“Because he needed us. And my son needs his dad.” Tiana took a step closer to Mason, reminded of the moment earlier today when his bear approached her so cautiously, afraid she might run. Now she was afraid he might run. That she’d say the wrong thing and her mixed-up world would go back to how it was before he entered her life.
Mason nodded. “And you loved him once.”
Tiana gave a short laugh. “Yes, I did. We got married. We had a child together. I know I should shut him out. I know I should hate him. But I’m over that.”
Mason looked at the ground and then looked at Tiana. “I can’t share you, Tiana.”
She folded her arms across her chest and her jaw tightened. “I’m not yours alone, Mason. I can’t be. But if we are together, I will always be faithful and love only you in that way. But my heart is big enough for more than one kind of love.”
“I know.” Mason’s mouth turned up at one corner. “We’ll work it out.”
The tension left her, and she stepped forward, her arms wide open as she went to him. “That’s all I ask. He needs us now, but time will heal him, and he’ll move on.”
Mason wrapped his arms around her and held her close, his head resting on hers. “I’m just scared he’s on the rebound and the safest person for him to rebound onto is you.”
“Oh, that is never going to happen,” Tiana told him firmly. “Quentin should never have married me, he knows that now.”
“He didn’t love you?” Mason asked gently.
“In his own way. But not in the same way as he loved Nicky.” Tiana tilted her head back and looked up at Mason. “He did what he was brought up to do, meet a girl, get married, have kids. But he knew he was living a lie.”
“You mean he rushed into marriage too soon?” Mason stroked her cheek, his eyes flicking to her lips, but he didn’t kiss her.
“I suppose you could say that.” Tiana glanced over her shoulder toward the kitchen door and then turned back to face Mason. Her cheeks flushed pink as she said, “Quentin’s partner, Nicky. He was a man.”
Mason sucked air into his lungs as if winded. “Wow. I never got that from the name. I just presumed.”
“As most people do.” Tiana’s expression filled with sadness. “At first I was ashamed. I should have seen it. Then I was angry. But then I looked at my precious baby boy and learned to be thankful. Thankful that something so wonderful had come out of a relationship that never should have been.”
“Fate,” Mason whispered.
“Fate,” she agreed. “Now, are you going to kiss me?”
He lowered his head and captured her lips, his tongue sliding along her lower lip. Once again, the need for him overwhelmed her. Being with Mason gave her a new insight into her relationship with Quentin. He wasn’t the only one who had wanted the fairytale ending. She played her own part in their doomed relationship.
Quentin was safe, she knew when she married him theirs would never be one of those great dramatic love stories. They were more of the slow and steady types.
And that was okay with her. Especially when Rhett came along so soon after they married. Tiana had never told anyone, not even Haley, how after their son was born their sex life died.
It happened. She’d read about it in magazines how a child can affect a relationship. But in truth, Quentin had done his duty, he’d fathered a child and once that was done, he was happy to provide for their material and emotional needs. Rhett couldn’t have asked for a more doting father. But he could no longer bring himself to provide for Tiana’s physical needs.
Only in the months and years afterward did she suspect he wasn’t attracted to her or any other woman. However, she was happy to play along for their son’s sake. And they did love each other. That part hadn’t been a lie either.
“What now?” Mason asked as they held each other while the light faded from the sky.
“I don’t know.” She broke away from him and sat down on a sun lounger. Mason did the same and they sat in silence as the stars came out.
“Maybe I should go.” Mason reached for her hand. “We’re still on for tomorrow?”
“Yes. Nothing’s changed. Not for me,” Tiana reassured him.
“Nor me, Tiana.” He slid off the chair and knelt on the ground by her feet. “This is what I want. You are what I want. If I have to take on the whole of Bear Creek and give them all homes to make that work, I will.”
Tiana cupped his face in her hands. “Not quite the whole of Bear Creek.” She leaned forward and kissed him, wanting him to know how much it meant to her that he was willing to make sacrifices to make this work. “I can’t believe we only met two days ago.”
“I’ve waited a lifetime for you.” Mason’s words caught in his throat as he took hold of her wrists. “I don’t want anyone or anything to come between us. Not now.”
“It won’t,” she said, his intensity no longer scared her. If anything it excited her. His passion was for her and no one else. He’d never betray her, never walk away from her for another.
All she needed to do was grasp ahold of it and never let go.
“You should go inside and see if they’re all right.” He kissed her lips and then released her. In one fluid movement, he stood up and held out his hand to her. “I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“You’re leaving?” Her disappointment sounded in her voice.
“I am. For now.” He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I think I have the strength to walk away. For one night only.”
With that, he kissed her cheek and left.
Chapter Twelve – Mason
Mason drove back to the hotel, preoccupied with the events of the evening. But not in a negative way, despite knowing Quentin was going to feature in their lives, at least in the near future.
Hopefully one day Quentin would move on and make a new life. Until that day, Mason would have to deal with it and accept him as a member of Tiana’s family.
His bear grumbled his dissent but didn’t object. They both were in agreement; Tiana’s happiness was more important than a petty squabble with Quentin. Now that they knew the reason Quentin left Tiana, they were willing to let the matter settle, if only for Tiana’s sake.
