Say You Remember: book 4 in The Witness Series

by Heather D'Agostino

  “I don’t want you to,” I pressed another kiss to his chest before stroking him one last time.

  He growled as he lifted slightly and shoved at his wet boxers. I giggled softly as I watched him struggle. It was quite comical watching as he fought with the fabric finally getting them off, and tossing them up on the edge. “You’re sure about this,” his eyes stared deeply into mine before he started working the fabric off my hips. After trying unsuccessfully to remove them, he gave a yank and tore the fabric from my body. I yelped at the sudden sting that it caused, but when his long lean fingers found their way inside me, it was quickly replaced with a hum of satisfaction. “I don’t know if I can do this here. I told myself when you let me touch you again that I was going to take my time,” he whispered as he licked at the corner of my mouth. “You deserve better than this.”

  “Did you really mean it? When you said you loved me, did you really mean it?” I pulled back to look in his eyes. I wanted him. I’d been denying myself for so long, convincing myself that I shouldn’t want him, holding onto the past when we could have the future that I always wanted. All I needed right then was for him to tell me he was being honest.

  “Yes. I love you. I’ve always loved you, and I always will. Nobody makes me feel the way you do. I’m just so sorry about everything, and I want to make it up to you. I want to show you what being with me is really like. The real me. I want to make love to you all night. I wanna wake up with you in my arms. I wanna cook you breakfast every morning. I wanna spend long nights cuddled up talking about our days. I want all those things and more, and I want them with you.”

  “Make love to me,” I couldn’t stop myself now even if I wanted to. I crashed into him. Every part of me wanted to meld with him, to become one with him; I wanted all those things too, and I wanted them with him.

  “I don’t have a condom,” he mumbled against my lips.

  “I’m on the pill,” I tugged him closer as my hips rocked against him, brushing over his erection.

  “Dani,” he groaned.

  “Stop stalling, and show me you mean all those things you just said,” I pressed my mouth to his and swept my tongue inside. He growled before lifting me slightly and lining us up. We moaned in unison as I sunk down on him. His head fell back as mine fell forward, resting on his shoulder. He waited a few beats before he began to lift me by my hips.

  I glided over him easily from the water and the pressure built. This was so different from the last time we’d been together. We were both more experienced now, and Mason knew he didn’t have to be as careful with me. I wasn’t a virgin this time around, and my body accepted him more willingly.

  “Fuck, you feel good,” he groaned as his hips rocked up, slamming into me. “I’m never gonna get enough of this,” his arms banded around me, holding me to his chest as he shifted one of his legs to get a better angle.

  I could feel the end coming, and every muscle in me began to tighten in anticipation. White spots began to appear and I squeezed him as I fell over the edge on a moan of pleasure.

  I’d been with another man since Mason, but it was nothing in comparison to this. Mason just knew my body. It was like we were each other’s other half, and were supposed to be together. I’d been fighting against it for far too long, and if Mason hadn’t forced me to confront our baggage I probably still would be.

  He slammed into me one final time before shouting my name and spilling himself inside me. We clung to each other as we came down from the orgasmic high. Our breaths coming in pants and gasps as he whispered sweet words of love in my ear.

  I pulled back after a few seconds and smiled before giggling, “I don’t usually do this on a first date.” I blushed as I turned away.

  “Hey,” Mason coaxed me to look at him. “This isn’t a first date. We’ve known each other for years. It just took me a while to get my head out of my ass,” he shrugged. “Wanna go inside? We can do this again in the shower, and then maybe in my bed,” his brows bounced as a grin began to form.

  “You mean stay over?” I blushed as I nibbled my lip.

  “Sure. Stay over. Move in. You can call it whatever you want, I just know that I plan on waking up with you in my arms for the next fifty years at least,” he slowly stood and climbed out of the hot tub, leaving me there stunned.

