Enjoying the puttering sounds coming from the front of the house, I slipped on a pair of flannel pants. I had a strong feeling about where this night was headed, but walking out in a towel or less felt a bit…presumptuous. There were still things I needed to say, even if Nash wanted to wave them off.
I found him in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on two grilled cheese sandwiches.
“Well, look at you.” I grinned at him. “Guess I did teach you something after all.”
“You taught me a lot.” Nash’s face was serious. “More than you know.”
Throat like sandpaper, I nodded.
“And I didn’t burn anything.” He slid me a plate across the counter. “Did the shower help?”
“Yeah. There’s still so much to do—”
“I did the outlets, the dresser, swept the room, and made sure the lamp was far enough from the bed. I think you’re ready, Mason. They’re not going to turn you down. You heard the court. The judge wants you to have custody.”
Afraid that if I spoke I might cry, I nodded again.
“You’re going to be terrific at this. Really. I believe in you.”
I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear that until right then. My eyes burned and I scrubbed furiously at them. “I treated you like shit, and you still believe in me?”
“Of course I do.” Nash gathered me up in a hug. “You were hurting. I get that. And you were right about one thing—I did spend all summer denying that I had a heart. I didn’t treat you like you deserved.”
“I’m sorry I asked you to pull favors. I didn’t really want you to. I was just so scared and angry and alone—”
“You’re not alone now, not any longer.” Nash pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.
“Thanks.” I brushed a kiss across his mouth. “For everything.”
“You’re welcome. Now eat.” Instead of deepening the kiss as I’d expected, Nash steered me to the table then sat opposite me with his own sandwich.
“I missed this,” I admitted.
“Me, too.” He gave me a tentative smile, one that I felt all the way to my bare toes.
“Tell me where the good early fall fishing is,” I said, still not able to handle heavy conversation but needing some sort of goalpost to look forward to.
Nash took the bait, and we spent our meal talking rivers and fishing and the type of ties he might make me. It was only after I’d washed our plates that my heart started fluttering again.
“Do you want me to go?” Nash asked, looking at the door instead of my face.
“No,” I said honestly. I dried my hands then pulled him toward me. “I want you to stay.” For always, my heart added, even if my mouth wasn’t up to such fanciful declarations.
I pulled him to my bedroom where I threw back the covers and helped him strip off the T-shirt and his pants. “I should shower,” he mumbled. “You’re all clean—”
“Not caring.” Getting him naked had become my top priority. I pushed my pants down, and then we tumbled onto the bed in a heap of limbs and bare skin. I pulled the covers up around us, both because I knew he loved that and because I needed it, too, needed to be surrounded by his warmth and closeness every bit as much as I needed sex.
Tugging him over me, I lost myself in his kiss. His lips were as tentative as his smiles had been, gently seeking and questioning. That wasn’t going to do, not at all. I growled before taking over, chasing his tongue, claiming his lips.
“Mason,” he sighed against my mouth. “Slow down. We’ve got all night. Don’t want this over—”
“It’s not.” I was starting to believe that, believe that we might actually have a future beyond tonight, but that didn’t make me any less desperate for him. I ran my hands down his sides, thrilling to his warm, strong flesh under my palms.
He gasped when I reached his ass and pulled him firmly against me, letting him feel how turned on and needy I was.
“Missed you,” I whispered.
“You’ve got me.” He kissed me fiercely, stroking my face. “You’ve got me.”
“Good.” I surged up against him, hard cock dragging against hard cock, making me shiver. “Fuck me.”
“You sure? This is plenty for me. And you’ve had a day—”
“Which is why I need you.” I bit at his neck. “Want to feel you in me. Want to feel you tomorrow, know that I’ve got you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Nash reached over to the nightstand, got the stuff I kept there. He kissed his way down my torso, but I yanked at his shoulders.
“Nuh-uh. Don’t want to wait.”
“I do.” He pinned me to the mattress before engulfing my cock in his hot mouth. As usual, he didn’t tease, just started a hard and fast rhythm that had me chanting his name. I wasn’t ever going to get tired of Nash doing this for me, even if I did want him inside me in the worst way.
