Effective Way
Ellen sat there, completely still, her heart pounding as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. Mason had kissed her. She could still feel the warmth of his lips on hers, a touch that wouldn't go away. Her fingers brushed against her lips, as if to confirm that it had really happened.
What got into him? The question looped through her mind, over and over, as she struggled to reconcile the Mason she knew with the man who had just kissed her. Mason was always so distant, so controlled. Yet, in that moment, he had been something entirely different—something raw, almost vulnerable.
She needed to get out of there, to put some distance between herself and Mason before she lost control of her emotions completely. But just as she began to rise from the couch, Mason's hand caught hers, his grip firm but gentle. It startled her, and she lost her balance, landing right on his lap with a soft thud.