She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 208

(Mason)

I wake at seven. Maybe a little after.

The desert light comes in through the gap in the curtains and lands across the bed in a strip that has Chloe in the middle of it, dead asleep, one arm across my chest, hair everywhere.

I lie still and watch her breathe.

She moves and her eyes snap open, immediately alert.

It always fascinates me how she does this.

She’s awake or asleep, there’s no middle ground with her.

All or nothing.

I could get used to that.

"Morning."

"Hey. Were you watching me sleep? Don’t worry, I don’t think it’s creepy. I kind of like it."

She stretches against me.

Her leg slides up over my thigh.

I let her get there.

Let her find me already half hard because she’s naked and lovely and warm. Bathed in a strip of sunlight like an angel.

Her hand goes south of my waist and loosely grasps my growing erection.

"It seems like someone has some plans for me this morning."

"Always."

It's slower than last night.

Sleepy.

She rolls on top of me and takes her time.

I keep both hands on her hips and let her set the pace.

When she comes she sighs my name into my mouth quietly, and I follow her a minute later with a deep grunt.

She collapses on my chest. Hair in my face. I don't push it off.

It’s soft and smells like honey and herbs.

"Mason."

"Mm."

"Yesterday I said I love you."

"I know."

She laughs softly against my throat.

"If you want to talk about it we can. I just want you to know there’s no pressure. I don’t expect you to say it back or anything. It’s okay if you’re not there yet. I just wanted to be honest about where I’m at."

"I'm not going to say it back yet. Not because I don't-"

I stop myself before making promises I’m not ready to keep because I’m caught up in the moment.

I care about her, I’m not sure about everything else yet.

I take a breath.

"I'm really happy, Chloe. Right now, with you. I know that much. You make me happy. I’m not sure about the rest yet and I’m never going to lie to you."

She lifts her head to smile at me.

"That’s fine. I'm twenty-five, Mason. I've got time. Happy is more than enough for today."

She kisses me on the mouth and gets up. Stretches like a cat in the strip of light that’s grown wider while we were busy with other things.

She finds her robe and pulls it on.

"Yoga is starting soon. I’m going to have a shower first. Are you coming?"

"I’m going to skip the yoga. I’ve seen how you contort yourself, I’m not risking an injury. I’m just going to lie here and relax. You’re bendy enough for both of us."

She grins and walks into the bathroom.

I lie there listening to her singing in the bathroom.

It’s been really nice to get away from it all. I’m glad nobody needed me this weekend.

That's the moment it occurs to me that my phone has been unnaturally quiet for almost two days.

I see it on the counter where I put it when we arrived and when I pick it up it’s very warm.

Fifty-three missed calls. Twelve texts.

Two calls from Elias. One from Chase. Two from board members I never get unprompted calls from. Eight from my assistant Tara. Forty from Natasha.

I sit up.

The volume and vibrating function have both been turned off and it was lying face-down on the counter.

People have been trying to get hold of me and I was unreachable.

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