All Time Love

by Beverley Hollowed

  “Because, that’s my job,” Mason replied. “This is my problem, so please don’t worry.”

  “No, it’s not!” Amelia cried with sheer frustration. “You want us to be together, but you won’t let me in. How will we ever work if you keep shutting me out?”

  Amelia swung her legs out onto the floor and pushed up from the bed, but before she could walk away, Mason reached out and took hold of her wrist.

  “Amelia,” Mason said as he pulled her back towards the bed, but he had over stretched and a dull pain from his ribs took his breath away and he had to let her go. “ARRGHH!”

  “MASON!” Amelia cried with concern as she turned back to him. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I’m okay,” he groaned as he flopped back on the bed and closed his eyes. He took a deep, steadying breath, and waited for the pain to pass.

  “Shall I get the nurse?” Amelia asked as she reached for the call button.

  “NO!” Mason said quickly as he opened his eyes and reached for Amelia’s hand to stop her. “No, I’m okay. I just need a minute. It’s just my ribs are a little tender.”

  “You should be taking care of yourself,” Amelia said with a sigh, as she dropped her eyes from his. “Not me.”

  “Hey,” Mason said as he reached out and took her chin, tilting her face back up towards his. “I am okay and I am sorry. You’re right. I need to stop shutting you out.”

  Amelia closed her eyes and blew out a deep calming breath.

  “Hey,” Mason said as he sat back up in the bed. “What is it? Why are you crying?”

  “I’m scared,” Amelia said as a tear trickled down her cheek.

  “Everything is going to be okay,” Mason said as he brushed the tear from her cheek. “I promise you. Please don’t cry.”

  “I’m afraid I’m going to lose you,” Amelia whispered as she finally opened her eyes and looked at Mason through her tears. “I am not stupid, I know that this woman, this Simone Anderson, is not going to stop until she makes you pay.”

  “Everything is going to be okay,” Mason said as he pulled her into his embrace. “I promise.”

  It was a little after three the next afternoon, when Andrew pulled up outside Amelia’s parent’s house. He had dropped Sadie off there an hour earlier before he went to the hospital to collect Mason and Amelia and bring them home.

  “Are you okay?” Mason asked, as he turned back towards Amelia, who was sitting quietly in the back of the car. He had watched her in the rear view mirror since they left the hospital.

  She had looked on edge, the entire drive back to the house and Mason knew she was watching out for another car to come at them again. It was killing him that she was so afraid.

  “Yeah,” she replied as she looked back at him and gave him a half-hearted smile. “I am just tired, but I can have a proper rest, now that I am home.”

  Mason smiled but her words bothered him. This wasn’t her home, not anymore. Home was back in New York, with him. At least, that’s what he hoped she felt.

  “We should get inside,” she said as she looked up towards the house and smiled again. Mason followed her gaze and found Shannon, Charlie and Sadie standing on the front porch.

  Mason and Andrew climbed out of the car, and Mason opened Amelia’s door.

  “You go on inside,” Andrew said with a laugh as he walked to the boot of the car and opened it. “I will bring in your things. Seems as how the one armed bandit here, is out of commission.”

  “Funny,” Mason replied, sarcastically.

  “Hey, Monkey Face!” Charlie called out as he made his way down the front path. He wrapped his arms around Amelia the moment he reached her, and held her close to him.

  He then led her back up the path, towards the house where she was greeted by both Shannon and Sadie. As Mason walked up the path behind her, his mind was racing.

  An overwhelming feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach took hold as he watched Amelia with her parents. He was afraid that he was going to lose her, and not necessarily because Simone might get to her again.

  She seemed strange, disconnected almost. He was afraid that, after everything that had happened between them, she would just walk away. He knew she was beyond scared and that if he didn’t fix things for good, he would lose her forever, one way or another.

  “Are you okay?” Andrew said as he came up the pathway and stopped behind Mason.

  “No,” Mason replied honestly as he turned back to his friend. “I need this over with, and I think I have a plan.”