“Nash. Come on.” Fumbling for the lube, I shoved it at him. “Don’t want to shoot yet.”
“Bossy, bossy.” He clucked at me as he opened the tube. After taking care of the condom, he slicked us both up. He knew exactly the fine line between teasing and torture that I liked and knew that what I really needed was him.
Groaning, he pressed inside in a long, slow stroke. I shuddered beneath him, still gobsmacked by the intensity of this, even after all these weeks together. It felt like the first time all over again, my mind struggling to adjust every bit as much as my body. Being claimed by Nash was seriously the best head trip in the world, one that pushed everything else from my brain.
All the events of the last week or so fled until it was only us, moving together, my legs hitched up around his waist, his abs rubbing against my cock with each thrust, and us kissing. Always kissing.
“Mason…God…you…incredible.” Sweat dripped down Nash’s face, and the covers were long since tossed aside. He managed to hit my gland on each upward thrust, making me moan.
As much as I wanted to watch him, my eyes drifted shut. “Need to come.”
Shifting his weight, Nash got a hand between us, started a leisurely stroke. “So impatient.”
“Missed you. Missed this.” I rocked up into his touch.
“Me, too. I need you, Mason. So much.” His tone was tortured, and I believed him, really believed him, for the first time all evening. I wasn’t in this thing by myself. He needed me as much as I needed him. I still wasn’t precisely sure what I had to offer him, but in that moment, I was determined to be enough.
Back arching, I fucked up into his hand. “Love this.” Love you. I didn’t want the first time I said the words to be in the middle of sex, but I was thinking them, owning them. Someday soon I’d be brave enough to say them aloud, brave enough to truly believe in a real future between us.
“Come for me.” Nash’s thrusts picked up in intensity, rattling the headboard.
“More. Harder. Please.”
Mercifully, he tightened his grip on my cock, stripping it faster as he hammered me in quick, deep thrusts. “That’s it. So good for me.”
His praise was every bit as potent as his hand, and I moaned as my balls tightened. His muscles tensed, tendons in his neck standing out, and his cock spasmed inside me. That was all it took before I was coming, too, shouting his name and thrashing back and forth on the bed.
“Oh, fuck.” Nash’s voice was so dismayed as he pulled out that I glanced down to make sure the condom hadn’t burst.
“What?”
“We cracked your headboard.” He pointed above my shoulder where, sure enough, a long hairline crack marred the dark wood.
“Finally.” I grinned up at him. “Bed breaking achieved. We’re awesome.”
“Yeah, we are.” He flopped next to me. “Fuck, I’m tired.”
“I’ll set the alarm—”
“I’ll do it.” He stayed my hand. “No more middle-of-the-night sneaking out. I do have to go home in the morning and change, but I meant it when I said I wasn’t going anywhere. I’m in this now. A
ll of it.”
“You sure you’re ready for this?” Propping myself on my elbow, I peered down at him. He looked sated and sleepy, eyes half-closed, not like a conflicted man who was about to run, but I still had to ask.
“Yup.” He tugged me close enough to kiss. “Not saying it’s going to be easy, but I want to face this together.”
“Together,” I echoed before I kissed him back. “That sounds nice.”
Later I’d need a second shower. Later he’d have to go home, have to go back to work, face whatever was waiting there. Later I’d have the social workers. Later we’d both have family drama. But right then, we had each other, had that kiss, and it was more than enough.
Nash
I woke with the sun coming through the windows of Mason’s room—a novelty. And I won’t lie, walking home in broad daylight wearing yesterday’s uniform was a bit…unsettling. But it felt right in a way that little else had all week, barring last night’s reunion with Mason. I’d left him a note wishing him luck with the social worker and inviting him to update me later. I whistled softly as I turned into my drive. Maybe I’d get around to asking Mason if I could keep some clothes at his place, avoid such a blatant walk of shame. But there wasn’t that much shame. I loved Mason Hanks, and the truth lifted me up. Of course, I hadn’t exactly told him yet, hadn’t wanted to spook him. But we were getting there.
