by S. M. Shade
Mason lays his head back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling. The despair and regret in those deep blue eyes show a man haunted by a child’s memories. “I should’ve went out there. Done something. Instead, I cowered under the bed with the phone and called 911. The operator answered just in time to hear the gunshot.”
Tears trail down his cheeks into his stubble, and my heart aches for him, for the little boy under the bed. I climb into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck, and he runs his palms roughly over his face, embarrassed by his emotional response.
“Sweetheart,” I murmur, running my fingers up and down the soft skin of his nape. “You did what she told you to do. She needed to know you were safe. How do you think she would’ve felt if you’d got between them and he’d hurt you, too. Or if you’d seen her get shot? Your mom loved you and did what was best for you. There’s nothing you could’ve done for her, baby. You have to know that.”
So many things about this man finally fall into place. He spends his life rescuing women from abusive relationships because he couldn’t save the one he loved most, his mother.
His warm hands roam my back, drawing comfort from our connection and he drops a soft kiss on my lips before he continues. “I was too afraid to check on her, even after I heard the front door slam. I completely froze up. It took two cops to pull me from under the bed.”
The shame and agony in his voice raise a lump in my throat. “You were ten years old, Mason, a boy. You were traumatized.”
“Uncle Logan told me later there was nothing anyone could’ve done. He shot her in the head. She died instantly.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I was so pissed at the system for failing her, failing us. Uncle Logan was irate as well, and he sued everyone involved on our behalf. Marion County, the cops, the judge, the state of Indiana. It was on the all the news networks for a year, and when it was over, the civil court jury awarded us with the unreal sum of ninety million dollars for wrongful death.
“Uncle Logan invested it for us and it grew even more by the time we were grown. It allowed me to start Striking Back, so at least something good came from all of it.” His lips press together and he runs his fingers through my hair, gazing down at me. “Do you understand, love, why I started S.B.? And why I could never hurt a woman?”
“Yes,” I whisper, resting my head on his shoulder. We’re quiet for a minute before I ask, “Have you seen your father since?”
“Not since I testified against him.” He shifts to lie down, taking me with him. “No more sharing tonight, okay? I’m done in.”
“Okay. I love you. So much.”
“Love you too, Panda.”
His breathing evens out as he falls asleep, but I lay awake for over an hour, digesting all he’s told me. We’re both damaged, both trying to recover from horrific childhoods. What a depressing thing to have in common. I’m finally lulled to sleep by the comforting sound of his heartbeat beneath my ear.
* * * *
Warm lips brush across my neck, making me smile before my eyes are open. “Good morning, sweetheart.” His raspy morning voice is such a turn on.
“Mmm, are you going to make it one?” The heavy conversations we had last night were hard, but it’s made me feel closer to him. He knows everything and—if the hands tugging off my panties are any indication—he still wants me.
I slide my hands up his abdomen, dragging my fingertips through his short, crisp chest hair. It only takes a second for our clothes to end up tangled on the floor. Mason practically dives on top of me, pinning my hands above my head with a low growl. My gasp causes him to hesitate, an anxious look on his face.
“Is this okay? I wouldn’t have been so rough with you before if I’d known.”
Shit. This is exactly what I was afraid of. “Hey.” I look him in the eye. “I love how you fuck me. How dominating you can be, the dirty talk, all of it. You’ll never be able to tell me what to do when I’m dressed so you better take advantage when I’m naked. Don’t change a damn thing.”
His slow wicked smile increases the moisture between my legs. “Then turn your sweet ass over, baby. I’m going to fuck you until you beg me to stop.”
I barely have time to roll over when he grabs my hips and yanks me to the edge of the bed. Bent over at the foot of the bed, I can feel the heat of his body as he stands behind me, his hands squeezing my behind.
“I love your ass, Evie.” His finger trails between my cheeks, stroking lightly over that forbidden place where no man has ever touched me. “Easy, love,” he murmurs, kissing the dip in my lower back when I stiffen up.
