Chapter Twenty-Four
Ash
Closing my eyes, I shivered as Mason’s cock nudged at my hole and pushed forward. He opened me wide, his thick girth stretching me to my limits, making me feel as if he’d split me in two. The burn was so intense, so close to pain I almost begged him to stop. Almost. But I wouldn’t, needing him as far inside my body as he could go, knowing any current discomfort soon would turn into the purest of pleasures. With his bigger body laying over mine, encompassing me, I took hold of the pillow beneath me and gripped tight, arms straining, riding it out, wanting everything with this man.
Sweat painted my body as the stretch grew more intense, but Mason never wavered, sinking deeper and deeper until his balls rested against my ass cheeks and we were completely connected, my lengthy moan one of total, blissful satisfaction, the only sound.
I could have stayed there for eternity, joined so intimately together, knowing I was home. In all the times I’d had sex in the past, nothing compared to the feeling of being with Mason and the connection we’d created. He shifted slightly, sending delicious shockwaves through my body, radiating to every single cell. The feeling of being so close, having him so deep, overwhelmed me.
His arms on either side of my head, he nuzzled my neck, licking the damp skin before sucking at the flesh, sending sizzles of pleasure along my nerve endings. Needing to see him, I turned my head and, this close, easily followed the play of emotions on his face. Desire burned bright, along with heat, but as his gaze met mine, love radiated above all else.
“I love you, Ashton,” he said softly, then lowered to take my mouth, the movement pushing his hips forward, making me gasp and sending him even deeper. My eyes fluttered shut as I arched into him, needing his lips on mine.
“I love you too,” I whispered back.
Our tongues met, caressing, licking. mine chasing his into his luscious mouth, always craving more, the feel of him, his firm lips, his unique taste. My pulse thrummed as the kiss went on and on, drugging me, making me high. When one of his arms slid down my neck to grip along my chest, my blood set on fire, and I knew I was about to be owned.
“Mase” was the only word I needed to say for him to start moving.
Easing out, his full length dragging along my channel, he snapped his hips and thrust inside again, and my inner muscles enclosed him, melding to his cock, sucking him into my heated depths, sending wave after wave of pleasure rocking through me, flooding my soul.
I’d never get enough of this—of him. Never.
My hand clasped with his, I arched my ass even more, sinking him in deeper.
“Can’t get enough,” I moaned. “Need you closer.” His mouth mauled mine, his hunger rising as he kept up the continuous glide, his thrusts slow, languorous, never rushing. I wanted the feeling to last forever, him buried in my body, connecting us heart and soul. He sent me higher with each slow, measured drive of his cock, building the pressure until I lost my mind.
Matching his thrusts, my fingers digging into his arm, I needed more but couldn’t form the words, my brain too scrambled to think. Sensing my frustration, Mason lifted up, taking me with him, never losing our connection, pulling us up together in one sinuous movement until I was on all fours, and he rested on his knees behind me.
“You might want to hold on,” he told me, his voice thick, sending shivers dancing along my skin.
Stretching my arms, I grabbed the poles on the headboard and held on tight. He didn’t wait a second longer, gripping my hips, pulling all the way out before punching hard into me over and over. Increasing the pace, his cock moved in and out faster, harder, and my sphincter automatically clamped tight, refusing to release him whenever he retreated from my ass.
“Oh, fuck,” I moaned, as he upped the pace again, fueling the fire, making me burn. “God, yes, fuck me.” He obliged, pumping fast and deep, sending me closer to the abyss, destroying all thought, leaving only him.
Mason’s hand slipped around my waist and took hold of my aching cock in his strong hand. His grip punishing as he rapidly jerked me off. My balls tightened, my spine going rigid, fire sizzling along my heated skin. It was too much at once. Too much sensation, too much pleasure, and with his cock powering so hard and deep, too much for me to hold on any longer.
