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Chapter 40 - The Trip: Last Day

The next morning the place was quiet and peaceful since it was already Monday and many left to return to their homes. Kelsey couldn't help but feel sad that they were leaving already. She really liked the place and it had a special place in her heart since it was a magical place where she and Mason seemed to have grew closer together.

She took in some fresh air as she stared at the sun slowly rising. She was startled when muscular arms wrapped around her waist and a little gasp escaped her lips. "Did I scare you?" Mason asked as he beamed at her.

"A little." She answered and rested her head on his chest. She woke up early this morning that the sun wasn't even up yet. She didn't know why but her heart was aching when she woke up.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly as the smile on her face faded. Kelsey sighed and shot him a reassuring smile. She turned around to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm fine." She replied. "Just a little bomb out that we're leaving soon." She said with pouted lips.

Mason stared at her luscious lips and he couldn't help but desire of tasting them. Without thinking, he leaned down and kissed her slowly. Kelsey's eyes widened as he placed his hand on the nape of her neck while the other was placed on her waist, pulling her closer towards him. Kelsey enjoyed the tastes of his minty lips until she remembered that she probably still had morning breath.

She quickly pulled away and turned around to hide her flustered cheeks from him. She smacked herself on the forehead and scolded herself internally. "What is it? Did I do something wrong?" He asked her and tried to spin her around to see her face. But Kelsey wouldn't budge, she was embarrassed and she wished a hole would open up and swallow her. "Kelsey." Mason worriedly called.

When she still wouldn't budge, he sighed and walked around to face her. Mason took her hands away from her face as she struggled to fight him. "What is it? What did I do?" He asked only to see how red her face was. A grin quickly made its way to his face at the fact that she was blushing.

"After all the times we've kissed, you still manage to blush. It's cute." He commented, furthering the redness on her face.

"It's not that you doof!" She spat at him and started walking away. Mason chuckled and followed after her, walking backwards to watch her face.

"Then what is it? Tell me."

"No!"

"Tell me."

"Mason."

"Tell me!" He nagged and started tickling her. Kelsey fell on the soft sand and tried to swat his hands away. She was running out of breath as he continued to tickle her but she didn't cave in. Mason's hand went up to tickle her neck but his hand slipped causing him to fall on top of hers.

They both stopped what they were doing and Mason leaned his left elbow to keep himself from squashing her tiny body. They looked into each other's eyes and Mason couldn't help but admire the beautiful features of her face. He softly swept a strand of hair that fell on her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. "You look beautiful." He honestly told her and Kelsey saw his sincerity flashed in his eyes. She smiled at him and Mason's attention went to her lips. He wanted more, he needed more of her taste.

Mason found himself leaning down once again to taste her delicious lips. He was only inches away and he could already taste her strawberry-like lips. But before he could even plant a kiss, Kelsey placed a hand to cover her lips, causing Mason's lips to touch the back of her hand, leaving a tingling spot.

Mason opened his eyes and shot her a confused look. Kelsey furiously shook her hand with her mouth still intact as Mason tried removing her hand away. "Kelsey." He groaned in frustration as she fought him. But Kelsey knew her strength was no matched to his when he successfully removed her hand. He pinned both of her wrists above her head with one hand and smirked down at her in victory.

Kelsey then curled her lips inwards to prevent him from kissing her. Mason chuckled and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose instead. His breath lingered on her skin, causing her goosebumps to rise. She didn't know how much longer she could contain herself. She didn't know if she could keep up her fight.

"Why were you covering your mouth? Why don't you wanna kiss me?" He asked in bewilderment. "I'm pretty sure I'm a very good kisser." He proudly announced with a smirk playing along his lips, causing her to scowl. "So what's the problem."

"Aren't you one cocky guy?" She sarcastically said and tried to pry her hands from his tight grip but Mason only tightened his hold and pinned her body by placing his legs on either side of her's, practically straddling her.

"I'm just stating the truth." He retorted. "Don't you agree? Maybe I should show you again how great of a kisser I am." He teased leaning down but Kelsey had managed to pry one of her hands out of his hold and covered her mouth again. This time, however, Mason stopped mid-way.

Mason playfully glared at her as she wiggled her body to escape him. "I would stop moving if I were you. Unless you want me to take you right here, right now." He huskily said, causing a shiver down her spine. Mason watched as her cheeks turned to scarlet red once again. She looked really adorable when she was blushing. More than anything, he liked the fact that she was blushing because of him.

"Get off of me, Mason!" She demanded frustratedly, trying not to move as much. The last thing she wanted was to lose her virginity early in the morning and make love to the doofus in front of her on the sand. It sounded romantic but she still preferred privacy.

"Not unless you tell me why you're trying to dodge my kiss."

Kelsey glared at him and heaved a sigh. She turned her head to the side to avoid his eyes and silently spoke. "I haven't brushed my teeth yet." She mumbled under her breath.

"What?" He asked, not quite understanding what she was saying.

"I haven't brushed my teeth yet." She repeated quietly but still sounded a bit muffled to Mason.

"What?"

"I said I haven't brushed my teeth yet!" She screamed in his face furiously, annoyed by his constant asking.

Mason stared at her for a second and laughed when her words registered in his head. Kelsey shot him with daggers through her eyes and hit his chest. Mason let out a groan, halting his laughter, and ran a hand on his chest to soothe the stingy pain.

"Get off!" She yelled and tried pushing him away. But the man wouldn't budged, not even a little.

Mason smiled at her and placed a tender, long kiss on her lips. She enjoyed his kiss and let his guide her. The butterflies were back in her stomach and she felt hot all over the place. She really hated how much he had affected her and she knew she would soon be in danger by letting her guard down.