“I’ve never…”
“No one has had your ass?” A deep groan echoes through the room when I shake my head. “You’ll give it to me,” he declares, his voice husky. “When you’re ready.”
“Fuck no! You aren’t getting that beer can cock anywhere near my ass!”
He snorts with laughter and rubs his hot length between my cheeks. “We’ll see.” A thick finger dips inside me, quickly finding the spot that shuts off my brain. “You’re dripping wet. Somebody missed me.”
“Maybe I missed Little Mason.” I’m squirming and pushing myself back on his fingers.
His hand connects sharply with my ass, and I cry out at the unexpected sting. “From beer can to little?”
“Mason Junior?” I suggest with a giggle. “What do you call it?”
“He who must be obeyed,” he replies, burying himself up to his balls and putting an end to my giggles.
I groan at the feel of that first wet stretch, and he grinds against me, delivering another slap on the lower curve of my cheek. “If you do that again, I’m going to come.”
“Don’t come until I say so,” he orders. His words somehow shove me even closer to the edge.
“I can’t stop it!”
“You’d better,” he whispers in my ear. “Don’t come.” As soon as the words leave his lips, he surges into me hard and fast. He sets a ruthless pace, powering into me, his fingers digging into my hips. It takes all my concentration to resist my impending orgasm.
Maybe I’m crazy for fighting it, but I’ve never been able to pass up a challenge. He doesn’t think I can do it, so I’m determined to hold out. A loud cry rips from my throat when his fingertip finds its target, rubbing small tight circles. “Mason!” I scream. I’m losing it, writhing and fisting the sheets.
“Come, Evie. Now.” His firm command shoves me off the cliff, the world around me narrowing to a pinpoint where all that exists is devastating pleasure. Through the blissful haze, I feel his strong arm under my hips, supporting me when my legs turn to jelly.
When I find my way back to my brain, Mason’s firm chest is draped across my back, his cock still throbbing inside me. His lips brush over my ear as he murmurs, “Good girl.” I usually hate that phrase—it’s something you’d say to a dog—but coming from him it doesn’t sound demeaning. He’s pleased with me, and I should be worried about how much that matters.
“Shit, Evie,” he says as he pulls out. “I’m so sorry. I got carried away and didn’t grab a condom.”
“It’s okay.”
We crawl into bed, cuddling together. “Are you on birth control? Do we need to get a morning after pill?”
“We’re covered, don’t worry. I won’t get pregnant and I’m clean.”
He sighs with relief and runs his fingers through my hair. “I’m clean too. I can show you the test results if you want.”
“That’s not necessary. I trust you. I’m cool with ditching the condoms if you are.”
I’m rewarded with a long soft kiss before he gazes into my eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you.”
“And taking your ass will be much easier without a condom.” His crooked smile widens as I shake my head. “Never going to happen, Beer Can Cock.”
“This Bud’s for you.”
“I can’t believe you said that with a straight face.”
* * * *
We spend most of the day lounging around and enjoying one another’s company. “It’s a beautiful day. I should’ve brought a swimsuit so I could sunbathe,” I remark. Mason’s backyard is a mini paradise. A four foot deep in-ground pool stretches across the yard, surrounded by cushioned chaise lounges. A large cedar tree grows beside the patio, the canopy providing shade to a long stone picnic table.
“No one can see you through the privacy fence, love. You could lay out naked. Avoid those pesky tan lines.”
“Dream on, buddy.”
Mason disappears into his bedroom for a moment, returning with a black pair of boxer briefs. “These are too small for me. You can probably fit them.”
The sun glints off the surface of the pool, calling to me. “Thanks.” His eyes never leave me as I strip down to the bare and slip on his underwear. If I roll up the waistband, they aren’t a bad fit.
When I pick up my bra, Mason grabs my hand. “No one will see those sweet tits but me. I’ll be happy to cover them with sunblock.”
