Moments with Mason (A Red Maple Falls Novel, #3)

by Theresa Paolo

  “I really don’t know how. I don’t want you to get frustrated with me.”

  Cooper came up behind them as he grabbed a pint glass to fill an order. “Mason frustrated? This man has the patience of a saint.”

  “With you as my brother, I have no choice.”

  “Don’t ever tell me I’ve never given you anything.” Cooper winked then went back to filling glasses and flirting with anybody with tits.

  “I don’t know,” Cassie said still not convinced. She had always wanted to learn how to ride a bike, but she was never given the opportunity. Now here was this amazing man willing to show her. She’d be an idiot to turn him down, but she was scared. Scared of falling, of making a fool out of herself.

  “Are you afraid of falling? You really think I’d let that happen?”

  Deep down she knew that whether it was a bike or life, he would move heaven and hell to stand by those words. If he was willing to give her the chance to learn then she was willing to take it.

  “You promise?” she asked.

  He kissed her forehead, soft and sweet that felt like a million promises in itself. “Cross my heart.”

  ***

  Mason couldn’t believe that Cassie had never learned to ride a bike. It was a rite of passage, and every kid should have the opportunity to experience it. He still didn’t know much about her life, but what he did know was that he wanted to make up for everything she’d missed out on. She deserved that much.

  He spotted Caleb making eyes with Kate across the way while she helped supply bottles of water to those coming back from their ride. “Caleb,” Mason said as he and Cassie approached. Caleb made some face to Kate that had her giggling like a teenager before turning to them.

  “What’s up?”

  “Cassie wants to try out one of the bikes. Which do you think will be the best fit for her?” He didn’t want to say she didn’t know how in case she was embarrassed by that information.

  “I’ve never ridden before,” she admitted, and he smiled because he knew that meant she felt comfortable with not only him but with his family as well.

  “Definitely the Epic 29er.”

  “Perfect. Do we have to sign it out?”

  “I trust you’ll bring it back. If not, I know where you live,” Caleb said. “I’ll send your sister after you.”

  “She fights dirty.”

  “Oh, I know,” Caleb said with lust in his voice that had Mason holding his hands up.

  “You think I’d learn by now not to set myself up for those.”

  “You would think so.” Caleb pointed to the line of bikes. “It’s the red one with the black accents.”

  “Thanks, man.” Mason patted him on the shoulder and turned to Cassie. The dusting of freckles on her nose was more visible out in the daylight, and he loved that she didn’t cover them up with makeup. “Ready?”

  “I think so.”

  Mason brought the bike around to the back of the brewery away from the crowd and down an old service road that was used to get to the cows out in the field. He wanted Cassie to have space, but he also wanted her to be able to do this without a million eyes on her.

  He held the bike out and pointed down. “Those are the pedals.”

  “Is that what you call those things?”

  “Cute,” he said with a smirk. “I just want to cover all the basics.”

  “I know the basics. I get on the bike, put my feet on the pedals and go. I’m not really sure about my balancing capabilities.”

  “Only one way to find out.”

  She kicked her foot over the bike and stood with the seat behind her. The determination on her face was adorable, but he also saw a slight twinge of fear in her eyes.

  “Maybe I should go get you a helmet, some knee pads, elbow pads.”

  “Why don’t you grab some bubble wrap while you’re at it?”

  “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “You got me, don’t you?”

  She was right. He would do everything in his power to protect her. It wasn’t because it was the right thing to do it was because he didn’t think he could handle seeing her hurt. It would damn near punch a hole through his chest and rip his heart out.

  “Damn straight,” he said and gripped the back of the seat. “We’ll go at your pace. When you’re ready, pedal and I’ll hold on until you think you can do it alone.” He rested his other hand on the handlebars, loving the feel of being close to her, smelling that clean crisp scent of her shampoo, and seeing those freckles he loved so much up close.

