Page 27

27

ANYA

Three Years Earlier

MY HEAD IS LIGHT as I move about the room, swaying my hips, throwing my hair over my shoulder. Mason’s gaze hasn’t left my body since he walked through the front door, and electricity is sizzling underneath my skin.

Most of the crowd has gravitated out the back, hanging around the pool. Beer pong and other drinking games are set up out there, leaving the living room as the designated dance floor.

Scanning the room, I search for Mason. He and Chelsea broke up, and I know it was because of me.

‘Watch out.’ His voice is right in my ear, his hot breath blowing my hair across my eyes. Goosebumps erupt over my body, and I shiver at his proximity. ‘Little Blush isn’t so little anymore.’

Because this tension between us has been driving me wild, I press my ass back into him, slowly grinding. He groans, hands tightening on my waist. We have been tiptoeing this line for far too long now, and I’m sick of not giving in to the aching need between us.

His words ring inside my head. Words he whispered to me one night when we were in the shadows of the house, pretending to be asleep. If you still want me when you’re eighteen, I’m yours. It’s me and you. Always.

‘You’re right about that, Mase,’ I murmur.

I twist around in his arms, and he takes a step back, eyes darting about, looking to see if the coast is clear. He’s totally checked out recently, due to the break-up, but I also know he’s been avoiding me. Because he can’t deny this anymore.

I want him. I always have. And he wants me, too.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he takes a further step back, but I inch closer.

‘What did you get me for my birthday?’ I whisper, so close that our breath mingles as one. His smell overwhelms me. The warm, familiar scent that has always been Mason.

His gaze lifts briefly from my mouth to my eyes before his hand finds mine and drags me into the hallway. A few people glance in our direction, but mostly they don’t even notice us.

Gently, he pushes me into my room, kicking the door shut behind him. My breath hitches as he slams his palms against the wall, caging me in, a wild smirk on his face.

‘You wore that for me, didn’t you, Blush?’ he drawls.

I barely manage to tear my gaze from his as I look down at my tight black dress. It shows off every bit of my body, leaving nothing to the imagination. He was there when I bought it, and the look on his face at the time told me everything I needed to know.

‘Yes.’

He groans, pressing his forehead into mine, his hand tangling my hair. ‘This is for you.’ He pulls out a small velvet box from his pocket and places it in my hand.

Flipping it open slowly, a sharp gasp leaves me when I see a silver ring sparkling up at me. Removing it, I spin it slowly, reading the word Always engraved on the inside. My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I try not to burst into tears.

‘Mase,’ I breathe through a watery smile. ‘I love it so much.’

‘You do?’ He grins, looking thrilled.

‘So much.’ Sliding it on my finger, I beam up at him. Stepping onto my tiptoes, I move my mouth towards his. He presses his forehead into mine, breathing heavily.

‘We can’t do this.’

‘You’re not with her anymore,’ I whisper.

‘It’s never been about that,’ he says, and then immediately winces. ‘I didn’t mean for any of that to happen. To hurt you. To drag her into it ...’

‘I know.’

‘You’re Zayden’s baby sister,’ Mason murmurs, twirling a piece of my hair around his finger.

‘No,’ I say, so close now that our lips lightly brush. ‘I’m Anya fucking Stark, your friend.’ I exhale. ‘I’m more than your friend.’ Moving my gaze upwards, I fight the coy smile off my lips. ‘I’m eighteen now, and I still want you.’

Growling, he closes the minuscule gap between us, claiming my lips hungrily with his. I tilt my head back, allowing him to kiss me deeper. I sigh into his mouth. I’ve wanted this for so long, my mind can’t process that it’s actually happening. This is it. The moment I’ve been waiting for. We are going to give in, and we are going to be together. Everyone will know he belongs to me, and I belong to him.

His lips move messily from my mouth across my jaw, as his strong hands push my dress up around my waist. When his hands skim over my bare backside, a sound I can’t quite describe escapes him.

‘Anya,’ he groans, voice low, raspy and a little tormented. His thumb possessively strokes my hip bone, bordering the area that has greedily wanted his touch for as long as I can remember.

My pulse jumps. ‘Please,’ I breathe.

He knows what I want. The pace of his breathing increases as he presses closer, his tongue making a pattern across my neck, making my thighs clench. The ache building between them is unbearable.

‘Blush ...’ He exhales. It’s partly a warning, but murmured in a tone of longing.

‘No one has to know,’ I whisper, pushing my hips into his. ‘Not right now.’

‘Fuck.’ His hand slides across my skin and I shiver, white-hot desire pulsating through me in waves. ‘If your brother ever finds out, he will kill me.’

‘It’ll be our secret, until we’re ready.’

His thumb runs across my slit and I moan. He slips his fingers inside me and lets out another curse as my wetness coats his fingers.

‘You’ll be the death of me,’ he chokes out hoarsely, before sliding a finger over my clit. I throw my head back, hitting the wall, my eyes closing. His finger moves tantalisingly slowly before he enters me again.

My grip tightens around his shoulders, bunching his black shirt under my fingertips. I shamelessly grind into his hand as his finger slides in and out of me, a faster rhythm with each stroke.

‘We can’t do this,’ he whispers. ‘Can we?’