Mason slowly pulled away and rested his forehead against her. He looked into her hypnotizing orbs and sincerely smiled. "Still taste like strawberries." He told her, and cue the blushing. "I love the taste of your lips." He admitted, running his thumb on her bottom lip. "Very addicting." He added and placed another peck on her lips.

Kelsey beamed at him and placed a hand on his cheek. She softly rubbed his flawless skin with her thumb and pulled him closer. "I've tasted better." She teased him. He was caught off guard that his hold on her loosened. Kelsey took her chance, pushed him away and made a run to the hotel. But Mason quickly composed himself and chased after her.

"What'd you say?! He yelled as he took long strides to reach her.

"You heard me!"

"I beg to differ. Come here and I'll prove you wrong!"

"You can rely on my words. I'm telling the truth!" She teased and was about to look back to check how far he was but Mason had already grabbed her forearm and spun her around to face him.

He pulled her closer and held the nape of her neck to hold her still as he kissed her. "Mason!" She hissed and pulled away but Mason was still holding onto her arm and pulled her back in. He kissed her again and he planned to make it longer and sweeter this time.

Kelsey enjoyed his kisses and she knew that he indeed was a great kisser. She was being biased, however, because he was the very first man she had ever kissed so she didn't really have any reference to compare it with. She then saw two figures from the corner of her eyes and pushed Mason a little bit.

"Mason." She uttered trying to catch her breath. "There are people watching." She said motioning her head to the direction of the two women giggling as they watch them make-out.

"So?" Mason asked with a raised eyebrow. "Let them watch so we have witnesses to testify of how great of a kisser I really am." He kidded and nibbled on her earlobe.

Kelsey playfully smacked his arm and and shamefully hid her face. Mason chuckled and wrapped his arms around. "Let's go grab some breakfast." He announced.

~ * ~ * ~

After breakfast, Mason and Kelsey took a walk by the beach, wrapped in each other's arms. Kelsey bit her lip, trying to prevent herself from asking the question that had been bugging her. Mason studied her and saw that something was nagging her. "What is it?" He asked her as she looked up at his observant eyes.

Kelsey timidly shook her head and fixed her eyes on the sand. "Kelsey... Tell me, what's bugging you?" He asked holding her by the shoulders.

Kelsey avoided his eyes and softly spoke. "What's gonna happen to us when we go back?" She asked as she played with her fingers.

Mason tilted his head to the side in confusion, not fully understanding her question. "Nothing." He nonchalantly answered with a shrug. Kelsey felt a pierce in her chest, squeezing her heart to pulp. She knew it was too good to be true. Why did she even thought for a second that Mason might actually be interested in her? He dated actresses, models - like Claris, and she was so out of his league.

Kelsey felt her heart sank and her sorrow didn't go unnoticed to Mason. He gently held the sides of her face with his palms and looked straight into her eyes. Something was upsetting her and Mason didn't like seeing her disheartened. "Kelsey, tell me, what's upsetting you?"

Kelsey shook her head and looked away from his eyes. He pulled her head out of his grip and turned her back to him. She felt her tears forming at the back of her eyes and the last thing she wanted was for him to witness that she cared for him, that she had fallen for him and his charms.

Mason pulled her arm and spun her around. Kelsey couldn't control the tear that had slipped out of her eye. 'Damn it!' She internally cursed herself and quickly wiped it with the back of her hand. She sniffed and kept her head low. Mason hooked his index finger below her chin and raised her head up. He felt a clenching feeling in his chest as he stared into her tearful, sorrowful eyes. "Kelsey-"

"Let's just go." She weakly announced and started walking away. Mason took long strides and was able to caught up with her.

"Kelsey-"

"Let's just go home and go back to normal. I knew this trip was too good to be true." She loudly admitted, mumbling the last sentence, but Mason caught every single word.

"What?" Mason asked in confusion and halted her from walking by grasping her forearm. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing." She said and kept moving but Mason held her back.

He felt frustrated that he wasn't exactly understanding what she was saying and she was only confusing him more. "Tell me. What's the problem? You wouldn't cry if there isn't one?"

"I said it's nothing." She retorted.

"I really don't understand you women!" Mason suddenly fired back, startling Kelsey. "You expect us men to know exactly what you feel. When we ask what the matter is, you say nothing, but when we don't ask anything, you still get mad. What is it that you really want?! You're only making me confuse and I wish you would just tell me what's really-"

"I like you!" Kelsey furiously blurted out, cutting his long rant. Mason stared at her in bewilderment as she released the breath she had been holding. "I like you, Mason." She softly repeated. She felt a bit embarrassed that she confessed her feelings first, but he was really annoying and it was the only way to shut him up.

They were only staring at each other and Kelsey felt even more humiliated that he wasn't responding at all. It was their number one rule, Do NOT fall in love with each other! Why did she suddenly thought that everything would change because of one trip? She was so stupid, she wished that the ground would just open up and engulf her.

Kelsey swallowed the remaining pride she had left, which wasn't really much, and turned away from him. Mason's hand shot out before he could even stop himself and twirl her around, planting a passionate kiss on her lips. He held her intimately and pulled her closer, loving the feeling of her body against his.

He pulled away when he ran out of breath. He rested his his forehead against her's and looked straight into her beautiful orbs. "Let's start over, Kelsey. No more contract. Let's make this work." He told her as Kelsey stupidly smiled at him. She nodded her head and pulled him into a tight embrace.

"I'm assuming that's a yes." He chuckled and pulled her even closer and placed a kiss on the top of her head. Kelsey really wished that everything would work out for the both of them.

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