He’s not able to drink due to the pain meds that he’s still on, but he’s not all that bothered about drinking anyway. Something tells me that’s a side effect of Chelsea taking advantage of him the last two times.
Without being at school, we’ve missed the gossip firsthand, but Amalie was very quick to tell me that Chelsea never reappeared the Monday after Ethan’s party. No one knows where she’s gone—not that anyone really cares. I can’t help but feel sad for her. Yes, she’s a bitch, but there’s a reason she does what she does, and I get the feeling that her life could be very different to what we all assume it is. She’s all designer labels and caring what everyone thinks, but underneath that, I think there’s a girl who’s just desperate to be liked and fit in. One day we might get the chance to know the real Chelsea. I guess that all depends if she decides to show her face again.
Stepping out of the shower, I dry myself off, slather my body in my favorite moisturizer and slide my new dress up my body. Mom and I went shopping the other afternoon to give Mason and Nicky a little time together. The moment I saw it, I knew I needed it. It’s nothing special, just a short little black dress with a lace overlay. It’s simple, fits me perfectly and makes me feel like a million dollars. I also have a sneaking suspicion that Mason will like it too.
After blow drying my hair and applying my makeup, I make my way back to my bedroom to see what he thinks.
Pushing the door open, I find him sitting on the edge of the bed dressed in real clothes for the first time since his accident. After ditching the hospital gown, he’s lived in joggers, not that you’ll hear me complaining because they certainly look good on him when they’re riding low and giving me a hint of what he’s got hiding beneath.
His eyes lift as I step inside the room and they widen as they take me in.
“Fucking hell, Cami-bear. Are you trying to kill me?”
“You like?”
“I more than fucking like. Come here.” He stands from the bed. It’s awkward and I can tell by the frown that mars his forehead that it hurts, but he doesn’t complain. Instead, he holds his hand out for me and I slide mine into it. I take a step toward him before he lifts his arm, encouraging me to spin for him. I do it because I’ll do pretty much anything he asks of me.
“Do you have any idea how badly I want to bend you over and fuck you in this dress?” I bite down on my bottom lip and look up at him through my lashes. “Don’t fucking do that,” he growls, reaching down to rearrange himself in his pants. “How long did the doctors say until these ribs will be healed?”
“A while yet,” I say with a laugh. “We’ll just have to be creative.”
“Hmmm…” He drops his head into the crook of my neck, breathing me in. “I like the sound of that.” His hand slips around my waist and down to my ass. He pulls me up against him until he hisses with pain, but the unmistakable length of his cock presses into my stomach.
“We do not have time for that. Amalie will be here any minute to pick us up.”
“I’m sure it would be quick. It’s been over two weeks since you touched me.”
“Even more reason to make it even more memorable by waiting a little longer.”
He groans as I step away from him and slide my feet into my shoes. “I’ll make it worth your while,” I say with a wink.
“How’s that?”
I move to leave the room, but I stop to whisper in his ear on the way out. “I may not be wearing any underwear.” I am, but he doesn’t need to know that right now.
“Fucking hell.” He bites down on his knuckle, a pained look in his eyes. “Come on. I think I just heard her car.”
He mutters something behind me, but I don’t make the words out as I start to descend the stairs.
“Whoa, Ethan really pulled out all the stops for this one,” I say as we attempt to get near his house. There are cars lining the road leading toward it, and when we walk up the driveway, we find it full. The music booms from inside and there are people everywhere who’ve come to celebrate the team’s win, or to just make the most of the free alcohol courtesy of Ethan’s dad who’s been even more free with his credit card since the truth about what he’s been up to has come out.
Turns out he’s been seeing a woman from Michigan for months. His mom had known for a while before she handed him divorce papers and announced she was leaving. Ethan was totally blindsided by it all. According to Ethan, his dad’s still seeing the woman. He’s tried to convince Ethan to meet her, but he’s point-blank refused, although Ethan’s worried he’s not going to have much choice in the matter soon because his dad has been talking about moving her in. He’s angry, understandably so, and he has no idea how to release it other than to get fucked up and fuck anything that moves. He’s trying to rein it in, but he’s struggling and none of us really know how to help him other than to listen when he is willing to talk.
We make our way through the house and we head out to the kitchen. “I see what you mean about the photographs. I have no idea how I didn’t notice before.”
“You had other things on your mind.”
A few days after Mason got home, he logged onto his internet banking to find out if Julie had organized for whatever his dad had left him to be transferred. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw the figure staring back at him. He got on the phone immediately to her to find out if there had been some kind of mistake, but Julie assured him it was correct. I literally watched the weight of worrying about paying for college and having to support his family leave him. It was incredible. Since then, he’s been smiling just like I remember from before his dad left and his life spiraled out of control. He’s truly been the Mason I remembered and always hoped was still in there somewhere, even if he is a little battered and bruised right now.
