Love was the enemy. But when she looked at Mason, she didn’t feel threatened, she felt hopeful.
Mason pulled up to her house. Her house. It still seemed like such a foreign concept, but she was learning to accept it, embrace it, appreciate it.
“You’ve been quiet. You okay?”
God, she loved that he noticed, that he cared enough to ask. It was so simple and silly, but that’s all she ever wanted—basic human courtesy.
“Like my mom said, my family can be a bit much.”
“No, your family is great. You’re so lucky to have them.”
“Then what is it? And don’t tell me ‘nothing’ or that you’re fine, because you have these wrinkles right here.” His thumb hovered above the bridge of her nose, wanting desperately to stroke it, but not wanting to touch her without her making the first move. “They come out when you’re overthinking something.”
Stuck by how much that slight observation warmed her heart, her lips curved up unexpectedly as raw emotion surged through her. She finally decided she was done with her stupid plans.
“Remember when you said you wouldn’t kiss me unless I wanted you to?” she asked, looking down at her hands and fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
“Yes,” he said. She looked up, catching his gaze. His eyes boring into hers going beyond the surface and straight to her heart.
“I want you to.”
“Really?” The stunned excitement in his tone made her heart swell and her lips twitch with laughter. He cleared his throat. “I mean. Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
He moved closer slowly reaching out to her. His hand stilled, hovering mere inches from her cheek. “You’re really sure?”
“I really am. It’s okay. You can touch me.”
He let out a jagged breath as he crossed the invisible line he had lovingly created and pressed his palm against her cheek. She tilted her head into his warm, work callused hands, loving the feel of his skin against hers.
He stroked his thumb across the apple of her cheek, sending an excited wave through her body. She never thought she’d revel in a man’s touch again and now she was savoring every gentle caress.
She relaxed, moving closer to him, opening herself up to this man who she knew with all her heart would never raise a hand to her, would never make her feel inadequate or useless. This man would make her feel protected and loved.
He tilted his head and her eyes slid shut as desire rushed through her. She could feel his warm breath on her skin, feel his presence moving closer still until his lips brushed against hers. Tender and sweet, igniting a thousand sparks inside her.
He kissed her like she was a fine piece of china and he was afraid of breaking her. It was thoughtful and caring, but she wanted more. She wanted all of him, the real him, and not a restrained version because he didn’t want to scare her.
“You won’t break me,” she said against his mouth.
His hand moved, his fingers tangling in her hair as his other hand cupped her jaw, his thumb gently stroking against her skin. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t. You would never.”
“I wouldn’t. I promise. You need to believe me.”
“I… I trust you,” she said and his hold on her tightened, and his lips crashed to hers, all gentleness gone to the frantic movements of their lips. Her arms went around him, dragging herself closer. His hand dropped from her hair, landing on her hip and urging her forward. Their bodies pressed against each other as she straddled his lap, all fears and reservations gone to the lust consuming her.
Her hips rocked against him, and he moaned, his arms tightening around her. It didn’t scare her, though, it only propelled her forward. Her body arched into his as his tongue slipped passed the crease between her lips, exploring her mouth with red hot eagerness.
His hands slipped beneath her shirt, resting against her heated skin and sending waves of warmth through her body. Heat expanded in her core and moisture pooled between her legs. Every sensation, every touch of his lips, swipe of his tongue was like an electric shock, shining new light into her and making her feel like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
An excited bubble swelled in her lower abdomen when she felt the hard press of his erection. She moved against it, wanting to know what it would feel like inside her.
Mason pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. His hands grasped her face, his thumbs making small circles on her cheeks. “I need to stop,” he said, his breaths coming in short, fast gasps.
Suddenly aware of how forward she had been, she froze. “I’m sorry,” she said and went to disentangle herself from him, when his hold on her tightened.
“Don’t go,” he said, pressing her against him.
Her head rested against the crook of his neck, and she inhaled his familiar scent, finding comfort from it. “I got carried away.”
“We both did.” He stroked her hair and kissed her neck. “Which is why I had to stop.”
“I don’t understand. She pulled back, her back hitting the steering wheel, reminding her that they’d never made it out of the truck.
“You trust me, and I refuse to do anything to betray that trust. You said I could kiss you, but if we kept going the way we were…”
“I wouldn’t have minded.”
He laughed, and the sound was reassuring. “Don’t tell me that.”
She reached up, running her fingers through his hair and trailing them down the curve of his ear. She took a deep breath, swallowing down all her reservations. “I like you, Mason. A lot. And before today, it scared me.”
“What makes today different?”
“I finally realized that the thought of letting you slip away because of my fears was by far scarier than letting you in. I don’t fear you; I know you’ll never hurt me intentionally.”
“I won’t. Ever.”
“I know. I’m just scared of losing myself.”
He brushed her hair behind her ear, smiling up at her. “I wouldn’t let that happen.”
“Promise?”
He kissed her again. “I promise.”
