by Aria Cole
“Nuh-uh, kitten. We’re saving those for later.” I winked, shoving them in my pocket as ideas of a naughty photo shoot ran in my head.
She cocked her hip adorably. “Why did you bring my stuff in your room?”
“Because I told you you’re moving in.”
“Wait, we’re not done discussing this—”
“What? Moving into my room? I thought we settled it last night. Forever, remember?”
“Yeah, but this is moving pretty fast. I mean, what about Savannah? Mrs. Potts?”
I shrugged. “Mrs. Potts will be thrilled. She’s probably already planning the wedding.”
“Wedding? What wedding? Mason, you’re talking crazy! Are you feeling okay?” She pressed a hand to my forehead.
“Better than ever. And Savannah loves you. It’s a done deal. I was thinking we could plan something for the end of November?”
“November?”
“For the wedding.”
“Mason!” Everly shrieked, smacking my bicep. “You haven’t even asked me yet!”
A cocky grin spread across my face before I pulled her into my arms, smashing her against my body and taking her in a long, slow kiss. “Not yet, but when I do, you'll say yes.”
“You’re”—she said between my kisses—“so…”
I plunged my tongue past her lips again, halting her next word. “Charming?” I pulled away, sliding the pad of my thumb across her lush bottom lip.
“Infuriating.”
“Not what I had in mind.”
“Trust me, me either,” she teased.
“You look cute when you pout.” I grinned and stole another kiss.
“You’re a scoundrel.”
“Ah, and I thought I recalled words last night like ‘Mason, please, oh God.’” Everly’s blush deepened, and I laughed, clasping her hand in mine before leading us out of my room.
“Sometimes I don’t know if you’re a blessing or a nightmare.”
“A little of both.” I winked as we descended the staircase. As usual, the warm, rich scents of home-cooked food wafted from the kitchen. “And don’t bother acting like you don’t like it.”
“Cheeky much, English?”
“I own this body. I’m confident about what’s mine.” At the bottom of the staircase, I pushed her against the wall and slid a hand up her shirt, dusting my fingertips against the curve of her tit.
“Hey…” Her eyes darkened as her breathing immediately sped up. “What if someone—”
“It’s so good to see some love in this house.” Mrs. Potts’s singsong voice shattered our bubble.
Everly’s hands froze on my shoulders, her bottom lip caught between her teeth with embarrassment.
I grinned, tugging her lip from their grasp, and smiled. “I couldn't agree more, Mrs. Potts.”
“It’s dinnertime, loves. Savannah’s in the dining room already. You may want to share the news with her since she’s been running around all day singing, ‘I saw Daddy kissing Everly.’” The old woman winked.
“Yes, ma’am,” I chimed, anxious to please Mrs. Potts, the only other woman in my life who mattered to me.
“Good, now eat up. I made enough for the entire British navy.”
I nodded, walking with Everly into the formal dining room.
My little girl sat perched on a chair, picking at a piece of bread and looking sullen. “Daddy!”
She hopped down, ran full force toward me, and latched onto not my leg per usual but Everly's. The sight warmed every cold corner of my heart. Everly was right where she belonged, with Savannah and me, bringing more light into our lives.
“How come you’re holding hands with Daddy?” Savannah peered up at the woman whom I hoped would become her mum.
“Ummm…” Everly looked at me desperately.
“Does this mean you’ll be my new mummy?” Savannah asked.
“Your daddy and I are really good friends,” Everly said.
“Like best friends? My friend Izzy says we’re BFFs, and we hold hands sometimes.”
“Yeah, just like that, honey.” Everly bent down to Savannah’s level and wrapped her in a tight hug.
“I’m glad daddy has a BFF now. I already have one, but I felt bad he has no one to play with.”
I choked on a laugh before scooping Savannah into my arms. “Let’s eat, baby girl.” I placed a kiss on her cheek, winking at Everly as I led Savannah back to her seat.
“I really like her, Daddy. Can she stay forever?” Savannah’s angelic voice whispered not so quietly in my ear.
