Hard To Love You (The Love Series)

by Smith, Megan

  I turned around to leave because I was devastated that he had done that to me. I thought we had something special going for us. By the time I’d reached the stairs, Mason had walked in with Hunter and Cooper. I didn’t think the night could get any worse.

  “Hailey? What the fuck is wrong?” Mason asked when he noticed I was crying.

  I pushed past him and ran upstairs. MacKenzie was up there grabbing a sweatshirt.

  “What’s going on?” She asked as I ran over and wrapped my arms around her.

  I cried harder as she shushed me and told me to take a few deep breaths. “Matt is screwing some girl in the bathroom, Kenz.” I laughed once through the tears. “What a fucking idiot I am! And to think I was going to give him my v-card.” I cried.

  After a few minutes I calmed down and wiped the mascara off my cheeks with a tissue. “My brothers are looking for me. I’ll be back in a few minutes ok?” MacKenzie said as she was tapping away on her phone.

  “Alright.”

  After she left I unzipped my dress and threw it on the bed, then took off my heels and bent down to pick up my overnight bag off the floor. I was sifting through it looking for the boy shorts and tank top I’d packed to sleep in.

  “Hailey?”

  Shit, what is Mason doing up here. “Give me a second Mason, I’m getting changed.”

  He either didn’t hear me or didn’t care because he continued up the stairs to the third floor. I had my back turned towards him so I wasn’t sure where in the room he was until his hands snaked around my waist.

  I tensed, “Don’t, Mase.”

  He didn’t move his hands though. “That was a really shitty thing that Matt kid did and I promise it’s getting taken care of.”

  I knew what that threat meant. The Cahills were going after him.

  “He’s not worth it, Mase. Just leave it be.”

  “The hell I will.” He said with rage in his voice.

  I huffed, “Whatever. I’m going to bed.” I tried to get out of his grasp but it didn’t work, he held on tight.

  “Were you really going to sleep with him?” Mason asked.

  Damn it! MacKenzie had told him what I was going to do. “What does it matter to you?”

  “You matter Hailey, now answer the question.” Mason said harshly.

  I waited a few seconds before nodding my head.

  Mason sighed loudly and let his grip around my waist go. When I turned around he was running his hands through his hair.

  “Come to my room with me.”

  “What? No,” I shook my head. “I’m getting changed and going to bed.”

  Mason gave me a stern, heated look. “Come. To. My. Room. With. Me.”

  I rolled my eyes. He must have thought I was just going to fall back into his arms again. Not a chance in hell. I continued looking for my things in my bags. “What are you looking for?”

  “Uh, clothes.” I huffed. Had he not noticed I was standing here in my bra and underwear? I reached for the other bag I had brought with me, still unable to find any clothes, but Mason grabbed my arm.

  “Here,” He reached behind his head and pulled his shirt off. “Put this on and lets go.”

  I glared at him. “I’m not going anywhere with you Mase.”

  He pulled his shirt over my head so fast I didn’t have a chance to fight him, then he threw me over his shoulder and headed out the door. Damn caveman.

  “I have two legs you know.” I said as I pounded on his back.

  He ignored me. When we reached his room he set me down to unlock his bedroom door and pushed it open for me. Once we were both in he turned and locked the door. Next thing I know he had me pinned against it.

  “What—-” I was cut off by Mason’s hungry kiss.

  He grabbed the back of my thighs and hoisted me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist while he walked us to his bed. He gently laid me in the center of the bed and then crawled on top of me; nipping and sucking on my neck.

  “Mase …”

  He reached down between us and pushed up my shirt to reveal more of my skin. “I didn’t want to do this, Hailey. You deserve someone better than me but I can’t stop wanting you. It would have killed me if someone else was your first.” He thrust his hips against mine and I let out a strangled moan. “I’m sorry, Hailey. I wasn’t thinking with Lily.”

  “You’re damn right you weren’t.” I tried to push him off me but he pinned my hands above my head.

