Mason Caveman Instinct -- Gypsy Curse Book 4

by Hazel Gower

  Mason’s pa rolled his eyes dramatically. “Ha, she’s been waiting to leave for months. Since the babies started arriving. She’s been telling everyone who’ll listen and even those who don’t care that she’s a great grandmother and she has a granddaughter. I swear that at least one of the suitcases is just for the first Silverman little girl.” The shine in the man’s eyes gave away that he was pretty excited about being a great grandsire and a girl Silverman.

  “I bet after that performance you could use a nice glass of wine,” Shirley said.

  “Gran, she’s not eighteen.”

  “Pish, posh, Mason,” She waved her hand elegantly in front of herself. “She’s only got a week to go. A glass won’t hurt her. If she was in France or Italy they would give her one. It’s legal there for wine at sixteen.” She sighed. “America needs to catch up with the rest of the world or at least move it to eighteen like Australia.”

  “Mother, you do realize you’re talking about giving wine to people like Andrew.” Albert jerked his head in his youngest son’s direction.

  “I’m with you, gran.” Andrew came over and wrapped his arm around his grandmother.

  Shirley huffed and I couldn’t hold back my giggle as she patted her grandson like he was special in a slow kind of way. “Andrew, you didn’t follow the rules. I don’t think you ever have, kid.”

  As I watched Mason’s grandparents I knew that I could let go. That I hadn’t released my anger at my parents being taken from me. I’d been holding back on doing anything that I’d done with them, things that they loved. I’d been holding out hope that I had family, but as I looked around, I realized I did have family, and just because I had a new family I didn’t have to forget about my old family or stop doing what they loved. I needed to enjoy everything, not just the new things that had come my way. It was time to live my life again. Time to find old friends, time to find out what happened to my parent’s things. It was time to find out what life was going to be now.

  WE’D HAD ANOTHER BREAKTHROUGH. ALEXA was a different person. I’d thought she was coming along fine, but I was wrong because after the previous week’s discovery of her musical and vocal talent she had blossomed. She had goals. She had a focus I’d not seen before. I’d worried that I was holding Alexa back as she didn’t socialize with anyone but me. The children at the daycare didn’t count as they weren’t adults and her therapist didn’t count either. Alexa had to talk to her. This week she went out with my mother and sister-in-law, Bailey, shopping. She even went out to see a girly movie with Bailey, Jade, and Cassie, who barely left my cousin Dustan’s side. Today she’d gone with my gran to go get their hair done.

  This week she didn’t cling to my side. I frowned as a shiver ran up and down my spine and not the good kind. My skin felt itchy and I was tense and on edge. My employees had started to avoid me. Alexa wasn’t coming to work with me much anymore, either. On the one hand I was happy she was gaining independence, and on the other I was scared, because if felt like she didn’t need me anymore.

  I made my way to our suite eager to see my woman when I heard the haunting melody of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, but she was singing it like Jeff Buckley. She sounded like a fallen angel. Needing to touch her and remind myself she was mine, I went to her. This last week I think I’d figured out why I wasn’t all caveman with Alexa. It was because she’d stuck by my side, but this week, I could feel my rein on that side of me slipping.

  Alexa’s eighteenth birthday was two days away and my mother and I had planned a huge surprise party for her. I couldn’t wait to give her all her gifts. I was so happy she would be legal age, too, and I intended to tie her to me before she changed her mind. I had wanted to take her away after her birthday, but with the date she needed to testify in court so close I couldn’t risk leaving.

  Going to the living room, I paused at the entry and closed my eyes and enjoyed the haunting melody. She really was amazing. Alexa would be crazy if she didn’t do something about her talent. I savored the last note before I opened my eyes and let my gaze rest on her only to take a step back.

  “Alexa?”

  She turned and I was shocked to see the changes. She still had her long length, but it was layered to frame her face and there were bright pink streaks in her hair. It didn’t look bad, just different. Striking, and confident, not the little wallflower that hid when danger came. She stood out. It would take me a moment or two to get used to it.

