Languidly, I opened my eyes and closed them back again when the bright light of the morning sun blinded me, and with that, the memory of the events that occurred the night before rushed back very much like a tidal wave. That alone was sufficient to make me spring up on the bed, panicky. Oh, boy. The memories were a little fuzzy, but I remembered the most important parts.
Panting, I pushed myself out of bed, groaning in pain and frustration.
The dull pain in my shoulder had returned, and the bruising was more than obvious. Dr Buttons' initial assessment was accurate, indeed it looked as if I had been hit by a car at full force.
Hissing in pain, I tugged on the pyjama top to cover my shoulder and raised my eyes to look at myself in the mirror. The bird's nest sitting on my head could hardly be called hair. Astonished at the sight of it, I tugged on a lock of hair dangling on the side of my head.
" Good morning," His voice was enough to jolt me awake from my daze.
Taking my eyes off my reflection, I turned to him, pouting. Amusement danced in his eyes, and the devilish grin on his lips made me a little feel awry. The perfectly groomed man staring at me made me feel inadequate. I hated that feeling, especially when it stemmed from the fact that it only happened in his presence.
" I went to the apothecary to get your pain medication. Thankfully, this one is the regular kind," He said as he pushed himself off the threshold and lazily ambled towards me. I didn't quite know what to say.
" I'll help you get dressed," He offered giving me a once-over," Or would you like to take a shower first?" He added, still very much amused. I didn't quite know what to make of it. Since I've known Mason, I felt that his actions and words were contradictory. As a result, it confused me at times and found it difficult to read the situation we were in.
" I can do it," I finally managed to gather my wits, but not enough to keep me from stammering like a fool.
Humming, he nodded and threw the medication on the counter, " I've seen you naked before, there is no need to be ashamed," He countered, meeting my gaze, making me realise that he was dead serious.
"I can see you naked whenever I want," The wicked grin spreading on his lips worried me, " All I have to do is close my eyes," He added inwardly chuckling, cocksure and I was ready to smack the smile off his lips.
Humming, " You enjoy that because that is all you're going to have," I angrily replied, and walked past him, making my way out of the bathroom.
I was livid, mostly at myself since the splinters of our conversation from the previous night kept coming back to me.
" Lily," His soft voice made me halt my steps, and turn to him," I'm sorry," He groaned in frustration," I just," He soulfully said, running his fingers through his mousy blond hair.
" I keep making you angry, and that is the last thing I want. I'm just having a hard time finding the right words when it comes to you," Huh? I owlishly blinked at him, surprised. Was he serious? He looked serious, but then again I had always had a hard time reading Mason. I internally shook my head, to clear my head.
" I'm human, Lily," He groaned, throwing his head back," Just like you. Can you slow down for a moment, so I can catch up," He closed the distance, and leaned in, making me recoil.
" What are you doing?" I dazedly whispered, taking a few steps back, and watched him close his eyes and heave out a heavy sigh.
" I wanted to kiss you on your forehead, but I see that we are not there yet," He sullenly added, shoving his hand in his pockets, watching me with furrowed brows.
" No, we are not," It was my turn to heave out a heavy sigh," Far from it," I mumbled under my breath, but he nodded and that was a sign that he'd heard me, loud a clear.
" I understand, " He said as his shoulders slumped and slowly began making his way towards the french doors, and leaned on the threshold.
" I miss you. I know things between us haven't been all that great," He paused and turned his head to look at me, disheartened. I couldn't agree more, on that aspect.
" I don't how much you remember from last night, but I'm hoping we can talk about it." He added before I even had a chance to reply. There was a certain sorrow behind those icy blue eyes, that I had never seen in him. My heart ached for him, but I had put myself in the line of fire and brought myself nothing but misery.
" Your point being?" I firmly asked as I sat down on the bed, patiently waiting for his answer.
" I haven't handled the situation in the best possible way. It hasn't been easy. I'm happy when we are together, but I don't think I deserve to be happy with you. I betrayed Hector and Anika's trust that night." The mention of my parents made my heart drop in my stomach, but also shed some light on his struggles. He was feeling guilty. A feeling that I had become acquainted with several times a day.
" Your way of life, " I took a deep breath and pushed myself off the bed, wincing at the dull pain," I don't know how to do that Mason." I half-heartedly admitted, slowly closing the distance between us. We hurt each other, and ourselves with our actions. I had given up the hope that there was a future for us.
" I know," He softly said as he pushed himself off the door and turned to face me," And I'm not asking you to," That was enough to get my poor heart to gallop, ready to burst through my chest. However, it didn't make me wonder about the reason behind this new resolution.
" Nobody else liked you, huh?" The hubris in my demeanour poured out of me in waves. Nonetheless, he found it amusing and closed the distance between us, stopping before me.
Gently he brushed the apple of my cheek with the back of his hand, and I revelled in the tenderness of his touch. I'd forgotten how good his touch felt.
" They liked me just fine," He sullenly said, lowering his hand to his side.
" They're not you," He whispered, leaning in to kiss my forehead. The softness of his lips and his warm breath brushing against my skin was enough to make me weak in the knees, and my heart stopped beating for a fraction of a second.
" You're not playing fair. I'm injured and captive, " I whispered when he pulled away, and I was greeted with the most ingenuous smile I had ever seen spread on those beautiful lips.
" Good, otherwise this would have been a lot harder," He inwardly chuckled, placing his hand on my waist. His gaze met mine, and the world stood still around us. I had forgotten how good I felt when it was just us.
At that moment I felt closer to him than ever before.No shackles, no masks, no pretending, even though at the back of my head I was wondering if it was real.
" You promised that you would give me time to think things over," I hadn't decided in the three weeks we spent apart from each other.
" Stay. Don't go. I know that you have an interview in a few days. I want you to stay here while you attend the academy," That took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting that from him.
" That is if I get accepted. Why don't we speak of this after the interview," I hadn't lost sight of my goal, despite everything.
" Alright. We can do that. I can wait until then,' He said in his usual even-tempered tone.
" Mason, are you sure?" I felt the need to ask.
" Yes. I'm still working through some things, but essentially, yes." The firmness in his tone put a smile on my lips.
" Is this real?" I heard myself asking out loud, breaking the silence that had settled between us.
" Yes," He firmly replied and gently pulled me into his arms and in that moment, nothing else mattered. The endless void between us had finally been filled and boundless joy blossomed within me. It was an intense feeling that I had never experienced before, overwhelming.