  “Okay.” She took a deep breath as she got into position. “Don’t let go.”

  “I would never.”

  She lifted one foot then the other and she was off, going slow but steady. He stayed beside her until she began to pedal too fast and he couldn’t keep up.

  “You’re doing it.”

  “Oh my god, I’m doing it!”

  He let go having total faith that she didn’t need his help. She was fiercely determined when she set her mind to something, and he was right. She kept going, her reddish brown hair trailing behind her in a blaze of glory.

  He started to jog toward her, wanting to be close to celebrate her victory. She came to a stop and jumped off the bike. “Holy shit! I did it! I actually did it,” she yelled through laughter. She covered her mouth as if she couldn’t believe it, the excitement coursing through her as she jumped up and down in place. “I totally did it. I rode a bike.”

  Mason approached, her joy spreading to him and invading his heart. “I didn’t doubt you for a second,” he said as he scooped her into his arms and spun her around. Her arms tightened around his neck, and she smiled down at him. And in that moment, looking into those golden eyes, he knew he loved her and he would do anything for her.

  He wanted more firsts with her, more everything with her. Ever since Cassie came into his life everything was just better.

  Chapter 16

  “Today was fun,” Cassie said as Mason pulled up in front of her house. “I don’t remember the last time I laughed so much.”

  “Or cursed so much,” he joked.

  That adorable blush spread across her cheeks. “Kind of slipped out in the moment.”

  “Nothing wrong with that. Besides, you rode a bike today. If that doesn’t constitute a little swearing, I don’t know what does.”

  The edge of her lips twitched before spreading wide across her face. “I totally rode a bike, all by myself.”

  After they celebrated her victory, she had hopped right back on the bike and rode back and forth down the dirt path behind the brewery as Mason watched on. Eventually he went and got a bike and they rode together, side by side, sharing glances and laughs as they raced.

  It was a day he would never forget and he hoped she felt the same. He wasn’t sure if she’d had many days that she could look back on that would bring a smile to her face, and if she didn’t he hoped today the list would grow by one. If he had anything to do with it, it would only continue to grow.

  Mason leaned across the console. “You were amazing,” he said, cradling her cheeks with his hands. She took a deep shuddering breath as he leaned in for a kiss, pressing his mouth firmly against hers. Her lips moved with his like a perfect choreographed dance, and when she parted her lips, he dipped his tongue between the seam tasting her, exploring and discovering.

  She met him thrust for thrust, her hands lacing through his hair and tightening as he greedily pulled her closer. Her body pressed against him, and he could feel the soft mounds of her breasts and the sharp points of her nipples straining against her t-shirt.

  His hand slipped beneath the cotton hem, landing flat against her silky, warm skin. He dragged his mouth from hers, skimming her jawline and pressing a path of fiery kisses to her neck. She tasted sweet with a hint of salt, a combination that had his penis straining hard against his pants.

  She shifted, crawling into his lap, her head hovering above him and that beautiful smile of hers shining down
on him like a ray of fucking sunshine. She rocked against him, making it painfully obvious how much he wanted her.

  “Come inside?” she said as she placed a row of feather kisses across his jaw.

  “I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “If I go inside, I won’t be able to control myself. I want you too damn much.”

  She kissed his cheek then the corner of his mouth before pressing her lips to his. “I want you, too. Don’t make me beg.”

  “God, Cassie.” He pulled back, a surge of sweet desire pumping through his heart and right to his already throbbing erection. He wanted her so damn badly, but he needed to know she was completely aware of what she was asking for. He needed to know she was doing this out of desire and didn’t want her to feel pressured or fearful for any reason. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded, and he kissed her, long and hard, savoring her sweet taste before hopping out of the truck. He raced around to her side and opened her door. He scooped her off the seat, his fingers molding to her ass, holding her against him as he slammed the door shut.

