Chapter 7
Brook had no intentionof allowing Mason to sleep the weekend away. If that was his plan, well, he had another thing coming. The lovemaking without a condom felt so amazing that she wanted more. The cat nap help refueled her energy. Now, she needed to expend it again.
”Who”s sleeping? I was waiting for you. All that trash-talk on the phone. ”I”m good for all night.” What was that mess?”
“Don’t mock me, man. I had to recharge.”
“Well, get to it.”
Brook enjoyed the ride on top. Mason generally allowed her to lead and to take what she wanted. Admitting to talking trash, Brook had two days to prove a point. When she couldn”t control the pace, Mason took over, and before long, she ended up on her stomach. His fingers kept her moist and on fire. The penetration and body weight heightened their interlude when he used this position. Withstanding the ride, she didn”t last long until Mason enjoyed his release.
He moved off, but she remained face down. Brook didn”t know when she drifted off again or felt the bed move when Mason left the bed and the room. The smell of bacon woke her up. Sitting at the edge of the bed, she realized that they hadn”t eaten since they left her parents” house. Brook took a quick shower and strolled to the kitchen, where she found Mason rolling out homemade biscuits.
”Who is this man in my kitchen?” she asked, walking over and wrapping her bare arms around his waist. Mason stopped long enough to peck her lips.
“Good morning, sleepy head. How are you?”
”I”m Starving. What kind of host am I?” She pulled open the oven, where bacon was cooking on a grilling pan.
“No worries. I figured you would be famished after I put you to work last night.”
“Man, I did all the work.”
“Is that a fact?”
“Fact! But, really, I should be the one feeding you.”
”You can do the eggs. The biscuits won”t take long, and there’s cut-up fruit is in the fridge.”
“My, look at you. Now you’ll tell me you made these from scratch.”
Mason added the last of the dough to the baking sheet. ”We learned to cook early, especially if we wanted to eat. My family consists of fishermen who usually departed the house early and returned home late. So, they left the cooking to the people at home. That included me and my brother until we became old enough to join the rest of the family. My older sisters all had moved away with their husbands. My grandmother tended to the garden. She cooked on bad weather days.”
”And you could find what you needed in my cupboards?”
“Of course, it doesn’t take much.”
Brook pulled an egg carton from the refrigerator and set it on the counter. ”How would you like your eggs?”
Before Mason could answer, her phone rang. Brook looked at the caller ID. Of course, it was her mother. ”Good morning, Mother.” She watched Mason with lifted eyebrows.
“Good morning, dear. You had a good evening?”
“Yes, we did. How about your evening?”
“Wonderful. Exactly what do you guys have planned for today?”
“We actually have a pretty busy schedule today, Mom.”
Brook knew her mother was up to something, and she was not interested in sharing her time with Mason.
“Well, okay. I just wanted to check in.”
Thankful that her mother didn”t try to insert herself, she offered a quick salutation to end the call. ”Thanks for checking, Mom. We”ll talk to you later.”
Brook switched up the silence button on the phone, sat it down, and returned to the eggs. ”Sorry, how do you want your eggs?”
“I’m not picky. You choose.”
By the time they finished breakfast, they were dressed for an outing. Brook had a few places to take him, such as the Loop Trail, Maple Leaf”s Cheese and Chocolate Haus or Chalet Cheese Haus, the Village Museum, and maybe beer tasting, which was something they could do at home. Frankly, she”d planned to come back home to prepare one of her favorite meal for Mason. She had already marinated a roast for braised beef, one of her mother”s favorite recipes.
They talked more over breakfast between the kisses and touching. Brook learned more about his family, and Mason expressed interest in taking her to meet them. She”d already planned a return trip to New Orleans. Brook hoped to see more of New Orleans on this visit and shared her itinerary to ensure he didn”t have work conflicts. Today was the first time they talked about visiting his family. The thought made her nervous, but Brook surely could make that trip if he could come here.
