his eyes as I say, “Thanks, hot stuff.”
“Why hot stuff?” He pulls out and pleasure ripples over his body again.
“I’m testing pet names for you to see which one I like best,” I explain.
He sits down and falls back onto the mattress, looking totally sated.
When I scoot off the bed, he says, “I liked hearing you scream Mr. President from the other side of the campus.”
“One second.” I clench my legs together and not caring what I look like, I do the freaking penguin walk to the bathroom.
When I’m done, and I walk back into his room, he pats the bed. “Get your sexy ass over here.”
Grinning, I lie down next to him. He throws the covers over me as well, then he lifts his arm, so I can snuggle up against his side.
“So, Mr. President, let’s talk.”
“First thing. Only call me that when I can fuck you.”
I let out a burst of laughter. “Noted, sir.”
“That as well,” he adds. “Sir and Mr. President are for the bedroom.”
“And hot stuff?” I ask, pouting up at him.
He lifts an eyebrow at me. “How about just calling me Mason?”
“Let’s negotiate,” I say. “Can I call you Mace?”
“Mace works,” he agrees, then he asks, “While we’re talking about pet names, is there a story behind your father calling you Tiger?”
“It was kitten until I started PMSing,” I explain.
Mason tries to keep from laughing but when I snort, he cracks up. “You must’ve traumatized your father for him to switch from Kitten to Tiger.”
I watch him laugh, and it fills me with so much happiness.
His laughter dies down, and our eyes meet. We turn on our sides and laying face to face we stare at each other for a while, and it fills my chest with something I haven’t felt before.
It’s fresh and light, making me feel safe and secure.
I like you, Mace.
He brings a hand to my face and brushes his fingers along my temple.
“Can I tell you something I haven’t told anyone?” he whispers.
I nod.
“You scare me, Hunt.” A frown begins to form on my face, but then he continues, “I’ve fallen for you.”
“Why does that scare you?” I ask, keeping my voice soft so I don’t disturb the moment between us.
“I almost lost you.” He pauses and wrapping an arm around my waist, he holds me close.
I place my arm around him and begin to draw lazy patterns on his back.
“There was a moment I thought you were dead.” He lets out a hollow-sounding chuckle. “I remember thinking you’re too young to die. You have too much life in you to… just die.”
He’s quiet for a minute, and I keep moving my hand over his back. I never thought my dying, or almost dying, would have such an impact on the people around me. It’s a sobering thought, realizing you make a difference in someone’s life. Enough for them to mourn you.
“It felt like I lost something important, like you were just torn from my heart. That’s when I realized how much you meant to me.”
“I’m sorry it happened that way,” I whisper, wishing it could have been different.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t have admitted it otherwise. Nearly losing you showed me how much I’ve distanced myself from everyone but Falcon and Lake.”
He presses a kiss to the tip of my nose before pulling back to meet my eyes. “You were literally a light that forced your way through the darkness I became accustomed to after I lost my sister.”
I smile and press a kiss to his chin. “I like that. I can be your light while you’re my heart.” I shoot up and begin to bounce on the bed. “I’m hungry.”
“You and Lake aren’t related, right?” he jokes as he pushes himself into a sitting position, leaning back against the headboard.
“He’s my brother from another mother.”
Mason’s gaze slowly sweeps over my naked body. When he meets my eyes again, a grin pulls at his mouth. “I love how comfortable you are in your own skin.”
Shrugging, I say, “I might not have the biggest ta-tas, or the best curves, but I like the way I look.”
“I like the way you look as well,” he teases and bringing a hand to my chest, he brushes his knuckles over my nipple.
“Was that all you wanted to talk about?” I ask.
Mason shakes his head, and a serious look settles on his face. “You watched some of what happened today, right?”
Immediately a smile splits across my face. “Yeah, and you looked badass up on the stage.”
He winks at me, and it’s a good thing I’m not wearing any panties, or they would’ve melted right off.