Love Ignited

by Jacie Lennon

What is it they tell you? Don’t move an injured person? I ache to pick his head up and place it in my lap, to run my fingers through his hair and kiss his skin, but I don’t. I’m too afraid. So, I lightly put one hand on his chest and sob while vaguely registering Nick on the other side of him, talking to 911.

  Voices penetrate my fog from somewhere as I glance around where nurses are hurrying to and fro, walking in and out of rooms.

  “Hey, Maggie. Mason Porter?” Hanna stops at the front desk and smiles at one of the nurses she works with. She drove me here, and I’m happy for the company.

  “Hey. Let me check,” Maggie says, rifling through some papers and then glancing at a computer screen. “Looks like he was taken back a few minutes ago. Are you family?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.

  Hanna and I both shake our heads.

  “I’m sorry. That’s all I can say.” She gives us an apologetic smile.

  We walk down the hallway until we get to the waiting room and look around for a friendly face. Craig and Nora are tucked into the corner, and Ben is sitting next to them. We walk over to sit down. Nick enters from down the hallway, carrying a cup of coffee and wearing a stricken expression on his face as the front door slides open, admitting Ezra. Hanna jumps up to talk with him while Nick sits down next to me.

  “Have you heard anything?” I say as soon as he sits, pressing my hand into my chest. It does nothing to stanch the ache I’m feeling.

  “We haven’t heard anything from the doctors. They said they needed to run tests to rule out internal bleeding first and then assess the damage.”

  I lay my hand on his arm in comfort, and he covers it with his own.

  “I can’t get the sight of him lying there out of my mind,” I say more to myself than anyone else.

  “I know,” he says before we both fall silent, lost in our thoughts.

  The low murmurs of those around us fill the waiting room with background noise.

  It seems like forever, and Nick gets up for two more cups of coffee before the doctor comes out with the news.

  “Nick Porter?” the white coat standing in the waiting room entrance asks.

  Nick jumps like he’s been electrocuted. All of us waiting gather around to try to hear what is being said.

  “After running tests, we surprisingly found that there wasn’t any internal bleeding. Just multiple cuts and lacerations to his face, chest, and legs. He has a cracked rib and extensive bruising. His jaw was dislocated, but we have been able to manipulate it back into place. He’s on pain medication and muscle relaxants for his jaw. We want to keep him for several days to monitor, but your son is very lucky that his injuries weren’t worse.”

  We breathe a sigh of relief at the doctor’s words before looking around at each other with wide eyes. We still don’t know who did this.

  “We have notified the authorities, and they will be in to question Mr. Porter as soon as he wakes up. They want to get to the bottom of this quickly.”

  “Thanks, Doc. Do you know when we can visit him?” Nick asks.

  “We want him to rest right now. He’s heavily sedated. Someone will notify you when he’s awake. Leave your number with the nurses.” At that, the doctor slips back out of the room while we talk among ourselves.

  I feel relief wash through me that the situation isn’t as bad as it could have been, and then confusion fills me as I wonder who could have done something like this.

  Did Mason have enemies?

  Nick dismisses those waiting and tells them to go home and get some rest. Craig, Nora, and Ben leave when we promise to notify them of any changes as soon as they happen.

  “Nick, do you know who could have done this?” I lean over when we are seated again.

  Ezra steps out to call Myra and see if she will spend the night while we plan to camp out in the waiting room until given the all-clear to go in and see Mason.

  Nick shakes his head and leans forward. “No idea. I’ve racked my brain. I should have checked to make sure he took the trash out. I might have gotten there in time,” he says with a groan, lowering his head into his hands.

  I reach to put a hand on his shoulder before he pops up suddenly.

  “Oh, Jules, you should go home and get some rest. You don’t need to sit here all night in your condition.”

  I smile at his change of conversation before shaking my head. “No, I’m fine, Nick. I want to be here when he wakes up,” I say firmly.

  “Okay,” he says, nodding, and we fall silent.