“I love you,” he ground out as he gave one hard thrust, burrowing deep enough to reach my soul. The power of his statement along with a single torturous twist of his hand—I was a goner. Throwing my head back, I tried to scream but, too overwhelmed, nothing came out. Mouth open in a silent wail, my vision dimmed as my orgasm was torn from my body. My dick erupted with long jets of cum ripped from my balls with the intensity of our fucking, splattering the sheets beneath me.
Above me, Mason shuddered, his movements erratic until he gave one final punch of his hips and came on a roar. His cock swelling, shooting deep, coated my walls with his essence and sent aftershocks rocking through my system. He kept thrusting again and again, his orgasm riding him, releasing more cum, marking me, owning me, loving me.
Arms finally giving out, he flopped down heavily on top of me, causing me to wince a little from the pressure on my ribs, but I didn’t care as he wrapped himself lovingly around my body, holding me close. His cock remained buried deep in my ass, pulsing, releasing the last traces of cum, uniting our bodies. I floated in a sea of pure ecstasy, wanting to stay like this forever, entwined for the rest of our lives.
*
Snuggling up against Mason’s warm body was the same as lying in front of an open fire. He burned hotter than anyone I’d ever met, and I liked nothing better than being wrapped tightly around him, his strong arms hugging me close as the early morning rain battered at the windows.
Last night had been amazing, and I constantly had to pinch myself to ensure I was awake and not dreaming, and this reality was truly my life. Shifting to look at him, I studied the man beside me. His handsome face relaxed in sleep caused me to release a deeply contented sigh. His pale complexion had improved since being here, his skin achieving a lovely golden glow. The tips of his hair were sun bleached, his eyebrows a shade lighter. He looked so at peace my heart skipped a beat at the thought I may have had something to do with making him feel that way.
I gently pushed away the few strands of hair that had flopped onto his forehead. I’d never get over how silky soft they were. His hair was so thick and luxurious I’d run my fingers through it any chance I got.
He moved his head, his tongue coming out to wet his lips. I inhaled, waiting for the moment he opened his eyes. My pulse thumped as two ice-blue orbs searched me out. He was breathtakingly gorgeous, and the best part, the most unbelievable part: he was all mine.
“Good morning,” I greeted, kissing the end of his nose. The slow smile he returned was all sleepy and, oh, so sexy. Yawning, he rolled to his back, his thick arm muscles flexed as he drew his hands above his head and stretched himself awake before enfolding me in their embrace again moments later.
“Morning,” he replied, his husky voice relaxed and lazy.
This, right here, I wanted more than anything else. To wake up beside the man I loved each day for the rest of my life meant the whole world to me.
“What time is it?”
“Seven,” I replied, snickering at his groan. “Why don’t you go back to sleep for a few more hours? You were busy last night and need your rest.” We’d made love over and over throughout the night until we were both satisfied and exhausted.
“We were up rather late,” he agreed, rubbing his morning wood along my thigh.
“You’re up now,” I said, shaking my head at him. “You’re insatiable.”
He sighed expansively, clearly liking the fact he was a bit of a stud. “I have a lot of time to make up for as I’m a gay newbie.”
I snorted at him inelegantly. “I don’t think you have any worries in that department.”
“From what the guys tell me, gay people have sex all the time.” He leaned in and licked up my neck, making me shiver, my nerves still heightened from all the previous night’s activities. “I wouldn’t want to let the side down, now would I?” He gently nibbled my earlobe, his breath warm in my ear. “Hmm, Ash?”
What was he saying again? “Um…”
His hand moved from my chest to slide under the covers. Big fingers wrapped around me, giving slow methodical pulls. “I’m not distracting you, am I?”
“Nope, not at all,” I tried to state firmly, but the words came out low and husky.
“What a pity.” He twisted his hand around my head a few times, causing me to jerk erratically as pleasure-pain flooded my overused body, causing the faintest trace of precum to leak on his fingers. He removed his hand, bringing his fingers to his lips, causing me to release a moan as he licked them clean, his eyes closing in pleasure. “Hmm, you taste good.”