  “You are mine, Hailey. You aren’t going to remember whatever his name is after I’m done with you.” Mason told me.

  He was being possessive and I had to admit that I liked it. While Mason and I rolled in his bed, I eagerly started pulling his clothes off. The mood had changed from possessive to tender.

  “It’s gonna hurt at first, Hailey. I’m going to try and be as gentle as possible.” Mason explained between the kisses he was placing down my stomach. I arched my back the lower he got. My body was strung out from the want and need of Mason.

  He slowly pulled my thong down and then reached over to the nightstand and grabbed a condom. He ripped it open with his teeth. I sat up and watched as he rolled it on his length. “You sure about this, Hailey?”

  I nodded, not trusting my voice to speak.

  “We can stop now, or whenever you want, you just have to tell me.” Mason said. I could hear the worry in his voice.

  “I know, Mase, I trust you.” I trusted him with my life.

  I reached up, put my hands behind his neck and brought him down to me. I opened my legs wider so that Mason could settle between them and they started shaking from the anticipation.

  “You’re shaking.” Mason said as he kissed right below my ear.

  “I’m fine, just a little nervous.”

  I felt Mason at my opening, he pushed in just a little and I felt myself stretching. I dug my fingernails into Mason’s back as he pushed in a little further. It hurt but wasn’t unbearable.

  Mason lifted up and gazed into my eyes. He stilled inside me, letting me stretch to fit his size and get used to the feeling. Mason continued placing kisses on my lips, down my jaw and just as he got to my ear he pushed all the way in and I felt a sudden pinch. I squeezed my eyes shut.

  “I love you, Hailey.” I heard Mason whisper so quietly that I’m not sure if I was meant to hear it.

  My eyes flew open but I didn’t say anything, I couldn’t. I was in shock.

  Mason stilled, “You okay?”

  I nodded, the pinching sensation was dissipating. I lifted my hips trying to get Mason to move but he wouldn’t.

  “Mase, look at me.” When he opened his eyes my heart fluttered. Mason’s eyes that were normally so stormy now looked so clear, so calm. “I’m ok.”

  Mason pulled almost all the way out, and then slowly pushed back in. He was making love to me, he wasn’t just screwing me. In this moment I knew my heart would always belong to Mason Cahill.

  After some time I was meeting Mason thrust for thrust; it wasn’t long before Mason and I found our releases together. What was once a ruined night was now one of the best nights of my life.

  “Where are you going?” I asked as Mason rolled off me.

  “To go clean up. I’ll be right back.” Mason walked into the bathroom that connected his and Cooper’s room.

  When he came back he had a towel in his hand and handed it to me. I climbed off the bed and saw the blood that was there. I gasped. I had forgotten all about that.

  Mason walked over and wrapped me up in his arms. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”

  I laughed nervously, “I only have my bra and shirt on.”

  “Exactly.”

  Mason pulled his shirt over my head and undid the clasp of my bra, slowly lowering the straps until it was completely off.

  Mason took a step back, “Damn you’re beautiful. Are you sore?”

  “A little bit.”

  Mason grabbed my hand and led me to the bathroom where he drew me a bath with bubbles.
r />   “It was perfect, Hailey.” Mason says. He’s probably thinking of our first time too.

  I glance over at him and nod. “I’m gonna wash up, I’ll be right out.”

  Mason smiles. “Turn around; I’ll wash your back.”

  “Mason …”

  “Just turn around.” Mason says.

  I turn so that my back is facing him and draw my knees up to my chest. Mason reaches for the body wash and then he starts massaging my shoulders. He takes his time, making sure to cover every part of my back. As he gets lower I sit up further giving him the access that he needs.

  Once my back is washed to his high standards, he rinses off his hands in the water and then stands to dry his hands off with the towel. “Have you eaten yet? I’m starving.”

  I turn around to face him but keep myself hidden by the side of the tub. “You’re not leaving?”

  He shakes his head and walks out of the room before I have a chance to argue with him that he should.

