“Is that your way of saying you’d like to stay in?” I teased. “That’s fine with me, but I would like to try to slip out for a run tomorrow, maybe do some hiking. It’s so beautiful here.”
“That sounds perfect,” he agreed, pulling my leg so that I had to get closer. I straddled his lap, cupping his strong neck with my hand. He looked up into my face with a reverence I was growing familiar with. “You’re so beautiful, Ellie,” he said quietly.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “And thank you for this amazing weekend. I love being here with you,”
“Me too.” He sighed, pulling me down for a kiss that soon turned wild. Before I knew it, I was sitting on the edge of the hot tub with his face between my legs.
“Shit, I don’t have protection,” he rasped as I came down from the amazing orgasm he’d given me.
“Um, I’m on the pill. And, I’m clean but if it’s too soon or you—” I didn’t finish my sentence before he was inside me in one solid thrust.
We both cried out as our bodies met urgently, thrust for thrust.
“You feel so fucking good, never had better. Never,” his deep voice rumbled in my neck.
Before I knew it, I was calling out his name, another tremor taking my body as he let go. It was an amazing feeling to have nothing between us, and I loved the intimacy of having him inside me.
His chest heaved as his forehead lay pressed to my breast. “I’m clean too, in case you hadn’t gathered that,” he rumbled.
“I trust you,” I replied simply.
His head snapped up, nostrils flared as my words struck home. “Good.”
He insisted on carrying me up to the bedroom, wrapping me up in his strong arms. After a quick rinse in the beautiful shower and climbing into bed, I thought it might take me a while to find sleep in an unfamiliar place, but as it turned out, I’d barely shut my eyes before I fell into an exhausted sleep.
Chapter 6
ELLIE
It was too dark to see as my hands felt along the wall, searching in vain for a way out. I could hear footsteps above and the rumble of a voice—his voice. My fear spiked as I began clawing at the walls, trying in desperation to get out.
“Ellie, wake up. Baby, you’re okay.” Mason’s deep voice pulled me from my nightmare. I bolted up in bed, breathing heavily, trying to get a handle on my surroundings. I hadn’t had that dream in so long.
“Dammit,” I breathed, bringing my knees into my chest, my head in my hands. Mason sat up beside me, putting an arm around me and pulling me to his chest. I was trembling slightly as he rubbed his large hand up and down my bare back in reassuring strokes. Gradually, I was able to slow my breathing and stop shaking. “Sorry,” I murmured, embarrassed.
“It’s okay,” he assured me, kissing my head.
“I haven’t had that dream in a long time,” I muttered, feeling safe and secure in his strong arms.
“What is it about?” he asked quietly.
“I’ll tell you everything,” I promised stoically. “But not right now, okay?” I pleaded. He’d assured me that nothing would change, but the truth was, he couldn’t promise that—not until he knew everything. The thought of him looking at me differently, of him not wanting me once he knew… it wasn’t a reality I was in a hurry to discover.
He sighed, and I could tell he was frustrated that I was putting it off yet again, but he let it go. “Okay, but before we leave here, babe,” he coaxed gently.
I nodded, knowing I needed to tell him before we took another step toward what was already becoming one of the most meaningful relationships of my life.
Part of me was afraid that he would judge me for being with someone like Brian, that my judgment could have been so off. Shit, I still didn’t understand it myself. And with Mason’s life in the spotlight, my past wasn’t a small blemish like it might have otherwise been. I just needed one more carefree day with him before we dug into the skeletons in my closet.
“What time is it?” I wondered, glancing around for a clock.
“Early. C’mere,” he coaxed with a grin, pulling me on top of him and putting an end to any further conversation.
After we forced ourselves from each other’s arms and the warm bed, we headed out into the crisp morning air for a run with Kodi. There was a trail that started from right behind the house, and I relished the fresh mountain air as we ran side by side. I’d never run with a partner before, but he let me set the pace. I knew he could undoubtedly go faster and farther than me, but he seemed content to go at my speed. We ran for a few miles before turning back toward the house. I was already tired at that point, with the increased altitude and steep hill we’d climbed, and by the time we got back to the house, my legs felt like jelly.
Mason barely seemed to have broken a sweat. I glared at him in mock frustration, and he simply gave me a cocky grin. “Gotta be in shape on the field.” He shrugged.
“When do you start practice again?” I asked as we climbed the stairs.