Mason ate from her plate when she didn”t finish. And, together, they cleaned the kitchen. ”Come, let me show you around.” Brook led him through the sunroom and out into a courtyard. They walked around the property before she took him to a shed in the backyard. She watched the surprised expression on Mason”s face when she opened the cooler filled with different beers her family brewed. He stepped in and observed the various bottles and cans.
“Wow! Who drinks all of this?”
”My brother, Noah, stores products here. Our parents give us each a stipend every month. We can”t possibly drink it all. Generally, we share it with friends. Sometimes, we donate some to small events in town.”
“Well, I tried a concoction your mother served yesterday. I liked it.”
”You”re welcome to come here and drink whatever you want.”
“So you could take advantage of me after I’ve had my fill.”
”Something like that.” Brook grinned, and she closed the latch on the door.
They made several stops, and of course, residents approached them to chat and were amazed by Mason”s accent. He titled his hat and addressed all the women as darlings, which Brook didn”t necessarily like but knew was his way. ”See, this happens when you live in small towns.”
”Don”t I know it? But they all seem nice.” He nodded at a man as they left the Village Museum.
Of course, what drew attention to them was Mason”s hands all over her body. He would lean for a kiss or pull her into a snug embrace. Hand in hand, they browse through the cheese Haus, the farmer”s market, and even at the museum. Brook savored the attention, giving in to his requests and advances. His touches were warm and gentle. She knew it was Mason”s way to foreplay, getting her ready for their return to the house. Anticipation grew with eagerness. She could kiss Mason all day and not get tired.
When they returned to the cottage, Mason wandered around the gardens in the back while she prepared a snack and placed the roast in a portable roaster on the back patio. She then prepared a fondue with the cheese they”d purchased at the Chalet Cheese Haus and the bread from New Glarus Bakery. Brook then went to the beer shed and pulled out several bottles of her favorite brew. She arranged the fixings on a short table near the fireplace, with the flames low but bright and warm. She stacked several pillows and blankets to add final touches to the cozy space.
Mason walked in just as she lit candles to keep the fondue warm. “Hmm, something smells delicious.”
”I figured you would be a little hungry by now.”
“Yes, even after the chocolate and cheese tasting. What’s this?”
“Come, join me.” Brook reached for his hand.
Once they were comfortable, she leaned in and kissed him briefly. ”I want you to try one of my favorites. I hope you like it.” She reached into the ice bucket and handed Mason a bottle after removing the cap. He took a swig and nodded.
“This is good. I like it.”
“Here, dig in.” Brook handed him a cube of bread and pointed to the fondue.
“Is this the cheese we bought today?”
“One of them. I’ll use the other two in a dish I plan to prepare for you later. It’s one of my mother’s favorite recipes.”
“Are you a good cook?”
“What kind of question is that? Didn’t you eat eggs this morning?”
“But that was eggs! Anybody can cook eggs.”
”Well, I guess you”ll have to wait and see.”
“I trust you.” Mason kissed her briefly.
Brook fed Mason cheese-covered bread and was rewarded with a brief kiss each time. Those pecks soon elevated to a deep, mouth-penetrating quest. Only the crackling of the fireplace made more sound than the smacking of lips. She couldn”t get enough of them. After the third beer, the kissing and touching increased, intensifying into an erotic necking session in front of the fireplace. The fondue and the roast on the patio were forgotten. She arched into his every touch, allowing them to fuel her passion. His fingers moved beneath the cotton blouse, searing her skin like a torch, adding flame to her already throbbing between her legs.
Brook”s craving for another interlude began the moment Mason started teasing her at the museum, and at this point, loving was all she wanted. Her clothes went first. Thankfully, the fireplace kept the chill from the air. By the time Mason removed all his clothes, the storm brewing in Brook reached a tornadic level. ”Please, Mason, don”t make me wait.”