  Mason was surprised when Charlie had suggested that he should stay in their home with Amelia. He knew it was a big deal for her dad to agree to this, as he was still trying to get used to the idea of them together.

  That night, when they headed to bed and Mason finally had Amelia to himself, he sat on the bed and watched her strip.

  His heart almost broke to see the cuts and bruises on her body from the crash, but even still, he thought she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

  Then his eyes fell to her stomach. It was hard to believe that inside, his baby, their baby was growing. Part of him was so happy, he finally had the family he always wanted, but part of him was devastated because he knew he could lose them both so easily.

  “Are you okay?” Amelia asked as she looked up and saw Mason staring at her.

  “Couldn’t be better,” he began to lie, but then stopped. “Actually, no, I’m not okay.”

  “Then talk to me,” Amelia said as she slipped her nightdress over her head and walked towards Mason. She sat down next to him on the bed.

  “I am afraid I am going to lose you,” Mason replied honestly, as he looked straight into Amelia’s eyes. “And I don’t just mean because something bad is going to happen. I am afraid you are going to walk away from me.”

  “Why would I do that?” Amelia asked, surprised by what he had said. “I love you more than anything else in this world and I will I never stop loving you.”

  “Because I know you’re scared too,” Mason replied. “You have been so on edge since you left the hospital. Amelia, since you met me, your life has been one big rollercoaster ride, with one crappy thing after another. I just want you to be happy.”

  “I am happy,” Amelia replied. “Granted, I am also terrified, about so many things, but I am happy with us. What you and I have…Mason you mean everything to me. I know others have let you down, people that were meant to love you unconditionally. But I am not them. I will never leave you.”

  “I am going to fix this mess with Simone,” Mason said as he slipped his arms around Amelia and drew her to him. “I promise you.”

  “I know you will,” she replied as she rested her head against his chest.

  “I just want you to promise me,” Mason continued. “That no matter what happens, you’ll know that I love you more than life itself. Promise me you’ll never doubt that.”

  “Nothing is going to happen,” Amelia said as she sat up and looked at Mason. “Please, don’t talk like that.”

  “Promise me,” Mason pleaded again.

  “I promise,” Amelia whispered quietly, then stared at him for a moment. “Why does it feel like you are telling me goodbye?”

  “I will never say goodbye to you,” Mason replied with a sad smile. “I promise.”

  As they lay in the bed that night, Mason didn’t sleep a wink. He went over their conversation again and again in his mind as he watched her sleep, and his heart was breaking. He knew he had made her a promise he wasn’t sure he could keep.

  It killed him that he was going to hurt her again, but he had little choice. He thought back to the promise he had made to Charlie. He had promised him that Amelia would never be hurt again, that he would never do anything that would put her in danger.

  So he knew he had no other option. He needed to end this thing with Simone once and for all. He just prayed that his plan worked.

  Chapter 32

  It had been three days since the ac
cident, when Amelia hugged her mother and father goodbye, but she was finding it hard to leave. Mason had hired a car until he could sort out something more permanent and they were driving back to New York.

  “I really wish you would both stay here for another few days,” Charlie said as he hugged Amelia tightly. “Just until everything has settled down. Until you are both feeling a little better.”

  “Mason needs to get back,” Amelia replied when her father finally released her from his embrace. “He has clients he needs to see.”

  “I know, but I wish that you would just take a little more time,” Charlie said, as he held his daughter at arm’s length. “You know, so we can make up for lost time.”

  “I promise,” Amelia said as she leaned forward and kissed her father on the cheek. “We will come back to visit very soon, I promise.”

  “Are you sure you should be driving?” Shannon asked Mason as she kissed his cheek and gave him a hug.

  “I’m okay,” Mason laughed and Amelia knew it was because he had had the same argument with Sadie on the phone earlier that morning. They were worried about him driving with the fracture in his wrist. “My wrist is fine, it’s just a hairline fracture and the doctor said I was able to drive, so there is nothing to worry about. I promise I will pull over and rest it if I need to, but I am sure we will be just fine.”

