I lie on my back, still tangled in Mason, him still inside of me, as we both work to catch our breaths. I've never felt anything like what we just did and I know I never will again. As happy as I am that we waited until we were ready, after that I don't know why I didn't just jump his bones in the woods that first day we were together.
He shifts slightly and I gasp as I feel him slide out. The empty feeling is shocking, but he quickly rolls us until I'm lying on my side with my front pressed firmly to his side. We lie there in silence for several minutes. The silence is peaceful. I close my eyes and inhale his scent as I feel Mason's fingers run along the span of my bare back. I'm sore, but I've never felt stronger than I do in this moment. We're finally one – as mates are meant to be. I press my weight more into his side and sigh in contentment. I can't help but smile against his chest as I think of everything he did to me. I knew I was pretty much clueless about all things sex because it was never something we talked about back home, but I didn't realize just how clueless I was. The things he did to me, I didn't even know it was possible to feel that way. I had expectations for what my first time would be like, as I'm sure every girl does, but there was something about the way Mason held me that just shattered whatever expectations I could have ever dreamt up.
It was beyond anything I could have ever asked for.
"What are you smiling about?" he asks, smiling down at me. I turn my head and rest my chin against his chest as I smile up at him.
His amber eyes are brighter than I've ever seen them before, and it spreads more warmth through my chest. God, I love this man.
"I'm just really happy right now. That's all," I whisper, the smile never faltering from my face. When I'm old and watching my grandbabies run around our house, this is what I want to think back on. Not the fact that I just made love to my mate, but the feeling of pure happiness and peacefulness I'm feeling right now. Even with a possible war looming over us, there is nothing that can take away the joy and love I feel in this moment. It's as if the rest of the world has faded away to nothing more than background noise.
"You don't," he pauses, hesitation clear in his voice. "You don't regret it, right?" he asks timidly. I can see the worry in his eyes, but there is no point in any of that. Even with the slight hesitation I had before we started, that all faded away the moment we lay down in our bed. I love him, and he loves me and that's all that matters. I don't want him to be worried that what we just did was anything short of what I wanted because that is the exact opposite of the truth.
"Mason," I start as I lift myself up on an elbow so I can see him clearly. He needs to see that there is no regret in my eyes. I wanted this. I always will. "What we did was exactly what I wanted to do." He still looks at me skeptically, like he believes I'm just saying this for his sake. I smile softly as I trace his strong jaw with my thumb before resting my hand against the side of his neck. "I love you. I could never in any way regret what we did. I have wanted it from the moment I ran into you in the woods. Yes, I wanted to wait, and we did wait. Mason, I regret nothing. I couldn't have pictured tonight being any more perfect. You were perfect… we were perfect." I can still see the worry in his eyes. "Don't worry about me. I'm in a state of bliss right now. Was it… okay for you?" I ask, fear slowly seeping into my voice.
I hadn't even thought that maybe while I was having the best time of my life, he was stuck comparing me to his past. He's had sex before obviously, but this isn't just sex with us. We made love to each other, and that must count for something right? Surely, I wasn't thought to be inadequate compared to her. My stomach twists at the mere thought of him not enjoying himself. I move to pull away. but he quickly rolls us until my back is pressed against the bed again.
"There is nothing that I have that I could even come close to comparing what I'm feeling to right now. Tonight was absolutely perfect for me, and if it wasn't for you in any way at all, let me know and we'll fix it. I know that you haven't ever done this before – a fact that I'm positively thrilled about – so it may take some time to figure out what we both like and work from there. We have a lot of time to figure out what works best for the two of us, Red, and I plan on spending a lot of time figuring that out." I smile at him before lifting my head and pressing my lips against the base of his throat before settling back against the pillows.
I glance over at the clock to see that he usually gets up to do his duties around this time. I hadn't realized how late it was. He rolls onto his side and pulls me back against his chest again. "Do you have to go anywhere today?" I ask, drawing patterns across his toned muscles. He sighs, answering my question, and tightens his hold on my waist. I don't want him to go anywhere. I want this day for the two of us. Plus, I do know that once mates complete the bond, it's hard to stop mating for a couple of days. Our wolves are celebrating finally coming together. I don't want him to be gone and then I'm stuck here by myself. "I don't want you to go, at least not today."
"I know, Red, but I really should go in today. I have a few final things to get ready for your introduction in a few days and I need to finish preparing for any attacks." I know he's right, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I sigh and continue to draw small figures across his chest. If he has to leave me today, I will at least have these moments with him now.
"Okay," I whisper and stay quiet. He groans deep in his throat and tightens his arms around me. He can hear the disapproval in my voice and thoughts, but he's right. He needs to go take care of things with the pack. I will just have to find something to do with myself until he comes home.
Mason moves me off his chest and stands up from the bed. I know he said he had to go, but I didn't know that as soon as I agreed that could go he'd climb out of bed. I glance at the clock again to see it's only five-thirty in the morning. I watch in disappointment as he pulls a pair of boxers up his legs and over his amazingly sculpted ass before walking out of the room without as much as a kiss.
I roll onto my back and pout up at the ceiling as numerous thoughts run through my mind. Is he always going to be in a rush to get out of bed with me? Does he think I'm being selfish and clingy for wanting him to stay with me? I can hear him talking softly downstairs, but with the constant noise in my head and his hushed tones, I can't make out what he's saying. I just lie there with nothing covering me but the bed sheet and close my eyes. Maybe if I can fall asleep it won't be that bad and my thoughts will quiet down. I am tired after all.
After about five minutes of me failing to drift off, I hear Mason stroll back into our room. I peek up at him through my lashes to see him smiling. Without any word or warning, he launches himself onto the bed. I bounce up and a small squeal passes through my lips before he wraps his arms firmly around me, still smiling. I stare at him confused as I wait for some kind of explanation. He tells me that he can't stay with me today, then leaves without any explanation, only to come back and all but jump on me in our bed? As happy as I am he's back with me, I'm very confused right now.
"I thought you said you had things to deal with today? Things to prepare the pack for?" I ask, staring up at him. I want to be upset that he would just get up and leave me like that, but now that I'm back in his arms I don't seem to care. I blame all the hormones coursing through me right now from us mating.
"I did say that, but then I thought about what needed to be done today. Jason can finish preparing things for the day and my mother said she would take over the finishing touches for your introduction." Did that mean…? "So, I'm yours today," he speaks softly before leaning forward and pressing a hard kiss to my mouth. I smile into the kiss and wrap my arms securely around his neck, threading my fingers through his blonde locks. My heart swells knowing that he is doing this for me… well not completely for me, I'm sure his wolf is pressing him to stay by my side as well.
All doubt from earlier fades away as I'm filled with nothing but happiness. I pull back from the kiss and bury my head in the crook of his neck. He rolls onto his back, pulling me mostly on top of him. With my fingers still running through his hair, I close my eyes and just listen to the sound of his heartbeat and am rocked by the strong movements of the steady rise and fall of his chest with every breath.
It feels like heaven.