As Mason pulled into the hotel parking lot and got out of the car, he breathed in the night air. It was too early for bed, so he locked his car and instead of returning to the hotel, he made his way toward the trail that led to the mountain.
However, before he turned off onto the trail, his senses prickled. Tiana was close.
Mason stopped in his tracks and looked across to the parking lot, where a car had just entered.
She’s here, his bear said in surprise.
Mason jogged back toward the hotel, arriving just as Tiana got out of the car. “Hello.”
Tiana jumped, then turned around to face him. “Do you always sneak up on people like that?”
“Only you.” He closed the distance between them and gathered her into his arms, kissing her lips, hungry to taste her, eager to claim her.
She kissed him back, her lips hot and sensual on his. Tiana’s fingers threaded through his hair and she sighed, content to be here with him. Mason pressed his hand into the small of her back until there was no air between them. If he could he would meld them together, body and soul.
“We should get a room,” Tiana said breathlessly as their kiss broke. She clung to him. Were her knees as weak as his?
“Funny you should mention rooms. I have one we could use,” he said, his voice light, but his meaning serious.
“You do?” She cocked her head to one side as if in shock. “Well, what a coincidence.”
“Want to see it?” His fingers entwined with hers and he guided her toward the hotel, not waiting for her answer. He didn’t need her mouth to speak the words, her body had already given him the only answer he needed.
“I want to see more than the inside of your room,” she whispered as he pushed open the door leading into the hotel lobby. “I want to touch
what’s under your clothes.” She ran her hand down his chest, and he groaned in his desperate need.
He focused on getting them to the elevator since he couldn’t spare the time to take the stairs. But as they stood waiting for the elevator to arrive, he sensed someone approaching.
“Is everything all right, Mason?” Julius walked across the lobby to meet them, a knowing smile on his face.
“Perfect,” Mason said as he looked up, watching the numbers count down as the elevator approached. Then he remembered his manners, he didn’t want Tiana to think he was trying to hide her away. “Julius, this is Tiana. Tiana, this is Julius, the hotel owner.”
“Good to meet you, Julius,” Tiana said, her voice strained with emotion.
“And you, Tiana. I gathered you two met here?” Julius indicated the dining room.
“We did, on a blind date,” Tiana replied, her voice sounding more natural. “The food was wonderful.”
“Thank you for the compliment, I’ll pass it on to the chef.” Julius looked from one to the other. Was he aware of what he was doing? Was he aware he was testing Mason’s self-control?”
The elevator pinged open and Mason leaned forward as if being drawn inside. Damn, all he wanted was to get to his room and strip every stitch of fabric off Tiana’s body.
“We should go,” Mason said bluntly.
“Before you do, I wanted to offer you both a complimentary stay at the hotel on the anniversary of your meeting. There is something special about the day you meet your mate for the first time.” Julius backed away.
“Thank you,” Mason said, recovering his self-control. “You’re right, we will always remember our first date. The hotel will always be special to us.”
“As it is to me.” Julius looked up at the ceiling and then around the whole of the lobby. “I bought this hotel to drown my sorrows when I thought my own mate was unobtainable.” He dropped his voice as he spoke. “It always makes me happy when a new bond is forged here.”
“That’s so sweet, Julius.” Tiana let go of Mason’s hand and took two steps forward. She kissed Julius on the cheek, and whispered, “Your mate is a very lucky woman.”
“It’s me who is the lucky one,” Julius stated firmly, then nodded. “As is Mason. Have a good evening, both of you.”
Tiana watched Julius return to the reception desk before she turned back to Mason. “I think we have somewhere we’re supposed to be.”
He reached for her hand and she slid hers into his. Mason curled his fingers around her hand and pulled her toward him as he stepped into the elevator. As the doors slid shut, he pressed the button for the second floor and slipped his arm around her shoulders as they began their ascent.
“We’re so lucky,” Tiana said as the elevator climbed slowly to the first floor and then beyond. In reality, it wasn’t really slowly but to Mason, every moment they were outside the bedroom was one moment too long.
“Why so?” Mason asked, although he had his own ideas.
“To have found each other. Imagine if I’d said no to Haley and not come to the hotel. I so very nearly did, you know?” She leaned her head on his shoulder.
“We’d have found each other some other way. I’d have come for a meal at your restaurant, or we’d have met on the main street in Bear Creek while you were visiting your favorite grocery store.” He kissed the top of her head, not wanting to think of them not meeting. It was too painful to imagine how empty his life would have remained if their paths had not crossed.
“Nothing could keep us apart?” Tiana asked, and turned to face Mason, her arms wrapped around his neck, her body pressed against his.
“Nothing. We were meant to be together. Close together.” He kissed her as the elevator doors pinged open. Then he took her hand and led her along the corridor to his room.
His hand fumbled with the key card as he tried to get the door open. Inhaling deeply, he focused, unsure how he was going to satisfy his mate if he couldn’t even open a door. Thankfully, the door opened, and they spilled inside, tearing at each other’s clothes as they headed for the bed.
