Page 39 of Take Me
“It’s no problem.”Erika snatches my arm.She digs in her nails in as she smiles for our hostess like this is all some silly misunderstanding.“Mason kicks in his sleep, so we sometimes prefer to be separate, but I’d rather snuggle.Wouldn’t you, hon?”
There’s a big, gloopy lump in my throat that wasn’t there a minute ago.I feel myself nodding, swallowing hard to force words from my mouth.“Absolutely, babe.”I smile like this isn’t my nightmare come true.“Looking forward to it.”
Chapter6
Erika
“At least the room’s nice.”I set down my bag and survey the honeymoon suite.There’s a massive king bed with an oak-slatted headboard I could swear was designed for lovers to tie each other up.
I’m staring at that—decidedly not thinking about bondage—as Mason pops out of the bathroom.“There’s a massive jacuzzi with a basket of rose petals beside it.”
Great.“Knock yourself out if you need a bath.”
“I don’t.”
“Good.”God, this is awkward.“We’re apparently stuck sharing a bed, so hygiene is kinda imp?—”
“You want to smell me?”He stomps over and lifts up his arms.
He’s wearing a tight-fitting T-shirt and some kind of cologne or deodorant that smells like fresh grass and cedar.He smells delicious and looks even better.
I might not have spent much time checking out Mason before, but I’m noticing everything now.How nice he smells, how tall he is, how a job slinging kegs has toned his physique to perfection.
“Ung,” I manage.
Mason rolls his eyes.“Ugh?Seriously?”He makes a big show of sniffing himself.“I think I smell great.”
“You smell fine, and I didn’t sayugh.I saidung, which is a totally different word.”
One eyebrow quirks.“Defineungand use it in a sentence, please.”
“God, you’re infuriating.”I push past him and pick up my suitcase, determined to ignore him as much as I can.“I call dibs on six hangers and at least one dresser drawer.”
“I call dibs on the feathers.”
“What?”I spin around to see Mason standing by the bed with a weird little smile.He’s holding a basket filled with shimmering peacock feathers.There’s a laminated card hooked on the side, and he pulls it off and starts reading.
To our dearest guests,
Welcome to the honeymoon cabin at Sunridge Vineyards!As honeymooners for 40+ years, we hope you feel the love seeping from every pore of this magical place!
As you may have observed, our neighbors to the east have a lovely farm filled with free-range peacocks.These feathers have been humanely collected and carefully sanitized.Please use them in whatever way titillates you and your beloved as you enjoy your romantic stay with us.If magic ensues, feel free to take the feathers home with you!
Warm wishes,
Jed and June Clark
He lowers the card and looks at me.“There’s a list of ideas.Body parts to tickle, different ways to tease and tantalize and?—”
“I’m good.”My voice sounds weirdly high.“Where’s that sparkling rosé Larissa mentioned?”
“I’ll find it.”
Sounds like we could both use a drink.We’ve got nearly four hours until the welcome reception, and it won’t take me more than fifteen minutes to get ready.Maybe twenty if I fuss with my hair, but who am I kidding?I don’t know how to do much more than brush it or maybe clip some behind my ear with the barrette Hazel loaned me.
I unpack my bag, keeping my distance from Mason.I get the sense he’s doing the same, since he unloads his own duffel into the nightstand on the far side of the bed.That takes him two minutes, and then there’s the joyful pop of a cork.
“Here you go.”He hands me a flute, and I take it.