  “Okay,” Shannon laughed as she released him from her embrace before she turned to Amelia. “Call me the minute you get home. Just to let us know you got there safely.”

  “I will, Mom,” Amelia said as she hugged her mother tightly. “I promise.”

  “Stay safe, Sweetheart,” Shannon whispered and hugged Amelia even tighter then released her and held her at arm’s length. “Both of you.”

  “I promise I will take good care of her,” Mason assured both Shannon and Charlie before he opened the passenger door for Amelia. She slowly turned and climbed into the car. She smiled up at her mom and dad as Mason closed the door, before he hurried around to the driver’s side and climbed in next to her.

  As they pulled away from the kerb, Amelia settled back into the car seat and tried her best to relax, but something told her, it was going to be a long drive back to New York.

  It was a little after seven before they reached Mason’s apartment. As they rode up in the elevator, Amelia rested her head against Mason's shoulder and sighed.

  “Are you okay, baby?” Mason asked as he looked down at her and took her hand.

  “Yeah,” Amelia said as she lifted her head up and looked up at Mason, giving him a smile. “I am just tired I guess.”

  “Not too tired, I hope,” he said and wiggled his eyebrows at Amelia. He turned, took her in his arms and brushed his lips against her, softly. “I have been dying to get you all to myself for the past three days. So I have plans for you.”

  “Oh I don’t know,” Amelia replied with a smile. “I was really hoping for a nice hot bath and an early night.”

  “Oh,” Mason said, and Amelia knew he was trying to hide his disappointment.

  “But I was wondering?” She said as she moved in closer to Mason. “What does a girl have to do around here to have her back washed?”

  “Oh,” Mason said with a cheeky grin, as he pressed himself against her. “I think that can be arranged, though I only have one good hand.” He held up this wrist with the cast on it, then added. “Think I will need someone to wash me…all over.”

  Amelia threw her head back and laughed out loud. She loved that even when she didn’t feel like smiling, Mason could always make her laugh.

  The elevator door opened and Mason took Amelia by the hand and headed towards the door of their apartment.

  The first thing Amelia noticed when Mason opened the door, was the smell. She hadn’t even realised she was hungry until the aroma of something divine hit her senses and immediately her stomach growled.

  Mason led her down the hallway to the living room and Amelia watched him closely. She couldn’t help but smile at the look of happiness that filled his face.

  When they reached the living room, the first thing that caught her eye, was the stunning bouquet of red roses and white lilies in the centre of a beautifully set table. The room almost looked ablaze with the dozens of flickering candles around the room.

  “Mason, this is perfect,” Amelia cried as she turned back to face him. “How did you do all this?”

  “Well, I had a little help,” Mason said as he stepped back and Amelia saw Sadie standing in the doorway of the room.

  “Welcome home, Sweetie,” Sadie said as she hurried towards Amelia and hugged her tightly. “It’s so lovely to have you back home.”

  “It’s lovely to be home,” Amelia replied honestly. “Something smells wonderful.”

  “Dinner is ready in the kitchen,” she replied before she turned to Mason and added. “All you need to do is serve it once you are ready to eat.”

  “Thank you so much,” Mason said hugging the older woman tightly. “For everything.”

  “It was my pleasure,” Sadie said giving Mason a warm smile before she turned to Amelia. “It truly was.”

  Sadie gave Mason a few instructions about the dinner, then, after hugging Amelia once again, she said her goodbyes and Mason showed her out.

  While he was at the door, Amelia walked to the window and looked out at the street below. She sighed when she saw the squad car parked in front of the building. Despite the effort Mason had gone to, to make her feel at ease, seeing the police car parked outside brought her back to earth with a bang.

  “Is everything okay?” Mason asked as he walked back into the room.