I slide my hands up his neck and pull his face to mine, kissing him hard and passionately, letting all the pent-up feelings I’ve harboured for so long pour between us. We moan into each other’s mouths as he glides another finger in, simultaneously adding pressure to my clit.

‘We can,’ I answer breathlessly. ‘Me and you.’

‘Always.’

‘Always.’

We kiss for a long time. It’s deep and fiery, overflowing with all the tension and longing that has been building for years and years. We are so close there’s no space between us, but I drag him impossibly closer, desperation coursing through me.

His fingers work inside me, hooking and bending in a way that has my legs trembling. A half-moan, half-whimper climbs its way up my throat, escaping my lips as I throw my head back. His mouth is on mine, his tongue clashing with mine deliciously. A powerful, thrilling sensation overtakes me and I break from the kiss, sinking my teeth into his shoulder as the orgasm crashes through me.

His mouth is back on mine as he hoists me up. My legs wrap around his waist as I tug at his pants. We’re both desperate to get them down, and when I wrap my hand around him, he hisses, pressing hard into it, then sliding across my entrance teasingly. He pulls back, eyes dark, glistening with lust and adoration as he gazes down at me, his lips tilted in that sinfully sexy smirk of his.

I grip him in my hand and line him up, and then he pushes inside. He groans and I wince, tightening around him. He sinks further into me, thrusting a little hard, making me whine in pain, but also in pleasure. My insides stretch and curve around him, and I try to relax my muscles, wanting to take him deeper. He does a quick thrust, slamming me hard against the wall, and I choke out a moan, tears springing to my eyes at the rawness and fullness of the pain. Mason’s fingers bite into the soft part of my backside as he pumps in and out of me, a little rougher than I expected, and I choke on a gasp as the pain worsens.

‘I’m sorry, Blush, but this is going to be quick,’ he groans, shifting me so that when he thrusts, it feels as if a spear runs through me. He uses one arm and the weight of his upper body to hold me in place, the other hand tangled in my hair. ‘Next time, I will treasure every inch of your perfect body, and devour it piece by piece.’

I moan, feeling pressure building again, and squeezing my legs tighter around him as I attempt to relax and revel in the pleasure.

‘Fuck,’ he groans, releasing a guttural growl as he spills inside me, pumping hard and fast a few more times before sagging against me, his hot breath fanning across my neck.

A loud knock bangs against the door, and my heart leaps to my throat as I startle in alarm. Mason’s eyes widen in panic.

‘Hey, Anya? Are you there? We’re about to do the cake!’ My brother’s voice floats into my room from the other side of the door, and it’s as if an icy-cold bucket of water is thrown over us. I sit up, the lust-filled trance breaking instantly.

Mason wrenches away, sliding out of me painfully and practically dropping me to my feet. I yelp at the sensation and the lack of contact with him. A few traitorous tears spill down my cheeks. I hastily wipe them away, and wince at the soreness between my legs.

‘Yes!’ I call out, voice shaky and high-pitched. ‘Just need a minute.’

‘Okay! Be quick!’

I bite my lip, my heart sinking at the expression on Mason’s face. He’s not looking at me, but down at himself, and the blood smeared across his length. His hands tremble as he blinks down at them, completely rigid.

‘Oh my God,’ he says slowly, taking a step back and blinking furiously in shock. ‘Anya ... I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t ... you’re a ... of course you are.’ He backs up further, looking distressed, pushing his hands through his hair. ‘Jesus Christ, I just went straight in, I wasn’t even gentle ... fuck ... are you even on birth control?’

I stare at him, realising that he is not sober. Not at all. I could taste alcohol on his tongue, but I didn’t know he was this drunk. I’m tipsy – most definitely – but he is drunk . How did I not notice this before? My lips tremble as my eyes fill with tears.

‘Are you?’ he demands, cheeks reddening with what looks like anger.

I shake my head, a tear falling, and he curses. Despite the blood, he yanks his pants up, shaking his head.

‘I’m a fucking idiot,’ he mutters, looking anywhere but at me.

He strides from the room, banging my bedroom door shut behind him, rattling the walls. My entire body shakes as I stand there, trying to process everything that just happened.

Everything I wanted for so long ... to be ruined in a matter of seconds.

I can’t believe that just happened. The moment I’d been waiting for ... the moment I thought I would treasure for the rest of my life. The special thing I wanted to experience with Mason for the very first time. The promise of being with him, completely and openly.

It was meant to be special.

Instead, it was everything it shouldn’t have been.

My hands are trembling violently as I stumble towards the bathroom. I wash my hands and use my towel to pat my face dry, fixing my makeup and hair as best as I can. It hurts when I walk and I wince, dreading the burn I know I’m going to feel when I pee.

‘Anya!’ Zayden barks at me, and I whirl around, fearing that he’s found out what just happened here. ‘Can you hurry the fuck up? Everyone is waiting!’

‘Can I pee?’ I huff, keeping my hands busy, hoping he doesn’t notice how badly I’m shaking.

‘Do it after!’ he demands, leaning forward and yanking my elbow, almost tipping me over, since my heels are gigantic. ‘Come on.’

Another tear slides down my cheek as he leads me out of my room. I glance over my shoulder at the wall, the space I lost my virginity, and my heart.

And here I was, thinking this was going to be the best night of my life.