Moments with Mason (A Red Maple Falls Novel, #3)

by Theresa Paolo

  A shudder ran through her body, and he bent down, scooping her up into his arms. He knew she liked to be independent and do things on her own, but she needed to learn to let him help her.

  She didn’t resist, instead melting into his embrace, pressing her head against his chest and wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “Keys?” he asked as they got to the door. Most people in Red Maple Falls left their doors unlocked, with the low crime rate and the fact that everyone knew everyone; people didn’t feel a need to lock up their houses. Cassie was different. She wasn’t born and raised in Red Maple Falls, and she had a past that had been out to hurt her. Hell Mason, who never locked his doors, was thinking about getting her a deadlock and an alarm. Anything to keep her safe when he couldn’t be here to protect her.

  She reached into her pocket and handed him a single key on a Five Leaf Brewery keychain. The corners of his mouth twitched and warmth filled his heart, knowing that she always had a part of him with her. He took the key, unlocked the door and went straight to her bedroom. He laid her down on the floral comforter and went to get her a beer to take the edge off when her hand wrapped around his forearm.

  “Stay with me,” she said, and the desperation in her tone the sound of her walls coming down had him crawling onto the bed beside her and pulling her tight against him. He wrapped his arms around her, offering her his body and his heart and knowing that no matter what she wanted, he would always give it to her.

  The day faded to night, but Mason didn’t move. He held her, prepared to stay all night and all day tomorrow if it’s what she needed. Her chin slid against his chest as she looked up at him. He glanced down, catching the golden beauty before she looked away.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “For what?”

  “For being a mess. For freaking out for no reason. For everything.”

  “Stop,” he said, sitting up and pressing his back against the headboard. He reached for her, and she went to him easily, straddling his lap as he smoothed her hair out of her face. “You have nothing to apologize for. You hear me?”

  She nodded, but he didn’t like that she couldn’t look at him. After everything they shared, he’d hoped that she could stop hiding from him. He didn’t mind her broken pieces. If anything, they made him love her more.

  “Look at me,” he said, and she let out a breath. “Please.”

  Her teeth slid over her bottom lip before she brought her eyes to his. “I love you. I love all of you, including the broken and jagged pieces. I don’t care that you scare easily. Do I like it? No. I hate seeing you hurt and panicked, but it doesn’t make me love you any less. If anything, it makes me love you more; it shows me how brave you are.”

  She snorted at his words, and he took her face in his hands, needing her to hear, understand, and believe him.

  “You,” he said, staring deep into her eyes, “are brave. You have endured more than anyone I have ever met, and you came out of it a survivor. Strong and, yes, unbelievably brave.”

  “Can it really be considered brave when you have no choice? When it’s between life and death?”

  “Yes,” he said with a little too much force behind the word. “Even then most people wouldn’t have left. They wouldn’t think that they had a decision to make. They would have accepted their fate because they didn’t have the strength to fight for a different outcome. You did. You fought like hell and because of that you’re here.”

  “If I’m so brave, why do I feel so weak?” A tear fell down her cheek, and he used his thumb to wipe it away. “Instead of staying on the trail and seeing if someone was actually there, I ran. I was too scared to look back and see if anyone was following me. I just ran.”

  “You weren’t running because you’re weak. You were running because you’re a fighter and that’s what fighters do. They run if they have to. They fight if they need to. They do whatever they have to in order to survive. Running doesn’t make you weak. Running makes you strong.”

  “I never looked at it that way.”

  He tucked her hair behind her ear, and she leaned her head against his palm. “Because he didn’t want you to.” That bastard took so much from her already, and Mason refused to let him take any more. Cassie was a fighter she was courageous and resilient, and he would do everything he could to make her see that. To shed the insecurities and doubts that her ex forced upon her. She was amazing, and it was time she could see exactly what he saw.

  “Thank you,” she said, taking his hand from her face and kissing his palm.

  “For what?”

  “For letting me see the truth.”

  “Always.”

  She leaned down, her hair falling around them like a curtain. “Kiss me.”

  She didn’t have to ask him twice; he captured her lips with his, moving right past soft and gentle and going straight for hungry and desperate. She grinded against his erection, thrusting her hands into his hair and holding him close to her.

  He loved that she felt comfortable to touch him, to take charge and go for what she wanted. He wanted her to know that with him she held the reins; he would gladly sit back while she took control. He let his hands fall to the side, and when she whimpered against his lips he smiled.

  “I want you to fuck me,” he said against her ear.

  She leaned back, lust and desire darkening her gaze. Her cheeks filled red at his suggestion. “I…I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  He took her hand and placed it on his throbbing erection. “This guy says you know exactly what you’re doing.” He leaned over to the nightstand and grabbed the box of condoms he’d bought and handed her a foiled packet. “Do as you please.”

  She bit her bottom lip, her eyes shyly fluttering as she moved down his body. Her hand tightened around his girth as she lowered her head to the tip of his penis. She swiped her tongue across the precum that coated the top before opening her mouth and taking him deep.

  His body tensed at the raw pleasure that coursed through him. He grabbed onto the mattress thanking the universe for this beautiful woman that drove him crazy with need and made his heart swell with so much love and respect.