“That’s my hope, baby.” I grinned, placing a kiss on her cheek before setting her down.
She wiggled into her chair and placed her napkin across her lap with all the manners Mrs. Potts had taught her. I shook my head, thinking all too soon she would be grown up and gone and it would be just me here if I couldn’t convince Everly to stay. But I wasn’t giving her that option. If she wanted to leave, we would leave with her. I would never let her go now that I’d found her.
She’d said last night that she was ready for forever, but did she mean it, or had she said it because my hands were sending her emotions into a tailspin? Her reaction to my suggestion of forever had been a bit of a surprise, but I’d also done it to test the waters. I wanted her to know I was serious about her and our future. There were no compromises, not between us. Our love was all or nothing. I didn’t know how to love her any other way.
ELEVEN
Everly
My life at Kingsley Manor settled into an easy routine. I woke up curled in Mason’s arms, usually after a long and passionate night of sex, and we kissed easily as the bright sunlight cascaded into the room. As September eased into October, Savannah and I spent more time outside, playing hide-and-seek and picnicking in the garden while Mason worked in his office. I knew temperatures would soon fall and the beautiful green hills would be covered in a fine layer of snow, so it was important that Savannah and I stretch our legs in the fresh air whenever she wasn’t studying with her tutor.
As the weeks passed, I fell a little more in love with everyone at Kingsley. But as the air turned crisp and the leaves began to change, my anxiety creeped in. I was set to leave in just six weeks, and I still hadn’t told Mason the one thing that'd been consuming my brain. The nights spent with his hands on me only served to fuel my worry. My insecurity took over, convincing me that he wouldn’t want me once he learned what I was hiding. Once he knew the truth.
My life had gone from a fairy tale to a nightmare because of one not-so-small secret. I glanced at the Christmas catalogue on the counter with a roaring fire and overdressed tree gracing the cover as tears hovered behind my eyelids. I would never be here to see Kingsley at Christmastime. I would never see the huge tree Mrs. Potts said Mason put up every year, would miss the festive scents of cinnamon and cardamom haunting the halls.
Kingsley at Christmas would be magic, and I would miss it all.
I refocused on the chilled dough, making sure the consistency was right before I rolled it out and placed it into the pie pan. Mrs. Potts had taught me how to make Mason’s favorite strawberry-rhubarb pie, and I was making it for us tonight.
Savannah was spending the night with a friend in the village, and Mrs. Potts had the night off. It was just Mason and me, and I sensed it was time to tell him. Time to shatter his dreams. Time to reveal I wasn’t the perfect, untarnished flower he thought I was.
I frowned before dumping the sweet concoction of strawberries and rhubarb into the pie. Tears pricked my eyelids as I worked on cutting elegant latticework into the crust before bending to place the pie into the oven. Soon the house would smell of love and family, comfort and home, but the secret on my lips threatened to tarnish it all.
“I can’t wait to taste the fruits of your labor,” Mason said behind me as he snaked his arms around my waist. He nipped the edge of my ear.
I nodded, barely containing the emotions welling in me. “Hopefully it’s good.”
“I
t will be. Nothing you could make could be bad. Plus that’s my favorite, so no ruining it for me.”
“Don’t be so sure of that, I have a way of ruining everything. What Englishman likes strawberry-rhubarb anyway? Isn’t that a strictly American thing?”
Mason spun me in his arms, his concerned eyes catching mine and refusing to let go. “My mother was American.”
With his words, a bubble inside me popped and my tears spilled over.
“Hey, hey, what’s the matter, kitten?” His hands were on my face, comforting me, loving me, making shame burn like lava in my esophagus.
“I’m not everything you think I am. I’ve been meaning to tell you, trying to work up the courage, but everything about you is just so perfect…”
Real fear lodged in his beautiful blue irises. “Everly, Christ, tell me what’s wrong. What can I do?”
I leaned against the counter, strength seeping from my body. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done this.”
I bolted from his hands, left the kitchen, and ran straight up the stairs. I wound up in his room, pulling my clothing from the drawers, where he’d so carefully placed it weeks ago, and shoving it into my duffel.