Smiling, I shake my head. “You’re incorrigible. Fine. I’ll let the girls get some sun.” I watch as Mason shoves two of the lounges together, his back flexing, biceps swelling, and a thin layer of sweat coating his skin. I can barely walk after our morning sex fest and still my body wants more. I’ll never get enough of him.
His chuckle breaks my trance, and I realize I’m busted. He stalks toward me like a leopard on the hunt and grabs my ass with both hands. “Keep looking at me like that, Evie. See what comes of it.”
“I’d come, I’m sure, but you’ve rode me raw. I’m too sore, so you’ll just have to put that away.” I glance down at the bulge in his shorts. “We’re sunbathing, remember?”
“I’ll be on my best behavior.”
We lie side by side, talking about everything and nothing. We never seem to run out of things to talk about. After an hour on my stomach, I roll to my back, tucking my arms beneath my head. The sun feels fantastic, warming me inside and out, while a light breeze cools the sweat on my skin.
“Are you a sun worshipper?” Mason asks, amused.
“Guilty. I could do this all day.”
“So could I.” His eyes are fixed on my boobs, a cocky grin on his face.
“Best behavior,” I remind him, giggling. We lie in comfortable silence for a while, and I’m just starting to doze when I feel his cool lips on my nipple.
He smiles when my breath catches, and leisurely licks my other nipple before sitting up and handing me a glass of ice water. “You fell asleep.”
“Mmm, I was too comfortable.”
He pulls our lounge chairs over a few feet so we’re in the shade. “No burning the boobies.”
I scoot closer to him, leaning against his sweaty chest. “I should visit Macy.”
“I’ll take you, then I’d like to take you out to dinner.”
“Sounds great.” I trace his tattoos with my fingertips, stopping just over his clavicle. “This isn’t a scar.”
“No.”
“It’s another flower.”
“Mmm Hmm.” He takes my finger and runs it along the border of the flower. “It’s a white ink tattoo, a tulip.”
Now that I’m close enough, I can see it clearly. “It’s beautiful, but it’s almost hidden.”
“That one’s just for me,” he murmurs.
I press a soft kiss on his lips. “What does a white tulip represent?”
His hand slides into my hair and he tucks my head beneath his chin. “Forgiveness.”
“Whose forgiveness do you need?”
“My own.” I squeeze him around the waist, resting my head on his chest. After a few seconds of silence, I figure he’s done talking about it, but he surprises me. “It took me years to forgive myself for not protecting my mom. I know she wouldn’t have blamed me and whenever I struggle to remember that, I have the tattoo to remind me.”
“I’m glad. I hate that you feel responsible for something that wasn’t your fault.”
“Ditto, baby,” he replies, referring to my guilt over the abuse.
“We’re quite a pair. Maybe I should get a tattoo.”
“Just make sure it’s something you want to always carry with you. That it has meaning.”
“So no butterfly tramp stamp?” I tease, peeking up at him.
“How about my name on your ass?”
“And the deeper meaning behind that?”
His hand creeps beneath me. “This ass belongs to Mason. Plus, I’ll be the only man to get inside it.”
Laughing, I smack his chest. “Keep dreaming, Caveman.”
After we clean up, Mason drives us to the hospital to visit Macy. She’s propped up in bed watching television while Parker sits on a cot, tapping away on his laptop. “Ev,” she says, grinning as her gaze falls to Mason’s arm around my waist.
“Hey, Mace. How are you feeling?”
“A little better. They removed the chest tube so I might be able to go home tomorrow.” Her face darkens at the word “home”. She doesn’t have a home right now. I can’t imagine how awful that would feel when you’re sick. When I was in the hospital, all I wanted was to go home, not to Mason’s, but at least I knew I’d go home eventually.
Her reaction doesn’t escape Parker’s notice. “When you’re discharged, we’ll set you up in a safe house. It’s a nice place and you can stay there as long as you need. You need to worry about getting better. Let us handle the rest.”
“Thank you,” Macy says softly, gazing at Parker with admiration.
