Текст книги "Playing Pretend"
Автор книги: Juliana Haygert
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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 12 страниц)
“You don’t. But I want to build bridges and a master in structural engineering is highly recommended for that.”
“Building bridges? That sounds exciting.”
“It is.” His eyes sparkled. “I love the calculations, the imagining, the doing of what looks impossible.”
I smiled at the passion in his voice. “It sounds quite amazing.”
“I’m looking for an entry-level job in the area right now. Not sure if there are many construction companies like that around Washington though. At any rate, working in any civil engineering company will add to my resume and will help me lie low with the bartending thing.”
“I’m sure you’ll find something.” I truly was sure. If the passion he had just demonstrated was any indication of how good he was at it, he would go far. “What about hobbies?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. I like to go to the movies and eat popcorn, swim at the beach, run in parks, play video games, though I haven’t played much lately, and play sports, especially basketball. I used to play for my high school and in college. I drink too much Coke, eat too much pizza, and even though I spend a lot of time around beer and such, I’m not a true alcohol drinker.”
“All good stuff.”
He nodded. “All in all, a good guy.”
“A very good guy,” I said, smiling. Asking about hobbies reminded me of the questions I had asked Donnie. I bit my lip and decided to try it with Mason. “Okay. A couple more questions with quick answers.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Okay.”
“What’s your favorite movie?”
“The Matrix. I like the trilogy, but the first one is the best, hands down.”
“Interesting. Hmm, how about TV series?”
“Haven’t watched any lately. Used to like Smallville and Supernatural. There’s also Mega Engineering and Junkyard Wars. Oh, and MythBusters.”
I chuckled. Of course he would like those engineering programs. “Good stuff. Now, favorite book?”
“Not much of a reader, unfortunately, but I read the Harry Potter series back when. It was fun.”
“One of my favorite of all time. Songs?”
“So many. Anything from Coldplay or Maroon 5 or Creed, and Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin. I could go on all day.”
“Okay, last question. What’s the most daring thing you ever did?”
He frowned, thinking. “I bungee jumped off a bridge four years ago. It was crazy.” He ran a hand through his hair and I smiled. “So, did I pass your test?”
“You did.” I was so satisfied with his answers, contentment threatened to explode in my chest. He wasn’t boring at all. He was the exact opposite.
“Now, your turn. Tell me your answer to all of those questions.”
Oh, wow, he was better than I expected and he wanted to know me too. I smiled. “You know my hobbies. Roller skating and drawing. My favorite movie is Wimbledon alongside Avatar. For TV series, I’ll go with Once Upon a Time, Supernatural, and Gilmore Girls. My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I like too many songs and my favorite changes almost daily, but I’ve been into 5am by Katy B lately. And the most daring thing I ever did? The spring break trip when I met you. I told my mother I was going to Canada with Tracy.”
“You did what?” His eyes widened and he held an amused smile. “You did not.”
“I did.” I reached under the table with my foot, grazing his legs.
Mason tsked. “Don’t provoke me.”
“I’m not.”
His brows shot up and he pointed down the table. “Really?”
“Okay, I’ll stop.”
He grabbed my foot and put it against his leg again. “No need for that.” He smiled and I was sure I never had seen a more handsome man. Not only because of beauty, but also because of all that he was. All that he wanted to be. “Tell me more about you.”
“You know all about me.” I set down my fork and knife. “Father died when I was young. Mother is a control freak. She thinks Tracy Graham is my best friend, though Liana is, closely followed by MaryAnn and Becca. I like skating and drawing, though I’m majoring in political science instead of arts. I hate wearing pencil skirts and blouses, though that takes up most of my closet.” I paused and stared at my plate. “Sorry, I sound bitterer than I intended.”
Mason patted my foot. “That’s okay. I like that you’re honest with me.”
“I want to be honest with you.”
He took a deep breath as if he was preparing for a big speech. “Then tell me, why haven’t you told your mother to fuck off yet?”
Ah, the golden question. “It’s not that simple,” I muttered. “She’s very … oppressive and loud and firm. She always says I’m disappointing my father, which I think is true. He was this big conservative figure, who believed women were supposed to stay home and cook dinner for their husbands. I bet, if he was alive, I wouldn’t even be able to sneak out and do what I like. I would live the life they chose for me twenty-four-seven.” I paused, unsure if I should continue. I had never told this part to anyone. “Before his last deployment, my father told me to be good to her, to always behave and do what she tells me to. He said she would always know what was right for me; she would always want the best for me. I was only eight when he said it for the first time. I clearly remember him saying it again when I was twelve, when he was leaving for the military ceremony overseas, a few days before he was killed. I guess his words stuck in the back of my mind and it was as if I couldn’t go against him. Soon, my mother lost him, you know. I couldn’t hurt her more by not being who she wants me to be.”