  I finish up in the bath, get dressed and pile my hair on top of my head. I throw my dirty clothes in the guest room and go to find Mason.

  He is sitting in the living room, flipping through the channels. The baby monitor sits next to his leg. I sit on the other end of the couch and pull a blanket across my legs.

  “I ordered an extra cheese pizza, light on the sauce. Hope that’s ok.” Mason tells me as he continues to flip through the channels. He ordered the pizza exactly how I love it.

  “That’s fine. Thanks.” What is he up to?

  Mason puts the remote down and looks over at me. “What?” I ask.

  He shakes his head, “Nothing.”

  “What?” Hailey asks again.

  “Things were good between us, right? Before that shit with Lily?” I say to her. I want her to remember the good times we had. I want to chip away at the walls she’s put up.

  Hailey shifts uncomfortably from her seat on the couch. “Yeah, they were great Mason.”

  I look up at the ceiling, resting my head on the back of the couch and sigh loudly. I can feel Hailey staring at me.

  “Lets play a game.” She says after a few minutes. I look over at her and she is huddled in the corner of the couch, looking all cute. She has her golden blonde hair piled on the top of her head, she isn’t wearing any makeup and she has on those damn stretchy pants and a short, tight tank top.

  I chuckle. “You and your games.”

  She huffs; a mixture of embarrassment and anger, “Forget it.”

  Letting out a long, drawn out yawn, she flips the covers off her legs and starts to stand up. “I’m not very hungry. I’m gonna call it a night, just let yourself out and lock the door when you go.”

  I hear her stomach growl as she talks about food and I’m not about to let her run away from me. “Bullshit.”

  She whips her head around to me, “Excuse me?”

  My lip pulls up into a smirk, “You heard me. You’re hungry. I heard your stomach, Hailey.”

  She goes to take a step away from the couch so I jump up from where I’m sitting and stalk over to her. Just as she’s about to get to the end of the couch I reach out and grab her by the elbow. When she turns around to face me she opens and closes her mouth a few times. She looks like a fish out of water.

  I order her to sit in the firmest voice I can manage.

  Hailey finally finds her words and snaps back. “No. I’m not hungry.”

  I take a step closer to her. She has to look up at me because I’m so close. “Sit. I’m not telling you again.”

  We’re locked in a staring contest; she’s not going to win this. Finally she looks away and sits back down on the couch. Victory! I smile at her and she rolls her eyes at me.

  The doorbell rings throughout the whole house, it sounds like someone is strangling a damn cat. Hailey curses under her breath and reaches over for the monitor. I quickly open the door for the pizza guy, hoping like hell he didn’t wake Ryder.

  After I pay for our food, I place it on the kitchen counter and reach into the cabinet for the paper plates.

  Hailey comes into the kitchen and goes to the fridge. “You want something?”

  “Water is good for me.” Things are weird and a little uncomfortable for us, I’m not really sure how to act around her because I don’t want to push too much and make her shut down.

  I take a slice out, put it on a plate for Hailey and then dish myself one. Hailey places my bottle of water on the counter next to me, I hand her one of the plates. I step around her and take a seat at the breakfast bar. I chose to sit here so I could be close to her without making it too obvious, but Hailey is already one step ahead of me. She hops up on to the counter. She’s close but too far away, I decide to give her the space she is keeping between us.

  “So,” I twist the top off my water bottle, “How were finals?” Last I heard she was worried about a few, but before everything hit the fan with us she had been staying up all hours studying. When I would wake up at five in the morning for practice I would have to move the books off her lap and cover her up.

  Hailey wipes her mouth with her napkin. “All my studying paid off. I passed all my classes.”

  I nod my head. “Good. Do you ever regret transferring?”

  Hailey stares at me for a few minutes. “No. I loved ODU,” she looks over and smiles at me, “Being home and going to Rowan College works too, though. But now I’m regretting it.”

  My eyebrows burrow, “How come?”

  She looks at me like I’m stupid. “Really Mason?”