“Let’s give the ladies time to gossip,” Mason suggests, dragging Parker into the hall.
“Are you back together?” Macy asks as soon as they’ve left the room.
“We are. It was all a big misunderstanding.”
“I’m glad. He’s obviously in love with you.”
My head jerks to meet her gaze. “You think so?”
“It’s all over his face, Ev. Like he doesn’t know whether to worship you or fuck your brains out.”
I grin at her. “He manages both at once.”
“Don’t you dare screw this up, girl.” She wags a finger at me.
“I’m trying not to.” The next hour passes quickly while we chat and laugh together. She’s thrilled with the trilogy of new romance books and chocolate I’ve brought her. When she starts to look tired, I text Mason and give her a hug, promising to see her again soon.
On the drive home, Mason announces his plan to have a small pool party on the fourth of July, about a week from now. “Invite Ian if you’d like,” he offers.
“I will. I wish Amy could come. I miss her, but she’s happy in New York. Oh! I have to take the BTC kids to the fireworks that evening.”
“We’ll celebrate early.”
“Sounds fun.”
Chapter Five
Evie
July fourth dawns bright and sunny, perfect for Mason’s pool party. Alex and Cooper show up first, followed by Ian, Parker, and Macy. “Hey, Everly!” Alex smiles and hugs me. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You, too. I was starting to forget what you look like,” I tease.
Alex slides an arm around Cooper with a grin. “Sorry, I’ve been…occupied.”
“So this is your fault,” I tease, giving Cooper a quick hug.
A dimple dents his cheek. “I’d like to say I’m sorry, but…” He shrugs. They are just too damn cute together.
“Are we eating or what?” Parker demands, barging into the kitchen.
“Ugh, you have all the grace of a rhino.” I poke him in the side.
“Got other rhino parts, too,” he replies with a cocky grin.
A squeal echoes through the house, and I’m caught up in a tight hug. “Bitch, I missed you!” Amy cries, crushing my ribs.
“Amy? What the hell? What are you doing here?”
“Your tatted Adonis flew me out for the weekend.” We squeal and hug again. Damn, I’ve missed her.
Mason turns to me with
a smug grin. “Tatted Adonis?”
Great, add to his already swollen head. “Shut up.” I smack his chest before kissing him hard. “I can’t believe you did this!”
“You said you missed her, and I wanted to surprise you.”
“You did. Thank you.” Hugging him, I whisper in his ear. “I’m going to suck you so good, later.”
“Christ, Evie,” he moans, and Amy laughs.
“Bet I can guess what you promised him,” she teases.
“And that’s our cue to head out back,” Alex says with a chuckle.
“Head being the key word,” Parker quips.
I feel my cheeks heat and excuse myself to go change into my swimsuit. “So,” Mason says, leading Amy out to the back patio. “Evie called me a tatted Adonis?” I hear everyone laugh and can’t help the smile on my face. My friends and the man I love are here. Today is going to be fun.
Macy, Amy, and I relax in lounge chairs by the pool, soaking in the sun while the guys hang out by the grill. “What is it about guys and a barbecue?” Amy scoffs, gesturing in their direction.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Macy asks.
“Let’s read their lips,” I suggest with a giggle.
“Flip that steak,” Macy mocks in a deep voice.
Parker points to the grill and I put words into his mouth. “No! Flip the other one!”
Amy shakes her head at us. “Not even close. Look at Mason.” She drops her voice into a growl. “Evie’s going to suck my cock dry.”
“Amy!” I smack her arm, and we all laugh, drawing the guys’ attention.
“Come on, Ev. Tell me his cock is as magnificent as the rest of him. It’s huge, isn’t it?”
Glancing at Mason, I give him a wink and spread my hands seven or eight inches apart. “Massive.” Smirking, he shakes his head at me, well aware we’re talking about him.
A wall of water douses us, and when I sweep the drops from my eyes, I see Parker grinning at us, his elbows resting on the edge of the pool. “Asshole,” Amy splutters. “What the hell are you doing?”