I averted my eyes, shut my mouth, and waited for his judgment. If I had told any of this to Liana, she would have hit me hard and yelled, “Get out of that daze, girl!”
Mason’s eyes softened. “I understand. If my father had said something like that, I would probably do whatever and be whoever my mother wanted me to be.” He tapped my hand and I lifted my head, meeting his kind gaze. “Not that you don’t look good in those serious clothes, but I like the Charlotte you are right now.”
“I also don’t really hate the other Charlotte, but I do like this Charlotte much more.” I stood, decided not to let my family and their precious career bring me down. “You cooked. Now, it’s my turn to wash the dishes.”
“No way.” Mason stood and followed me into the kitchen. “It’s my apartment, my sink, my mess.”
I turned to him. “Then let’s compromise. I wash and you dry.”
“The opposite. I wash and you dry.”
I placed my hands on his chest and he held my wrists. “Nope, mister. My deal or no deal.”
I stood on tiptoes and he leaned down to me. “Sorry, but I can’t answer. I’m distracted right now.” His lips brushed against mine and I shivered. “I love knowing that I can make you tremble just by doing this.” He grazed his lips on mine again and this time I moaned. “Shit.” He groaned, and then took my mouth into his. There was no hesitation. His tongue swept inside my parted mouth, and I held on to him for dear life.
Mason backed me against the fridge, pressing his body on mine. My hands slid inside his shirt and I ran my nails down his back, making him shiver. I loved knowing I could make him tremble too.
His tongue grazed around my jaw, sending a jolt down my body that flared low in my abdomen and filled me with need, with lust. He nibbled the tip of my ear, provoking me with his erratic breathing, as his hands clasped around my ass, bringing my hips to his. His hard-on brushed against me and I moaned. Oh, the hell with it. I pulled my hands out of his shirt and fisted the hem, intent on pulling it over his head right now.
A loud Toxic by Britney Spears made Mason jump back a couple of feet. “What’s that?”
I laughed, fishing my phone from my pocket. “It’s the ringtone I chose for Tracy.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Appropriate?”
Shaking my head, I answered the phone. “Hey, Tracy. What’s up?”
Groaning, Mason adjusted his pants and walked to the other side of the bar area, clearly needing to cool off. I loved seeing him like that, aroused and losing control because of me.
I tuned him out—otherwise I would hang up the phone—and turned my attention to Tracy.
Chapter Thirteen
Mason
I was having the hardest time keeping my hands off Charlotte. Well, my hands were all over her, but what I wanted was to scoop her up and throw her onto my bed.
I drew little circles on top of her foot with my fingertips, and scanned every inch of her face, while she flipped through the channels, searching for a movie we could watch together.
We had retreated to the couch after washing the dishes and being interrupted by Tracy’s call, inviting Charlotte to a Fourth of July party I couldn’t attend. I had instantly laid her down and crawled over her. So, to keep us apart, she decided to sit on a corner of the couch, and I sat on the other end. Not two seconds later, she propped her legs over the couch and rested her feet in my lap.
I was sure I liked her. Very much. In addition, I felt good about it.
She was fun, beautiful, kind, and adventurous. She loved skating, drawing, and showing off her delicious legs with those short skirts. I knew she was great in bed. Perfect even. Christ, I couldn’t wait to try that part again.
My fingers trailed up her leg, pausing at her knees. She chuckled and swatted my hand away. When she seemed focused on her movie-finding marathon again, I resumed my hike. My fingers traced up her leg, and I heard her sharp intake of breath when my hand was close to the hem of her skirt. Slowly, she turned her eyes to me. I held her stare as my hand continued up, under her skirt.
She shifted her weight. “Mason …”
That was all I needed to hear. In a second, I had my arm around her waist, laying her on the couch, under me, while my other hand played along the edges of her panties.
Her back arched, pressing her breasts against my chest, and I groaned before taking her mouth. Her lips parted and moved in sync with mine. She teased my tongue with hers, and then she sucked on it. I almost flipped; I almost lost it. Shit. She was too much, just too much, and I wanted all of her.
I ground my hips against hers and she moaned. That sound alone filled me with excitement, with need. Need for her. With the hand under her skirt, I pulled her panties to the side and teased her with my thumb.