Mason obliged, entering his tip first and then a long, bottomless dive into her wanting flesh. The pace started fast, and Brook enjoyed the intensity of his long and deep strokes. He sped up, causing them to both fall over. But no sooner than they came down again, Mason started over again, this time slower.
“Oh, darlin’, you’re so delicious,” he managed between long kisses.
His hands gripped Brook”s hips snuggly as he moved with precision, hitting spaces that pushed her close to another orgasm. She lost the battle the moment Mason went deep. The floor and everything else solid beneath her seemed to evaporate into thin air. Brook didn”t know when it happened, but Mason had managed to turn her over. Now rolled onto his back, he held her firmly.
“Are you alright, my love?”
She glanced up and smiled. “Yes. I love you.” Brook felt relieved in the safety of his arms.
Mason kissed both eyes and both cheeks before capturing her lips. ”I love you.”
They cuddled for a while. Brook enjoyed his thunderous heartbeat and labored breathing that eventually eased into a calming lullaby. She drifted off only to be startled by the ringing phone. She fished for it, buried beneath the now tangled covers, looked at the caller ID, and clicked the end button on the phone. Mason only stirred, turning onto his side. Brook kissed his bare shoulder before getting up. Luckily, she”d set the timer on the roaster, which would automatically switch to warm when the cooking process was completed.
She added a few pieces of timber to the fireplace before tipping off to shower in the bathroom. The warm spray conjured memories of their first interlude and the shower they shared last night. Brook wanted to linger but knew she had other things to do to finish her plans for Mason tonight. The sun had not yet set into an orange light, so she did her chores, first removing the beef from the roaster. She then prepared it following her mother”s instructions and set it in the warmer to make the rest of the meal.
Brook placed the Alpine macaroni in a baking container and covered it when Mason appeared. ”Something smells wonderful in here.” He eased her into a warm hug, kissing on top of her head.
“Dinner should be ready in a few. Can I offer something to drink?”
”I”ll get it. I just need some water.” He walked to the fridge and pulled a bottle from the door. ”Need help with anything?” he asked, sipping the water.
”No, just relax for a few. I”ve got this. I don”t have an extensive playlist like yours, but you”re welcome to play anything you find on the Bluetooth device.” Brook pulled him by the arm to the panel above the fireplace. ”Here.”
“Now, I’m a Tech man, but this right here... well.”
”Just find some music, man!”
She turned to walk away but didn”t get far. Mason grabbed her by the waist and buried a kiss in the folds of her neck and shoulder. Brook reached up, pecked his lips, and returned to the kitchen. A few moments later, lazy jazz filled the house, making her smile. After finishing their meal, Brook set the table, adding covered dishes, lighted candles, and a bottle of wine.
“Dinner is served, Mr. LeBlanc.”
Now reclined on the sofa, Mason glanced up and lifted one hand. ”Come and dance with me first.”
“The food will get cold, Mason. We can dance afterwards.”
“Just one dance, please.”
They fell into step to a slow song, swaying from side to side until he moved away first and led her to the dining table. He pulled back a chair and waited until Brook took a seat before he moved to the other place setting. “Everything looks beautiful. Thank you.”
“I wanted to make something special for you. I really hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I will love it.”
Brook dished out a significant portion of Polenta and Braised beef with Alplermagronen. She”d seen Mason eat. For a man with a slim stature, he ate like a linebacker. She also dished out a side salad. They ate and talked as always, discussing plans, especially for her trip later in the month. After dinner, Mason helped her clear the kitchen, and then they took to more dancing. They had until mid-morning together because Mason”s flight left at midday. Brook didn”t want the weekend to end, so she held tight to every moment they spent together.
They made love that night and then again early in the morning. She clung to his every move. Brook thought they might attend church, but that plan quickly changed by morning. The ride to the airport met complete silence, and the wait while in the terminal caused jitters in her stomach. Brook knew this hour would come; she didn”t want it to. One last kiss goodbye, and the tears began to flow.
