I wrapped my arms around myself to get warm.
In a blur he picked me up and pulled me back into the water. “That was mean of me, I’m sorry. I should have known you’d get cold.”
“I’ve been a lot worse than cold before.” I looked at my arm without thinking.
“You’re never going to forgive me for that.”
“Forgive isn’t the right word. Maybe forget is.”
He brushed his lips along my forehead. “I have a possible plan.”
“For Quinn?” The cold and the mark were instantly forgotten. I left Bailey’s name out in case someone was listening.
“Yes. But it means I’m going to have to leave, and it may be overnight.”
“When would you leave?” How fast was this going to go? I had mentally prepared myself for a wait.
“Tomorrow.”
“Ok. Good.”
“Good?” His lips twisted into a smile. “Does that mean you’re glad I’m leaving, or you’re glad I’ll be here tonight.”
“The second one,” I answered far more honestly than I wanted to.
He kissed me hard on the lips. I waited for more, but it didn’t come. Instead he set me down gently in the water. He got out and grabbed my towel.
I walked over to the side and accepted his hand to get out. He wrapped me in the towel and dried me off with no apparent concern for his own wet form.
“Thanks.” I wrapped the towel around me tightly.
“My pleasure.” He grabbed a towel from a cart and quickly dried himself off.
I stared, still trying to understand this man who never ceased to surprise me.
Chapter 21
Mason
I waited for Jarrett to take a seat before I closed my office door. He was the one man in Sray I fully trusted and the only chance my plan had of working. Once I ensured the door was closed, I took a seat behind my desk.
“What’s going on?” Jarrett didn’t wait for me to settle in my chair before asking.
“I need to do something that might get me killed.”
He smiled slyly. “It’s for Kayla isn’t it?”
“Yes.” No point pretending otherwise.
He grinned. “I should have known that girl was trouble.”
“I promised her help, and I must stand by my word.”
“I wouldn’t expect less from you.” He leaned back in his chair.
“She would.” She acted as if she expected me to turn into a monster any minute. Every time she stared at the Cording mark she looked at me as if I was a monster. None of the girls had ever complained about the Cording before, so I’d never considered it a big deal. Kayla was making me think about it differently. She was making me think of everything differently, and I wasn’t entirely sure how to feel about that.
“Now that’s a loaded statement.”
“I care about what she thinks of me. Whether I want to or not, I care.”
“I won’t laugh, but I want to.” Jarrett rocked back in his chair.
I’d have snapped at anyone else for acting so relaxed in my office, but I didn’t have to with Jarrett. Our relationship was different. He’d known me far longer than anyone else in the club. “Because you have self-preservation.”
“Don’t pretend. You need me.”
“I do.” There was no sense pretending otherwise when I was about to ask him for some serious favors.
“What are you planning?” He straightened up.
“To try to get a breeder and her daughter out of Central.”
Jarrett nearly fell out of his chair. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Afraid not.” I looked up at the ceiling. “I did say what I had to do might get me killed.”
“I thought the sister was with the Reine.” Jarrett leaned back again.
“Nope. She’s a breeder, and the traders sold her to Central.”
“They aren’t getting out. We both know that.” He put his feet on my desk.
“How can I do nothing?” I pushed his feet off.
He grinned at my annoyance. “It’s pretty easy. You tell her you value your life. Weren’t you the one talking about self-preservation?”
“You haven’t had to say no to her. Her eyes. They kill me.” I groaned as I pictured the eyes that had been haunting my dreams.
“You’re in love. Mason Grove is in fucking love.”
I shook my head. “This isn’t about love.”
“Then what is it?”
“I like who she makes me.” She made me want to be a better man.
“It’s love. Call it what you want, you’re the boss.”
“Does it matter?” The words didn’t change what I had to do.
“It does if you’re willing to risk everything for her.”
“I need to talk to your friend.”
“Denver?” He knew exactly who I was talking about. They’d grown up together in a different branch of Central.
“Yes.” I nodded. “Think you can get me an appointment?”
“Yes, but he’s not going to be able to pull this off no matter what you pay him.”
“He’s the only hope I have.” Unfortunately that was the truth. There were few men who had a prayer of helping me pull this off, and there were even less I’d dream of trusting. Denver wasn’t trustworthy the way Jarrett was, but he could be bought—for a price.
“When Denver is your only hope, you know you’re screwed.”
“I’m screwed.” Might as well call a spade a spade.
“You were always the smart one, you know that?”
“I don’t think I’d go that far.”
“I would. You were the brains behind everything. It’s why we’re still alive. Yet all it took was one little blonde to make you an absolute idiot.” He leaned on the desk on his elbows.
“I love her.” I let the words slip out.
He grinned. “See, you admit it. That helps.”
“How does that help?”
“It means there’s a reason behind the madness. Reason is important.”
“You going to get in contact with Denver for me?”
“Yes. And I’m guessing you want me to stay here with her.”
“Yes. I want her safe. I promised her she would be safe.”
