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Chapter thirty-eight

A tornado through a Nebraska field

Lorilei

Surreal doesn’t begin to explain the feeling when I walk into the house. I’m not here as an employee, I’m family.

Sophia links her arm around my elbow and walks with me through the front door.

Her limp slows her down, but she’s practically bouncing on her good leg with every other step.

My car slams as Mason grabs my bags.

Is he really going to be my husband? I never in a million years dreamed that something like this would happen to me.

It doesn’t seem real. Is it?

Am I having some twisted nightmare in my dorm room?

My stomach rolls as doubt tugs at me.

“Are you okay?” Sophia looks up at me, her big blue eyes full of concern.

Bile rises in my throat. “Yea, I just, um. This is so much.”

Mason’s strong hand cups my other arm. “This way.” He tugs me away from Sophia and leads me to his room.

Well, ours?

“Let me know if you need anything!” Sophia calls after me.

“I’ll be alright.” Little stars pop in the corners of my vision and it feels like the floor tilts under me.

Mason drops my duffel by the bed, scoops me up, and lays me gently on the mattress.

The smell of him engulfs me as I settle into the soft pillow.

“Welcome home, baby.” His lips brush my temple, then he sits down on the edge, tenting his body over me.

The panic that was rising in me mellows, although my belly still feels sour. “Thank you. I’m not sure why I got woozy.”

His lips turn up at the corners. “You can blame me.”

A wave of heat works its way up my throat until it scalds my cheeks. “I didn’t, um, I mean…I didn’t plan to, um—”

He cups my jaw with his rough palm and rubs his calloused thumb over my lip. “I did. This whole time.”

“So, you’re not mad?”

His honey-colored eyes soften. “Are you? Fuck, Lori. From the first time I saw you, all I could think about is keeping you. Do you know how hard it was to leave you yesterday? I left my heart behind.” He drops his head to pull my fingers to his lips. “I wanted to walk right back into your room and haul you down to the truck, but I knew you weren’t ready.” His hand tightens over mine, then he flattens his palm over it, pressing us against his chest before meeting my gaze. “I’ve lost someone I loved before. I didn’t want that to happen again.”

The last of the wall I held around my feelings shatters. Why did I never stop to think how this affected him?

This entire time, I was so worried about how Sophia would react . How could I be so selfish? All he wanted was me . I don’t ever want to hold back from him again.

Tugging him down, I relish his weight over me. I’ve missed the security blanket of his body making me feel so savored.

Needed.

A sob pushes out of me. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize how it would have hurt you. What can I do to make it up to you?”

The warmth of his mouth moves up my jaw. “Just…let me love you.”

How do I still have tears left?

These are happy ones pouring down my face.

I feather kisses across his forehead as my fingers lace into his hair. He smells like sweat, and grease, and…

Mine.

Fire spreads through my body. The dizziness earlier is replaced with a heady desire to feel him, all of him. Not just his bare chest and back, I want him to fill every inch of me.

My hands stray down his hard torso, tracing his ribs and the ‘V’ of his hips above his thick leather belt.

His teeth nip the tender skin beneath my ear as he groans. “Are you sure?”

That rumble cures whatever ills I had. “Mmhmm. I’ve missed you.”

He raises his head, his mouth poised over mine. “You know the best part?” His nimble fingers start opening the buttons of my blouse. As each pops open, the cool air sizzles across me.

“What’s that?” I hope the whine in my voice is enough to hurry him.

“Neither of us have to sneak out anymore. We can stay in bed all damn day.” He punctuates each word with a tender nibble of each inch he exposes.

The thought makes me moan. “That sounds like a luxury.”

“No,” he growls, leaning away long enough to tug my jeans and panties down before pushing my shoes off. “It’s our life now, baby. We make our own rules. You’re going to be my wife, and the mother of my children.” His palms flatten on my smooth lower abdomen, and he bends to place a gentle kiss below my belly button.

Then he moves lower until his tongue touches my sensitive clit making my hips jump. That seems to encourage him, because he dives deeper, circling and sucking until I’m writhing beneath him.

Scorching waves work through my limbs and gather into a tightening ball within me. I’m at the mercy of his magical mouth, and all I can do is beg for more.

My heels dig into his shoulders and my nails rake his scalp as he works me closer and closer to the edge.

“Please, I want you, Mason.” I want us to tip into oblivion together.

“Anything for you, baby.” He loosens his belt in a single movement and pushes his jeans down his thighs, freeing his rigid cock against my leg.

He drags the engorged head up and down my slick pussy and teases my entrance. “Did you miss me?” His voice is hoarse before his steaming mouth pulls one of my taut nipples in.

Pushing just the tip in, he makes short, slow thrusts, holding himself back.

More. Must have all of him. I’m so close.

Whimpering, I claw at his back and spur him with my ankles. “Yes. So badly. Please?”

He keeps up his steady rhythm, each push burying himself deeper. Knotting his fingers in my hair, he tugs my chin up so he can crash his lips over mine.

I taste myself on his tongue just as he sinks himself fully.

So big.

My body stretches around him in ecstasy. I’ve been so empty without him. Like a piece of my soul has been missing.

His golden gaze melts over me as he drives himself into me faster. “You’re mine, Lori. Always.”

Sliding his hand down my side, his fingers dig into the cheek of my ass, leveraging me so he goes even deeper within me.

The waves of pleasure build immeasurably higher as our motions grow more frantic.

In an explosion of color, stars erupt behind my eyes as I lose control. “Yours forever, Mason!” I scream as waves of release carry me into a supernova.

Mason joins me, roaring into the pillow near my ear. His body spasms, coaxing another cascade of pulsations to race through me.

He collapses over me, braced only on his elbows.

I love it. I never want to let him go.

My calves entwine with his quivering thighs, doing my best to trap him in my embrace.

The rumble in his chest vibrates into mine. “I could stay like this all day.” His nose nuzzles against the hollow of my throat. “But, I need to shower first. I’m grubby as hell.”

“Do you have to?” I like his scent. And, guiltily, I just want to hold him.

His chuckle shakes us both before he props himself up to smile down at me. “No, but I promise by morning, you’ll wish I had.”

How’d I get this lucky? To find this handsome man, and have him want me like he does?

What if I screw it up?

“Hey, what’s that for?” His thumb rubs the spot between my eyebrows, then he follows it with his lips.

“I’ve never done this before. I don’t want to mess it up.” I admit.

A wall of worries seems to rise in front of me.

I don’t know anything about raising a baby. I just know I don’t want to be like my mother.

Mason slides himself out of me and sits up, his jeans slip further down his legs to gather on the top of his boots still on the floor.

“The only thing I’ve learned, there’s no right or wrong, just the best option at the time.” He lets his hand trail down me and rests it on my hip. “This one will already have a head start.” His finger tip traces a heart shape around my belly button. “Two older siblings who will love them just as much as we do.”

I’ve never seen his eyes glow with such fierce emotion before.

“Now—” He stands, then kicks off his boots and lets his Wranglers fall. “—I may be the happiest man alive, but I’m also the ripest. You’re free to join me?” He throws me a lopsided grin before striding naked into the bathroom.

The dark tan of his torso makes a stark line over the pale globes of his ass.

It’s a beacon calling me, and I must go.