Chapter 11
Levi
The moment the cabin door closed, the quiet wrapped around us.
Mason was standing a few feet away looking at me like he wasn’t entirely sure how we’d ended up here. Truth was, neither did I.
The evening had slipped by in a blur. One moment, I had picked him up from Tony and Nico’s place. The next we were walking back to my cabin.
Somewhere along the way, we kissed.
Now he stood in the middle of my living room, the lamplight soft against his dark hair, and my wolf stirred deep in my chest.
Mine, the thought came uninvited but certain. Mason shifted slightly under my stare, one brow lifting as a slow, crooked smile tugged at his mouth.
“You’re looking at me like you want to eat me,” he said.
I blinked once, then let out a low chuckle.
“Can you blame me?” I asked.
That only made the smile widen. The way his eyes moved over me sent a warm spark down my spine. I stepped closer before I could overthink it.
“No,” he whispered.
“Besides,” I added quietly, “you started it.”
“Did I?” he asked, feigning innocence.
“Yeah,” I said.
“How?” I tilted my head slightly, letting my gaze drop deliberately from his eyes to his mouth and back again. “Looking at me like that.”
Mason let out a soft laugh under his breath.
“And how exactly am I looking at you?” Mason asked.
“Like you’re thinking about kissing me again,” I said.
His eyes darkened just a fraction.
“And if I was?” he asked.
“Well,” I said, closing the last bit of space between us, “then you’re taking your time about it.”
For a moment neither of us moved. The air between us felt warm, charged with something quiet and electric. Then Mason shook his head.
“You’re dangerous, you know that?” There was amusement in his voice.
“Funny,” I murmured, brushing my fingers lightly along his jaw. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
My hand lifted almost on its own, brushing lightly against his jaw. He leaned into the touch. That tiny movement hit me harder than I expected.
“Mason,” I murmured.
He didn’t answer. Instead he closed the distance and kissed me.
I deepened the kiss, pushing my tongue down his throat, loving the fact he sucked down on it. I tasted the faint taste of beer and something sweeter lingering between us.
My hand slid to the back of his neck, fingers threading into his hair. Mason let out a quiet breath that ghosted across my mouth. My wolf stretched lazily inside me, pleased. This felt right.
“You’re smiling,” he murmured after I pulled away.
“I know.”
“You usually smile this much?” Mason asked.
“Not really.”
He huffed softly. I laughed quietly and kissed him again. My hands slid down his sides, feeling the lean muscle beneath his shirt.
Mason’s fingers gripped the front of my jacket like he needed the anchor.
We moved without really thinking about it. A step here, then another there, until the back of Mason’s knees bumped against the couch.
He pulled back slightly, breath a little uneven.
“You really sure about this?” I had to ask, cupping his cheek again.
“Yeah. I’ve never been absolutely certain of anything in my life,” he said.
His shoulders relaxed. Then he leaned forward and kissed me again, softer this time but no less sure. The world narrowed down to warmth and quiet touches.
My jacket slipped off first, landing somewhere behind me. Mason’s followed not long after.
My fingers brushed the edge of his shirt and paused. He caught my wrist gently. For a moment I thought he might stop me, but instead he gave a small nod.
The shirt slid over his head, revealing the smooth line of his shoulders. Mason looked almost shy under my gaze, arms crossing briefly before I caught his hands.
“You don’t have to hide,” I murmured.
“I’m not used to being looked at like that,” he said.
“Like what?” I had to ask.
“Like I matter.”
The words hit me straight in the chest.
“You do,” I said quietly.
Mason studied my face like he was searching for any hint of doubt.
Apparently he didn’t find any, because a moment later he tugged my shirt up over my head. In no time at all, we were both naked.
“Seems only fair,” he said softly.
I chuckled under my breath. “Guess it is.”
We drifted toward the bedroom slowly, stopping more than once to steal more kisses along the way. Nothing rushed, nothing frantic.
We were simply two people discovering each other piece by piece.
By the time we reached the bed, the outside world felt very far away. Mason sat on the edge first, looking up at me with that same shy smile that had been undoing me all day.
“You’re staring again,” he said.
“Can’t help it,” I told him.
“Why?”
I brushed my fingers through his hair.
“Because you look amazing,” I told him.
His laugh was quiet and disbelieving. Still, he leaned into the touch. I lowered him to the bed slowly, until he lay on his back.
Then I took my time, exploring every inch of his gorgeous body. I left a trail of kisses down his throat, his chest.
I took one of his flat nipples in my mouth, sucking softly until he cried out. Lower I went, licking and kissing him until I reached his stomach, his thighs.
