Page 18 of Protected by the Sheriff (Magnolia Falls #2)

Olivia

A s I try to fix my hair back into place and hide my freshly-fucked look, I know it’s no use.

My smudged mascara makes me look like a raccoon.

My hair is all frizzy and out of place, and I’m sweating bullets.

It’s not nerves. Yes, I’m terrified because my relationship with Mason just crossed a boundary I didn’t intend to.

My legs feel like spaghetti, but he just fucked me into oblivion, and it was the best experience of my life.

Tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll have a colorful display of bruises as souvenirs.

I’m worried about Mason, though. He’s got this strange look on his face.

It’s a look I’ve never seen on him before, but I’d describe it as unhinged.

If I’m honest, it unsettles me and makes me think I might have pushed Mason over the edge.

Has he lost his mind? He’s certainly acting as if he’s insane.

I know he would never hurt me, but have I driven him too far?

After a final look in the mirror, I shake my head and walk toward the bathroom door, throwing it open and feeling his hand on the small of my back. He walks beside me with my body pulled close to his, so no one will mistake that we’re together.

As we approach the open bar where the crowd is, I see Knox standing and waiting for me.

His eyes narrow when he notices Mason has his arm around me.

Mason leans over and places a kiss on my temple and then whispers in my ear, “Don’t make me kill that poor fucker because you want to play hardball.

You let him know we are together, or I will. ”

Gulping and trying to catch my breath, I feel my heart do a little pitter-patter motion. It’s almost like I’m happy to hear him claiming me, but I’m embarrassed that he’s doing it so publicly.

When we get to where Declan is seated, he smirks. “Hi, Liv. How are you doing?”

My cheeks are burning as if they are on fire. “I’m good, Dec. Tell Vannah I said hi and I’m going to come by and see her and the kids this weekend.”

“I will but are you sure you won’t be busy?” the fucker teases, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

With a roll of my eyes, I walk away, the hard wood floor beneath my feet as I cross the room.

It’s like I’m doing the walk of shame, but in front of the entire town.

Chatter switches to whispers as the locals watch me walk away from Mason, knowing what was going on in that bathroom.

I don’t know if they heard me, but I’m certain seeing us emerge is enough to confirm their suspicions.

When my gaze meets Knox’s eyes, he’s angry, and I get a sense of disappointment from him. “Knox, I’m going to catch a ride home with Mason,” I say as I look down and anywhere but at him.

“Olivia, you came here with us. Don’t you want a ride home with us?” he asks.

Looking back over at Mason, I see him clench his jaw and know it’s no use. “No, Knox. I’m going to catch a ride home with Mason. I mean, it makes sense because, you know, his house is right next to mine,” I try.

Knox leans forward and grabs my wrist too hard. As I jerk back and yelp in pain, he nails me with an angry stare. “You will get in my fucking truck and let me take you home, Olivia. I’m not playing games.”

I feel him behind me before I see him, and I sigh in relief. “Get your fucking hands off her,” Mason growls.

“Look, man, mind your own business, deputy dog. Go find some jaywalkers to arrest. This isn’t your business.”

Mason’s fist hits Knox and blood splatters from his nose. “You put your fucking hands on her again and you are going to need an ambulance instead of a sheriff, asshole.”

When Knox draws back to hit Mason, I scream, “No! Don’t you hit him.”

Knox is taken aback by my outburst and his eyes shoot daggers of hatred through me. “Whore,” Knox spits, and I hear a chorus of gasps from the onlookers in the bar. Mason hits him again and again until Declan comes over and pulls Mason off Knox.

Oh shit, I’ve pushed Mason too far, and now he looks like he’s going to kill Knox.

“Don’t you ever fucking talk to my woman like that again,” Mason adds as he’s pulled away.

Sobbing, I grab Mason, looking him over for any injuries.

He’s got a red mark on his jaw where Knox got in a hit, and I gently place my hand over it.

His eyes lock with mine, and there’s an unspoken message between us.

I know that no matter how hard I fight him, we belong together.

That’s not Mason steamrolling me; that’s what my heart is telling me, and I know deep down that he feels the same.

Is it shit that I didn’t check on Knox first?

I don’t know. All I know is, I can’t stand the thought of Mason being hurt, and even if I don’t agree with his tactics tonight, I know I’m partly to blame for pushing him too far.

This is all my fault, and my foremost goal is to make sure he doesn’t get injured because I’m an idiot.

Turning to Knox, I step closer to him so that everyone who is watching this debacle doesn’t hear what I’m going to say. At the same time, I feel strong muscular arms wrap around my waist and pull me into a warm body. It’s Mason staking his claim, and the look he’s giving Knox is murderous.

“I’m sorry, Knox. This is all my fault and even though it was unintentional, I think I gave you the wrong idea. Mason and I…”

“ARE TOGETHER,” Mason growls. “Mine.” He pulls my hips back into his crotch, and I feel his cock against my ass. It’s hard and huge. I can’t believe that thing was inside me just minutes ago.

My chin drops to my chest because, even though we aren’t in an official relationship, I know there’s something between Mason and me, and it isn’t fair to make Knox think otherwise.

“I’m going to ride home with Mason, guys.

I will see you at work tomorrow.” The statement, aimed squarely at Hadley, Piper, and Knox, hangs heavy in the air.

