by Kaylea Cross
Avery closed her eyes, her eyebrows drawing together as her body quivered beneath his. “Don’t,” she whispered.
He lay on top of her, unmoving. Aching. “Don’t what?” he whispered back, kissing the edge of her lips, anticipating the moment when he drove into her.
“Don’t make me need you.”
His heart thundered out of control, raw possessiveness streaking through him. He wanted her to need him. In every way there was.
Their faces were only inches apart, his mouth hovering over hers. “I have to,” he answered. It was the only way he knew how to make her need him in return.
AVERY HADN’T COUNTED on this. On being out of her mind with need, while Mason watched every shift in her expression.
She felt like she would splinter apart, that he was the only thing holding her together. The way he pinned and dominated her should have felt wrong. She should fight it, hate it.
But she liked it, the dark edge of it, and knowing she was in his hands. And that scared her.
Her heart raced, the feel of him holding her down sexier than she’d ever imagined. This was a power dynamic shift she’d never experienced before, and it shocked her how much she wanted it. Having her control stripped away, giving it to Mason this way, the blend of force and tenderness making her insides quiver and the pulse between her legs unbearable.
He was a wall of heavy, solid muscle on top of her. With every subtle movement of his body he rubbed against her swollen clit, the tantalizing pressure and heat of him lodged against her opening driving her insane.
He was forceful, yet generous and gentle, and it cut through all her defenses as nothing else could have. She was melting, her body awakening in a way it never had before, unable to move, having no choice but to surrender to him.
It was so freaking hot.
“I’m gonna make you come so good, angel eyes,” he murmured, his mouth teasing hers, the slight scrape of his stubble against her skin heightened.
Avery lifted her head to deepen the kiss but he eased back, his fingers tightening around her wrists. She whimpered in frustration even as a hot thrill shot through her. She wanted him inside her, wanted him adding friction where she needed it to send her over.
“Please,” she finally whispered, unembarrassed to voice her need aloud.
“Look at me.”
Her heart trembled in fear, but she forced her eyes open and stared up into those smoldering blue eyes. As soon as she did, he shifted his hold to take both wrists in one hand and she didn’t even think to move them.
She held her breath as the heat and pressure between her legs increased. Her inner muscles contracted as he slowly buried his length into her.
A gasp tore from her. The friction, the incredible fullness made her clit ache. She could only lie there, quivering, poised on the edge of something beautiful as he slid a hand between their bodies to rest against her clit.
She whimpered and rocked against it, desperate for more friction where she needed it. He made a low sound full of satisfaction and kissed her.
Soft, tender kisses when she needed deeper. Slow, gentle strokes inside her when she wanted hard. Tantalizing contact against her throbbing clit. Teasing her. Making her insane with need.
The pressure built inside her, drawing every muscle taut, her skin slick with perspiration as she quivered and strained, unintelligible sounds coming from her. “Mason,” she choked out, unable to stand it a second longer.
“Give it to me,” he rasped out, and gave her everything she’d been craving all at once.
She sucked in a breath as pleasure swamped her, then released it on a sob as the orgasm built and built and built. Her whole body arched when it finally hit.
Her cries rang unchecked as it tore through her in decadent, velvet waves, Mason’s strength and weight keeping her safely in place as she flew. She sagged as she came back to earth, gasping and trembling all over, forcing her eyes open to look at him.
Mason was staring down at her, his face tight, eyes burning with something she couldn’t begin to name while he held her down and began to ride her harder. Faster.
Avery watched every moment, watched the tension build in him, his eyes squeezing shut, all those gorgeous muscles standing out in sharp relief when he finally reached the edge. Her only regret was being unable to touch or kiss him through his release, but as soon as the last shudder faded, he let go of her wrists and came down on top of her with a ragged groan, burying his face in her neck.
Instantly, Avery wrapped her arms around him to stroke his shoulders and back, his smooth skin damp, and kissed every bit of him she could reach. Her fingertips found and traced the long surgical scar down the center of his spine.
She stroked it, wishing her touch could take away his pain and everything he’d suffered. Something major had shifted inside her, and now she needed his reassurance as much as she’d needed release a minute ago.
As if he sensed it, Mason lifted his head, cupped the side of her face and kissed her tenderly, first her lips and then softer ones across her face. Avery held on and soaked up every caress, some part of her desperate for this. She was glad he wasn’t looking at her face right now because she was afraid of how much she’d already revealed to him.
But rather than gloat or say something cocky as he drew away, he eased onto his side and pulled her to him. His strong arms cradled her, one big hand curved around the back of her head to press her cheek to his thudding heart, holding her like she was the most precious thing in the world to him.
Avery pressed close, the backs of her eyes beginning to sting. Oh, damn. They were way beyond the point of no return now.
She gasped as the bed shook, blinked to find Ric curling up in a ball at the foot of the bed.
“You okay with him sleeping up here with us?” Mason murmured drowsily.
Aww. “Sure.” She loved that Mason planned to stay here with her for the whole night.