Chapter 13
Cassie looked out the window, enjoying the last moments of warmth before she had to head out into the cold damp day. It was a rainy morning that made the leaves on the trees around the house glow brighter. It amazed her how something as gloomy as rain could manage to make something even more beautiful.
She still couldn’t believe she had her own place. A year ago, if she could have imagined where she would be, this would have seemed like an unrealistic fairytale, but somehow it was her life, and she was eternally grateful to everyone who had helped her get here.
She looked up and smiled. “Francine, if you’re there like I think you are, thank you for everything and sorry for getting lost for so long. I know I let you down, and I know if you were here you would tell me I could never let you down, but it’s okay. I’m turning my life around. I’m going to make you proud. You just wait.” She blew a kiss toward the ceiling, hoping wherever Francine was she would receive it.
She grabbed her jacket off of the hook by the door and headed out into the rain. She imagined what it would look like if it was snow instead. Now that she had a place to live, she was looking forward to the snow. Truth was in all her twenty-six years she had never seen snow. Sure, she had seen it in movies and in pictures, but she had never experienced it herself. Never caught a snowflake on her tongue or felt the coldness of a snowball in her hand. She wanted to build a snowman and go sledding—everything she missed out on as a kid who never left the sunny state of Florida until this past June.
Just as she was about to step off the porch a familiar Bronco pulled up.
Heat rushed through her as she spotted Mason through the truck window. She could still feel his lips on hers, the way his hands cupped her face, and the gentle stroke of his thumb across the apple of her cheek as he deepened the kiss.
She had replayed that
kiss over and over and drifted off to sleep in blissful peace. It was the first night since arriving in Red Maple Falls that she’d slept soundly through the night.
Mason waved for her to get in the passenger seat so she ran out from the overhang above the front door and straight to the truck. She flung the door open and pulled herself in. It was nice not having to carry her backpack with her everywhere she went, but now she didn’t know what to do with her hands. She hadn’t put too much thought in past the kiss, and now that she was in his truck, she wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed.
She didn’t have to wonder long. Mason reached across the seat, taking her face in his hands and bringing his lips to hers. He kissed her soft and sweet at first then his movements became more urgent and greedy, which she didn’t mind. She liked when he lost control because it was fueled by his desire for her and nothing more. She trusted him completely, and when his mouth was on hers, she was willing to surrender her inner most fears and get lost with him.
She parted her lips, letting him deepen the kiss. He didn’t hesitate, thrusting his tongue past the crease and meeting her in a slick dance. They moved with languid strokes, exploring and discovering one another, giving and taking until their breaths were short and desperate.
They pulled back, Mason resting his forehead against hers as she closed her eyes and savored the electricity coursing through her veins. “That was only supposed to be a short peck hello,” he said against her head.
“I’m glad it wasn’t,” she said, laying her hand against his chest and loving the feel of his heartbeat beneath her hand.
“You are? I didn’t…” He didn’t finish his thought, but he didn’t have to say the words; she knew what he was thinking. He was afraid that he would scare her.
“You surprised me,” she said, and she could see the apology on his lips so she rested her finger against them. “But it was a good surprise. The kind I like.”
He sighed in relief.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
His eyebrow arched and butterflies took flight in her stomach. “For what?”
“For making you feel like you have to worry about everything you do when it comes to me.”
He smiled, shaking his head slightly as he caressed her arm. “I don’t mind.”
“I do. I want you to be able to touch me, kiss me without being afraid. I don’t want you to hold back.” Anger and frustration balled together into an ugly knot, causing her to lose her resolve. Hot annoyed tears pushed at the back of her eyes, but she took a deep breath willing them away.
“Hey,” he said, wrapping his hand around her head and bringing his forehead to hers. “Look at me.
She shook her head, afraid if she looked at him the tiny thread of strength she was holding onto would snap and she’d fall apart. That couldn’t happen. She had come too far to succumb to her emotions now.
“Please.” The single word was like an arrow to her chest, piercing straight through to her heart. She had promised herself that she would never give in to a man’s commands ever again, but this wasn’t just a man. This was Mason, and he wasn’t giving her a command; he was pleading with her.
She blinked up, his dark green eyes meeting her golden brown. A smile played at the corner of his mouth as he ran a finger beneath her eyelid, brushing away a tear that managed to escape.
“We have all the time in the world, and if I have to hold back for a little while until I know that you feel safe with me then for me it’s worth it. I’d rather be patient than rush this. What this is? It doesn’t happen every day.”
No, it didn’t. Their connection was strong and intense. Even when she’d thought Dylan was her knight in shining armor, she’d never felt like this. Mason was right. What they had didn’t happen every day. It was a once in a lifetime connection, and if he was willing to put the work in to make it last then she was willing to be patient, too.
“I never felt like this before with anyone,” she admitted.
“Me either, which is why I don’t mind that you’re a little broken.”
She laughed at his honesty.