  He walked to the house, kissing her neck and her lips, while she fumbled in her pocket to retrieve her key. He felt frantic with need and want, but that’s not how he wanted this to go. Cassie deserved someone who would take their time to worship her body and bring her pleasure like she’d never known. He wanted their first time together to be extraordinary and somehow he wanted to erase all memories of her past from her mind.

  So he controlled his urges to take her up against the door and carried her down the hallway to her bedroom instead. He laid her on the bed, kissing her softly and thoroughly. She moaned against his lips, and his dick throbbed with want.

  He dragged his lips down the silken curve of her neck, swirling his tongue across her collarbone before drawing back. He looked down at her, those beautiful golden eyes filled with lust and desire for him. How the hell did he get so damn lucky that a girl like her would want him? That she was willing to trust him with her body?

  He looked at it as a gift, and he would treat her as she deserved—with attention and care.

  He ran his hand up her side and lightly brushing her nipple through the thin material of her t-shirt. He could feel the lace of her bra and the tight bud pushing against its restraint, desperate for his touch.

  His hand splayed across her stomach just beneath her shirt, and he met her gaze. “Is this okay?”

  She brought her hand to his, moving it farther up her belly toward the two perfect mounds. He bent down, dragging his lips up her flat stomach and pushing her shirt out of the way, exposing her to him.

  She lifted, letting him pull her shirt over her head, but then she wrapped her arms around her torso, covering herself from him.

  “Don’t,” he said, taking her hands and urging them down. With a shuddered gasp, she let her arms fall, exposing her creamy skin to him. A jagged scar ran across her shoulder, running down her arm. She might have looked at it as an imperfection, but he only saw the beauty in it. It showed her strength, it showed she was a survivor.

  “It’s ugly,” she said. “He ruined me.”

  He shook his head, fighting the anger that rose inside of him at her admission. Suppressing the million questions he had because right now, he didn’t want to take away from this moment. He only wanted her to feel good.

  A strong desire to protect her consumed him—a burning need to assure her that no matter what that bastard did to her, he could never ruin her. “You’re beautiful.” He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the raised skin following the uneven line with his lips. Her body tensed, but with each kiss the tension eased, relaxing into his touch and giving herself over to him.

  His finger looped through the strap of her bra, and he drew it off her shoulder, peeling the cup down and revealing a pert pink nipple.

  He dipped his head, taking the tight bead into his mouth. Her body arched, and he rested his hand behind her back, pressing her closer, flicking his tongue around the turgid flesh. A moan fell from her lips as he pinched the other hard tip between his fingers, rolling it gently.

  His hand cupped her breast, so delicate and small like the rest of her. He couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to do anything but worship her, love her. He ran his finger along the scars, wishing he could as easily wipe them away, and erase the pain that she carried inside of her every day.

  He trailed a path of soft feathery kisses down her stomach, stopping at the top of her jeans. With one hand, he flipped the button through the hole and pulled her zipper down. She lifted, silently giving him permission, so he looped his fingers on the top of the material and pulled them down, revealing black boy shorts that had his erection throbbing painfully in his jeans.

  Taking a moment, he looked her over, admiring every beautiful curve, every freckle, and every imperfection that made her absolutely perfect in his eyes. He kissed the freckle above her belly button, then the one on her inner thigh, before slipping off the last of the material that covered her body.

  “Perfect,” he said as he kissed her lips, loving the way she molded to him, pulled his head down, and held him there, as if she never wanted to let him go.

  “You have too many clothes on,” she said against his lips, and he smiled, reaching behind him and pulling his shirt over his head.

  “Better?”

  “Almost.” She reached for the waistband of his pants, her fingers fumbling with the button until she managed to release it. He helped her, pushing his pants over his thighs and kicking them to the floor.

  Her hand grazed his cock, her eyes widening as she looked down at the bulge practically reaching for her touch. Her teeth slid over her bottom lip, and he had to control himself from coming at the sight alone.