But she worried that if he broke her heart after this, it would never heal again.
Chapter Sixteen
Avery had expected to wake up next to Mason, so it surprised and disappointed her to find the other side of the bed empty when she opened her eyes. It was still early, weak daylight coming through the gaps in the blinds above the bed.
The house was still and quiet. Maybe he was down in his suite showering and getting ready for the day.
They definitely needed to talk. She was already emotionally involved and had to know where they were going, find out if they were even remotely on the same page if she wanted to protect her heart.
She got up and put her robe on, stopping in the en suite to brush her teeth before venturing down the hall. The kitchen was empty. Rather than being relieved at not having to see him and talk about last night, her heart sank a little.
She glanced at the table, her belly flipping at the way he’d picked her up and carried her to her room last night. Where he’d proceeded to blow her mind.
A wave of arousal swept through her as she remembered it. She tore her gaze away and started for the coffee maker, only to pause when she spotted the gift he’d left.
A to-go cup from her favorite coffee place sat on the counter, along with a chocolate croissant from the bakery in town—also her favorite—and a note. A little smile tugged at her lips as she picked it up and read it.
Morning, angel eyes. I’m out running errands but thought I’d drop this off first. Have a good day, can’t wait to see you tonight.
She lowered the note, a bittersweet pain lancing her chest. It was a small gesture, but the thoughtfulness behind it touched her more deeply than he would ever know. Such a simple thing, yet after having known her for less than two months he’d already paid attention to what she liked, and had done this for her of his own accord.
Whether she wanted to face it or not, everything had changed between them last night, and his sweetness this morning solidified it. She’d been trying to put Mason in a box for her own convenience, and because it made i
t easier to distance herself from him emotionally. But there was no avoiding the truth now—that he didn’t and never had fit into the box she’d made for him in her mind.
She drank her coffee and ate her croissant, savoring the flaky, buttery layers of the dough with the strong, bittersweet dark chocolate, thinking about Mason. Going forward without settling things between them would be disastrous.
When she was finished eating, she called her insurance company and hit the shower so she’d be ready when the restoration people arrived. The talk with Mason would have to wait until tonight.
The glass company showed up right on time, with the new windows they’d managed to get from a warehouse in Missoula last night. She went over everything with the head installation person, then walked back into her room to call Mason. Not to have the talk they needed to, just to hear his voice.
Nerves buzzed in her stomach as the line rang, her pulse picking up.
“Morning.”
Just the sound of that deep, sexy voice had her insides fluttering, and the nerves fell away. “Morning. Where are you?”
“Picking up a couple things in town, then meeting with the bank and going over initial pricing, licensing and scheduling for Rifle Creek Tactical.”
“Ah. I wanted to call and thank you for the present. That was really nice of you.” She felt spoiled, and kind of liked it. Doug had been nothing like this.
“It was nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. Not to me.” She’d spent years with a man she’d vowed to love and cherish until death do them part, and received piss all in return for her efforts. Mason had already shown her more care and consideration over the past week than she’d received in the entirety of her lonely marriage.
He grunted, as though uncomfortable with her gratitude. “Glad you liked it. Did you talk to your insurance company again?”
“Yes. The crew is here now, replacing the windows. They should be done within the hour.”
“Good. You heading into work after that?”
“Yes, Tate knows I’m coming in late.” Hell. Warning herself not to get any more attached to him didn’t seem to be working. But whatever happened, she needed to keep her heart out of the mix. Mason was sexy and protective and could be sweet and charming, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t break her heart in the end. She had to be strong, practical, and accept that this might only be a physical—and temporary thing. “What’s your favorite dinner?”
“My favorite ever?” He sounded surprised by the question.
“Ever.”
“I dunno. Probably homemade spaghetti and meatballs with marinara sauce. Why?”
That was easy enough. “How ‘bout I make it for you tonight? I’m planning to be home from work by six. Is seven okay for dinner?”
“Seven’s perfect, especially if it’s just the two of us.”
“Three of us. You have to bring Ric too.”
“Hear that, Ric? You get to have a meatball tonight.” The tags on Ric’s collar jingled in the background, and she could just imagine Mason ruffling his fur. “Can I pick you up some wine or anything while I’m out today?”
“How about more root beer? I kinda liked how that went last night.”
“Did you?” His sexy voice held a satisfied edge. “I did too.”
She shifted on the bed, all but squirming at the thought of a repeat performance tonight. Except this time, she wanted to go down on him and feel his hands bunch in her hair as she sucked on him. She wanted to be in control and make him to be the desperate one. “See you at seven.”
“Looking forward to it, angel eyes.”
She hung up, smiling to herself, but the sound of the workers repairing her windows in the living room wiped it from her face. It was a reminder that nothing in life was certain. She decided she was going to enjoy Mason for as long as this lasted. And with him to look forward to tonight, she had lots of work to get done first.
She got up and strode out of her room, impatient for the workers to finish so she could get into the office. Someone had targeted her, three times now, and there was no guarantee it was over.