“Everly!” Mason barreled into the room, the door swinging on the hinges. “What the fuck is wrong?” He landed on his knees at my feet, his hands halting my own from shoving any more clothing into my bag.
“I shouldn’t have led you on like I did. I thought we could be… I thought maybe this was… I’m wrong for you, Mason. You don’t know it, but I am. I’m not worthy. I can’t give you the things you need.” I crumpled, tears streaming down my cheeks in violent torrents. I felt so worthless, so dishonest, so inadequate.
“Everly Grayson.” He lifted me into his arms, his hand working at my neck and into my hair. “Look at me.”
I sucked in a breath and did as I was told. My childish emotions may have overtaken me for the moment, but I had to be strong for this next part.
“Now tell me what the fuck just happened. I don’t know how to fix it if you don’t tell me.” He caught my chin, forcing my eyes to his.
I fell more in love with him at that moment, and I knew walking away would be that much harder. So instead, I shattered every dream he had and pulled off the Band-Aid.
“When I was sixteen, I was in a car accident. Some stupid texting teenager drove over the center line, and I just went head first…” I shook my head. The flashes of memory that remained were still too powerful to conjure. “I had to have surgery. There was so much scar tissue…” Tears forced their way down my face again. “I'm sorry, but I can’t have babies.”
His face turning a sickly shade of white before his eyes scrunched close. I swore I heard his heart shatter in that moment.
The one thing he wanted, the one thing he loved, the one thing that mattered most to him was family. I couldn’t give him that.
“Everly…”
“I should have told you. I should have told you that first night, but it was all so perfect. I couldn’t ruin it. I was selfish. I wanted to be an au pair because I love kids so much, and then I met Savannah, and she was so perfect. You were so perfect. Your life is so perfect, and here I am, broken and flawed. I’m so, so sorry.”
“Everly, no—” He shook his head, pain etched on his face.
“Mason—”
“Why couldn’t you tell me? Nothing between us! Nothing! There were so many opportunities, and…” His eyes strained to meet mine. “I’m so sorry.”
He wrapped me in his arms, tucked my head into his shoulder, and held me while my shoulders heaved and I sobbed. I emptied all of my anxiety into him, letting him comfort me as he always did, taking from him like I’d been doing from the start.
I whimpered, swiping at my tears. “I should have told you. I can't bear that I didn’t. I can’t be what you need. I’m not what you want. I think I should just leave.” I finally whimpered, swiping at my tears.
“Not a chance.” He held me a little tighter.
“Mason, I won’t make you stay with me out of obligation. You can even have the earrings back. I don't deserve them.”
“Like hell you don’t. You deserve them and every piece of my heart. I still mean the things I said to you, Everly. This doesn’t change that. Christ, how could you think this would turn my feelings for you? I don’t love you for your ability to give me offspring. I love you because you make me so fucking happy I’m afraid I’ll never know happiness again if I let you walk out that door.”
I tried to extract myself from his arms. “You don’t have to say that. Just please let me do the right thing and go.”
“Go? Just leave? Leave us? Leave my little girl who is begging to call you Mummy? Leave me? The man you’ve shared a bed with since nearly the time you got here? I don’t think so. We’re forever, Everly. I’ll love you until I take my last breath and even after. You’re a part of my soul. You can’t extract yourself so easily.”
I took comfort in the way he rocked me gently to soothe away my pain. “But you want babies, someone to pass this beautiful home on to. Savannah needs brothers and sisters. You deserve the life you’ve dreamed of, and I won’t be the person that stops you.”
“Having the life I’ve dreamed of isn’t possible without you. Don’t you see that? You are the very thing I’ve been dreaming of. If you leave, you’ll shatter all of us.”
I sat still in his arms, listening to the beat of his strong and steady heart, feeling it sync with my own. His hands went around my back and drew wide figure eights across my muscles.
“So you see, kitten, you can’t leave. You might as well break my heart into a thousand tiny pieces.”
