by Jessica Marx
Mason plops himself down on the couch next to me.
“This may be the first time I’ve seen you smile after speaking to your father,” I say, taking his hand in mine.
“There’s a first for everything. This whole night was potentially life changing. I’m not sure where it came from, or what made him decide to become a decent human being with feelings, but it happened.”
“Body snatchers?” I ask, joking.
Mason chuckles, “you never know. It was that crazy. He actually complemented me. He said I was right - he said you were right too.”
“If I didn’t hear it with my own ears, I may not believe you.”
“Can you believe he’s giving me Grant and Son? Just like that?” Mason’s looking off into space, “I thought he would have to die before he handed it over to me completely. Actually, I was sure he would still try and control things from his grave.”
Mason looks like he’s on cloud nine. I guess after a lifetime of being made to feel like a piece of shit, this is a serious breakthrough. I hope Garrison - Garry - is for real. It would break Mason’s heart all over again if he wasn’t, or if he decided to go back to his old ways again.
“I’m so happy for you,” I say, kissing him on the cheek, “I’m sure you’ve waited a lifetime for your father to let you know he appreciates you.”
“I have. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I had nothing to do with it.”
“You had a lot to do with it.”
“I don’t know how, but you’re welcome.”
“You’ve changed me, Samantha. It’s hard to explain, but,” Mason hesitates while he thinks, “I’m the same person, but better. My happiness is reliant on yours. Making you happy, makes me happy. My father has never let himself love a woman since my mother. I think he just forgot what it’s like to put someone else first. He always thought he was doing that with me, but he was trying to make me into someone else at the same time. I don’t believe he realized how much damage he did until now.” Mason takes breath before he continues, “he finally sees what I see in you. He knows it’s real. He knows you’re not going away - that I won’t let you. He actually appreciates what we have. He wants to be a part of it. I never cared what he thought before, but now that he’s having a change of heart, it’s like everything just got so much better.”
Mason’s happiness is contagious. As I watch and listen to him speak, a sense of peace and bliss overcome me. I wrap my arm around my belly with one hand and squeeze his hand with the other.
“Well, I’m not sure what changed his mind, but I couldn’t be happier for you. I know you weren’t looking for his approval, but it must feel so much better to have it.”
“It really does,” Mason agrees, “I feel like I have it all right now. Like all of these things that I never knew I wanted, are all happening, and it’s incredible - you’re incredible, Samantha, I hope you know that.”
“I kind of know, but maybe you can show me - you know - so I can be sure,” I tease him.
“Oh? You want me to show you, do you?”
“I do,” I reply, feeling very frisky.
Mason carefully lays me down, situating himself on top of me. He kisses me, his tongue entering my mouth. His kiss is full of need and desire. We both seem to be on some sort of high from today’s events.
He presses his hips into mine, bending slightly so he doesn’t press on my belly. He’s already as hard as a rock. I can feel his length against me, even through our clothes. He slowly rolls his hips over mine, making me buck my hips up to meet his. While we kiss, Mason pulls my shirt up, stopping just long enough to pull it over my head, and we begin again. I return the favor, fumbling with his buttons while our tongues explore each other’s mouths, like they have so many times before.
His mouth on mine and our bodies together, has us both completely aroused - even with our pants on. Our hips grind in motion together until Mason stops and quickly removes his pants and boxer briefs. The sight of his cock kicking my libido into high gear.
“I need you,” I say breathlessly.
“You have me.” He kisses me again.
“No. I need you inside me - now.” My skirt has already risen up around my waist. I reach for my panties and yank at them, trying to get them off.
“Feeling a little anxious, aren’t we?” Mason teases. He glides his manhood up and down over my slit which is already damp with anticipation.
I moan, “come on, you’re torturing me.”
Mason puts just the tip inside me and pulls it back out. He repeats the motion several times, a smirk on his face as I dig my nails into his waist, trying desperately to pull him deeper into me.
“Come on, Samantha. If you really want it, you’re going to have to ask nicely.”
“Please,” I beg. Saying please in any sexual context has become a joke of ours - although I know Mason loves to hear it anyway.
“Please what?” he asks, teasing me more with his cock.
“Please fuck me. Now. Please,” I can’t take it any more.
Mason plunges himself into me, gliding his entire length inside me. He fits perfectly. His cock caresses every inch of me as he moves in and out. My arms are around his back, begging him for more, pulling him in closer, deeper, until I can’t hold back.
“Yes, yes,” I cry, climaxing. My body clenches around his. I moan as he makes me spasm over and over again, until he too reaches the brink of ecstasy.
He leans down over me, making small circles with his hips, not pulling out, just enjoying the feeling of being inside me. He slows to a stop but neither of us move.