“You promised she would be safe while you go off to get yourself killed. Have you taken the time to think about what’s going to happen to her if you’re dead?”
“You’ll protect her.”
“Sure, until Greer gets involved. He’s pissed. I don’t know how hard the girl can kick, but it must have been pretty bad.” He straightened up again.
“It has nothing to do with his nuts and everything to do with his ego. He’s not used to being told no.”
“Do me a favor and live then. I don’t want to have to deal with a power struggle.”
“I’m not dying anytime soon.” I was good at surviving. Otherwise I’d have never made it this far.
“So she can give you a kid. A family. I understand what’s happening here.”
“She may not be a breeder.”
“But she might be. You’re having dreams of a family.” He put his hands over his heart.
“What the hell does it matter? I admitted I love her. What more do you want?”
“I just want you to think things through. If she gets pregnant—you’re going to have a dilemma. Even if you could get the sister and kid out of Central, you can’t hide another kid. You’re gonna get caught, and they’ll take them all away. Then what happens? Are you going to go crazy on the world?”
“I’m not going to let it happen.”
“You’re crazier than Denver.” He shook his head.
“Maybe I am, but I have to do this.”
“When do you want the meeting?”
“Tomorrow.” The sooner the better.
He laughed. “Of course you do.”
“Have I mentioned you’re the best at what you do?”
“Plenty of times.”
�
��I’ll owe you.”
“You owe me lots already.”
“I do.” Jarrett had helped me more times than I could count. I helped him too, but in the balance he’d done more for me.
“Go see her. I can tell that’s what you really want to be doing.”
“You’ll really watch her?” Otherwise I couldn’t leave.
“Yeah, you know I will. Despite the fact that she may be the downfall of us both, I like her. She’s different.”
“Yeah, she is.” I stood. “Thanks, Jarrett.”
“Thank me when it’s all over.”
I nodded. “I will.”
I waited for Jarrett to leave my office before I headed toward my bedroom. Jarrett was absolutely right. Seeing Kayla was exactly what was on my mind.
She was sound asleep by the time I slipped into bed beside her. She’d left the lights on giving me the perfect view of her sleeping form. She was wearing red tonight, and I watched her even breathing. I kept the lights on and pulled her into my arms.
She mumbled something and curled up into me.
I ran my hand down her back.
“Mason?” she asked sleepily.
“Hey, sorry I woke you up.”
“It’s okay.” She opened her eyes.
“You doing all right?”
“Yes. You?” She blinked a few times.
“Just making some plans for tomorrow.”
“I was thinking about that.” She moved to sitting.
“Oh yeah?”
“I don’t want you to put yourself in danger. I can do it myself.” She nodded as if to convince herself rather than me.
“Do it yourself?” I tried not to sound condescending even though the thought of it was crazy. “And how are you going to manage that?”
“I don’t know yet, but I can come up with something.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I can do this.”
“Why? Why are you willing to do this?” She grabbed my arm. “Because I don’t get it. You shouldn’t be willing. Yes, you promised to help, but that was when you thought the Reine had her. I lied to you. That negated the promise.”
I took a deep breath. I’d said it to Jarrett, surely I could tell her. “Because I’m in love with you, Kayla.”
“In love with me?” She put a hand to her chest. “How?”
“What do you mean how? It’s a natural process—in theory.”
“But how would you know?” She asked with what sounded like genuine confusion.
“It’s something I feel.” I watched her trying to get a gauge on whether my words meant anything to her.
“In your chest? A warmth that never goes away?”
“Why would you ask?” I felt my lips twist into a smile.
“Because.” She looked down at the blanket. “Because I think I’m feeling the same way.”
I grinned. I couldn’t help it. In telling her I loved her, I hadn’t expected to hear the same in return. “I could kiss you for saying that.”
“Then why don’t you?” Her eyes became heated, and I knew she was challenging me to do a whole lot more than kiss her.
“Do you want me to?” I wanted her to have the choice. She’d never been given choices in her life.
“Yes.” She raked her teeth over her bottom lip and that did it.
My lips were on hers, and my arms were around her. I pushed for access to her mouth, and she readily gave it. I tasted her hungrily. She moaned into my mouth, encouraging me on. I slipped off one of the straps of her nightie slowly, savoring the experience, while I broke our kiss so my lips could move to her neck. I slipped down the other strap, and the silk fell down her body, exposing her beautiful breasts. I met her eyes, making sure she still wanted me to continue. She nodded, and I cupped one of her breasts in my hands. It fit perfectly, her delicate skin softer than any fabric I’d ever touched. I took her other breast in my mouth, savoring the moan it elicited.
I slipped the rest of the nightie off of her, following it by pulling off her underwear. I’d seen her naked before, but this was different. This time she was in my bed, wanting me to undress her. It had only been a few days, but it felt as if an eternity had passed since the Cording.
She tugged on my boxers, and I moved to make it easier on her. Her eyes roamed over my body. She reached out and then set her hand back down.