“Don’t cry, darlin’. This isn’t goodbye, just so long, for now?”
Brook nodded. Still, the tears continued. He used the fat of his thumb to wipe away the tears. His warm hands offered comfort, and the love in his eyes made Brook wish she could board this flight back to New Orleans.
“Call me when you make it home.”
”I will promise. I love you.”
”I love you.” She held tight and endured a gentle kiss.
When Mason finally pulled away, Brook turned and hurried through the exit to the safety of her vehicle. The emptiness only reminded her that they were again apart. Brook drove straight to her parent”s house and sat in the car for a while before heading to the patio, where their family hosted brunch every Sunday afternoon.
”There you are, sweet pea.”
Brook entered her father”s open arms. ”Hi, Daddy.”
”I take it Mason got off without a problem?”
”Yes, sir.”
“Oh, there you are. I tried to call you last night to have you pick up some desserts for you and Mason, but you didn’t take my call. Why?” Annabelle leaned in and kissed her cheek.
“Good afternoon, Mother.”
“I don’t like that greeting, young lady, and you didn’t answer my question.”
”We were pretty busy yesterday. And thank you for thinking of us with desserts, but I cooked. So it wasn”t necessary.”
”I see. Did Mason get off okay?”
”Yes, ma”am.”
When she made it home, Mason called twice, once when he landed and the other after arriving home. She sat in the middle of the bed, holding the pillow Mason slept on. Brook decided to wait to change the linen. She wanted to keep his scent in it for one more night. The phone chimed as she looked through some pictures. Brook recognized the ringtone that had been designated, especially for Mason.
“Hi Babe, you okay?”
“My love, all is well. I just arrived for my shift.”
“You’re working tonight? I don’t remember you telling me that you had to work.”
”Yeah, otherwise, I would have stayed an extra night, but it”s all good. How are you, darlin”?”
“Thinking about you.”
“I figured you would be in bed by now.”
“I am, holding the pillow you slept on.”
Mason chuckled. “I wish I could be there instead.”
They talked for a few minutes before Mason returned to work. He called early morning as he completed his shift. Brook was dressed and, in the car, heading to her job. They talked every day, usually around the same time. The communication made the weeks pass by but also made Brook rather lonely. She lost interest in doing things around town, managing her time around his calls and zooms. The evening before she left, Brook met the relatives at the family brewery, enjoying food and family fellowship.
She told them of her plans for the New Orleans trip but didn”t share with them that she”d started looking for jobs there. Things were progressing fast with Mason and she wanted to explore the option of physically relocating to be near him. Brook learned that she could possibly telework for her current job but decided to look ahead just in case. She worried that her family would not understand, and that is why she resolved to keep that bit of information from them until her plans were final.
She boarded an early flight to New Orleans and planned to be there for the entire week. Mason finished an evening shift, and instead of disrupting his morning, Brook arranged to take a car back to his house. Of course, Mason objected to the idea but, after some debate, gave in to her request. As planned, the driver waited for her at the curb outside the baggage claim doors and shuttled her straight to Mason”s front door. As she climbed the steps up to the porch, she noticed that the rented side of the house was occupied. Two small children played with toys as they sat in the swing at the end of the porch.
”Hello.” Both kids looked up but did not respond. Turning towards the other side, she opened the screen entrance before twisting the handle of the wooden carved door and finding it unlocked as Mason promised. All the erotic joy that occurred in this house washed over her immediately upon entering. Mason”s scent filled the front room, where she left her luggage and purse in pursuit of the man she so desperately missed.
Brook”s steps faltered the moment she reached the bedroom. Mason lay sprawled across the bed, the covers up to his waist and chest was bare. All the air in the room seemed to escape upon seeing him. Instead of crawling right in, she tiptoed to the bathroom, took a quick shower, dried off, and then returned to bed. Easing in front the foot of the bed, Brook slowly made her way to his uncovered body. She captured his lips as arms circled around and pulled her onto the bed.