  The time passes with brief conversations, and eventually, Hanna and Ezra head home in the wee hours of the morning. Once it gets to be three and I’m yawning consistently every five seconds, Nick stands up and reaches his hand out.

  “Come on. I’m taking you home. There’s no telling when he will wake up.”

  I finally nod my consent, as I’m tempted to doze off. I reach for the hand Nick has extended toward me.

  In my delirious state, I give Nick the address to my apartment before remembering as we pull up that I haven’t been staying there alone, which I would be tonight. My hand freezes on the truck door as my mind races, and my heart sinks.

  “Nick?”

  “Hmm?” his tired voice asks.

  “Was there anyone at the opening that you didn’t know?”

  His forehead crinkles up as he frowns, considering my question. “Not that I can remember.”

  “It was Kyle. I can feel it in my bones.”

  Nick turns to me as he throws his hand up, rubbing the back of his neck as we sit in the parking lot, his other hand tapping a rhythm out on the steering wheel.

  “Who is Kyle?” he asks calmly.

  There’s a chill that flashes through the cabin of the truck at his words, and I watch his knuckles turn white as he grips his neck tightly.

  “He’s my ex. He and Mason had an … altercation,” I whisper hesitantly, not liking the glint in Nick’s eyes. “When they first met, Mason might have punched him.” I grimace, thinking about that day.

  “Might have? Or did?” Nick narrows his eyes at me, and I blanch.

  “He punched him and knocked him out. I’m sorry … I just now thought about it.” I can feel the panic rising in my chest.

  Was Kyle trying to kill him? Or just threaten him? Would he try to come to the hospital? I don’t know the answers, and that scares me even more.

  “Have you seen him since?” Nick asks, looking thoughtful.

  “Yeah. He kept trying to contact me until I got a restraining order on him. Then, he left me notes at my apartment, unsigned so they couldn’t be tracked but I knew it was him leaving them.” The guilt overtakes me, and I crouch over, breathing quickly.

  “Okay. It’s okay. We will figure this out. Let’s get your stuff. You can stay with Debra and me tonight,” Nick says as he puts the truck in reverse. “Why hasn’t Mason done anything about this guy?”

  “We didn’t know that he was still here. I thought Kyle had gone home,” I say, a pang of sadness over not checking on the situation shooting through me.

  We pull into the driveway and Nick lets out a sigh before looking at me.

  “I know my son cares for you. He’s lucky to have you,” Nick says.

  All of this could have been avoided if he didn’t know me.

  “Or not so lucky,” I say before getting out of the truck and shutting the door behind me.

  35

  Mason

  I open my eyes as much as I can with a groan. My stomach muscles strain as I try to sit before I give up and lower my shoulders back down to the bed I’m lying in. I glance around and notice the sterile white walls and familiar tubing and electronics of a hospital room.

  Why am I in a hospital room?

  There’s a shuffle to my right, and I turn my head, my eyes widening as I see a small body repositioning on the couch in the corner of the room.

  Jules?

  I shake my head but stop as soon as that sends a bolt of pain through me. She’s still here.

>   “Jules?” I croak out, my mouth dry and voice unused.

  I watch her body stiffen for a second before her head shoots up, and a wide smile breaks across her face. She slowly sits up, her hand immediately going to her stomach as she scoots to the edge to push herself off the couch. My eyes are glued to the little roundness that’s poking out at the bottom of her stomach.

  “Hey, you’re awake,” she says as she smiles at me.

  Have I missed something?

  I squint a little as I try to remember. The memories start to rush back. I was at the party and wanted to leave. I was excited to get her home. I suck in a breath as I remember seeing Kyle outside, and then it gets fuzzy from there.

  “Kyle,” I try to get out.

  Jules’s face turns down in a frown as she comes to the side of my bed and sits in the chair pulled up next to it. She reaches for my hand.

  “What?” she asks, leaning in.

  “Kyle,” I say again, trying to work my throat around the dryness.

  She reaches for a cup and holds a straw to my mouth, and I gulp it greedily.