“I thought we were going to take it slow?” Tiana asked as she fought to undo his belt buckle and push down his pants.
“That was before we were delayed in the hotel lobby.” Mason slid her dress off her shoulders. It slid to the floor and pooled at her feet. Tiana stepped out of it, dressed only in her lacy bra and panties.
He stepped back, wanting to devour her with his eyes before he worshiped her with his body. She was beautiful, soft and curvy, with round hips and full, voluptuous breasts. Breasts that needed to be freed from the confines of her lace-trimmed bra.
“Are you just going to stand there and look?” Tiana asked seductively, running her fingers along the swell of her breasts. “Or do you want to touch?”
His smile answered her question and he prowled forward, intent on his prey. He wanted to make love to her until she cried out his name and then he wanted to make love to her again.
As he moved, he pushed his shorts down over his hips and stepped out of them. Naked and erect, he stood before her, their bodies only inches apart as he reached for the clasp of her bra and captured her breasts as they spilled out into his hands.
His thumb brushed her nipple, and it hardened immediately in response. Mason lowered his head and sucked the taut bud into his mouth, rolling his tongue over it again and again. Tiana groaned and arched her back, offering herself to him.
She was his to take, and he was not going to refuse her offer.
Bending his knees, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. There he lay her down on the mattress, gazing at her in open adoration. But she was not quite naked enough.
Hooking his fingers around the elastic of her panties, he pulled them down over her curvy thighs and threw them away as if she would never need them again.
Spreading her thighs, he knelt on the deep, plush carpet and angled his body, so he could kiss her inner thighs. She sighed as he moved higher, inching her legs apart to allow him access to the core of her need. One inch at a time, one kiss at a time, teasing her until she writhed before him, urging him on to kiss her intimately.
Who was he to deny his mate?
Mason rose to the challenge and flicked his tongue over her mound, igniting a fire within Tiana that only he could quench. Kissing, licking, grazing her sensitive bud with his teeth, he drove her toward her orgasm. She arched her back, plunging her fingers into his hair as he lapped at her. Changing his position, he stroked the soft skin of her inner thigh, before pushing two fingers inside her.
Slowly, he inched her toward her climax, his fingers and mouth working in unison to push her over the edge. Tiana came, her voice breathy as she climaxed around his fingers. Mason didn’t let up as he plunged his fingers in and out of her until she was spent.
Tiana lay on the bed, her breasts heaving as she recovered her breath. As he stood up, she reached out her hand to him and he took it, lying down on the bed beside her.
“You are a man of many talents,” she said dreamily, stroking his cheek as she gazed into his eyes.
“You have some talents of your own.” He kissed her lips, and she slipped her hand down his stomach and wrapped her fingers around his hardened length. And he was hard, incredibly hard. Painfully in need of his own release.
Tiana stroked her hand up and down, stimulating him until he thought he’d explode. He reached down between their bodies and stilled her hand, then he moved to slide between her thighs. She parted her legs for him, and he guided himself into her.
The sensations were incredible, skin against skin he moved, the head of his cock entering her heated depths. He moved slowly until he could bear it no longer, he needed to be buried deep inside her. With one hard thrust of his hips, he impaled her completely, her inner walls gripping him. Mason lay still for a moment or two, allowing him to immerse himself in the touch of her, the taste of her, the feel of her all around him.
When he was cert
ain he wasn’t about to explode prematurely inside her, he flexed his hips and eased out of her, before thrusting forward, filling her once more. In and out he moved, taking them both closer to the edge of pleasure, and then beyond.
Tiana kissed his neck, nipping his skin, her hands sliding down his back, fingertips pressing into his flesh as she urged him on. Harder, deeper, and then he came, his seed spurting inside her. He groaned and jerked forward as her inner muscles pulsed around him, milking him of his seed.
As he lay beside her, kissing her skin, both sated after making love, he only hoped that they might be blessed with a child of their own.
It was his dream, but if they were not blessed, then he would still be happy and eternally grateful for their blind date.
Chapter Thirteen – Tiana
“I should go.” Tiana twisted her body in his arms and looked at the clock on the nightstand. It was early morning. Too early to be out of bed, but she wanted to get home before her mom and Rhett got up.
“Stay,” he whispered in her ear, his fingertips stroking her skin, reigniting the fire within her. A fire that he’d rekindled with his body and now refused to go out.
“I can’t. We’re meeting you at the house, remember?” She kissed his mouth, his wonderful mouth that had given her so much pleasure.
“I do.” He groaned and sat up in bed. “I suppose I should let you go.” She ran her fingers down his back, and he turned to face her. “I just want you to know how difficult it is to let you leave. I want to wake up with you every morning.”
“Then move in with me.” Her words tumbled out of her mouth, but she meant them.
Mason’s face registered his shock. “You want me to move in with you?”
“Yes.” She drew her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them. “Why not?”
He looked dazed. “I could probably think of a hundred reasons why not.” His face cracked into a smile. “But they don’t matter.”
“So that’s a yes then?” She must be crazy. But this was the right thing to do. Who cared what the neighbors thought of her inviting a man she’d just met to come live with her?
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