“I could stay like this forever,” he says.
“That would be awkward,” I joke.
Mason laughs, “you mean everything to me, Samantha,” Mason says into my ear. He kisses me softly on the lips and brushes some wisps of hair away from my face, “I hope you know that.”
“I do,” I reply.
“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“This sounds like a proposal.”
Mason rolls onto his side, “would you like that?”
“A proposal? Yes. Like this? No. It would be a strange story to tell when people ask how you proposed to me.”
Mason rolls his eyes with a grin, “I’ll try to think of something better when we’re really ready.
The two of us lie next to each other, our bodies squished together on the narrow couch, Mason’s arm around my middle. Neither of us speak, but I know at this moment, thoughts of our future are running through both of our heads. I smile knowing that everything I need - everything I could ever want - is right here with me.
Epilogue
“Sam! You are glowing!” the girls in reception greet me.
It feels like I haven’t been to the office in so long. I waddle my way over to the long desk and gratefully take a hug from each. It took a while, but Kim and I finally learned to like each other.
She congratulates me and embraces me in a genuine show of affection, “I just let Mr. Grant know you are here. He’ll be out momentarily. In the meantime, tell us how you’re feeling. You look fabulous.”
“Thanks, Kim. I feel like a whale, but it should be any day now.”
“Sam!” Kait calls from down the hall. Wow, that was quick. News still travels fast around here.
“Kait. Good to see you.”
“I’ve missed you around here.” She hugs me, “still no chance of you ever coming back, huh?” Kait elbows me, “you’re still my favorite coworker.”
“Not a chance,” I answer cheerily.
“Daddy!”
“Hey, buddy,” Mason catches Max as he jumps into his arms.
Mason holds Max and walks toward me. He puts his free arm around my shoulder and kisses me on my cheek, “how are my girls doing?”
I rub my belly, “we’re doing fine. Just tired, but that’s expected. I’m enormous and spent my day chasing after a three year old.” I rub the top of Max’s head. He has
a mess of brown hair just like his father.
“Why don’t you come back to my office? I had lunch delivered a little while ago.”
The girls promise Max he can come back after lunch to spin on their chairs and take some of their candy stash. The three of us walk down the hall to Mason’s office.
Max runs straight to the couch and starts playing with the remote controls.
“I’m so happy you decided to stop in today. I’ve been missing you,” Mason says, kissing me lightly on the cheek. We watch Max for a moment and smile before walking over to the conference table where a box full of our lunch is waiting.
“Max, honey, come over here. We’re going to eat lunch.”
“One minute, mama.”
I begin to open the containers and set everything out. I’m finding it harder to bend over every day.
“Let me help you with that,” Mason offers. I happily accept and stand by while he takes over.
“Did you hear from your mother?” he asks.
“Yes, they’ll be back on Saturday.”
“I hope you can hold out until they’re back in town. Ginny would be devastated if she missed the birth of her granddaughter,” Mason laughs.
“I’m sure your father would be just as disappointed. You see how much he spoils Max. Can you imagine what he’s going to do for this little girl?” I reply, holding my stomach like it’s about to fall.
“They sure have been enjoying themselves. Who would have thunk it?”
“Not me, but I guess stranger things have happened.”
Shortly after Mason, Garry, and I had our heart to heart, we brought him to my mother’s for dinner so the four of us could sit down. Things went much better than we expected. They fell for each other before we even cleared the dinner plates. Love at first sight, must run in the family.
They took it slow for a while. Things were so crazy with Mason and I - and then Max being born - but we all saw it coming. Once Ginny and Garry started dating, they tried to keep it a secret, but that didn’t last long. After one too many drinks at our wedding, they were holding hands and stealing kisses. They didn’t care who saw - they were having a good time.
Ah, the wedding. What a beautiful, magical day. I smile to myself thinking about Max, our little ring barer, so new to walking. The vision of Maddy, Kait and Jack’s daughter, in her cute little flower girl dress, dragging him down the aisle. Only our closest friends and family were in attendance. It may not have been how I planned my wedding as a little girl, but it was absolutely perfect.
Max runs over and pulls on my shirt, startling me from my daydream, “I’m ready, mama.”
Mason stands next to me, nestling Max between us. He puts his arm around me, pulling me closer. The three of us stare out the wall of windows and look over the city.
“I’ll never get tired of this view,” I say quietly.
“Me either,” Mason replies, but he’s gazing at me. He puts his arm on Max’s shoulder and gives him a squeeze, “Being up here, overlooking all of that,” he nods at the window, “I always thought I had it all, but now I know for sure, I do.”
Bonus Novel: Naughty
Naughty
A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance
Copyright Jessica Marx 2016
* * *
This book is a work of fiction. All the characters in this book are fictitious and any similarity to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidence.