His member was already thick and hard, and so was mine. I couldn’t wait to be inside him. I flipped Mason on his hands and knees, and he positioned himself at the edge of the bed.
I made a quick trip to the bathroom, grabbing towels, condom and lube. Mason was still waiting for me when I returned.
I broke the condom foil, put it on, then lubed him up for my access. Mason groaned as I pumped two fingers inside him.
Deeming him ready, I replaced my digits with my member. I pushed in, slow and steady, careful not to hurt him.
Mason, needing something to hold onto, grabbed the sheets in front of him. Finally, I was buried balls deep in him.
Mason felt amazing around me, tight and perfect.
“You okay?” I had to ask, a little breathless.
“Yeah,” he whispered. “Just move. Please.”
I complied, starting on a steady rhythm which suited us both. Soon enough, I reduced us both to sweaty, panting messes. I rode him faster, deeper.
Mason gasped and arched his back when I switched the angle of my thrusts. I knew I found his sweet spot.
Each time our bodies joined, it felt like a piece of my soul drifted out to touch his. I never felt this way with anyone before. Then again, none of the men I had been with was Mason.
I aimed for Mason’s prostate over and over, loving the sound of his moans.
My balls tightened against my body. The pressure building inside me threatened to burst. At my next thrust, Mason cried out, climaxing and screaming my name.
Several pushes later, I followed. Finally, I pulled out. I disposed of the condom, then cleaned us both up with towels.
Eventually we settled beneath the blankets, the room dim except for the soft glow from the lamp in the living room.
Mason curled naturally against my side like he’d always belonged there. My arm wrapped around him without thinking.
For a while we just lay there, breathing in the same slow rhythm. Contentment settled deep in my bones. I brushed my thumb lightly over Mason’s arm.
“So,” I said quietly.
“Hmm?”
“What are you going to do when this is over?” I had dared to ask.
He shifted slightly to look up at me.
“When the missing shifters are found,” I clarified. “When things settle down.”
The hesitation came almost immediately.
“I don’t know.” His voice held uncertainty. “I can’t really look that far ahead right now.”
That made sense. Still, the thought of him leaving twisted something inside me. My wolf stirred again, restless. I hesitated, then decided to be bold.
“Do you think,” I said slowly, “there’s a future…”
Mason’s brow furrowed slightly.
“With the pack?” Mason asked.
“With me.” The words felt bigger once they were out in the open.
Mason studied my face for a long moment. Then that small smile returned.
“Maybe,” he said.
Warmth spread through my chest like sunlight breaking through clouds. My wolf let out a satisfied rumble deep in my mind.
Mate. The realization settled into my bones with quiet certainty.
* * *
Morning crept into the cabin slowly. At first it was just pale light filtering through the curtains, soft and gray.
Then birds started up somewhere outside, the quiet chatter of the forest waking for the day.
I blinked awake gradually, the warmth of the blankets wrapped around me and something warm pressed against my side.
Mason. The memory of last night returned in pieces. His laugh, the quiet conversations, the way he’d curled against me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I turned my head slightly. He was still asleep, and for a moment I just watched him.
Mason lay on his side facing me, one arm tucked under the pillow, dark hair falling messily across his forehead. His breathing was slow and even. My chest tightened with something warm and unfamiliar.
Careful not to wake him, I brushed a strand of hair away from his face. He didn’t stir. A smile tugged at my mouth before I could stop it.
Mate. The word echoed quietly in my mind again. My wolf stirred in sleepy agreement.
I shifted slowly, easing myself out of the bed. The mattress dipped slightly but Mason only made a small sound and burrowed deeper into the blankets.
I paused, watching to make sure he stayed asleep.
When he did, I slipped on a pair of boxers and dragged a shirt over my head before tiptoeing out into the kitchen. The cabin was quiet, still holding the warmth from the night before.
I opened the fridge and studied the contents. Mom had definitely been here recently. There was eggs, bread, milk, even a few stray berries. Heck, there was even some bacon.
“Alright,” I murmured to myself. “Let’s see what we can do.”
Soon the quiet kitchen filled with the soft sounds of cooking. Eggs cracking, bread soaking in the mixture, and the faint sizzle of butter warming in the pan.
A sweet, warm and comforting smell followed not long after. I was flipping a piece of French toast when I heard soft footsteps behind me.
Mason stood in the doorway between the bedroom and kitchen, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
He had my shirt on, and only my shirt. It hung a little loose on his frame, the hem brushing mid-thigh, sleeves pushed halfway up his forearms.
For a moment my brain stopped working. A slow, possessive warmth curled through my chest. Mine. The thought came so naturally it startled me.
Mason noticed me staring and froze. Then he looked down at himself and his cheeks flushed red.