  It didn’t even phase him that he was naked and dripping wet. He reached for his jeans and tugged them on sans boxers before grabbing his shirt. “Come here,” he helped me out, and turned me so I’d be hidden if anyone came by us before tugging his shirt over my head. It hung down to my thighs, hiding the fact that I wasn’t wearing panties.

  He gathered the rest of our things as he led me into the building, only glancing back at the hot tub once. “I’ll never be able to be out here and not think of you fucking me right there. That was so hot,” he growled as he began to move faster. “Hurry up. I’ve got big plans for you tonight.”

  I laughed as he punched in a code to get into the building. It felt different this time around. We were different people, and even though we shared memories that weren’t always happy, they were ours. Mason was always gonna be a part of my life, and I his, and tonight we were gonna forge new memories. Memories that neither of us would forget.

  Epilogue

  Mason

  1 Month Later…

  I still couldn’t believe it was real. Every day that I woke up and saw her lying beside me I had to pinch myself to believe it. Dani had stayed overnight a month ago, and she never really left. She still had her place, but I don’t think she’s actually stayed there since. There have been a couple of nights where she’s said she was going home. I’ve had to work late, and I’ve come home to an empty bed but at some point in the night she always comes back because I wake up with her beside me. I asked her about it once, and she told me my bed was easier for her to fall asleep in.

  We’ve argued a couple of times about her moving in. She swears that she’s not going to because that might ruin things, but most of her stuff is here. She also claims that she doesn’t want anything to be weird with Jen. I told her Jenni didn’t mind her being here, in fact I think Jen likes the company.

  Tonight I plan on asking her again, only I’m going to butter her up first. I need to make her see that letting go of her place isn’t going to ruin things. I plan to take her out for a nice dinner, and then bring her back here to take a hot bath while I pamper her. I have something else in mind too. I still haven’t decided if I’m going to do it though.

  “Mason?” she called from my bedroom all in a panic. “Have you seen the cord for my laptop? It’s gonna die any second, and I really need to finish this.”

  “I think it’s on the coffee table. Hang on,” I called back as I rounded the corner from the kitchen, and began tossing things off the coffee table. It was littered with old mail, and some of Jenni’s school stuff. I saw the plug sticking out, and grabbed it before striding down the hall.

  “Here ya g…” the words died on my lips as I opened the door to find her bent over with her ass in the air. She was wearing one of my old football jerseys that she’d found weeks ago with nothing but a pair of panties on underneath.

  “Thank you,” she grinned as she saw what I was holding and rushed over to grab it from me. “Now I can finish this project,” she swiped it from my hand before craning her neck to press a light kiss to my cheek.

  I shook my head to clear it as I watched her. She had no idea what seeing her like that did to me. Watching her prance around my apartment dressed in my clothes was like having all my fantasies come true at once. I was standing there like some mute while she acted as if it were nothing.

  “Did you need something?” her head tipped to the side as she appraised me.

  “No,” I shook my head again. “Breakfast will be ready in just a minute.”

  “Ok,” she smiled sweetly at me as she plugged in her laptop and took a seat in the middle of my bed.

  I was so screwed. This woman didn’t get it yet
, but she unmanned me every time I was around her. I lost all ability to think and talk like a normal person, and if she really wanted to, she could probably make me do just about anything.

  ooooooooo

  Danielle

  “So, where are we going?” I glanced over at Mason as I crossed my legs. We were sitting in his car waiting at a red light.

  “I wanted to take you somewhere nice. Just be patient,” he smiled softly as he reached over and squeezed my knee. I sighed as I settled back in my seat and watched the cityscape out my window. It was sunset, and the oranges and purples that covered the sky made me feel like I was inside a painting.

  “I’m not a patient person,” I grumbled as I shifted around. I was trying to get comfortable. Mason had insisted that I wear something nice, and at the moment I was wishing that I’d skipped the garters that I currently was trying to hide from him.

  “It’ll be worth it. Promise,” he smiled before tugging at his collar. Mason was wearing a tie. I still couldn’t believe it. I’d never seen him dress up like this before.