I marveled at how comfortable he’d become being intimate with a man, with me, in such a short amount of time. Happy he was so relaxed and content with this new aspect of himself, my heart began to thud heavy in my chest as a future I’d never dared contemplate unfurled before my eyes. The house, the white picket fence, the SUV, and maybe even the kids were all within my grasp because this man really was mine and he loved me.
Mason was mine, and he fucking loved me!
Oh my God. My pulse rate sped up, my heart beating faster, my lungs squeezing my chest tight as my whole world tilted and fell into place.
“Ash?” Mason’s panicked voice instantly brought me out of my daydream to reassure him I was okay.
“I’m fine,” I croaked. “Honest.” I sucked in a steadying gulp of air. “It’s only just hitting me I’m not in a dream; that this is all real.” I gazed into his eyes. “That you’re real and you do love me.” I smiled through the tears forming.
His muscular arms pulled me to his chest until my head settled over his heart, the strong, steady beat comforting. His firm body providing additional proof he wasn’t a dream and some figment of my overactive imagination.
Gentle fingers stroked along my face. “I am real, and I do love you, very, very much.” He pressed a kiss to my lips, his caress achingly tender.
Settled in his arms, I speculated again about how my future life might look, but exactly where we’d put down roots, I had no idea. With Mason returning to work in a couple weeks, he’d be in New York while I remained here in Melrose Bay. The city was a nice enough place for a visit, I suppose, but given a choice, I didn’t see myself living there permanently. I adored the open spaces here, not to mention the peace and tranquility, the beach and ocean a stone’s throw from my door, the vast forest encompassing the town. My life and outlook were so different to Mason’s. By the way he spoke, he absolutely adored the city and reveled in all the hustle and bustle, the arts and nightlife, the constant movement. Well, he used to anyway. Currently, I wasn't sure how he’d feel about returning to New York since being here.
“How is this going to work—you and me?” I asked him, deciding there was no point in stalling. If we were to have a life together, I needed a firm base. Worrying about things and not speaking about them wouldn’t cut it.
“With?”
“I live here. You live in, and are soon going back to work in, Manhattan.” Raising my head, I surveyed his handsome and serious face. “How will our relationship work?” This was my biggest fear. With the amount of time we’d have to spend apart when he was in New York, was it too great a distance for us to sustain any meaningful connection?
He didn't answer straight away, his brain processing, mulling over the question. “I’m considering quitting work and staying here in Melrose Bay, with you.”
My jaw dropped to the floor. “What? Why? You can’t do that. I’d never ask you to leave your company for me.”
He shook his head. “You’re not asking me to. I’m making the decision on my own.”
“Mason, no.” It was thoroughly unthinkable for him to be contemplating giving up his whole life and career to stay with me. “There must be other options.” Scrambling to my knees, I turned to face him. The sheet covering us had slipped down when I moved and, presently draped low over his hips, revealed way too much of his chiseled hairy chest and lickable abs. I hastily covered him, ignoring his amused grin, before I got too distracted and lost my train of thought. “You love your job,” I continued. “Making a difference to your guests, to other people’s lives, giving back to local communities is the most satisfying part for you. Why give all that up?”
“There are other ways to make a difference. Setting up a charitable foundation, for instance, to help regional economies and the people they affect become more self-sufficient, more independent.”
“What about your business partners, your friends? What do they think?” I hadn’t noticed, in my haste to sit up and talk, the sheet no longer covered me. Mason’s gaze raked over my body, the heat in his eyes burning me everywhere. “Mason, focus.”
“I am. I’m just focusing on something far more interesting.”
“Please. This is important.” He huffed out a grunt and brought his gaze up to meet mine. “Thank you. Your friends. What did they say?”
“They don’t want me to leave.” I agreed with them. I’d only met Gabe so far but from what I’d managed to glean, they were all extremely close. The four of them had built their company together, so even to contemplate Mason, their friend and partner, wanting to leave must surely be disconcerting and troubling and hugely upsetting for them, not to mention their employees when word got out.
Fuck, they’d hate me if he did.