A new lightness in my heart, I showered and shaved and drove to the station. For the first time, I was looking as forward to the end of the day as I was to the start—I couldn’t wait to head home, find out how things had gone for Mason, maybe cook together again. Just knowing I might have those simple things added balance to my day that I hadn’t known I needed.
My other officer, Locklear, was getting ready to head out as I came in. He gave me an appraising look, one that said he’d probably heard the rumors. But he only nodded at me. “Chief. Hope you have a slow day. God, knows we need it after this week.”
“That’s the truth.” I gave him a slow and steady look back. He was older than Holmes, more old-school, more set in his ways. I was prepared for…something, but the confrontation didn’t happen.
However, as soon as he left, Marta coughed from over at the dispatch desk. “So is it true, Nash Flint? You breaking your poor father’s heart?”
I sighed. Should have known this day wouldn’t go smooth. “He’s been dead a long time. Think he’s lost the right to an opinion.”
“Don’t you go getting fresh with me. I’ve known you since you were riding around on his shoulders. And you’re a good man. He raised you right. Better than this.”
“You’ve always been a friend to the family, Marta. And I’m sorry that me being with Mason Hanks is troubling you, but it’s a done deal.” I was proud of how firm my voice was. I loved Marta like an aunt, but I was done taking judgment about my relationship with Mason.
She made a sour face. “Trouble isn’t the right word. You’ve worked for the city decades now. There’s a good pension with your name on it if you can’t abide this.”
“Why, Nash Flint, are you forcing me out?” She put a hand to her heart.
“Nope. You’re the best I’ve got,” I said honestly. “Best damn dispatcher in the county, really. But my personal life’s not up for discussion. Or judgment.”
She made a clucking noise but returned to her monitor screen. “If that’s how you want it…”
“It is.” I’d spent years being concerned that Marta and people like her might turn away from me, and now that it had finally happened, I was surprised by how little I actually cared. What mattered was what Mason and I had together, not what a few narrow-minded people thought. I only wished I’d been able to come around to that way of thinking sooner. The people who truly loved me would accept me for who I was, not some mythic ideal of the local police chief that even my father hadn’t been able to fulfill. Sure, he’d been the quintessential officer, but at what price?
All I knew was that it was a price I wasn’t willing to pay.
As the day dragged on, I started to think about food and was considering a walk over to the tavern when the City Hall receptionist banged on the wall. “Chief? Your lunch is here.”
I couldn’t help my smile as I made my way to the front. I didn’t miss Marta’s snort as I walked by, but I also didn’t pay her any mind.
“This okay?” Mason stood by the receptionist’s desk with two white takeout containers. “I had good news, so I thought I’d bring you lunch before I relieve Adam at the tavern.”
“Of course. And I want to hear your news.” I wasn’t going to risk ushering Mason past Marta and her foul mood, so I led him out into the sunshine to one of the benches lining the town square.
“You sure about this?” Mason looked around. “For a guy who doesn’t like feeling exposed, this is pretty…open.”
“I’m not ashamed to be having lunch with my…” I trailed off, not sure exactly what we were now. I knew what I wanted to be, but that didn’t mean he wanted the same thing.
“Boyfriend?” Both Mason’s eyebrows tilted skyward. “Adam and Logan are never going to let me live down snagging Sheriff Sexy.”
“I’m too old to be a boyfriend,” I grumbled, already hating that nickname. “I always liked the word partner, though I know it’s a bit old-fashioned.”
“Kind of like you.” Mason leaned in and patted my cheek. “And seriously, you’re going to stop it with the ‘old’ business.”
“My father was fifty when he had his first stroke. That one was mild, but—”
“You’re not your dad,” Mason said firmly. “And I fully intend to stuff you full of healthy food and see you live to a hundred, so none of this ‘I could die first’ bullshit.”
“Okay.” Duly chastised, I opened the food container. Mason had packed my burger, no tomato, and a side salad, exactly how I liked it. “God, I love you,” I said without thinking.