“Though, you call it broken, I call it beautiful.”
“There’s nothing beautiful about me.”
His eyes darkened and widened as he reached across her and pulled down the visor. He sat back, pointing to the mirror. “Do me a favor. Look at yourself.”
“I’d rather not.” She didn’t like looking in the mirror. She used them to make sure she looked presentable for the public, but as far as spending time looking at herself, she just didn’t.
“Cassie?”
“Fine,” she said and moved away from his side of the truck and back to hers. With a deep breath, she glanced up at herself. She tried not to see the girl staring back at her. The last time she did, she was so ashamed. The blood on her face, the bruise forming around the puffy swell of her eye… it was an ugly sight, and an embarrassment that she allowed that to happen to herself.
She chewed on the bottom of her lip, keeping her attention on the sharp pings her teeth caused as they bit down a little too hard.
“Are you looking?” he asked as if he knew she wasn’t. Mason’s hand rested on her thigh and gave it an encouraging squeeze. She appreciated his efforts, but she couldn’t borrow his strength; she needed to find it within herself. She closed her eyes, thinking about everything she had accomplished in the past few months.
She escaped an abusive relationship and survived. She made new friends, got a job and a house with hot water and a fireplace. She met a man who was willing to be patient with all her issues and she was happy. She could feel it in her heart like a warm kindling, sparking the other parts of her body back to life. She was happy and it wasn’t because she put her happiness in someone else’s hands. It was because she was in control.
With the realization, she found the strength to look into that mirror and face the girl she was hiding from, but that girl wasn’t there anymore. Instead, all she saw was herself. The real Cassie, the girl who had been in hiding for so long, was finally free.
***
Mason just wanted Cassie to see what he saw. When she finally looked at herself, her eyes widened as if she was shocked to see what he already knew. She was a beautiful, strong, independent girl who was blossoming more and more every day. Her past was a part of her, nobody could deny that, but it didn’t define who she was. Every now and again she had a break in her resolve, but she always found the strength to rise above it.
“You’re beautiful,” he said. “And not just on the outside. That”—he pointed to the mirror—“is worth all the time in the world, and it’s time you see that and believe it.”
“I want to.”
He leaned across the seat and kissed her, proving his word through the movement of his lips on hers then pulled back. “We’re late.”
“Your fault,” she said, giving him a playful shove.
“Do you think the boss will be mad? I hear he’s a pretty lenient guy. ‘Awesome’ I believe was the exact word.”
“Really? I’ve heard he’s an asshole.”
He turned to her, mouth agape in amused shock. She stifled a laugh with her hand, and he pulled it away. He never wanted her to hold back. Ever. The laugh flowed freely from her pink swollen lips, and it was absolutely infectious.
He laughed with her, relishing in the moment. It was like he watched one of her walls come crashing down in front of his eyes, and man, it was fucking glorious.
Once he gathered himself together, he put the truck in park and headed to the brewery.
He had a lot to get done for the bike race this weekend, but he found himself constantly getting distracted by Cassie. The way she leaned across the bar to wipe it down made his mind imagine how she would look doing that naked. His hands gliding over her curves, resting securely yet gentle on her hips, feeling the weight of her breasts in his hands, and the roundness of her ass pressed against his throbbing erection, pinching her nipples until they turned into tight peaks, his
name on her lips as she cried out in pleasure…
“Mason. Mason? Are you okay?” Cassie’s voice penetrated his fantasy and brought him back to reality.
“What’s up?” he asked as if he was just standing there with a broom, staring at her like some savage beast.
“We’re out of toilet paper and getting pretty low on paper towels. Did you want me to run to the store?”
Oh god, yes. Maybe by the time she came back he’d have his head on straight and would be able to be near her without his mind immediately thinking of all the ways he wanted to have her.
“That would be great.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, grabbing a hundred. Before he put the wallet back he asked, “Do we need anything else?”
“I have a list,” she said. “I started jotting things down as they were running low so we wouldn’t run out.”
She was organized and efficient, and that was a massive turn on. He took out another couple of bills and walked over to where she stood behind the bar. “Here, get whatever it is we need.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys, handing her those as well.
“Did you want to look at the list first?”
He shook his head. “No, I trust you.”
A smile tilted her lips, making it all he could focus on. Even if they were together, he needed to keep things professional when they walked through those doors. He could have both as long as he kept them separate. But as she took the money from his hand, her fingers brushing his, all rational thought was gone. He laced his fingers through hers and stepped around the bar, pulling her against him.
“Hi,” he said when her hand landed against his chest.
“Hi.”
“I just need to do this,” he said as he dipped his head and crushed his lips to hers in a long, searing kiss. He thrust his tongue passed the divide and explored her mouth, savoring her taste and memorizing every nook and cranny that was distinctly Cassie. Her hands knotted in his hair, and he pressed his hand into the small of her back, moving her closer still.
Moments with Mason (A Red Maple Falls Novel, #3) Page 11