  She moved her head up and down, swirling her tongue as she went and pushing him toward release. He wasn’t ready though… not until he was inside her. He wasn’t going to come unless she was coming with him.

  He reached down, tenderly taking her cheeks in his hands and guiding her up and off of him.

  “Was I doing it wrong?” she asked embarrassment lacing her words.

  “God no. You’re freaking amazing. Too good. I didn’t want to blow it. Come here.” He motioned for her, taking the condom from her hand and sliding it into place. She crawled onto his lap and sunk onto his cock.

  “Fuck me,” he said, combing her hair out of her face. Her hips moved, and he closed his eyes, absorbing every white, hot sensation that exploded inside of him.

  ***

  Cassie ran her hands up and down the strong muscles of his chest, touching him and exploring him, taking full advantage to do as she pleased. His words, fuck me, still echoing in her mind. They were dirty and insanely erotic, turning her on almost as much as his kisses.

  He groaned, and she circled her hips, loving that she was making him feel pleasure. She felt strong and in control. All the insecurities that she once had were slowly slipping away. Mason made her feel beautiful. He saw beyond the broken pieces and saw the girl inside who just wanted to be loved. He found her, and he loved her, guiding her out of the darkness and bringing her into the light until it was shining bright on top of her. He put her in the spotlight, gave her the stage, and let her take complete control.

  He didn’t hold her back or make her second guess her decisions. He embraced her, didn’t make her feel shame or embarrassment, he made her feel loved and admired. It was a powerful thing, having raw passionate love directed at you and she wanted to absorb every bit of it.

  His hands dug into her ass, but instead of flinching a
t his touch she sunk into it. She wanted him to lose control, to stop treating her like a delicate flower.

  She had been strong before Mason came into her life, she had no choice, but he made her stronger by teaching her it was okay to make mistakes. Showing her that she was capable of a love that she only thought existed in fairytales. He was her fairytale, and she wanted him to be himself with her, always, and if that meant losing his gentle touch and breaking through the restraints he used when it came to her, then that’s what she wanted. She wanted all of him.

  She grabbed his hands, planting them firmly on her hips and kissed his ear, dragging her tongue across his lobe before nibbling it. “Your turn,” she said against his ear. “Fuck me.”

  His body tensed, hands tightened, and he thrust into her with one hard stroke, causing her to cry out. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close until their hot slick bodies moved against each other.

  It was rough and carnal and absolutely amazing. His finger found her swollen nub, and he ran his finger across it, sending her falling over the edge, clawing at him as her body convulsed against his.

  He pumped into her again, the sensation sending aftershocks through her body, and then he collapsed against the headboard, pulling her with him, hugging her so tightly it made her think he never wanted to let her go. She’d be okay if he never did.

  “I love you,” he said, and tears burned her eyes. He had said it before, but for some reason she finally believed him, and the fact that someone so unbelievably kind and caring could love her made her so damn happy. He lifted his finger to her lid, wiping away the tears. “Why are you crying.”

  “Because I love you, too.”

  “That shouldn’t make you sad,” he said, his voice so warm and soothing that she wanted to wrap her arms around him and let him hold her.

  “It doesn’t. It makes me so happy.”

  He kissed the tears away and smiled that adorable smile. “That’s all I want for you. Ever since I picked you up on the side of the road, I wanted to see you happy. I wanted to be the person to make you happy.”

  She brushed her nose against his. “Mission accomplished.”

  Chapter 19

  Mason pulled into the police station, relieved to see his brother’s cruiser parked in its usual spot. He needed advice—advice only a Sheriff could give him. He put the truck in park and headed into the free-standing building.

  His nerves had been on high alert ever since yesterday when Cassie came home looking visibly shaken. His heart had dropped into his stomach as he scanned her up and down, trying to make sure all of her was intact and safe.

  Martha, Matt’s dispatcher/secretary, greeted Mason with a smile as he walked in. She had been doing this job for twenty plus years and never thought twice about reminding Matt of this fact whenever they had a difference of opinion. Mason loved the woman for how she handled his by-the-rule-book brother and how she refused to change her ways no matter how much he insisted. She got away with it because she was efficient in her job, and she was a damn hard worker.

  “He in his office?” Mason asked as he moved passed her.

  “Hello to you, too. So nice to see you again,” Martha said with sarcasm dripping on every word. “I’m lovely. Thanks for asking.”

  “Sorry, Martha. You know it’s always a pleasure to see you. I just really need to see Matt. It’s urgent.”

  “Why didn’t you say so? He’s back there drowning under a stack of paperwork. Just go right on in.”

  “Thanks.” Mason hurried around Martha’s desk and went right to Matt’s office. He didn’t bother to knock as he flung the door open and stepped inside, grateful that code for “a lot of paperwork” didn’t really mean he was sexing up his wife. Mason found relief when Shay was nowhere to be found, and Matt really was staring at his computer screen.

  Matt looked up, eyes glossy from too many hours behind that screen, and sat back in his chair. “Well, this is an unexpected surprise.”