* * *
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
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1
Ashley
* * *
I hate this scene. Crowds aren’t my thing—I think I’m tainted from the years I spent tending bar through college. I’ve been working as a server since high school and bartending since I turned eighteen. Fortunately, that means I can spot a player from a mile away. They may all look different on the outside, but the way they carry themselves and look at women is all the same. And right now, one of them is looking at me.
I stare right back. I have no time for games—that’s not my thing, either. I have no interest in a one-night stand or some guy who will make me feel like a queen until he makes me do the walk of shame. I’ve been down that road before and don’t care to visit it ever again.
He starts walking toward me through the crowd. The music is pulsing right through me and my skin is damp from the combination of body heat and humidity on this warm summer night. His body is defined and muscular and I can see the shape of his chiseled abs through his fitted, collared top.
And he knows it.
He has sandy brown, surfer-style hair in a perfect mess over his tan skin and hazel eyes. I catch sight of a tattoo on his forearm and follow it up into his shirt sleeve, wondering where it will lead. As he approaches I shake my yearning and catch my breath, bringing myself back to reality. I know the truth. He may be gorgeous, but he’s just a player like the rest of them.
This notion is solidified as he draws nearer and I see the way he struts—his dick leading the way, taking him in the direction of what he believes will be his conquest for the evening.
He gets dangerously close. It’s loud in here, but not loud enough to justify him speaking right into my ear. I keep my drink straw in my mouth and fidget with it, not knowing what else to do.
“You have gorgeous legs. I can’t wait to have them wrapped around my neck later.”
I choke on my drink. Is this guy kidding? His breath in my ear makes me feel a little weak in the knees, as much as I wish it didn’t.
“You don’t waste any time, huh? Obviously, you’re looking for a different kind of girl. The only one touching my legs tonight will be my boyfriend.”
Mentioning a boyfriend throws most guys off their game. But he just stands there, smirking. Who does this guy think he is?
“I’m not looking for a different kind of girl. I just don’t believe in games. You’re hot, I’m hot, and together we can have an amazing night, so why not just cut to the chase?”
I see my friend Rachel making her way back from the bathroom and I’m relieved. She is the perfect wing-woman. We’ve been friends since grade school and she’s like a sister to me. She has a gorgeous face and the body to match, but she’s also a no-nonsense kind of girl with a dry sense of humor. She’s just what I need to take this guy down a peg.
That’s what I want to do, right?
I don’t know why, but this cocky asshole is actually turning me on. Something about him is getting to me. I’ve always fallen for the wrong guys, especially the ones who ooze the bad-boy thing, but I’m happy now with Michael and our mundane routine. He’s different than any other man I’ve met, and I keep telling myself that’s a good thing.
Rachel is back and questioning if I’m okay with her eyes. Mr. Smooth extends his hand. I notice it’s just as tanned and strong as the rest of him. He must work with his hands. I start imagining my breasts cupped inside of them while he whispers all the dirty things he’s going to do to me into my ear.
Damn him. This isn’t fair.
“I’m Jayson. Your friend caught my eye from across the room.”
“Rachel,” she says in that clipped sort of way she does when she wants someone to get lost. “And I know Ashley isn’t interested. She has a b
oyfriend. So thanks, but no thanks.”
“So I heard. I don’t see him around, though. If Ashley was my girlfriend, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight—especially in a place like this,” Jayson answers.
Hearing my name roll off his tongue makes me weak in the knees. I don’t know why, but I feel the need to justify Michael’s whereabouts—as I had been doing more and more often lately.
“He has a presentation in the morning, so he couldn’t stay out,” I say with much more conviction than I actually feel. Where the fuck was he, anyway? He used to find a way to spend time with me no matter what. These days, it’s all late nights at work and no time for fun.
Still, I don’t have to explain myself to this guy. Some over-sexed jerk isn’t going to make me question the first healthy relationship I’ve ever had.
“Guess you’re the loyal type,” Jayson says, giving me another once-over and a knowing grin. “Damn. I hope your boyfriend knows how lucky he is.”
I can feel the weight of his stare pressing down on me, like he can undress me with the sheer power of his gaze, leaving me naked and on display.
“I’ll be sure to let him know,” I say and take another sip of my drink. I can’t believe how aroused I am by this guy. I shake my head. Total player, through and through.
I try to be a little cocky myself and reach out my hand. “Good luck tonight,” I say, hoping he’ll note the sarcasm in my tone, and smile as he holds my hand a little too long. The bulge in his jeans is unmistakable. My face flushes and a current of heat surges between my legs. If he spends one more minute here I might not be able to keep it together or sound like the cocky bitch I’m trying to be right now.