  “What do you think?” Her eyes shined and she practically bounced on the seat. I could tell she loved her new hair style.

  “It’s different. Pink?”

  Her smile disappeared and the light left her eyes. “You don’t like it?”

  I shook my head franticly, wanting the shine back in her gaze. “Yes. No. I mean. It suits you. I really like it. Pink. It stands out.”

  Slowly the shine crept back into her eyes. “You know I love the color pink. Gran thinks it goes really well with my blonde and green eyes.” She giggled and my heart beat faster at the happy sound. “She said it gives me attitude. Some major cred.”

  I laughed, because sadly, I could see my grandmother saying that. She was one big kid herself. We may not be that close, but she was always hilarious. Trying to keep up with what she called kids’ lingo.

  Hesitantly, Alexa stepped towards me. Growling at her slowness and her unsure movement, I stalked her, tilted her head up and plastered her lips to mine, showing her in my kiss just how beautiful I thought she looked. When I broke away we were both panting a little. “You look gorgeous. Stunning. Gran is absolutely right. It just shocked me at first. It’s so different.”

  Her sigh showed me how relieved she was that I liked her new hair style. She kissed my cheek. “I missed you. How was your day?”

  She snuggled in and I tightened my hold on her. “Good. I’m glad I was missed.” She smirked up at me. “I missed you too, but I got so much done. Guess who I found and talked to today? Guess?”

  I’d never seen her that excited. “Dunno, bear, who?”

  “Oh, you’re no fun.” She was still beaming at me. “You could have at least guessed once.”

  “Okay. Argh, an old friend?”

  She shook her head, then stopped, and nodded. “I suppose she’s a friend.” Her eyes were shining bright. “Mrs. Racheal Whickhan, my singing coach.” She danced around me showing her happiness. “She’s going to come and see me.”

  “Has Darren been told?”

  Alexa stopped her dancing and her glare was deathly. “She’s not going to kidnap me and she isn’t any threat.”

  As much as I wanted to let her have this, my family had learned the hard way that people who they thought were friends, or could trust weren’t, and had betrayed them. I didn’t want to ruin this moment further so I nodded. I would make sure Darren, the head of my security, checked Racheal Whickhan, and maybe if all was good, we’d see what she was doing in two nights’ time. “Okay, bear. Are you just catching up or do you want her to continue her lessons?”

  She cocked her head to the side and I could practically see her thinking. “You now, when I got in contact with her, my first thought had been just to see how she was and catch up, but now you mention it, I wouldn’t mind getting back into lessons.” Her lips started to curl up into a blinding smile. “Maybe if I do lessons and look into other music classes I could go that way. You, know, like maybe study music at uni.”

  I couldn’t have been prouder of Alexa in that moment. It was the first time she’d talked about university, a future other than just me and children. I wanted her to know she could have both. Holding her tight in my embrace I pressed my lips to her head. “Alexa, you can do anything.”

  USING THE EDGE OF MY towel, I wiped the bathroom mirror. Staring at myself, I searched for any differences in my reflection. I didn’t see any. I still had the same green eyes, small red lips, sharp small nose and light olive skin. I’d gotten my hair done the other day and Mason’s grandmother had encouraged me to take a chan
ce. Do something drastic. So I added the first color to my hair with pink streaks through it. I loved the color and had enjoyed matching some items of clothing with it.

  Eighteen. I was an adult today. I could vote, drink alcohol, get married, and the most important, I wasn’t a ward of the state anymore. I received all the Centerlink payments and benefits. I now managed my own life. Mason’s family had been great, the best foster care so far, but it was such a relief to know I was free. I hated that word, especially when I had more protection and restriction than I’d ever had, but as I looked at the woman staring back at me in mirror that was what I felt. Free.

  Mason came up behind me and I jumped when he smacked my arse before leaning down to blow on my ear a couple of times, sending shivers of pure need coursing through me. “You’re beautiful.” He nibbled my ear and I ground my arse against him. “Get dressed, birthday girl. I have everything planned and if we’re going to get it all done we need to go A.S.A.P.” He smacked my arse again.