She grasped my shoulders, her nails sinking through my shirt, and gasped. “Mason,” she whispered against my mouth. My name coming from her delicious lips sounded like a prayer, and I loved hearing it. I loved how she was here with me, enjoying this as much as I was.
I slid my tongue to her ear and whispered, “What?” I rubbed my thumb around her clit and she moaned. “What is it?”
“Please,” she gasped.
I retreated my fingers. “Please, what?”
Charlotte glided her hands down my arms and held my hand in place. “Please, I need you.”
Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but it would suffice. Surprising her, I moved my hand fast and sunk a finger inside her. Back arching, she cried and I groaned against her neck. Christ, she was wet, tight, and ready. I had missed touching her. Tasting her.
I lifted from the couch and she held on to me. Her eyes were on mine, a desperate shine in them. I smiled and unclasped her hands from my arms, and then, none too gently, I pushed her skirt up and knelt between her legs. She drew air in, understanding what I was about to do, her beautiful face a mixture of anticipation and excitement.
I pushed her panties aside and lowered myself as she groaned, throwing her torso back down on the couch. I nipped her thigh and she groaned. Smiling, I played around some more, loving how eager she became with each gentle bite. Ending her torture, I flicked my tongue over her clit then took it into my mouth. She grasped the couch, a whimper escaping her throat, and adjusted herself, lifting her hips to me. With a satisfied smile, I swirled my tongue. If I was right, she was dying for release by now.
Her fingers knotted in my hair. “Mason, please …”
I flicked my tongue on her clit, and then pulled back a little. “Please, what?”
Cussing, she lifted her head and looked at me pointedly. “Don’t stop.”
Happy to oblige, I sank to her again and slid a finger inside her. Her muscles tightened against my finger, and all I could think of was to take down my pants and bury myself in her. Not yet. First, I would pleasure her, and then I would scoop her away to my bedroom and fuck her senseless.
I slipped a second finger inside, thrusting deeply, and increased the pressure of my tongue.
“Oh, please, don’t stop,” she cried, holding my hair tighter. I moved my fingers deeper and rolled my tongue harder. She stilled. “Mason,” she whispered, her body quavering as she came.
The bulge in my pants ached as I looked at her. Charlotte was thrown over the couch, completely undone. I had done that and it felt too damn good. She reached up, closing her hands around my arms and pulling me over her—exactly where I wanted to be.
I lay over her. “Was it good?”
She shot me an are-you-crazy look and hooked her legs around my waist, drawing me closer. “Come here,” she whispered before clasping my neck and bringing my mouth down to hers.
I didn’t restrain myself. I opened my mouth and kissed her with all I had, pressing down on her, rubbing my hips on hers to show her how much I wanted her. She gasped, unaware of how any of her sounds, little or loud gasps and cries and moans, made me harder and harder.
She fisted my T-shirt and tugged on it.
The jingle of keys on the front door froze us for a second. I jumped off Charlotte and sat down on the couch, pulling one of the decorative pillows over my hard-on, and Charlotte straightened by my side, pulling her skirt down and smoothing her hair. She fanned herself and I shook my head, fighting annoyed laughter.
The door swung open and David stepped in. “Hey.” He stopped and his eyes widened at the girl by my side. “Oh, hi.” He closed the door and approached the couch, adjusting his glasses. “I’m David, Mason’s roommate.”
“Hi,” Charlotte said, smiling at him. “I’m Charlotte.”
David smiled, totally smitten. I could punch him if Charlotte’s hand hadn’t fallen on my thigh, squeezing it. Christ, how am I supposed to lose my hard-on?
I cleared my throat. “She’s my girlfriend,” I said, feeling the need to clarify that.
“Oh, wow, that was quick,” David said, slipping his bag off his shoulder. “You’ve been here for what, two months? And you already have a girlfriend.”
I put an arm around Charlotte’s shoulders and looked at her. “We met before.”
“Ah,” David said. His gaze switched to the TV. “What the hell are you two watching?”
We had been so immerse in each other that Charlotte and I had forgotten about the TV. She probably let go of the remote when I attacked her, and we hadn’t noticed where it ended up. Toddlers & Tiaras.
I laughed and Charlotte’s cheeks turned red.
“Charlotte wanted to make a point about how crazy the mothers of these kids are.” I looked at her. “Point made.” I reached for the control and put on a movie channel.
“Okay,” David said, his tone indicating he didn’t really believe me. What the hell. If he wanted to think we had been fooling around on the couch, why not? I was certainly not ashamed of it. In fact, I was thinking of how to ditch him so Charlotte and I could keep this party going.