  “Kyle,” I state as soon as I drink the last drop.

  Her face darkens, and she clenches her jaw, although she doesn’t look surprised. “Kyle did this to you?” She points at my face, and her gaze trails down the rest of my body.

  I give a slight nod, and she stands, leaning over me to push the call button. A nurse hurries in and checks me over, looking at the machines. Then, she leaves to grab a doctor. A doctor comes in shortly after and gives me a rundown of my injuries. I should be grateful they aren’t worse, but all I am is angry. Angry with Kyle and angry with myself. I knew in my gut what kind of guy he was and I didn’t do enough to make sure he was gone. I left Jules and my child out of my selfish pride.

  What if he had attacked her and not me?

  Once the doctor leaves, Jules sits back down and grabs my hand again. I look at her and attempt to smile, but the bruising on my face protests, and I quickly relax my muscles.

  “I’m sorry,” I say to Jules.

  She looks at me, her eyes shining. “No, I’m sorry,” she says, “that this happened to you. It’s all my fault. I foolishly thought he would just tuck tail and run.” Tears brim in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

  I try to shake my head but stop that too. Everything hurts.

  “I was a fucking idiot,” I grit out.

  “You couldn’t have known he was there.” She leans in, and I feel her hand caress my cheek, softly as if she’s barely hovering the palm over my skin.

  I pull my arm up and lay it over her hand on my cheek.

  “I thought that I had lost you. All I wanted to do at that moment was speak to you, tell you that I—” She pauses, and I squeeze her hand as I watch one little tear trickle down her cheek. “I love you, Mason.” The words hang in the air between us, but she doesn’t break eye contact. “I walked outside to see what was taking so long. You were just lying there, broken, and all I could think was that I hadn’t gotten to tell you that I loved you. No more waiting, no more being scared.” She laughs a little as another small sob works its way free from her chest.

  “Hey, it’s okay. Don’t cry, baby. See? I’m okay,” I say. “I love you too, Jules.”

  I hear her gasp, her hand tightening around mine a little.

  “I want to come home to you. I want to cook with you and rub your tired feet. I want to feel the baby kick and go to every doctor visit with you. I want to crawl in bed with you every night, and I want to make love to you, probably every night as well.”

  She giggles and then sniffs before she smiles at me while wiping under her eyes.

  “I want to dry your tears for you and make you smile. I want to love you,” I say softly.

  She leans in. Her lips gently settle on the side of my mouth that isn’t split as she kisses me.

  “I love you, Mason,” she whispers against my mouth as if she can’t say it enough.

  We stay frozen like that for what feels like forever, her mouth gently kissing mine, our hands entwined, and our hearts melting together.

  The door opens behind Jules, and she jumps a little, jerking away from me before she sits back down. I instantly hate whoever disrupted our time. My brows turn down in a scowl as I see my dad come through the door.

  “Sorry. Am I interrupting?” Dad asks, a smirk crossing his face.

  “Yes,” I say as Jules says, “No,” turning red.

  “How are you feeling, son?” he asks, coming to stand beside the bed.

  I hate lying here while everyone stares at me like a zoo animal. I try to sit up, but pain causes me to lie down again. Jules leans over and presses a button on the bed, and it lifts me.

  “I’m just a little banged up. I’ll be okay,” I tell him with a shrug. I don’t want to be whiny, but damn, everything hurts.

  “I alerted the police to Kyle, and they went to question him. He was gone, so they talked to the precinct in Virginia where he lives, and guess what. He was back home, cowering. There was a, um, scuffle, and now, along with Mason’s assault, he has a nice little rap sheet. Assaulting an officer, assault with a deadly weapon. I think he will be busy for a while,” Dad says to us.

  Jules gives a little squeak of surprise. “He did all of that? God, I’m glad he didn’t hurt you worse,” Jules says, eyes darting from my dad back to me.

  Dad nods, and Jules leans over to kiss me on the cheek while I flinch at the contact on my bruised face.

  “Sorry,” she whispers.