Another tear tracked down my cheek as I thought of all the incredible things he’d said and done for me, the greatest of all being his love. “I was so scared. You talk about babies, and I want to give you a family. I thought you’d—”
“We have a family right here. Everyone I need lives under this roof. Anything beyond that is ‘just gravy,’” he said in a butchered American accent. “Is that what they say?”
I giggled, swiping at the tracks of my tears before his lips landed on my cheek. He kissed across the angles of my face as I said, “I don’t know who they is, but yes, that’s what they say.”
“Mm, Americans. I meant Americans, beautiful kitten. You just proved, yet again, that your heart is so big you put me before yourself.” Mason shoved a hand into his pocket before pulling out yet another small, dark box. “I know now, at this moment, more than ever, that you’re the woman for me, Everly Grayson.” He held the box between us, eyes dancing as he opened the lid.
And then my heart burst into a thousand soaring pieces.
TWELVE
Mason
“Everly, kitten…” I beamed, having waited for this moment for far too long. “Will you take my name, live here with me, be Savannah’s mum… and my wife?”
I waited, controlling the urge to take her down to the town hall, slap my last name on her, then bring her back to my bed. If I could have done it that very damn day, I would have. I waited, watching her eyes track across my face, down to the rock in my hand, then up to my eyes again.
“Everly… this is the part where you say yes.”
I slipped the ring on her finger before the bevy of tears burst and she cried all over again. “Yes! Yes! Yes, Mason, yes!”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and peppered my face in kisses. I held her cheeks, desperate to calm her, desperate for her to see that every beat of my heart was for her.
“Thank God,” I muttered. “Made me wait long enough.”
“Me?” she shrieked, kissing my lips again.
“I would have asked you a week ago when I went and got the ring, but I wanted us to have a night to ourselves so we can celebrate good and long and loud.” I grinned, happiness blooming deep and strong within me. “This day is going to go down in history as the best day of my life.”
“The best, huh?” Her kisses slowe
d until she was nipping gently, teasing my bottom lip, her hips rocking slowly against my stiffening cock.
“At least until your last name matches mine.”
“Mason.” She giggled, sliding her hand between us and palming my cock. “Mason.”
“Fuck, yes, kitten…” My hips jerked involuntarily at her touch. “I need you. Need to know we’re okay. Christ, you scared me.”
“Never again. I promise, anything and everything on my mind, I’ll never wait to tell you again.”
“Good. Let’s make that a new rule. That and no knickers. I’m banishing both from our home.”
Her angelic laugh tinkled around the room before my hands slipped between us and unhooked the button on her trousers. Pulling down the zipper, I slid a hand under her waistband and made contact with the hot, wet heat of her.
Home.
I was fucking home with her wrapped around me.
“Jesus, so wet, kitten. It’s like you’ve been waiting all day for me to take you.”
“I’ve been waiting my whole life,” she whispered.
Her simple words were like a dart straight to my heart. I was struck.
“There’s no going back for either of us now. I’m too lost in you.” I caught her lips with mine, thrusting my tongue past the seam and savoring the sweet taste of her. “Come here, wife.”
I grunted, pulling her down on top of me. Our hands and legs tangled in a frenzy as we struggled to remove our clothes and connect as quickly as we could.
“I love you so much,” she said after she’d pulled her shirt over her head and was pressed against me again.
“You can bet I’ll love you a little more, a little longer, every day. Don’t ever doubt that. Don’t ever doubt my love for you again. Always know that you are loved more than a man has ever loved any woman.”
I sucked in a breath when Everly slid my cock against her entrance, pushing me into her, filling herself with me. Our hips moved frantically as we fucked as if we may never touch again.
Only we would.
Often.
I’d make sure of it.
“I can’t keep my hands off you, not for a moment.” My palms kneaded her breasts as my teeth dragged along the curve of her neck. The smell of our fucking filled the room along with the sound of flesh slapping flesh in the sexiest of ways. “Love being buried so deep inside you you don’t know where you end and I begin.”
