Delivering His Gifts (Mountain Men of Liberty #10)- K.C. Crowne Page 0,19

been so long since I’d been out with another adult, especially an adult man, and I hated to admit it, but I was having a good time.

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from saying something I’d regret. I stared down at the table where someone had carved their initials - A.M and C.F, wherever you are, I hope you’re still together, I thought to myself, running my fingers over the heart that encircled the letters. At least let there be some hope for love.

“What’s that face for?” Mason asked.

I tried to look as casual and normal as possible when I met his gaze again. “What face? It’s just my usual one,” I said, forcing a laugh.

“You just looked a bit sad, that’s all.”

Sad because I don’t want the evening to end, yes, but I’m not going to tell you that.

“I don’t get out of the house much. I mostly work and take care of Skyler and all the critters. Most of the time, the rescue is filled with animals, and while I have a few volunteers, I do most of the work myself.”

“So you’re saying you’re having a good time?” He had a smug look on his handsome face.

“Yeah. I am,” I admitted with a smile. “It’s rare that I get to socialize with adults, and it’s nice.”

He continued staring at me with a crooked smile on his face. “This was nice, Danielle,” he said slowly. “Thanks for taking the time to come out with me.”

Was nice. He was already talking in the past tense, meaning the night was coming to a close. Dammit.

“No, thank you,” I said. “For pulling me out of the house and giving me much needed adult time.”

Mason slapped some bills on the table - more than enough to cover my drinks and his. I reached for my wallet and paid for my own anyway. It would just mean the waitress would get one hell of a tip.

Mason slipped out of the booth, and I followed him. We’d taken separate vehicles. I had parked my car beside his pickup truck, so we walked between the two of them to say our goodbyes.

Except I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

“Well, I guess…” Mason started to say something, but I placed my fingers against his lips to silence him.

“I’m not ready for the night to end yet.” My voice came out breathy, and it didn’t sound like me.

“What do you want to do?” Mason asked. His voice was deep and low. His eyes narrowed, as if he knew what I was about to say but didn’t want to make any assumptions.

I bit my lip and stared up at him, unable to find the words myself. I licked my lower lip, imagining what his tongue would feel like in my mouth.

I didn’t have to imagine for long.

That look was enough of an answer as any, and Mason took my face in his hands and pressed his lips to mine. His beard tickled against my face; his kiss was soft and sweet. Hesitant, even.

He pulled away, and I audibly gasped, “Nooo, please…”

“Are you sure?” His grey eyes were almost black.

“I’m sure,” I said.

“Sure sure? Because earlier you seemed to want to keep our meeting professional and—”

I didn’t let him finish his sentence. I pressed my breasts against him and stood on my tip toes, kissing him and silencing him for good.

There was no argument from Mason, no more asking to be sure I wanted this. My hand grazed his crotch, bringing a low groan from his lips. My eyes widened as I felt the size of him through his pants. My Lord, I thought, I want this man so much. I could feel the heat growing between my thighs, the need to have him inside me taking over, making me forget about anything and everything else in that moment.

I had made it very clear that yes, I wanted this. It had been so long since I’d been with anyone. Five years of denying myself the touch of a man, and suddenly, there was this hot as hell mountain man looking my way and I threw myself at him.

Before I knew what was happening, Mason had lifted me into the cab of his truck. His strong hands picked me up as if I weighed nothing at all. He joined me in the truck, sitting in the driver’s side, but I wasn’t in the passenger seat for long. I straddled him, my hands pawing at his jeans. He helped me remove