“Then stay, please. I’d never forgive myself if you left. We must be able to sort out another way benefitting us both.” Reaching for him, I linked our hands together, his fingers in mine sending warm tingles up my arm. “Apart from wanting to complete the reno, I don’t have any other job, so I could move to the city with you.”
The look he gave me, so full of love, filled my heart. “You’d do that for me?” he asked softly.
“In a heartbeat.” I didn’t care how much I disliked the city; if that’s where Mason wanted to be, and it was our only option, despite my aversion to moving there, I’d go in a minute to remain close to him.
“You’d move away from here, leave your life, your friends, to be with me?”
“Yes.” Tensing his hand, he pulled me down until I lay on top of him, and his arms were wrapped tightly around me. His lips met mine, moving tenderly, his tongue caressing, I opened for him, falling into his kiss. One hand moving up to hold my head in place, he deepened our connection, plundering my mouth and leaving me weak and panting, before returning to the sweetness he’d started with.
“I would never ask you to live full time in New York. You’d go out of your mind in days, so how about a compromise?”
“Huh?” Had he asked me a question? He’d spoken some words, but my brain had completely shut down from the bone-melting kiss he’d given me. The grin spreading wide across his face was way too smug.
“How about a compromise?” he repeated. “We spend most of our time here in your beach house.”
“Our beach house.”
His face glowed with pleasure. “We spend most of the time at our beach house, with me working remotely here, and when needed, I commute to Manhattan. To be honest, living in the city doesn’t hold a lot of appeal for me anymore. The possibility of working at home was Ethan’s suggestion, but the others have agreed in principle though I’m not sure how or if the logistics will work. But if you want me to keep my job, we can try the arrangement for six months and see how it goes. As long as this works for you, and you have no reservations, that is?”
Excitement raced through me at his solution. We were really going to make this work.
“So, what do you say?” he asked.
“I say yes.” I kissed his cheek. “Yes.” I kissed the other cheek. “Yes, yes, yes.”
His deep, sexy laughter lost me to him all over again. “I’m gonna need an office,” he mused.
Oh, we were still talking.
“We can convert the basement,” I replied, coming out of my romantic haze. “There’s more than enough room down there for two desks.” His surprised expression made me blush. “I…um…well.” I dropped my gaze and fiddled with the sheet laying on his chest, embarrassed by the crazy suggestion running through my head.
His finger nudged my chin gently. “Two desks?”
I worked up some courage and told him about the plans percolating in my head. “I like doing house renovations though I don’t think I’m much good.”
“You are exceedingly good,” he swiftly answered.
I hadn't deliberately fished for compliments, but I’d more than take them, especially if they came from him, the man I loved. But to also hear them from Mason the businessman, knowing how successful he’d become doing the same job, renovating and flipping houses, was nearly too much to take.
I kissed him and continued. “I’m contemplating setting up my own house renovation company. Nothing big. Buy one unit with some of my inheritance, renovate and sell that, and go from there. But doing my own, I can appreciate how much paperwork the job entails, how much organization. So, I’d want some space to store all the files, plans and permits and any other documents I’ll need.”
Mason pulled me into his arms. “Sounds perfect,” he said, kissing me, tasting me. “And I’d love to share offices with you.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“I’ll probably need help.” I grimaced thinking how much I didn’t know and had to learn. “Likely, a lot of help.”
“I’m here,” he answered instantly. “Anytime you need me.” We stared into each other’s eyes, excitement bubbling between us. “So,” he drawled, “we’re moving in together?”
I bobbed my head rapidly, laughing like a loon. “Yes.”
Another long lingering kiss later, he said, “I’ll check with Gabe to see if he’ll let us stay at his for a while longer. At least until we can get our house habitable.”
“He won’t mind?”
He shook his head. “You wouldn’t think so to look at him, but Gabe is a sucker for romance. If he thinks he’s played any part in us getting together, trust me, he’ll let us stay.”
“Oh my God,” I whispered, “we’re really going to do this?”
Pulling me down onto his chest, Mason kissed me senseless. “Yes, we really are.”