Page 58 of Unburied

She swallowed hard, forcing down the questions, and ran a hand over the firm muscle of his upper back. “You okay?”

He lifted his head to look at her, those glowing gold eyes boring into hers. “Better now.”

He captured her mouth in a leisurely, sweet kiss, and she felt herself fall a little further. He kissed the corner of her mouth, trailing his lips over her cheek, her nose, until he finally dropped a kiss on her forehead and gave her a little squeeze. His arms were still wrapped around her, and his thumbs stroked her shoulder blades in long, even sweeps.

She nestled her head in the crook of his shoulder and turned so her lips brushed his throat. “Do you want to talk about it?” she whispered.

“Not yet.” He shook his head, his hold tightening just a fraction. “I just want this... to hold you, listen to you talk—about anything. Everything. Just being with you makes everything better.”

She couldn’t begin to describe the sensation that swept over her at his words. They were so genuine, so brutally honest that they brought tears to her eyes, a direct contradiction to the elation spreading through every pore of her body at his admission. As much as she wanted to, she wasn’t going to press. Just knowing that he’d come to her for solace spoke volumes. He cared about her, wanted to be with her, even if he couldn’t admit it out loud just yet.

She snuggled closer. “I don’t know how I could possibly come up with anything interesting to say.”

He snorted a little, and she smiled in response. They both knew that was a lie; she never tired of talking with him, absorbing every little thing. “I know, I talk a lot.”

His lips found her forehead again, and they brushed her skin as he spoke. “I could listen to you all day. Just hearing your voice grounds me, takes all the bad stuff away.”

It was so comfortable, and they never ran out of subjects to discuss. There was an open quality to their conversation that she’d never really found with anyone else. Most people were overwhelmed by it, but Mason took it in stride, countering her statements or random musings with something of his own. Even if he didn’t have something to say in return, he seemed more than happy to listen, and she appreciated it. “Glad I can help.”

He kissed her temple. “More than you know.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-TWO

Miles had called twice since he had stormed out, and he finally called him back while Vivi was getting ready for bed. “Hey.”

He could hear the relief in Miles's voice when he picked up the phone. “You good?”

Mason watched Vivi as she moved around the bathroom, brushing her teeth and hair. He had never been better. “Yep.”

On the other end of the line, Miles sighed. “He didn’t mean it, you know.”

His brother was always playing peacemaker, but Mason could hear the thread of doubt in his voice. Their father would never change, and they both knew it. “He did. But I don't care anymore.”

“Just wanted to make sure you weren't doing something destructive.”

Mason stared at Vivi, thinking of how easily she had destroyed his defenses, ripped down his walls, and burrowed into his heart. This woman... he couldn't put words to this feeling yet, but he heard the change in his tone when he spoke. “I'm with Viv.”

There was a pause on the other end, and he could practically feel his brother’s approval singing through his veins. “I'm glad you're happy. You guys are good for each other.”

The bathroom light clicked off, and he watched Vivi as she stepped into the bedroom. Her curves were outlined in the silvery moonlight, and something flickered in his chest as she moved toward him. “Me, too,” he murmured to Miles. “Gotta go. I'll see you in the morning.”

He hung up and tossed his phone on the nightstand without taking his eyes from the gorgeous woman in front of him. Vivi crawled into bed and he wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her down to him. He breathed her in, her presence automatically calming his nerves.

Just having her near made him feel stronger. He had never wanted to be anything like his old man; he’d known that for years. But he was certain that, with Vivi, he’d found the one person who made him a better man.

Her hair tickled his chin, and he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. They lay there in silence for several minutes before he finally spoke. “I spent the afternoon at my dad’s.”

She shifted slightly, tipping her face upward so she could look at him. “How'd that go?”

“It was a train wreck, just like every other time.”

She propped her chin on the back of her hand where it rested on his chest. “I'm sorry.”

“Don't be. He's just a waste of energy and time, and I'm not going to give him any more of either.” He sighed. “I hate that I'm even bothered by it. After this long I should be used to being alone.”

“You're not alone,” she said, her voice fierce and full of vehemence. “You have me, all the guys at Vantage… we’re your family now. Blood doesn't mean a thing. Family is who you choose to surround yourself with. There's no reason to keep toxic people in your life just because they share the same DNA.