  “Don’t be sorry,” I say, reaching to grab her hand. “Kiss me anytime you want.”

  Her cheeks turn pink as her eyes dart to where my dad stands, obviously able to hear everything I say. He doesn’t bat an eye.

  “Debra and everyone are here. Care if they come in?”

  I shake my head even though all I want right now is for Jules to climb up beside me and take a nap with me, so we’re meshed together. I want to feel her heartbeat against mine.

  A crowd of people pushes through the door, Debra and Dad leading the way. Ezra and Hanna walk after them, little Livie and chunky Luke jabbering at each other. Ben and Craig follow behind. I try to smile but end up grimacing at the pain my face is in. A nurse comes in and tells us there are too many people in the room, but I see Hanna walk out with the nurse, shooting a thumbs-up with a wink to us in the room, letting us know it will be all right.

  I catch Jules looking at me from her seat at my bedside, one hand in mine and one cradling her belly, and I’m happy. For the first time in my life, I’m truly happy.

  36

  Mason

  Two Months Later

  I watch Jules as she waddles around the kitchen of my apartment. I take in the sight of her new curves and how her once-small, flat stomach now slopes outward with our baby. I can’t help but touch her all of the time. The new places of soft skin get my dick hard, and I want to have my mouth on her body at all times. She always protests that I couldn’t possibly find her attractive with how big she’s gotten, but she’s wrong. She’s even sexier than she was before.

  Unable to control myself, I stalk over to her and wrap my arms around her, nuzzling her neck with my nose as she gives me little moans of appreciation. I reach down and plant my thumbs into her lower back, rubbing in circles as she braces herself against the counter.

  “Oh God, that feels amazing,” she whispers, her head rolling to the side as I plant soft kisses on her bare shoulders.

  I grip her hips and pull her back against me, rubbing my hard length into her backside with a groan.

  “You’re insatiable.” She laughs as she arches back into me.

  I can see her nipples peaking beneath her tank top, and I reach up to rub one lightly, tantalizingly. My entire body tingles as she reaches between us and grips my cock, squeezing the head of it, as my hand snakes down her stomach to the waistband of her shorts. She turns suddenly and pushes me against the wall behind us, her lips meeting mine in a frantic kiss.


  “Someone is horny,” I say, still against her lips.

  “All. The. Time,” she pants as her hands come down to my belt buckle.

  “Hey, want to move this party to the bedroom?” I ask, wanting her to be comfortable.

  She narrows her eyes. “Nope, I want you to fuck me right here.”

  Damn. Okay.

  She continues fiddling with my belt before I quickly push her hands off and unbuckle it myself. By the time I drop my pants, she’s already standing in front of me, naked.

  “Your wish is my command,” I say with a wink before I reach up to cup one full breast.

  Her hand covers mine as I roll her nipple between my fingers, and she brings her other hand up to wrap around my neck, mashing our faces together in a storm of heat. I sneak one hand down over her swollen belly and into the cleft of her thighs. My fingers find her sensitive nub, and I press down. A moan of ecstasy echoes in the kitchen as she throws her head back, baring her slender neck to me, so I lean forward and nip the base of it as my fingers drift through her slit, finding her opening and plunging in.

  “Yes,” she says, panting as I work two fingers into her.

  Then, I continue my slow kisses along her collarbone and down to catch one nipple in between my lips. Her fingers twine through my hair on the back of my head, holding me to her chest as she writhes underneath me.

  “Inside. I need you inside me,” she groans.

  I stand, quickly flipping our positions until she has her hands planted on the wall and my erection is hitting her plump ass as she pokes it out at me. Her hand leaves the wall and wraps around my shaft behind her, causing a tingling sensation to shoot through my body, as I grasp her hips and let her guide me inside her.

  She’s so wet, and my eyes nearly roll back in my head once I’m seated to the hilt. Then, I stop to catch my breath.

  “Don’t stop,” she demands once I’ve been still too long.

  I grin. “I love it when you boss me around,” I whisper against her neck.