“How about you love me for more than my ability to make Logan throw together a lunch?” He laughed but there was a seriousness there.
“I can do that.” Not caring who might be watching, I reached over and squeezed his hand.
“You mean it?” His eyes were liquid and full of hope.
“I do.” I wasn’t quite ready to kiss him on the town square, with traffic rolling by and kids playing in the fountain on the other side of the grassy expanse, but I was sorely tempted and I tugged him closer. “Now, you said you had news?”
“Yup.” He grinned at me. “Home-study approved. I have to drive to the DHS office to pick her up in a few hours. I get her today.”
“That’s fabulous.” Oh, screw it. Screw everyone. I leaned in for a fast kiss. Let people talk. His answering smile was worth it.
“And tomorrow, Dad’s likely to be discharged. Lilac can come with me to pick him up, and I know that will cheer them both up.”
“Glad he’s doing better.” I forced myself to be charitable. He was important to Mason, so that made him someone I needed to respect, no matter my official dealings with him. “Is it going okay with your friends, you missing so much work?”
“They’re being really supportive. I’ll be back to normal soon, I hope. And I think they’re stoked that Brock called with great news—the investors for the resort are looking at moving ahead. That’ll mean more than enough business to keep us going.”
“Good news all around,” I agreed, basking in the sunshine of his happy mood.
“Is it okay if I tell them? About us, I mean? They’ve heard the rumors, but I haven’t confirmed anything—”
“Tell them I love you.” This kiss was longer and my cheeks went hot before I pulled away. “And to drop the stupid nickname.”
“I can do that.” Mason was as pink as I felt. He didn’t say it back, but it was okay. He’d had a huge day. I had no doubt he did love me back, and that was what mattered. The day was sunny and full of promise, and I was happy and grateful to be there in the center of town, sharing it with my guy.
>
Mason
The lunch rush had almost passed, and I had about an hour before I needed to pick up Lilac from the summer day camp I’d enrolled her in. My dad was helping where he could, but it was going to be a while before he was back to full strength.
“Well, look at that. Sheriff Sexy brought a crowd,” Adam called back to the kitchen where I was prepping salads for a group of female tourists.
“Stop calling him that.” In the week or so since we’d started openly seeing each other, Logan and Adam had been merciless with the teasing.
“Would Grandpa work better?” Logan asked, his eyes dancing.
“Shut up.” I grabbed the finished salads and delivered them to the table of ladies in the back before heading to the front to see who Nash had brought. He and Curtis had been in a few nights ago, Curtis teasing me as much as my own friends, which was strangely nice.
Whoa. I pulled up short when I got a good look at Nash’s table. I’d momentarily forgotten in the rush of the morning that today was the day his mother was coming to town. But there she was, sitting across from Nash, and looking none too happy about it. Trisha, Nash’s sister, was there along with two kids who looked around Lilac’s age. The adults had menus, and the kids were spitting straw wrappers at each other.
“You want me to take the table?” Adam came up behind me. Fuck. I was standing there staring, and that wouldn’t do.
“No, I’m going,” I grumbled. “Could have warned me better.”
“Aw, come on,” he whispered. “And miss all this meet-the-family fun? You wanna keep sleeping with Sheriff—”
“Be. Quiet.” I gave him a death glare as I grabbed crayons and two of the new kids’ menus that Lilac had helped me design. I’d done the menus on the library copier when I’d taken her to stock up on books.
“Mason.” Nash’s smile was a bit more tense than the one he’d given me last night when we’d stolen a few kisses after Lilac fell asleep. “I’ve been raving about your food the last few hours. This is my family. Mom, Trisha, this is Mason.”
Trisha gave me a polite smile and offered me her hand. Like Nash and his mother, she was tall and had hazel eyes. She had a very Portland-soccer-mom vibe with highlighted hair, sandals, and utilitarian clothing that looked like it was from an REI catalog. “Nash said you can handle food allergies? The naturopath has Jeff off gluten and eggs right now.”
Trust with a Chaser (Rainbow Cove Book 1) Page 22