  I flinch. Guess that was a stupid question to ask. If she’d stayed at ODU she wouldn’t run into me all the time when I’m home.

  “Do you miss BU?” She asks before taking a bite of her pizza.

  I play with the label on the water bottle and answer her truthfully. “I liked the classes but hated all the pressure that baseball brought with it. I live, breathe, and eat baseball and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but I kind of wanted to be like every other normal college kid. You know? Everyone wanted me to be everywhere all at once. Why do you think I came home so much, aside from seeing you?”

  Hailey clears her throat, “And I’m sure everyone wanted a piece of you, right?”

  “Hailey,” I warn.

  “I know, Mase. I see that shit on Facebook all the time. I was ok with it, you know what I mean? I knew you were mine and at the end of the day you were coming home to me.” She starts swinging her legs back and forth, stopping right before she hits the cabinets with her heels.

  “I am yours, Hailey.” I push back from the breakfast bar and go to stand in front of her. I lift her chin to make her look at me. “I’m yours.”

  A tear slips from her eye, “I miss you, Mason.”

  I run my thumb over her cheek, wiping away the tear. She’s hurting and I can’t bear that I’m the cause of all this sadness and pain. To help ease her agony just a little bit; I tell her, “I love you, Boo.”

  Slowly I start to lean forward, I want to kiss her so badly it hurts but I don’t want her to completely push me away.

  She’s staring at my lips and then licks hers. “Mason,” she whispers.

  “Hmm,”

  “I just want to pretend. Even if it’s only for a little bit, okay? Act like nothing happened. Just,” she takes a deep breath then lets it out, “kiss me.” Her tongue darts out again licking her lips and I wish it was something else that she was licking.

  I lean forward and place a sweet, gentle kiss on her lips. Hailey hates it when I kiss her like this but I’m doing it on purpose. I want her to take control of the situation. I don’t want her to hate me in the morning or later tonight.

  Hailey reaches up, runs her fingers in my hair and pulls hard. It hurts but it feels too good to tell her to loosen her grip. She moans into my mouth and I swallow the delicious sound. Her legs wrap around my hips. I pull her so that she’s sitting on the edge of the counter. She’s fully leaning into me, if I move she’ll fall. I know she trusts
me in this moment.

  She pulls back, “Mason, if you don’t touch me I swear my ovaries will fucking explode.”

  I chuckle and grind into her. Her head falls back, I start to nip and kiss at her neck. I reach for the bottom of her tiny tank top and quickly pull it over her head, tossing it behind me. She giggles and my dick twitches at the sound. Hailey notices and laughs harder.

  I look down at where our bodies are joined, then look up at her and smirk. She has on the bra that she bought for me. It’s my favorite thing that she owns. It’s white and the cups are baseballs, it has a matching thong with it. Eager to see if she’s wearing it I reach for the waistband of her black stretchy pants and yank at the same time as she lifts. Fuck! My dick just got even harder at the sight of her sitting on the counter in nothing but a bra and matching thong.

  I take a step back to admire the view. “Damn, Boo.” If this is the last time I may see her, I’m taking my fill of her body. I have to figure out what I’m going to do about this fucking Lily mess.

  She bites her bottom lip and looks at me with hooded eyes. An idea pops to mind. When I grabbed a drink earlier there was a can of whipped cream in there. I wink at Hailey, turn to the fridge and fish out the can. I turn back around and Hailey’s eyes go wide.

  Hailey shakes her head, “You are not.”

  “Why aren’t I?”

  She tried to hop down off the counter but I quickly step in between her legs.

  She playfully pushes me back. “We are in your sister’s house and Ryder is upstairs.”

  Ignoring her I place the can next to her, then reach behind her and unclasp her bra. Her hands fly up to keep it in place. “Mason …”

  I grab the straps that are still on her shoulders and start to slowly slide them down her arms. I place a kiss on each of her shoulders. When I can’t move it down her arms any further, she gives in and drops her hands.