  I grumbled a few more times before he pulled into a circular drive in front of The Skyline Hotel. It towered above the city garnering it its name, and as he helped me out of the car, I couldn’t help but stare up at it.

  “What are we doing here?” I whispered as he handed his keys over to the valet.

  “Eating,” he shrugged. “I’ve got reservations. Come on,” he tugged gently on my hand, and when I stepped up beside him, he wrapped his arm around my waist.

  “This is really nice,” I hissed. I knew Mason worked really hard at the bar. He saved every penny he made to help pay for school. It was taking him twice as long as it should have to graduate because of it.

  “Only the best for you,” he smiled as we stepped into the elevator. Mason pushed a button that was going to take us to the top floor where The Skyline Restaurant was housed.

  When the doors dinged open, he led me to hostess stand, and gave the hostess his name. We were then ushered to a table in the corner by the windows. After handing us our menus, the hostess left us there.

  “You’re not afraid of heights, are you?” Mason smiled as he motioned to the window that ran floor to ceiling beside us. You could see the entire city from where we were, and the sunset looked beautiful. It glimmered off the water in the distance, and I couldn’t help but be amazed. The man sitting in front of me was so different from the one I remembered years ago. This man loved me. He treated me as if I was the most beautiful thing in the world. He showered me with love and affection, and made sure that I knew every minute of every day how much he adored me. I never knew that under all the tough exterior that such a caring sweet individual existed. I’d always hoped that the small glimmers of this in the past had been real, and I wasn’t just imagining it, but as I sat here tonight watching him sip his wine as we ate our dinner, I knew it was real.

  “What are you thinking?” he reached across the table and rubbed his fingers lightly over the back of my hand.

  “That I love you. That this is perfect. That I must be dreaming,” I shrugged as I glanced out the window. Dusk had turned to night, and the city had come to life, lighting up to match the stars overhead.

  “I do, but it’s not a dream. This is real,” he pulled his hand back and rummaged in his coat pocket. “I know you’re afraid to move in. I still can’t believe all this is real either, but it is. It’s very real, and I’m not going anywhere,” he swallowed as he removed a small box from his pocket. “I know you want assurances before you give up your place, so I’m hoping this will show you that I’m in it for the long haul. I promise that no matter what, I’m not going anywhere. I’m yours, and I hope you’ll be mine,” his fingers cracked open the box as he revealed a beautiful diamond solitaire. He stood from his chair, and moved to kneel beside me before uttering, “Danielle Reed, will you marry me?”

  The room around us began to fade away as I watched his eyes glimmer in the candlelight of the restaurant. I knew I needed to answer him, but I wanted burn everything around me into memory. I never wanted to forget a single second of this moment. Years down the road when our children asked me how Daddy proposed I want to be able to say I remembered it all.

  “Dani?” his voice trembled and he squeezed my hand, garnering my attention once again.

  With eyes filled with unshed tears, I glanced down at him before nodding, “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you!”

  Mason sprung to a standing position as he tugged me to my feet and wrapped me in a hug before pressing his lips to mine in a deep kiss. “I love you so much. I mean it, Dani. You are the most important thing in my life right now.” He loosened his grip as he pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on my finger. It sparkled in the low light of the restaurant as I twisted my hand to admire it.

  “I love you too,” I sniffed as I flung my arms around his neck. “So much,” I cried as he tightened his arms around me. “I’m gonna remember this. I’m gonna remember it all.”

  “Wanna get out of here,” he whispered. “I’d like to finish this celebration with my fiancée in private,” he murmured as he pressed a kiss to my jaw right below my ear. I nodded, and reached for my coat as Mason signaled the waiter for our check.

  ooooooooo

  When the valet brought Mason’s car around, he all but jumped inside after helping me. His entire demeanor had changed since the morning, and I couldn’t help but giggle. “So is this your way of making sure I move in?” I narrowed my eyes on him, trying to keep a stern face and failing miserably.

