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Chapter twenty-six

The early bird gets the...

Lorilei

“Don’t let her get to you.” Mason pauses as he carries the last of the dishes into the kitchen. “She’s just trying to protect you.”

I’m glad Sophia is back in her room. Hopefully she can’t hear us.

“I know. I just wish there was a way to tell her without her freaking out.” My lower lip juts on its own.

His rough thumb drags over it. “I have my ideas on that.” The corner of his mouth tilts before he lands it against mine for a soft kiss.

The doubt melts from the heat of his body.

I could spend all day in his arms and be content. It’s as if the sounds of the world fade and the only thing I can hear is his heartbeat.

Until a soft click comes from down the hall, making me jerk away from him.

Mason clears his throat and flips open a cabinet.

I’m pretty sure he’s pretending to look for a container for the mashed potatoes.

“If you guys are going shopping tomorrow, can I add some stuff to the list?” Sawyer’s bare feet hardly make noise with his steps.

Shit, that was close.

“Um, sure. Let me pull up my notes.” I can feel the heat on my cheeks as I scramble for my phone.

Sawyer sits on the barstool on the opposite side of the counter and reaches across to grab one of the leftover pork chops.

He looks oblivious to what he almost caught us doing.

“Okay, I’m ready.” All I can think about is Mason just a few feet away, and how badly I want to be back in his touch.

He wanders towards his room as Sawyer names off a variety of junk foods he wants us to grab.

I’m in the middle of typing when a message pops up on my screen.

Mason: I’ll keep a spot in the bed warm for you

“Lori? Everything alright?” Sawyer cocks his head at me, with one eyebrow raised.

He reminds me a little of Caesar when I’m talking to him.

“Um, yea, sorry. What was that last thing?” I swear Sawyer can probably hear my pulse beating erratically.

“Those pizza roll things.” He pulls the last of the meat from the bone, then tosses it to the dog. “They’re super easy for a midnight snack.”

I think he eats twenty-four hours, yet remains a bean pole.

I’m jealous.

“Got it.” I give him a polite smile, even though inside I’m screaming to be able to run down the hall.

“Thanks.” He rolls a napkin between his fingers and his mouth twists to the side. “Hey, I have kinda a weird question.”

Does he know? Why does my stomach feel like it’s going to heave out dinner? “Sure?”

“My friend Scotty, well, he’s like two years older than me. He’s a nice guy, just doesn’t get out much…” Sawyer’s face starts to turn pink around his cheeks.

Everyone’s embarrassed tonight, it seems.

But, a surge of relief hits me.

“Aw. That’s sweet.” I slide my phone in my pocket. “But I’m okay.”

He readjusts his hat so it’s sitting at an angle on the back of his head. “Oh, yea. I guess since you’re leaving soon, doesn’t make much sense.” He shrugs his shoulders and stands. “Figured I’d ask.”

“Thank you for thinking of me.” But, please don’t. Not like that.

“Sure. Gonna miss ya.” His nose wrinkles, and he looks like Sophia for a moment before he goes down the hall to his room.

“Me too,” I exhale.

There isn’t anything left to clean up in the kitchen, so I better check on Sophia again.

Then I can sneak away to Mason.

My heart beats faster, but my throat clenches.

I’ll be leaving soon. But, he seems so sure of us.

Is there really a chance for it? Would it be worth throwing away my education?

One part of me says yes.

But logic keeps pounding that tiny voice down.

Knocking on Sophia’s door, I pop my head in through the crack. “I wanted to see if you needed anything?” I’m already starting to feel less useful now that she can get up and down on her own.

Her blue eyes glance up from her tablet. “I think I’m fine. I’m still full.” She smiles broadly. “It’s nice to be able to pee on my own. I can’t wait to get this thing off tomorrow.” Her knuckles rap on the hard shell over her leg.

“I bet! You’ll be up and running again in no time.” I do my best to keep a happy look on my face.

It’s hard when I know the days are ticking by so quickly.

With a dramatic sigh, her shoulders rise and fall. “God, it can’t come soon enough!”

The twinge that goes through me leaves an ache deep inside, but I put extra enthusiasm into my tone. “Just one more night! See you early.”

Her hand raises in a half-wave as I close her door.

A giddy energy runs through my body.

My bedtime routine flies by until I’m standing with my fingers on the handle of his room.

Do I just go in? Am I supposed to knock?

He didn’t when he crawled into bed with me.

When the sliver of light from the hall spills over him through the darkness, he doesn’t say a word.

But he raises the blanket, beckoning me to join him.

Snuggling against his hot body as he envelops me, I know this is where I’m supposed to be.

It’s a jolt of panic that has me sitting up before my eyes even open.

