We stare at each other in complete silence, mostly because I'm still reeling.
My brain fails to comprehend what is happening, but my body is definitely up to date. It didn't miss a beat when it came to responding to Mason's call.
" What now?" I ask after a good five minutes, he rolls off of me and settles on the bed on his back. He is right beside me, but I'm missing him already.
He pulls me into his side, and firmly presses my head onto his chest," I need you to trust me, Petal," He says quietly, " Trust that I'll protect, and keep you safe at all costs," I prop myself on my elbow to look at him, trying to gauge what he is trying to say.
" I'm not willing to barter your life for mine Mason," He curls his lips between his teeth, and looks at me in disapproval," No, don't give me that look, " I smirk, he smirks back and pulls me down to lie back on his chest.
" Maybe, Petal is not a suitable name for you anymore," He mutters and kisses the top of my head, " You're mean, quite bitey, and have anger issues," I laugh. He is the one to talk.
" The kettle calls the pot black. You're not any better," I poke him in the ribs, he grunts and chuckles.
" No. I'm supposed to be all those things," He takes a deep breath," But you're right. I was unfair to you when I was the one that encouraged you to make your own rules, and when you did," He sighs," Let's just say I didn't take it very well. I'm working on it," He slides his finger under my chin to tilt my head back," I love you, Canim. I'll do better. Give me some time to sort some of this mess out," He kisses me and then drops his head back on the pillow, looking a bit desolate.
" What if you can't? What then? You'll marry Ava and have me as your mistress?" I'm not angry. I'm just trying to figure out where his head is at. I need to know what to expect. I hate surprises.
" It won't come to that, Canim," He knaws on his lip for a few moments, " Even if it does, it won't matter. By then I'll have them both wrapped and presented to the authorities with a bow. It will be an early Christmas present for Commander Addison," He says ominously but doesn't add anything further.
" I just want you to know, that whatever comes to pass. There is only you, and no one else. In spite of what you might hear, trust the fact that I love you more than anything, Canim. You are everything to me. Do you understand?" I look up at him, and nod.
I don't want to fight anymore. Mason has never deliberately done anything to hurt me. Even though he has said hurtful things when he was angry, my instincts tell me to trust him, and I do. I always have. It's something that comes naturally. I don't even have to try.
" Good girl, " He praises and kisses my forehead," I need to take a shower and clean the mess that you've made. I'll be back," He pushes himself up on the bed, and kisses my cheek, " Don't fall asleep," He says as he slides off the bed, and heads for the door. With one sly grin over his shoulder he disappears, and a few moments later I hear the shower running.
And try to calm the fuck down, because I'm on the verge of bouncing around like a schoolgirl, and squealing. Instead, I bury my face in the pillow, and let out an excited scream to cool myself down.
I know it's real, but it doesn't feel real.
He is giving me everything that I wanted. He is caring, tender, loving and more than I could possibly dream of.
When he reappears in the room, he is wearing just a towel, his dripping wet, and so am I at the sight. Even bruised, he doesn't look any less handsome.
Chiselled muscles, a well-sculpted abdomen, and very petable pecs glistening in the dim light of the room. I'm an ass girl myself, and he has the most delicious ass I have ever seen. Tight, round, a coin could bounce off of it. Sensing my burning gaze, he winks at me and throws a charming smile my way. I'm helplessly in love with the man, and everything he does has a certain allure that I can't quite explain. I'm sure every other woman who has seen him feels pretty much the same. But in this very moment, I hope I'll be the last one to ever see him again like in his naked glory.
Instantly, I feel green with envy of the little droplets of water sliding down his perfectly sculpted torso. He grins, winks at me again, and then begins to rummage through the wardrobe. And I wipe the drool off my chin because that's where I'm at at this moment. Not proud of myself, but I don't care anymore.
When he drops the towel, my breath hitches, and all of a sudden I feel hot and sweaty. I feel like I'm in the middle of the desert all over again. Dry throat, parched, plagued by an unquenchable desire to lick him from head to toe. Do I sound desperate? Good. Because I am.
He throws on a T-shirt and a pair of loose pyjama trousers depriving me of the best view I have ever seen. I can't help but notice the angry, reddish scar on his thigh, and my arousal is shadowed by the memories of that night.
He crawls into bed, and kisses me," Change into something else," He says under his breath, and I'm confused. Right, why is he wearing clothes? Why am I still wearing clothes?
" I was thinking maybe we could do without clothes this time around," I smile against his lips, and he chuckles.
" No, Canim. I'd love to, but you need to recover. No more naughtiness for the time being," He pulls away and pushes the hem of my jumper up, his knuckles brush against my skin, and his lips follow in their wake, making me shudder. It is not provocative. It feels reverent, some sort of worshipping. And I'm all in for that kind of worshipping. As any sane woman would. I don't exactly place myself in that category, but in this moment I truly don't care anymore, who or what I am.
" You are so beautiful Canim." He softly says as he pushes the jumper over my head.
" I'm not ashamed of you either," I quip, and he chuckles.
" Be good, Canim," He lovingly chides, and kisses my forehead.
" Sleep naked, Canim. I need to feel your skin on mine," He undoes the buttons of my trousers pushes them past my hips, and then throws them on the floor to join my jumper.
" What about you?" I ask a bit breathless.
In answer, he takes off his t-shirt, and trousers and stands before me in all his delicious naked glory. My eyes slide down to the girthy length hanging heavily between his legs. Even at half-mast that thing is impressive and slightly terrifying because I know the damage it can do. Mason chuckles. I reluctantly drag my eyes away from the 'dick of the hour' and lock eyes with him. His amused gaze holds mine, and I feel eighteen again. I'm back to that night when it all started. Maybe we can get it right this time around.
Nobody is sleeping, that's for sure.
I won't. And I know he won't either.
She slides under the cover, and pulls me against him, his hands exploring every inch of my body and so do mine. I can't help myself. We've never done this. It feels strange but incredibly intimate.
I dare to say, that it is better than sex.