  “Can we talk?” Mason asked, and he had a feeling he looked a little deranged since Matt didn’t make a joke or question him just waved his hand to the chair that sat on the other side of his desk.

  Mason shut the door and sat down in the chair, tapping his fingers on his knee nervously. Matt eyed him intently then stepped out from behind his desk and leaned against the front of it, arms crossed over his chest. “What’s going on?”

  “You were right about Cassie having a past.”

  “Go on.”

  “It wasn’t her. I mean, she didn’t break the law or anything.” Mason ran a hand over his face, trying to calm himself enough to gather his thoughts. He needed to stay levelheaded so he and Matt could fix this. He needed to fix this. There was no way he’d be able to sleep at night if he knew Cassie was in danger. He wanted to make sure he could do everything in his power to protect her. To keep her far away from that bastard.

  Mason took a deep breath and swallowed down the rising emotion. “She was in an abusive relationship,” he finally said, the words hanging in the air like an ugly black cloud. He pushed forward. “The guy beat her. Controlled her. She was living down at Turtle Creek because when they were here during bike week he beat her so bad she finally left him. Except she had nowhere to go, and she needed to hide so he couldn’t find her. Anyway, she’s pretty sure the bastard went home to Florida, but the other day I got to her place, and she wasn’t there. She had gone for a hike, so I waited. When she came back she looked panicked. Scared. Not like herself. I questioned her, at first she blew me off, but dammit man I knew something was off. You know when you just know?”

  Matt nodded making Mason feel like he hadn’t lost his damn mind. There was more, and Mason spent the next twenty minutes relaying the rest of the story to Matt, trying not to let his emotions overtake his words. He needed to get everything out so Matt knew exactly what was going on. Mason was desperate to keep that piece of shit as far away from Cassie as possible, and the only person who could help was standing in front of him.

  There were few times in his life when he needed his big brother, but when he did, Matt never disappointed. He was always there for him. Mason only hoped that he could be there for him again. Tell him exactly what he had to do in order to keep Cassie safe because if something happened to her… He didn’t even want to think it.

  “I’ll put a picture up here at the station. If any of my officers see him in town we’ll take care of it. But she really should file a restraining order. Without it we’re limited to what we can do.”

  “She’s afraid if she does he’ll be able to find her.”

  “Then we can arrest him for violating the order.”

  “No, she’s not using herself as bait. I won’t allow it.” There had to be another way. He wasn’t about to let Cassie dangle herself out there in hopes that this abusive bastard would come for her. No way in hell. He would not allow her to subject herself to that, nor would he allow a chance for that asshole to slip through the cracks and get to her. There had to be another way.

  “We can fill out all the necessary paperwork and get a hearing scheduled,” Matt said, and Mason’s hope began to dwindle.

  This isn’t the answers he was hoping for. He didn’t know what exactly he was hoping for, maybe a damn miracle, but it sure as hell wasn’t this.

  “Since he is out of state we have two options,” Matt continued. “Serve him the papers through a courier service, or we can post an announcement in his local paper. Even if he doesn’t see it, it’s still considered being served. That way there is absolutely no contact with him, and we can hope that he doesn’t see it. Without the restraining order, she’s not protected. If she files, and he ever steps foot in this town, I will have him arrested in a heartbeat. Without it, we have no legal ground to stand on. I can have my deputies harass him for speeding or suspicion, but I won’t be able to stop him for long. If he comes here looking for Cassie, and she doesn’t have an order of protection, there’s only so much I can do. Legally.”
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  “Maybe he’ll never come here. I mean I’d like to think that he’s done with her.”

  Matt shook his head and then looked at Mason with that bigger brother stare that Mason hated. He knew whatever he was about to say was serious. “I’d like to think that, too, but we have to be realistic here. A guy like that will look at this like a game, and right now she’s winning. It’s only a matter of time before he tracks her down and regains control.”

  “Fuck,” Mason said, running a hand over his face like that could wash away this damn nightmare.

  “It sucks I know, but it’s all you have. Get her to file the paperwork, and I’ll get the hearing moved up. The faster it’s done the better.”

  “I’ll talk to her.”

  “Don’t just talk to her, convince her.”

  “If it was up to me, I would throw her over my shoulder and bring her here myself, but she’s been through so much. I can’t demand things from her. She needs to have the control.”

  “I get that, and you’re a good guy for realizing it, but sometimes you have to cross a line in order to protect the ones you love. So, if you two get in a fight about it, remember that you’re doing it to protect her. She might not understand now, but one day she might be grateful to you for making her do this.”

  Mason leaned back in the chair, his mind going in a million directions. If he forced the issue, he could lose her, but if he didn’t he wouldn’t be the only one who might lose her. Her life was more important, and when push came to shove, he would do what he had to do to get her to file the damn report.

  “I could kill the son of a bitch,” Mason finally admitted. “I swear to god if he ever shows his face in my town I won’t hesitate.”

  “As your brother, as someone who is married and has a kid on the way, I get it. I do. Probably more than anyone else. But as the Sheriff, I am begging you to let us handle it.”

  “I can’t make any promises.”

  “Mason,” Matt said as Mason stood from the chair and headed to the door. “Don’t do anything stupid.”