“Are you okay? Do you need to sit down?”
“I’m fine. Stop worrying. Let’s get you a drink, you need to relax.”
“I’m just—”
“Trust me, if I need to sit down then I will, but right now, I just want to try to be normal.”
I nod, continuing beside him and following Jake and Amalie to the kitchen where we find Ethan.
“The party’s really starting now, ladies and gentlemen. The captain is in da house!” He lifts his drink in salute to Jake before downing it. The rest of the team who are all huddled in the kitchen cheer while Jake laughs at Ethan’s antics. It’s nice to see him being his usual crazy self.
I have a drink with Amalie while Mason catches up with the guys before he turns to me. “Dance with me.”
“Are you sure—”
“Stop it.” His fingers press against my lips. “I just want a normal night with my incredible girlfriend to thank her for being by my side through all of this.”
My heart swells at his words. “I’d love to dance with you.”
He slips his hand into mine and he pulls me toward the living room turned dance floor. He twists me into his body and wraps his arms around my waist. We don’t really dance. I can tell by the slight narrowing of his eyes that he’s in too much pain, but he refuses to let it stop him. I’ll humor him for a song or two, and then I’m going to make him sit his ass down to rest.
Goosebumps prick my skin as he runs his hands up my waist until he threads his fingers into my hair and tilts my head so he can capture my lips. We stand in the middle of the dance floor and kiss like we’re the only ones in the room. I pour everything I’ve always felt for him into it. It was always meant to be Mason and me. We may have had a few bumps in the road, but we finally found where we’re meant to be.
Pulling away from my lips, he tucks his face into my neck. His breath races over my sensitive skin, and I shiver in his arms.
“Cami-bear?” he whispers into my ear.
“Yeah?”
“You’re going to be my wife one day. I hope you know that.” A wide smile curls my lips and my heart sings. I thought I’d lost my best friend, the one who made my heart beat a little faster and every second of
my days better, but it seems our time apart might just have been to prove one thing. We were always meant to be together.
* * *
I eventually manage to get Mason to sit on one of Ethan’s giant sofas. The others join us along with some girl that’s attached herself to Ethan like a fucking rash. She’s not Chelsea, so I guess we can’t really complain.
I’m busy watching everyone around us when a girl catches my eye. She doesn’t look like a typical Rosewood student, and she’s definitely not someone I’ve seen here before. She’s dressed head to toe in black with leather cuffs around her wrists and fishnet tights with giant holes on her legs, finished off with a pair of biker boots.
Her eyes run over our group before she stalks over. I knock my knee against Mason’s to get his attention, and he soon spots who I’m pointing out and watches her approach.
“So, these must be your dumb jock friends. Jesus, you’re so cliché it actually hurts to fucking look at you,” she says, glaring at Ethan.
Whoa, who the fuck is this chick?
Ethan’s eyes turn hard, the muscle ticking in his neck as he stares up at her. Jake tenses beside Amalie, who looks as shocked as I feel.
“And you are?” Jake asks, his chest swelling as he stands and stares her down. She’s short, probably shorter than me, and she has to tip her head back to look him in the eyes, but she doesn’t cower one bit.
She laughs in his face, proving that she has no idea who he is. Well, that or she really doesn’t give a shit.
Ethan shifts the girl on his lap to the other side. “This…” He points up to the biker chick with a snarl on his face. “This is Raelynn, my darling never-to-be fucking stepsister.”
“Your what?” Mason asks, his mouth gaping open.
“Don’t get too used to her being around. She’s not staying. Not if I have anything to do with it.”
They stare at each other and something crackles between them. Ethan was already struggling enough; she’s surely the last thing he needs. Only time will tell.
Are you ready for Ethan’s story? It’s coming on 21st May
PRE-ORDER NOW!
Acknowledgments
It’s no secret that I fell in love with Jake the moment he smacked me upside the head last summer but Mason… swoon. I love him so hard.
This book has been the longest I’ve written for a very long time. It wasn’t meant to be this long but man, Camila and Mason just kept it coming and I was powerless but to keep writing.
I hope their story has touched you like it did me. I’m so excited now to be working on Savage, the third book in the series.
As always, there are so many people I need to thank for supporting me with this book and helping to bring it to fruition. Michelle, as always, thank you for alpha reading and giving me your honesty. Sam D, well what can I say, you’ve already claimed Mason as yours, you fell in love with him so hard. Thank you for putting up with all my editing errors and falling in love with him anyway.
Deanna, Lindsay, Suzanne and Tracy, thank you so much once again for beta reading, for dropping everything and losing yourself in everything Paine.
Sam B, I already know that Thorn’s release wouldn’t have been so awesome if it wasn’t for all the hard work you did in the background. THANK TOU for everything you do, I literally don’t know how I did all this without you.
