Page 121 of Word to the Wise

“Wish it was a little quicker.”

“Same.” Mason nods, and the fact that he does truly understand makes me love him more.

“You ready to take off?” Mason asks. “I was just about to head out.”

My stomach growls in response.

“Apparently.” He laughs.

“Between turning in my article and my therapy appointment, I forgot to eat lunch.”

“Sounds like we should rectify that.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and leads me to the front door.

The old shop is still around until this place is up and running, but the new location is going to be spectacular. It’s in a nicer part of town, and the large windows in the front let all the light in. Plus, the stations will be wideopen so they can talk to each other instead of closing themselves off.

So many walls are coming down, and it’s freeing.

I smile as Mason opens the door to our apartment. “All we need is Sage to buy the last apartment on this floor, and we’ll be one big happy family.”

“He seems pretty happy with Lyla at the club,” Mason points out.

“He does.” I frown, even if I’m glad that’s the case.

After Mason sold the house in Vegas, he bought an apartment in the same building Jude, Fel, Crew, and Echo live in. They had good things to say about the security, and since it’s near the new shop, it worked out.

On top of that, I think Mason likes the idea of me having friends close so I have someone around if he’s working late. Especially since I’m working remotely for the blog after my official move to LA.

While Carter wanted to isolate me, Mason wants me to grow in my friendships, and it’s the most beautiful thing.

I’m finallyhome.

“Water?” Mason walks into the kitchen and fills a glass before I have a chance to answer him.

“Thanks.” I take it, drinking a sip while he watches me. “What’s on your mind, big guy? Still hungry.”

“Nope. Not unless it’s dessert.”

“Dessert, huh?” I set my glass down and step closer. “What did you have in mind? Some strawberries and whipped cream?”

He laughs. “Not exactly.”

Mason sweeps me up in his arms and carries me into the living room. His grip on my ass has me tightening my legs around his waist, and my heart races as he rubs my core against his hardening length.

“My kind of dessert.” I grab the sides of his face and seal my lips to his.

A mess of teeth and tongues.

Desperate and needy.

The battle to get here was hard. But it was worth it so long as I can have him.

This isn’t a fairytale. This is real love. The raw, ugly kind. And now that I’ve had it—had him—I can’t spend my life without it.

Mason pauses once we’re at the large windows that overlook the city, pressing my back against the glass.

Up here, it feels like I’m floating.

I’ve never feared heights because there’s something about hovering above it all and looking down that makes me feel like I can see clearly. It’s a different kind of freedom. The endless possibility of what’s below.