Page 68 of Fallen Hearts

That did it. As she tensed, I pulled my hand away and thrust balls deep. I came with her, my eyes never leaving Pia’s. It was as if more than just our bodies were connected as I came as hard as I’d asked Pia to. My legs shook as Pia’s arms wrapped around my shoulders, the two of us breaking eye contact for the first time.

I held her there, not wanting to let go.

Not now. Maybe not ever.

If that scary fucking thought didn’t have me pulling away, a knock at the door would anyway. “Mason, you in there? Someone’s here to see you.”

Someone? That was specific.

“Give me a second,” I called back, reluctantly pulling out of Pia. “I guess his timing could have been worse.”

She smiled. “So much for our talk,” Pia said as we both hurried back into our clothes.

“Let’s talk tonight. Stay late and have dinner. I’ll wrap up with Beck early and cook for you.”

“You cook?”

“Esther taught me a thing or two. But don’t expect anything gourmet.”

“Alright. Tell me what to get at the store. I’d planned to take a lunch break in town anyway since I’m out of wine. Figured I would say hello to Emilio.”

“I’ll text a list. Any allergies? Foods you don’t like?”

“I’m not a huge fish eater and hate mushrooms. Pretty much everything else is fair game.”

“Got it.” I leaned forward and kissed her as Beck knocked again.

I strode toward the door and opened it, giving my friend a peek inside at the wreckage. It probably didn’t help that I was also tucking in my shirt.

He whistled. “This is an interesting development.”

“Fuck off,” I said, passing him. “Who’s here, anyway?”

“That’s for me to know,” Beck said in a conspiratorial tone. “And for you to find out.”

23

PIA

Blinking, I sat back in my seat and tried to focus, but the computer screen wasn’t cooperating. Or my brain wasn’t cooperating. Either way, it seemed like as good a time as any for a break. Just as I gathered up my things, a text came through from Delaney.

I know it’s last minute, but any chance you can do lunch?

I actually hadn’t thought of lunch. Wonder why?

Chuckling at my own joke, a vision of half-naked Mason standing just about where I was seated right now as he absolutely dominated me, I texted her back and grabbed my purse.

On the way out, I popped into the reception room where Mason and Beck were painting. “Wow,” I said, not having seen it earlier. “It looks completely different.”

Mason stopped painting and turned around. “Taking out a wall, new floor, new color… that’ll do it. What do you think?”

“I love it,” I said as he put the brush on top of a paint can.

“Hey, Pia,” Beck said without stopping.

“Hi, Beck.”

I thought that would be the end of it, Beck uncharacteristically quiet, until Mason took my arm and started leading me to the kitchen.

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