“Me too. My bad. I’m not very good with words, and when I lose a fight, I need a bit to unwind.”
“I don’t know you well enough to be aware of your needs. I felt…alienated.”
“I realized that later. Well, Katy beat it into me also.”
Jenna smiled. “I don’t care for the fighting,” she blurted.
Mason grinned. “That’s okay. You don’t have to watch me. It’s not mandatory in the girlfriend handbook.”
Did he say girlfriend?
“So you don’t mind if I don’t hang around at these competitions like some sort of groupie?”
“Nope.”
“Did it piss you off for me to see you lose?”
He shook his head. “Of course not. That’s on me. If I want to beat that guy, I’ve got to work harder. He’s a tough opponent. You had nothing to do with it. I’m just sorry you had to see me brood after.”
“Why did you go to the club?”
He shrugged. “Bad choice on my part. I should have gone home. I think I was punishing myself for the way I treated you by sitting at the bar all evening alone.”
Relief washed through her. “You didn’t have to do that. You should have talked to me. I would have understood.”
He nodded. “I should have.”
She turned around and wandered deeper into his space. “Are you always this tidy?”
“Sometimes. Today particularly. I was trying to occupy my mind to keep from coming after you at the shop.”
Jenna smiled to herself. He cares.
He stepped closer behind her as she wandered. “Were you mad that I went to the club?”
“No. Hurt maybe. I felt like you shut me out and then went out without me.” Jenna stopped and turned around, facing him. She threw up her arms. “What the hell am I saying? I don’t have any say in your life at all. We don’t have some commitment that says you can’t do whatever you want whenever you want.”
Mason reached for her and hauled her up against him. His proximity scrambled her brain. He planted his lips on hers so fast, she didn’t have time to protest. He kissed her senseless, delving into her mouth immediately, his tongue tangling with hers, demanding she open wider for him. Like a starving man, he possessed her until she was dizzy with need. Her pussy ached, and she pressed into his chest urgently.
When he pulled back and set his forehead on hers, he was breathing as heavily as she was. Finally he spoke after staring into her eyes forever. “I can’t yet define this thing we have between us, and I don’t know how long it will take me to figure it out and get it right, but you most certainly do have a say in anything pertaining to me or us. I would never cheat on you. That I can guarantee, and I’m already so into you that I consider myself committed. So, no matter what happens, don’t ever doubt my feelings on that subject.”
Her head swam with all that information. He’s committed to me?
She gulped, realizing she hadn’t breathed while he spoke. “Okay.”
He chuckled. “Well, aren’t we switching tonight?”
“Huh?”
He pulled her closer, nestled her head against his chest, and wove his fingers into her hair. “I’m all full of paragraphs, and you have less than one word to respond with.”
“Oh, sorry,” she muttered against his chiseled perfection.
“Don’t be.” He rubbed her scalp until she calmed beneath his touch. Before she could stop him, he swung her into his arms and strutted to the couch, plopping on the cushions and snuggling her on his lap.
Jenna yelped, but it was too late.
“Anything else you need to clear up?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Any deep dark secrets I should know about?” He held up a hand. “Let me rephrase. Rafe told me you have baggage. I’m guessing I’m not yet privy to your personal problems. Should I be?”
Jenna shook her head. “I’m not ready to go down that path. It’s ugly, and it would ruin our evening.”
Rafe nodded. “Fair enough, as long as you aren’t married or something.” He lifted one eyebrow.
“Of course not. Nothing like that. Let’s just say I have a strange family and leave it at that for now.”
“Good, cause I’m all out of words now. Do you mind if we make out instead?”
She lifted her gaze to his. “Make out? What are we, teenagers?” She giggled.
He shrugged. “I’m trying to be a gentleman here. Do you have a better idea? I mean I’m all for suggestions, but I’ve been ready to rip your clothes off since I opened the door.”
“Why am I always naked with you?”