What time is it?

Pale light from the window says early morning. Red numbers on his clock show just after four.

Mason’s tanned arm snakes around my naked waist and tugs me back against him.

“Stay,” he murmurs sleepily, his whiskers tickling my side with his words.

“I have to get breakfast going. Sophia will be up at six.” Remembering the look on her face at dinner last night sends a shiver through me.

She thinks this is gross.

Is it?

The way he makes me feel doesn’t seem like it.

He turns and stretches, his hips poking the tented sheet into the air as his abs flex.

“Better hurry. Otherwise, you aren’t leaving until this goes down.” He points at his crotch. The head of his engorged cock is outlined under the thin fabric.

A smile tugs up the corner of my mouth. “Does it ever go down?” I think he got off twice?

I lost track of how many times he made me climax.

I didn’t even know it was possible.

Sliding off the mattress, I pull on my shorts and tank top, and run my fingers through my wild hair to knock it flat.

One knee lands by the crumpled pillow as I lean over and cup his jaw with my palm. Lowering my lips to his, he wraps me up with a growl and pins me beneath his bare chest.

“When it does, put me in the ground. I wouldn’t want to go on without being able to bury myself in you.” His teeth find the lobe of my ear, and his hand runs a burning path down my ribs to cup my breast through my shirt.

Fire ignites in me. I’m so tempted to let him ravage me again.

Giggling, I roll away, escaping the tangled blanket and his luring touch. “I don’t think there’s any worry of that.” My finger rests on my lips before I open the door.

Squinting down the hall through the crack, I try to hear if there’s anyone in the kitchen.

The coast is clear.

Although sneaking around gives me a little thrill, I’m terrified of what will happen if I’m caught.

I’m just leaving my room after changing when I nearly bump into Sophia in the hall.

“Hey, good morning! You’re up early.” I give her a big smile. “I’m going to start some breakfast, any requests?”

She rubs one eye and yawns. “I think Dad needs to check that oak tree. It sounded like one of the branches was hitting the house last night.”

I pull down one of the cast iron skillets and start it heating up on the stove. “That’s weird, I didn’t hear anything.”

The words have barely left my mouth when I realize that she’s talking about Mason’s headboard.

Oh my god. I’m trying to keep secrets, but we were literally beating a drum loud enough everyone heard.

I’m a horny idiot.

“You didn’t? Lucky. Maybe I’ll ask Sawyer since he’s home today.” She sits in her favorite chair at the table and props her leg up.

She’s scrolling on her phone when Mason comes down the hall, freshly showered.

It’s a struggle not to run and touch him, so I busy myself with scrambled eggs.

“Morning, girls. Sophia, all set?” He drops his worn cowboy hat over his damp head.

He looks every bit the grizzled, tough rancher.

Only I know how soft his lips are, and how gentle his touch is.

“Yea, I’m ready. Hey, dad? Can you have Sawyer check the oak tree?” She gathers her phone and charger and stuffs them in her pockets before she stands.

The burst of heat I get in my cheeks probably looks like a neon sign.

“Huh? I haven’t had my coffee yet, sweetie.” His eyes flick to me and then back to her.

Sophia groans and thumps towards him on her crutches with her water bottle hanging from one hand. “There’s like a branch or something that is banging on the side of the house. Geez, you guys are sound sleepers.” She passes him through the front door that he holds open.

“I’ll be there in just a sec, Soph.” Mason lets it close behind her and walks towards me, shaking his head.

“Is she hearing what I think she’s hearing?” A smirk dances along the edge of his mouth.

My lower lip rolls between my teeth and I nod.

He moves behind me and wraps his arms around my waist before nibbling on my neck. “I guess I’ll have to try harder so she can hear you scream next time.”

With a pat on my ass, he steps away.

I can feel my jaw drop, then close as a wide grin takes over.

He works on filling up two thermoses of coffee, and I finish stuffing the breakfast burritos into a plastic bag for the trip.

Four hours each way makes for a long day.

Following Mason, he stops me behind the door and cups my cheek for a lingering kiss.

“Needed one for the road.” He winks before skipping down the stairs to get the truck.

Sophia’s sitting in one of the rocking chairs on the porch with her earbuds in.

I’m hoping her music was cranked.

Mason hops out after he pulls the truck up. “Do you want me to lift you in, or do you want to try on your own?” he asks Sophia.

“I think I can get it. But I’ll probably need help when we get home. The nurse told me to take one of my pain meds when I get to the hospital.”

“I tossed extra blankets and pillows in the back. Guess you’ll be sleeping the whole way back?” Mason opens the rear door for her.

Why is he looking at me like he wants to eat me?