The thought of facing them all at work tomorrow sends a shiver down my spine; it’s going to be an excruciatingly awkward day.

I also haven’t forgotten that the asshole called me a whore.

That’s something I will address at a later time because I know Mason is on the edge of murdering Knox and I don’t want to be responsible for any further violence tonight.

As we walk out of the bar, I hear the chatter and music start up again. The Gossip Squad is going to have a field day with this in the morning.

When we get to Mason’s truck, he unlocks and opens the passenger side door, before lifting me up into the seat.

Leaning over, he buckles my seat belt as if I’m a toddler who can’t do it on my own.

Then he walks around and gets in, starting up the vehicle.

The silence is deafening, and I begin to fidget.

As we make our way up the mountain and out of town, Mason places his hand on my leg almost exactly where Knox had his earlier, and I immediately relax. The feeling isn’t the same. I don’t want to shove his hand off me; if anything, I want him to come closer and touch me even more.

When we pull into Mason’s driveway, I decide now is the time to apologize.

“Mason, I’m sorry about what happened tonight, but I swear I wasn’t purposely making you jealous.

I just… I needed to avoid you. The text messages, the day at the shop—it was all moving too fast. I knew if I came home, you wouldn’t allow me to avoid you anymore, and that scared me. ”

When I finish speaking, I look up at him. He says nothing, but the look on his face is still odd. Almost scary but not like he is going to hurt me, just that I’ve driven him over the edge. I don’t know how to describe it. The vibes rolling off him are weird, like he’s not his normal self.

Uncertain what else to say, I unbuckle my seat belt and turn to open the truck door. Grabbing my thigh with his large hand, he growls. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going home, Mason. It’s getting late, and I’m tired.”

“You are home. Get your ass in this house now.”

Knowing I can’t avoid the talk that he wants to have, I give him a quick nod and get out of the truck, walking up to Mason’s front door, waiting for him to unlock it.

When the door opens to his living room, I’m struck by box upon box stacked up along one wall.

“Moving?”

“No, but you are,” he informs me.

Confused by his answer, I’m caught off guard. “What does that mean?”

Turning me and taking me by my hips, Mason brings my body into his. “You are moving in here. This is your home, Olivia. I am sick of playing games with you.”

Drawing a loud gasp, my eyes widen. “Mason, you can’t just move me into your house. We aren’t even a couple.”

“Fuck if we aren’t. Until you get it in your pretty little head that we are together, I’m going to fuck myself so deep inside of you that you’ll know nothing other than my name and the feel of my cock.

” He grabs my chin and wraps one of his hands in my hair, bringing his lips down hard on mine, and invades my mouth with his tongue.

There is no question in my mind that Mason has lost his ever-loving mind.

As he pulls back, he scowls. “You smell like him. Where the fuck did he touch you?”

“You rubbed your cum all over me, so I’m sure it’s your imagination that I smell like anyone but you.”

“But I smell him on your skin too, and I don’t like it, dammit. Shower, now!”

The harshness of his command startles me, and I run towards his ensuite bathroom, the one I decorated with glitter.

Heavy footsteps follow me, and I can’t stop the shiver that ripples through my body.

There’s something primal and possessive in Mason tonight, and I won’t lie; the idea that he’s so invested in me sends a thrill through me.

Mason starts the shower and strips his shirt off.

The muscles combined with virgin skin clear of ink is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.

As a tattoo artist, I rarely see men whose skin is untouched, and knowing his is creamy and perfect is such a turn on.

My perfect button-down, organized Mason, who is the exact opposite of me, is gorgeous.

The most exciting thing he does is wear a flannel shirt when he’s out of uniform.

It’s hot. Just looking at him gets me wet.

“Mason, you are being crazy.”

He unbuckles his pants and turns towards me. “Well, don’t let other men touch what belongs to me, and I won’t be crazy.”

He quickly strips me naked and steps into the shower, pulling me along with him.

My brows furrow. “He only put his arm around my shoulders. It wasn’t a big deal.”

“It’s a huge fucking deal, Olivia. Did he touch these cheeks? Because these blushing red cheeks are mine. I saw his fucking lips on your temple.” Mason leans in and licks both cheeks with his tongue.

“Did he touch this neck? Because this is definitely my fucking neck.”

His tongue darts out over my pulse point and licks. Next, he wraps his hand around my throat, squeezing gently. “Has he touched this pussy?” Reaching down with his other hand, Mason flicks my clit.

I’m left gasping as my heart races.

“HAS HE?” he yells.

“No, of course not,” I squeak out.

Mason turns and grabs the shampoo, squeezing some in his hand and surprising me when he gently washes my hair and then conditions it. After rinsing thoroughly, he massages bodywash into my skin.

Once he’s finished, he hands me the bodywash to do the same to him.

My hands glide over his perfect skin, tracing the muscles and veins.

This man has to be the hottest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on, and it’s not fair.

Even as I try to wash this man and be clinical about it, my pussy becomes sopping wet, and I can’t help when a little whimper escapes me.

As much as I try to stay quiet, Mason’s whole body stiffens when he hears it, and he gives me a look that would make anyone kneel at his feet. What worries me more than anything is that in this moment, I’m willing to do anything he wants.