Avery was sick of this shit. She wanted her normal life back. She was going to find out who’d done this to her, and put them away before it got any worse.
****
Yeah, this was just what she needed. Coming here had been the right decision.
Shannon parked her car in the prison parking lot hours later and climbed out, exhausted, frustrated, but filled with anticipation. She didn’t know how, but Mason must have heard her last night. Or his dog.
She’d waited until the middle of the night, until she was as sure as she could be that he and Avery were both asleep. So she could set the fire and take off. But just as she’d crept around the back of the house with the can of gasoline, she’d seen a flicker of movement through one of the windows.
She’d had no choice but to abort the mission and leave. Being on foot made it ten times as risky, and she’d barely made it out of there before Mason and the dog came out. She’d heard them as she was scaling the neighbor’s fence.
Not wanting to risk being seen by anyone when she was so close to achieving her goal, she’d decided to get out of town for a day or two. Not having heard from Mike lately, she’d driven back to Billings to surprise him with a visit today. It would lift both their spirits.
Excitement bubbled in her as she waited in line for the security check and registration. Since it was a weekday, the line of visitors was small.
She bit her lip, anticipating the look on Mike’s face when they brought him out to find her waiting at a table for him. It would brighten his day, and hers. If it was safe, she couldn’t wait to tell him what she’d done, and what she planned to do next.
It took a while for her to be processed, and then she was escorted to a waiting room until her appointment time arrived. A guard came for her. She shot to her feet, her pulse accelerating as she stepped into the visitation room.
Searching the space, she stopped, her feet sticking in place when she saw Mike at the far side. A horrible, crushing pressure filled her chest.
He already had a visitor at the far table in the corner. A young blonde, who was leaning forward in her low-cut, skin-tight top, laughing and tossing her hair to give him a better view. And Mike was eating it up, his eyes locked on the woman’s tits, a half-smirk on his handsome face.
Fury rushed through Shannon, melting away the icy shock. Who the fuck was that bitch, and why was she here to see Mike?
The guard held a hand out to stop her from moving. Shannon stood there, practically vibrating with impatience, the anger starting to morph into hurt.
Another guard near Mike’s table stopped the visit. The blonde said something else to Mike, smiled and blew him a kiss before standing. She swung her purse over her shoulder and turned toward the exit.
Shannon locked onto her with a lethal glare. The blonde must have felt it, because she met Shannon’s gaze, smirked and sashayed past in a cloud of cheap perfume, looking all too fucking pleased with herself.
“This way,” the guard muttered.
Shannon lifted her chin and marched over to Mike’s table. He was watching her now, seemed surprised to see her.
“Shan. What are you doing here?” he said when she got close, his expression unreadable.
Torn between hurt and anger, she slapped her purse down on the floor and refused to sit while the guard moved away. “Thought I’d surprise you. And it looks like I did.”
He seemed taken aback for a split second, then he grinned, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “You’re not jealous, are you?”
That gave her pause. “No. But who the hell was that?’
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Oh, it matters.” She’d put herself at great risk for him, and he was repaying her by cheating on her with some skank?
“Don’t worry about it. She’s nothing. I didn’t ask her to come.”
He was lying. She knew what she’d seen,
and that bitch was totally into him. Which meant he must have encouraged her. “Did you tell her not to come back?”
“I will.”
Shannon wasn’t convinced. Her stomach hurt. “Are you seeing her?”
Mike shrugged, watching her in a way that was a little disturbing. His stare was intense. Scrutinizing her. “I can’t see her if I’m in here, can I?”
Far from being reassuring, his offhand response devastated her. She’d done all this for him, made all these plans, risked her own freedom, and he didn’t even care about her. Not really. God, she was such an idiot.
“Shan. Sit,” he said softly, staring up at her with those dark brown eyes. “I’m glad you came.”
There was a lump in her throat. She swallowed it down, gathered her pride and forced back the tears blurring her eyes so he couldn’t see them before sitting calmly across from him. They stared at each other in stony silence for a full minute.
“I didn’t know she was coming. I didn’t ask her to,” he repeated, then softened everything with a cajoling smile.
She drew a breath, made sure the guard closest to them couldn’t overhear, and lowered her voice just in case. “You don’t know what I’ve done for you. What I’ve risked for you.”
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes shining with sudden interest. “What have you done for me, baby?”
She wanted to tell him, but she was too choked up and angry. “How many others, besides me and her?” She wasn’t an idiot. If he was romancing another woman besides her, then there had to be others.
He eased back, his expression cooling. “Does it matter? You’re the only one I care about, and I’m stuck in here for at least another five years,” he muttered.
“Yeah, it matters.”
He watched her for a long moment. “So. You gonna tell me what you meant before? About what you did?”
“No.” Not here, and not now. He didn’t deserve to know. He didn’t deserve her.
She got up abruptly. “I’m leaving.”
“Wait.”
She didn’t.
