Return to Her by Alexandra O'Hurley

enjoying your
friends.”
    “ I know. In theory, it
sounds logical. In action, I just want you here.”
    “ Then turn around,” he
said.
    She frowned. “What?”
    “ Turn around,
Cassie.”
    Cassie looked over her shoulder and
saw a man standing in the middle of the parking lot. He held a
phone to his ear. As he began to walk closer, she turned to face
him, her lungs burning as she held her breath.
    Could it be…?
    Once the man walked under
a floodlight, she saw him more clearly. Short dark hair graced a
head above a set of wide shoulders. It looked like… Mason.
    Her heart thundered in her chest, the
sound echoing in her ears. As the shock faded some, she began
running, as fast as her feet could fly, to eat up the yards between
them.
    The closer she got, the more the
realization hit her. He was home. He was safe. He’d returned to
her, as promised.
    Mason opened his arms wide and she
raced into them, tears streaming down her face. Sobs wracked her
body as she held him close, never wanting to be out of his embrace
ever again. He drew her against him, holding her still and rubbing
her back until she calmed some, the sobs melting away as the
initial intense feelings of relief subsided.
    He held her tight, kissing the top of
her head and face, holding her so close she could barely breathe.
When she pulled away slightly, his lips found hers and they kissed,
time standing still in that moment. It felt like the time that had
held them apart had been nothing. They’d just said their goodbyes
and picked right off where they’d last been—in one another’s
arms.
    Finally they broke apart and stared at
one another. Cassie laughed, happier than she’d been since before
he’d left. Shock still filled her, her body thrumming from the
excitement of seeing him.
    “ Not that I’m not elated,
but what are you doing here?” she asked.
    “ We finished our
assignment early, so they let us go home,” Mason said. “One of the
perks of a volunteer assignment.”
    Cassie hugged him tight. “I’m never
letting go. I can’t do this again.”
    Mason cradled her face in his hands
and stared down at her. “I never want to leave you again, but this
won’t be the last time. It’ll get easier. Trust me. But, it
shouldn’t come anytime soon, so you’re stuck with me for a
while.”
    “ Stuck sounds
wonderful.”
    He pulled her even closer and kissed
her passionately, his arms wrapping around her so tight she could
barely move. She’d have had it no other way, though. The closer,
the better. When he finally released her lips, she leaned in and
kissed him, thinking no one kiss would ever be long enough for her.
She had a year-full of them to give him. And more. Her body was
already on high alert, ready for his touch.
    Mason squeezed her ass and pulled her
lower body against his hard–on. A moan ripped from between her lips
and he swallowed it with his kisses. She wanted him, right there.
But they’d have to wait. There were people all over with all the
picnics and gatherings around.
    Cassie drew away from Mason, realizing
there were a lot of people at the picnic he’d want to say hello to,
as well as a celebration to enjoy. “Are you hungry? There’s plenty
of food.”
    Mason stared down at her, a flash of
lust filling his eyes. “I’m only hungry for one thing,” he said
lowly. “Everything else can wait.”
    Need churned in her gut when she
locked her gaze with his. Her body was ready for him, her nipples
hard, her clit beginning to tingle as the blood flowed there to
swell the little nub.
    Breathless, she smiled up at him.
Cassie didn’t want to deny him—she was just as needful as he was.
“Our friends are here and I can’t just disappear without questions
and concern. We need to go make a quick round and then go home. As
soon as we can break free.”
    Mason nodded and kissed the breath
from her. “Promise?”
    “ Promise,” she
answered.
    Mason eased from her arms and picked
up his duffel. “Can I have your