  “Couldn’t be better,” she said with a smile as she turned back to face Mason. She was determined to enjoy her night with the man she loved and try her hardest to forget about Simone Anderson. She walked back towards him and smiled.

  “I hope you are hungry,” Mason said as wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her into his embrace. “Sadie has prepared a mountain of food in there.”

  “I am starved,” Amelia replied, then added with a knowing smile. “Something tells me I am going to need the added energy tonight anyway.”

  Mason laughed but then leaned into Amelia and whispered into her ear. “You have no idea just how much energy you are going to need.”

  “Are you sure you can?” Amelia asked looking up into his eyes. “With your ribs I mean.”

  “Amelia,” Mason growled against her mouth. “I have slept beside you for the last three nights, and you have no idea how hard it was for me to resist you. Sore ribs or not, I am getting lost inside you.”

  He pressed his lips against her hard and she could feel his erection press against her stomach.

  “Fuck,” Mason groaned. “I want you so much.”

  “And you can have me,” Amelia whispered against his lips. “But dinner first.” Mason sighed loudly and Amelia laughed. She knew she wasn’t going to keep him at bay for long.

  As Amelia slipped into the deep bath in Mason’s bathroom, she leaned forward as she waited for Mason to slide in behind her. Once he was inside, he wasted no time pulling her close to him and softly kissing her neck.

  “I have missed your body,” he whispered against her ear. “I want you right here, right now.”

  Amelia could feel her body react to his words. She moaned loudly as he sucked her earlobe into his mouth and gently teased it with his tongue. He slipped his good hand around to her breast and softly stroked her nipple with the pad of his thumb. Amelia instinctively pushed back against Mason and she could fell his rock hard cock pressed against her backside, and she wanted him, too.

  She moved suddenly so she was now facing Mason.

  Raising herself slowly on to her knees, she rested her hands against Mason shoulders, as she leaned down and gently brushed her lips against Mason’s. Breaking her lips from his but still looking him in the eye, she carefully lifted herself up and straddled Mason, easing herself down onto his awaiting erection.
r />   Amelia gasped loudly as he filled and stretched every inch of her. She gave herself a moment to absorb the feeling before she began to move slowly.

  At first her movements were slow and tentative. She was afraid she would hurt his cracked ribs, but the look of desire in Mason’s eyes told Amelia that his ribs were the last thing he was thinking about. She kissed him again and she ground against him once again then stopped.

  “Jesus Christ, Amelia,” Mason groaned loudly. “You are fucking amazing.” She gave him a small smile and she rolled her hips again, taking him fully inside her, but this time she didn’t stop. Over and over she ground herself against him, each movement pushing them both higher.

  Amelia’s breathing became shallow as she held Mason closer, trying to hold back her orgasm to make it last longer.

  “Don’t fight it, baby,” Mason growled against her neck as Amelia threw her head back, lost in sheer pleasure.

  Her legs began to shake and she could feel her head spin as she began to come apart. This pushed Mason on. He gripped her tightly with his good arm and pulled her closer to him, then began to thrust up into her, sending the water in the bath, spilling over the sides.

  “YES! YES! MASON!” Amelia cried as her orgasm washed over her. Mason could hold back no longer either. He slammed up into Amelia and erupted deep inside her.

  Amelia slumped against Mason’s bare chest, as they both gasped for breath, each lost in their own thoughts.

  “The water is getting cold,” Mason finally said as he was the first to move. “We should get out.”

  “Okay,” Amelia sighed as she lifted her head and smiled at Mason but he quickly pulled her back to him.

  “I am not finished with you yet,” Mason breathed against her lips before he kissed her again.

  When he finally released her from his hold, Amelia climbed from the tub, followed closely by Mason.

  He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her, before he grabbed one for himself.

  Amelia walked to the vanity mirror above the sink, and pulled the hair pins from her hair that she had used to keep her hair up and dry while in the bath. Her eyes fell to the bump on her forehead that disappeared beneath her hair line, where she had gotten stitches.