  I spun and pushed at his chest. “Hey, if you want to go anywhere no spanking the goods.” I smacked my own arse and stared up and him with a cheeky grin as I flashed my lashes at him dramatically.

  My favorite sound, and the best one to start my day, came deep from his chest as he chuckled. “Go change into comfortable clothes. Flat shoes too, not the ones my mother and the other women are teaching you to wear.”

  I rolled my eyes as he talked about my ever-expanding high heel collection. I rose on tip-toe and brushed my lips over his and before he could capture me, I gripped my towel and ran out of the bathroom and to the walk-in-wardrobe. It was the size of a small room and I wasn’t sure Mason and I could fill it. His mother sure did help me try though. Hearing the shower turn on I dropped the towel and went to my underwear drawer, found a sexy new set, and put it on. I then stared at all my new clothes, but settled on items that Gillian, Mason’s mother, had definitely not helped me buy nor would she approve of them. A couple of weeks ago I had bought some funky leggings online and after wearing them once I was hooked. I went back and bought a bunch of them. I got out the pair I’d been saving. They had Disney princess Jasmine, and a black background with colorful flowers. I matched them with a baby doll style black top. Darting my gaze lovingly over at my growing range of heels, I turned back, opened a drawer and got out socks. I slipped them on before I grabbed my black and purple sparkly joggers and eased into them and leaned down to do up my laces.

  Going to the vanity mirror I looked at the make-up I’d bought but only grabbed the glossed pink lipstick. I didn’t know how to do make-up. I was sure I could have a try, but I didn’t think looking like a clown on my birthday would be ideal. And I was sure that’s what I would look like if I attempted to do it. My skin was blemish free. It was one of the features I gained from my mother’s side. I remember she never really wore much make-up.

  As I combed my hair, Mason came in wearing only black boxers. He must have brought them to the bathroom with him. Disappointment washed over me for a second at not getting to see all of him, before I remembered that if I did see every inch of him, we wouldn’t leave the room today. We’d been exploring each other—er, more like he’d been exploring me and letting me do small explorations before he stopped me saying that it drove him mad when I touched him – and gotten good at oral. I knew me being eighteen made a difference to Mason and if we stayed home he’d let us progress to love making. Watching as he dressed in jeans and a tight black shirt with a high-end brand name logo on it, I smiled as his muscles flexed with each movement, this was my man. He slipped on black joggers and stalked his way to me.

  I stood and spun around. “I’m dressed okay?”

  He stopped at my back, his arms circling my waist to bring me back against his chest. I leaned into him, and breathed in, loving his manly sent. He used a Hugo Boss brand of body wash and cologne. He leaned down and rubbed his cheek against mine and kissed his way down my neck. His arms left my waist and I instantly missed them, but then I felt him gather my hair to one side and his hands came over my head and then I felt it as the cool chain settled on my skin. His fingers moved back around and did up what was now against my neck and settled perfectly above my breasts.

  “You are beautiful, bear. But this is to add to your beauty.” His lips gently brushed feather light kisses up and down my neck sending delicious tingles through me and pulses straight to my pussy. “It also reminds you that you’re mine.” His husky voice had my legs turning to Jello and I was glad I was in flat shoes. I gazed into the mirror and softly traced the necklace. It was stunning. A gold infinity symbol with diamonds and Mason’s name up on the top of one loop and my name on the bottom loop with pink sapphires.

  “Oh Mason. This is . . . is just . . . just . . . wow. I mean, it’s . . . I have no words. This must have cost a fortune. You didn’t have to.”

  His fingers caressed over my breasts and up to trace our names on the pendant. “Happy birthday, Alexa. I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to. This is just the start of your birthday gifts.” He spun me and before I had a chance to react his lips were smashing down on my own with a snarled, “Mine.”

  This birthday was starting out to be one of the best I’d ever had.

  I HAD LIVED IN QUEENSLAND all my life and never heard of Lone Pine Sanctuary. To come to it and find the sanctuary had over a hundred and thirty koalas was beyond amazing. As one of my birthday surprises I had a private tour, not only holding the koalas and other animals, but I learned about all the research they did. I’d found my favorite place on earth, so much so that I didn’t want to leave and go where Mason had planned to take me next.