  “Maybe,” he smirked. “We can be engaged for as long as you need,” he sobered his face. “As long as it takes for you to see I’m not going anywhere, and am in it for the long haul. I’ll wait. For you I’ll do just about anything,” he reached over and squeezed my hand.

  I couldn’t stop the tears even if I tried at this point. Where had this Mason been all those years ago? Was he always like this, and just hid it from the world? Why was I the one that got to see him like this? I didn’t have the answers to those questions, and figured I might never know. I loved this Mason, and I loved the way he loved me, and I have no intention of ever giving him up.

  “What’s he doing here?” Mason’s voice brought me out of my happy daze to spot the one person that I least expected to be standing on a corner.

  When I glanced up I saw him, Jeff. He was standing on the corner dressed in a leather jacket and dark jeans with his arm around Lena. She was cuddled into his side with her hand on his chest and dressed in a similar outfit to what she’d worn that night at the bar. His head bent as if he were whispering something in her ear when a dark sedan with tinted windows pulled up to the curb and a man who looked like The Hulk stepped out.

  “I don’t know,” I murmured as I watched them. “Can we just go back to your place? I don’t really care what’s going on with him right now,” I glanced down at my lap and when the light from the street caught the diamond on my finger causing it to sparkle, I smiled softly.

  “Yep,” Mason cranked the wheel, and took us in the opposite direction.

  I didn’t know what was going on there, and I didn’t want to find out. Jeff had his reasons, I guess, and I wasn’t privy to them. Right at that moment though all I wanted was to go home and celebrate my engagement.

  “The answer is yes, by the way,” I smiled as I pushed Jeff to the back of my mind and laid my palm on Mason’s thigh.

  “I thought we already established that when I put that rock on your finger,” he chuckled.

  “Not about that. I mean,” I swallowed “I’ll move in… this weekend. I’ll move in this weekend if you can help me,” I giggled nervously.

  “Hell yeah I can help. God, baby, I can’t describe what you do to me. You make me feel like a little kid who just got everything he ever wanted,” he grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

  “Me too,” I grinned back. “Me too.”

  “Just so you know,” he paused, “I’m always gonna remember this.
I’m never gonna let any of it go. You’ll be in here forever, Dani. Always,” he made a crossing motion over his heart, and I knew. I knew right then that neither of us would ever forget.

  ooooooooo

  Jeff

  I couldn’t believe we were getting ready to do this. I’d only been under for simple stings in the past and never more than a few days, but today was it. I was working the biggest case in my career, and to the top it off I had a civilian to protect in the process.

  “You sure you can do this?” I murmured in her ear as I wrapped my arm around her back. I placed my hand on her hip lightly, and watched her head give a quick nod.

  “I’ve lived this life before. I’ll be fine. Just promise me you won’t get us killed. If he finds out, he’ll kill us,” her eyes peered up at me, a mix of fear and determination swirling in them.

  “I won’t get us killed,” I mumbled as the dark sedan pulled over to the curb. The tinted windows hid its passengers, but I knew who was inside.

  Before he left the unit, Jase had taken down one of the largest drug rings that operated in Chicago. No one had escaped prosecution, but we didn’t know at the time that one of the guys was running a separate operation with a silent partner. Mitch was pocketing the money that his whores were bringing in, and working with a partner who, after further investigation, was found to be running a trafficking ring right under our noses. If it wasn’t for a former client recognizing Lena at the bar one night, we never would have put these pieces together. She heard me talking to a friend about a new taskforce that I’d been put on, and after a little coaxing she unloaded on me.

  When the rear door of the car opened, and the man in the back stepped out, he towered over me. I’m not a huge guy, but I can hold my own. This guy looked like he could bench press a car. He was wearing sunglasses even though it was evening, and I watched as his chin tipped ever so slightly when he appraised Lena. She’d made contact with the group, and my team had sent me in with her to make sure she didn’t get herself killed. I’d learn the business and report back.