Ellie, at My Brother’s Editor, once again, thank you for editing this over the holidays and putting up with all my Britishisms.
Evelyn, thank you for being awesome and proofreading Paine to make it as perfect as possible.
I can’t let this pass without a huge shout out to Michelle Lancaster and her incredible photograhy skills, and of course the gorgeous Lockie for being the most awesome Mason I could have imagined.
A HUGE THANK YOU to you for giving Thorn a chance and for following the Rosewood boys’ story through to now. If you’re still reading then I hope you’re looking forward to Ethan’s story. And who knows, it might be the last, or it might not. Is there anyone you’d love to read more about? Let me know.
And finally, as always, a huge thank you to my husband and daughter for putting up with me having my head stuck in my laptop all the time so I can continue on this crazy journey.
Until next time.
Tracy xo
About the Author
Tracy Lorraine is a M/F and M/M contemporary romance author. Tracy has just turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.
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www.tracylorraine.com
Also by Tracy Lorraine
Falling Series
Falling for Ryan: Part One #1
Falling for Ryan: Part Two #2
Falling for Jax #3
Falling for Daniel (An Falling Series Novella)
Falling for Ruben #4
Falling for Fin #5
Falling for Lucas #6
Falling for Caleb #7
Falling for Declan #8
Falling For Liam #9
Forbidden Series
Falling for the Forbidden #1
Losing the Forbidden #2
Fighting for the Forbidden #3
Craving Redemption #4
Demanding Redemption #5
Avoiding Temptation #6
Chasing Temptation #7
Ruined Series
Ruined Plans #1
Ruined by Lies #2
Ruined Promises #3
Never Forget Series
Never Forget Him #1
Never Forget Us #2
Everywhere & Nowhere #3
Chasing Series
Chasing Logan
The Cocktail Girls
His Manhattan
Her Kensington
Rosewood High Series
Thorn #1
Paine #2
Co-written with Angel Devlin
Hot Daddy Series
Hot Daddy Sauce #1
Baby Daddy Rescue #2
The Daddy Dilemma #3
Single Daddy Seduction #4
Hot Daddy Package #5
B.A.D. Inc. Series (coming soon)
Torment #1
Ride #2
Bait #3
Break #4
Provoke #5
Falling for the Forbidden Sneak Peek
Chapter One
Falling down on my bed, I blow out a long breath and tell myself that everything will be okay.
I had plans for this summer—a few weeks of fun before uni starts. The girls and I had been looking at last-minute holiday deals, and we had tickets for a music festival…but then my dad swooped in, in that way that he does, and ruined everything.
I knew it was coming.
I just wasn’t expecting it quite yet.
I’d hoped agreeing to study what he wanted me to and working for him was enough—apparently not.
I decided a few years ago that I wasn’t going to move away to study. I mostly love my life in London, and I loved living with Mum. I’m not ashamed to admit that she’s one of my best friends. It was only as I started looking at universities that my dad piped up and told me that I would be studying accountancy and finance at The London School of Economics. He’d done his research and decided it was the best place for me to learn my trade so I could enter the family business.
I just about managed to contain my laughter when he emphasised the word family.
I’ve no idea how long I lie on my bed trying to convince myself that moving into his house with his new wife and her son isn’t the wo
rst thing to ever happen to me, but eventually my stomach rumbling has me moving. I sit on the edge of the bed and take in all my half-unpacked boxes. A large sigh falls from my lips. If I don’t find everything a home, maybe I won’t have to stay. I know it’s wishful thinking. This is it for me now.
Disappointment floods me as I make my way through the silent house. It’s not that I was expecting a welcome party or anything, but someone being here would have been nice. Someone to help me carry everything up to my room would have been even nicer. Since Dad moved in with Jenny a few years ago, I’ve been told to treat this place like my home.
It will never be.
It's just a house, a show home, a shell in which I'm scared to touch anything for fear of making a mess. Home is a place with character, with mess from day-to-day living, with people who love and care for you.
My dad isn’t a bad man, per se, but he’s not exactly what you’d describe as a doting father. Everything he does is for his own gain—if it happens to help others in the process, that’s just a bonus.
My step mum, Jenny, is lovely. She really is, but I can’t help feeling like she’s just a little bit…broken. She makes all the right comments and does all the right things. She’s a great mum. But there’s such sadness in her eyes.
The fridge is full, as usual. It’s strange, because I’ve never witnessed anyone eating more than a slice of toast or an apple in this kitchen.
I fix myself a salad with the unopened packets of fruit and vegetables, but it doesn’t really have the effect I needed it to have. Being here makes me feel kind of empty, and no amount of lettuce leaves is going to fill the void after moving out of the flat Mum and I shared for the past few years.
PAINE: ROSEWOOD HIGH #2 Page 29