  I was happily watching the koalas when I was lifted and carried out of the Sanctuary. If I’d thought fighting would have helped I would have, but Mason held me tight and no one said a word with the security we had surrounding us.

  I sat in the car sulking. “I would have been perfectly happily to have spent all day there.” I huffed and I knew I sounded like a selfish brat, but being with the koalas had been so relaxing, so comforting.

  Mason sat in the back of the SUV with me. “I know and I promise that another time we can spend the whole day there, but today I have your birthday planned.” He held my hand and squeezed.

  I was sure whatever he had planned would be awesome. Mason always outdid himself when it came to me. “Fine. Thank you so much for taking me there. It was amazing. What’s next?”

  He shook his head. “Nuh-uh, we are just around the corner and this is a surprise.” He pulled out a blindfold, reached over and I let him put the black and pink fabric over my eyes.

  When the car come to a stop, I trusted Mason to take me to where he wanted me and not get me injured. I felt the breeze of being outside for only a second or two, but I smelled it, the sweet surgery scent filled the air and Mason guided me toward it. The breeze was replaced with warmth and Mason removed the blindfold. I stared at my favorite baker, Sarah Donaa, who smiled at me. She was a YouTube sensation with her cakes and I loved watching her work.

  “Happy Birthday, bear,” Mason whispered in my ear. He pressed a kiss to my neck and came to my side.

  “Happy Birthday, Alexa.” Sarah nodded her head at Mason. “Mr. Silverman has organized for you to do some cake and cupcake decorating with me.”

  My eyes widened and I jumped up and down. One of the best parts of baking was decorating. Mmmm, icing. I looked around and noticed we were in a commercial kitchen, all stainless steel, but what I was most excited about was the three dozen cupcakes in varying flavors, and six cakes. On the opposite side of the cakes were icing, chocolate, and many other yummy toppings.

  Bouncing with excitement I beamed at Sarah. “Thank you so much. I’m looking forward to decorating.”

  Sarah nodded. “Great. There’s an apron and hair net and everything you need next to the sinks. Please wash your hands thoroughly and once you’re ready we’ll get started.” She winked at me. “Mason, there’s an apron for you, too.”


  I went the sink and next to it was a wrapped present in bright pink cupcake paper. I tore into the present, eager to get to my gifts and start on decorating. An apron that almost matched my wrapping paper along with oven gloves and small towels, and a clear hair net were my gifts. I didn’t waste time in putting the apron on and the hairnet, then I washed my hands and dried them on paper towels. Spinning around, I burst out laughing at the sight of Mason. He had on an apron that matched mine, and a hairnet and he looked hilarious. Getting my phone out, I took a quick pic before Mason caught me. He was scowling at the bodyguards, daring them to say anything, and my laughter had him turning his gaze to me. I quickly shoved my phone into my bag and washed my hands again.

  “Don’t think I didn’t see that, bear. Get rid of it.”

  I grinned over at Mason and shook my head. “No way. It’s my birthday so I get to take whatever photos I want.”

  “Would you like me to take a picture of the two of you before we start?” Sarah asked.

  “Yes,” I quickly replied.

  “No.”

  I glared at Mason, went and got my phone, turned on the camera, and gave it to Sarah. She took a couple of photos and Mason even posed for me. Sarah handed the phone back and I put it away again. We both washed our hands.

  “So, Mason said you love to cook but baking is a favorite?” Sarah smiled at me as she brought some of the cakes and icing closer.

  “Yeah, my mother and I used to bake on weekends. It was something special we did together.”

  “Well, this should be easy and fun, then. Now I have a cake that I’m shaping into a piano. Would you like to help?” I nodded because I knew if I talked I would have yelled my yes, I was so excited. “Good. This is going to be a rainbow cake. We won’t be able to have it finished in the time you have here with me, but we’ll get a good start before we focus on the cupcakes.”