I struggled with encouraging her and keeping my mouth shut. The former won over, and I was rewarded by euphoria as she took me in her hand.
“I have no idea what I’m doing.” She stroked me gently.
“Yes you do.”
She smiled. “I do?”
“Yes.” I closed my eyes and allowed myself to enjoy the sensation for a moment before I offset her hand and focused on her body. I slipped my hand between her legs. She tensed and tried to push me out.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
“No saying sorry. You’re allowed to be nervous.” She was allowed to be anything. She wanted me, and that knowledge made me far happier than I believed possible.
“Ok.” She opened up to me, closing her eyes.
“Are you ready for me, Kayla?” I’d never cared so much about another person’s desires before.
“Yes.” She opened her eyes and met mine. “I’m ready.”
I was as gentle as possible as I entered her, afraid of hurting her. She was tense at first, but then relaxed as I sped up my thrusting. She held onto me as I continued, and her gasps slowly melted into moans.
“I love you.” I needed her to know this was different. This was so much more than sex.
“I love you too.” Her eyes locked on mine.
I held on as long as I could, desperate to give her the pleasure she deserved. She was so responsive. Her body hummed, and her hands gripped me as if she were afraid I’d disappear if she let go.
“Mason!” she called out my name. “Mason.” She whispered my name this time, and I’d never heard a sweeter sound.
“Oh, my Kayla.” I reached my release and I stayed inside her long after, holding her as close as possible.
I would never be able to say no to Kayla. I was a goner, and I didn’t care.
Chapter 22
Kayla
I was no longer untouched. The thought flitted through my mind when I woke up curled in Mason’s arms. He’d stayed in bed that morning, and I was grateful. It would have been difficult to wake up alone after such an intense evening. It had been nothing like I’d expected. There had been some pain, but nothing he’d done intentionally. He’d been so gentle and kind. And there had been pleasure. Pleasure like I’d heard of, but I had assumed was fiction.
I opened my eyes to find him watching me with a look half of curiosity and half of contentment. “Good morning.” The words came out scratchy. My voice was hoarse from sleep.
“Good morning.” He grinned. “I’m really going to get used to waking up this way.” He kissed me gently. “Do you like waking up with me?”
“Yes,” I answered honestly. I enjoyed it far more than I imagined or wanted to admit. “Are you showering?”
He smiled. “Why, you want to join me?”
“No. I just would take one if you weren’t.”
“There really is no reason we shouldn’t take one together.”
I let his words soak in. A shower together?
“Would you join me?” His words were light, but his eyes were heated.
I looked at the clock in his bed stand. “I don’t want to be late for work.”
He sighed. “Remind me why I agreed to let you do that?”
“I’m guessing it had something to do with making me happy.”
“Oh yeah, that.” He ran his fingers through my tangled hair. “What about making me happy?”
“And my showering with you is going to make you happy?”
“Very happy.”
“And you’ll make sure I get to work on time?” I knew it didn’t actually matter. Taylor wouldn’t be upset, but I didn’t want to be known a
s a slacker. That wasn’t who I was.
“Absolutely.”
I pushed up against his arms. “All right then, but I hope you like your showers hot.” I was enjoying the seemingly endless supply of hot water the club had. A hot shower was a luxury back home in the Rurals.
He grinned. “Very hot, Kayla. Very hot.”
I waited for him to start the shower before I followed behind him. The stall was already covered in steam, and the chill of the morning disappeared as soon as I closed the glass door behind me.
“You can go under first.” He held back, gesturing me toward the stream of water.
I gladly stepped under the water, letting it run down my body, encasing me in warmth.
“You look so beautiful.” Mason closed the space between us, joining me under the spray.
I welcomed his arms around me, only slightly surprised when I felt him start to run a bar of soap over my body. I rested a hand on his chest, surprised by the effect the act of cleaning was having on me.
“How does that feel?” He asked softly.
“Good.” I took the soap from him, wanting to do the same to his body. I wanted to know what the strong lines of his body would feel like under the hot water. Mason brought out such a different side in me, a side I hadn’t realized I had.
He took my breast in my mouth, and his hand moved between my legs as I ran the soap over his back.
I dropped the soap back into the dish, unable to concentrate anymore.
His mouth moved back to my lips, and he pushed his way into my mouth. I got lost in his kiss, overwhelmed by the water and the sensation of being so close.
In a quick motion he had me pinned up against the wall of the shower. Without warning he thrust into me, and I gasped in surprise. This was so different from the night before in his bed. It was primal and intense, yet he wasn’t rough. There was gentleness to the way he protected me from the hard wall with his arms.
“You’re amazing, Kayla. Amazing,” he whispered against my ear.
I tried to hold on, tried to find myself amidst the intensity of our physical connection.
Just as I couldn’t handle anymore he helped me slide back down to standing. One of his hands settled on my hip, and the other cradled my head. “That’s what mornings should be. Just you, me, and hot water.”
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