David’s footsteps echoed through the floor as he retreated to the kitchen.
“Great timing,” Charlotte whispered, leaning into me. She had a half-smile, like she held a secret and couldn’t wait to tell everyone. So cute. So beautiful.
I kissed her nose. “At least we hadn’t started anything yet.” She raised an eyebrow at me. “You know what I mean. Next time, remind me to carry you to my bedroom before things get out of hand.”
“I’ll try.” She slipped her hand under my shirt and grazed her nails over my abdomen. “It’s hard to control.”
Heat spread through me like wildfire and my aching bulge twitched. I kissed her jaw and whispered in her ear, “Stop that or I won’t be able to move from this couch tonight.”
She laughed and relaxed by my side, fitting her back under my arm and resting the back of her head on my shoulder. I leaned into her and kissed the top of her head, inhaling deeply and reveling in her sweet cherry scent. Christ, I had missed her. I had missed this. Her with me, anytime, all the time, doing anything. Even just sitting together and watching a silly movie without exchanging any words. It was heaven.
“Coffee, anyone? I’m making a new pot,” David said from the kitchen.
“Me,” Charlotte said. “Love me some coffee.”
“Cool,” my roommate said. “Mason?”
“No, I’m good, thanks.”
In a couple of minutes, David appeared from the kitchen with two steaming mugs. He handed one to Charlotte and sat down in the armchair beside the couch. “Sugar, cream?” he asked.
Charlotte settled back against me, holding her cup carefully. “Nothing, thanks.”
David stared at her. “You look familiar, I think. Do I know you from somewhere?”
Uh-oh. Charlotte stiffened beside me. “Hmm, I don’t think so.”
“But I think I’ve seen you somewhere before,” David insisted.
Shit. “She was at the club, that night we went out for your colleague’s birthday,” I said quickly, hoping that would do. “You probably saw me talking to her and that’s where you remember her from.” I was sure nobody had seen us talking, but it was the best I could come up with.
“Oh, really? You were there? That’s probably it, then.” David leaned back in the armchair and turned to the TV.
Charlotte relaxed but not as much as she was before. “Thank you,” she whispered.
I kissed her temple and tried to turn my attention to the movie, but thoughts of David connecting the dots and making a big scene out of who Charlotte was filled my mind, worrying me. Ugh, at least now my hard-on was gone.
* * *
Charlotte
After my morning class on Wednesday, I drove ninety minutes north and parked my car at a simple Starbucks along I-95 in Springfield, a small town outside of Washington. My mother thought I was still on campus, getting together with a fictitious group, working on a fictitious project for one of my real classes.
I looked around the parking lot, searching for Mason. I had no idea how he would get here, but he said he would find a way. Since I didn’t have enough time, we agreed to meet here. Unfortunately, that meant we had to behave, but that was better than not meeting at all. After four days without seeing him, I was dying to snuggle with him. To kiss him. To feel his hands over my body. To hear his accelerated breathing in my ear. To—
A knock on my window made me jump.
Mason stood outside my car, looking at me with a big smile.
My heart fluttered. That smile was for me. This handsome, hot man had come outside of Washington to meet me.
With a smile of my own, I opened my car door. As soon as I stepped out, Mason’s arms wound around me and pulled me to him. He kissed me as if he hadn’t seen me for an entire year, and I kissed him back the same way. His lips smoldered mine and I clung to his shoulders, teasing him with my tongue. He groaned, but didn’t break the kiss. Instead, he pushed me back until I was pressed between my car and him, and deepened the kiss. Heat surged low in my belly as he adjusted his stance, gluing every inch of him to me.
“Get a room!”
Mason and I turned to where the voice came. An older couple exited Starbucks and watched us with reproaching eyes.
My face burned.
“They’re just jealous,” Mason said, stifling a laugh.
“There are children here.” The man gestured toward a group of teenagers seated alongside a window, also watching us and giggling.
I smacked my hands on my cheeks as the couple disappeared inside their car.
Mason pulled my hands from my face and rested his forehead on mine. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I entwined my fingers with his. “How are you?”
“Better now.” He brushed his lips gently on mine; it took my breath away. I pulled away and he looked at me as if I had offended him. “What?”
“I … we can’t keep this up.” The heat in my body spread to my cheeks. “I’m gonna lose control if we do.”
The corners of his lips tugged up. He leaned into me and breathed in my ear. “I love it when you lose control.”