  He ran a thumb across that plump lip and leaned forward, sucking it into his mouth. She whimpered as he ran a finger across her slick folds.

  “You’re so wet,” he said, feeling a great sense of pride, loving how much she wanted him.

  “Is that bad?” she asked, a blush of crimson spreading across the freckles on her nose and cheeks. She went to move away, but he held her gently in place.

  “Are you crazy? It’s fucking beautiful.” He kissed her lips, swiping at the crease before plunging in to meet her. He had no idea what this bastard did to her, but she needed to know that he loved her for who she was, especially when she was sopping wet for him.

  He dragged his lips down her neck, over the two perfect mounds, across the velvety skin of her stomach, and down to the thatch of curls at the apex of her thighs.

  Just as he was about to kiss her most forbidden spot, she pushed away from him, covering her body with crossed arms and pulling her legs beneath her.

  “Hey.” He looked up and saw the frantic panic in her golden gaze. “What’s the matter? Did I hurt you?”

  She shook her head, and he moved to her, gently cradling her cheek.

  “What is it?”

  She wouldn’t look at him, her eyes fixated on the floral comforter beneath them. He could almost feel the shame consuming her.

  “Look at me,” he said, resting his other hand on her face. “Please, Cassie.”

  She blinked up, meeting his gaze.

  “If you don’t talk to me, then I don’t know how to fix this. Has no one ever gone down on you before?”

  She took a deep breath. “He told me…” Her words broke off, and Mason could hear the agony in her tone, the damage this bastard did with whatever he told her.

  “Tell me,” he said, trying not to sound too demanding, but desperately needing to know.

  “He said I was disgusting… and only sluts allowed a guy to do that.”

  Fucking bastard. Mason wanted to strangle the asshole for telling her such nonsense. For making her feel ashamed of her body, of her natural wants and desires. He brushed his thumb across the apple of her cheek. “You are definitely not disgusting.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I’m looking righ
t at you. Because you smell like fresh linen. Because your skin tastes like strawberry ice cream on a hot summer’s day. Because you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on.”

  “Really?” she asked, and it was the first time he saw doubt in her gaze. The first time he saw her strength waver.

  He tucked her hair behind her ear, kissed the sprinkling of freckles on her nose. “Really. You’re fucking amazing, Cassie, and I want you to feel good. I want you to feel pleasure, to know how great it can be when shared with the right person. I want to be that person for you.”

  She closed her eyes for a brief moment like she was savoring his words, playing them over and over in his mind then she opened them. The golden hue glowed with intensity. “I want you to be that person, too. Only you.”

  A smile tilted his lips, and he took her face back in his hands, kissing her hard and thorough, assuring her that she would never regret choosing him.

  He kissed her until her body rocked against his, tiny moans fell from her lips and her fingers dug into his back then he moved down her body, worshipping every inch. Circling each pink tipped nipple, kissing the freckle above her belly button. Swirling his tongue around the juncture of her thigh before pressing a kiss to the single freckle on her inner thigh.

  He raised his head before he ran his tongue across her swollen nub. She had her eyes closed, handfuls of comforter in her hand, squeezing as if she was preparing for torture instead of pleasure.

  “Look at me,” he said.

  She let out a loud sigh then blinked her eyes open.

  “You’re amazing,” he said as he swiped his tongue across the sensitive bundle. Her body jerked at the contact, and the death grip she had on the comforter eased. He smiled at himself then dragged his tongue down her slick folds, parting her with his fingers and tasting her delicious sweetness.

  “You taste so fucking good,” he said as he slipped a finger inside of her, and her body arched. Her breathing quickened, legs shuddering as he curved his finger and sucked the swollen bud.

  He felt her muscles tighten around his finger, felt the crest of her orgasm. He circled his tongue and inserted another finger, her walls closing in on him and making her impossibly tight. As another tremor rocked her body, she cried out his name. His name never sounded so damn beautiful.