A pleasant ache flowered between my legs.
I stepped under his arm and broke free. “Come on,” I said, offering him my hand. “Let’s get some coffee and talk.”
Inside Starbucks, I sat at a corner booth while Mason ordered our snack: a cappuccino for me, an espresso for him, and a couple of brownies for us to share.
He snuggled in the booth with me, his arm over my shoulders, holding me close. I looked up at him, trying to etch every detail of him in my mind. His chiseled jaw, his chin, his cheekbones, his soft lips, his cute nose, the long lashes over his hypnotizing hazel eyes, the black hair framing his face in a planned-disheveled manner. He was beautiful. More than that, he made me feel good; he made me feel loved. With him, I could be the person behind the facade and still be okay.
“What?” he asked, giving me a sidelong glance. He bit into a brownie square.
“Nothing,” I said, leaning my head against his shoulder. “I just like this. Being with you.”
He kissed my temple, his warm lips lingering on my skin. “Me too. I just wished we could spend more time together.”
“Me too.”
Between my summer classes, my mother’s events, and the two-hour drive between Richmond and D.C., keeping a relationship with Mason was hard. I didn’t care about that though. I hadn’t felt this happy in so long. I would drive ten hours if it meant spending a couple of minutes with him.
“Tell me what you’ve been up to?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Because the fifty text messages and phone calls we shared each day since Friday doesn’t cover it?”
“You know what I mean. Text messages or calls are different. Now I’m here with you.” I turned my face to him, rubbing my nose on his neck and inhaling his delicious scent.
He shivered. “Behave or I’ll jump you right here.”
I smiled. “A, you don’t want me to behave. B, you wouldn’t jump me here.”
He lifted a brow. “Test me.”
I grazed my teeth over his jaw and he shivered again. Damn, I loved when he reacted this way to my touch.
“I need to focus on something else, or I will jump you right here,” he said. “Let’s see, I applied for two entry-level jobs this morning.”
I pulled back to look at him. “Really? Tell me about them.”
“It’s nothing major. I found two big engineering companies offering internships and entry-level positions.” His eyes twinkled with enthusiasm, making him even more handsome. “One works mainly with roads and bridges, and the other does it all. Skyscrapers, malls, hospitals, you name it. Of course, I’m hoping to be called for an interview for the first one, but I would be happy with either. Even skyscrapers and hospitals would help me gain experience and build a resume.”
“I know you’ll be called for an interview with both.”
“Your confidence in me is staggering,” he said, lowering his head to mine. He placed a kiss on the right corner of my lips. “I knew coming to Washington would be good for me, but I had no idea it would be this good.”
“I still can’t believe you’re here.”
He kissed the left corner of my lips. “I still can’t believe I found you again.”
I wrapped my hand around his neck and pulled him to me, closing my mouth overs his. Without hesitating, he answered and kissed me deeply, his tongue teasing me.
I had suggested we take this slow, but not this slow. If David hadn’t arrived in the apartment that night and interrupted us, Mason and I would have probably ended up in bed, and that was totally fine by me. Better than this growing need inside me and I couldn’t even satiated it. Not here anyway, and by the looks of our schedule, it wouldn’t happen anytime soon.
I glided my hand over his stomach, cursing the fabric of his shirt for being in the way.
My cell phone beeped, bringing sanity back to my mind. I broke the kiss and grabbed my phone.
Tracy: You’re still coming to my Fourth of July party this Friday, right?
I groaned.
“What?” Mason asked, spying my phone.
“It’s Tracy. She wants to know if I’m going to the party. My mother has a party in Richmond, but I think she’ll let me go to Tracy’s.” An idea popped in my mind. “Tracy always wants to go to a club after the party. Where are you working this weekend? I could convince her to go there.”
“I like that idea.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “I’ll be at the Blue House.”
Me: Only if we go to the Blue House after. I heard it’s a great club.
Reading the text, Mason laughed.
Tracy: Really? I’m up for that!
I looked up at him and smiled. “I guess I’ll see you again on Friday.”
He snaked his arm around my waist. “When you go out with Tracy like that, where do you usually stay?”
“At Liana’s house. I tell my mother I spend the night at Tracy’s though.” When I first started doing that, I was so sure my mother would find out, but she never checked with Tracy or anyone else where I ended up.”
He splayed his fingers on my back and pulled me close. “Hmm, is there any way you could ditch Liana and stay with me?”
A wave of desire burst through as if all I had felt this afternoon had been nothing. I tilted my head up to his. “I could definitely do that.”
