Chapter 18
T AYLOR GASPED AS SHE awoke the next morning, sunlight streaming in through the windows. Her heartrate slowed as she realized she was safe in Mason’s bed. Nestled in his arms.
Mason’s arms tightened around her, and her breathing slowed back down as she felt his solid body next to hers. As she relaxed against his warmth.
“You’re safe, sweetheart. You’re safe. We’re at my apartment. Eric and Jake are in jail.”
“Oh God,” she whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I was having a nightmare. Reliving everything.”
“No one can get you here,” he assured her, nuzzling against her neck. “They’ve both been arrested, and I’m right here. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
“How did you find me earlier? With the police and the chaos and my crying hysterically on the way to the hospital, I never even asked.”
“When we got back to Little Creek, the Alpha team was already there. Someone from the Virginia Beach PD had contacted Ice. Patrick,” he clarified.
“I guess your waitress friend told them about me. That you were dating a Navy SEAL. The entire police department was looking for you when you disappeared from your apartment complex, but when Patrick said Eric had been arrested, I knew it was probably his friend Jake that had taken you.”
“But how?”
Mason shrugged. “Just a hunch. He was at your place that one night to pick up Eric, and he just seemed unhinged. Plus, he was still holding onto your car for some reason. Most people want to get paid and move on to the next vehicle if they own an autobody shop. He seemed intent on keeping it there.”
“He’s as crazy as Eric,” she said, shuddering.
“Maybe even more so. As soon as Patrick told me you were missing, I was rushing out to my SUV to go get you. Patrick and another man from the Alpha team came with me while the rest of my team debriefed on our mission. It wasn’t exactly standard procedure to leave base like that right after an op, but my CO understood why I had to go. No one there could’ve stopped me.”
“I was so scared,” she said. “And when you came through that door, I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was dreaming at first.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner.”
“Ugh, and I thought they’d never let me leave the hospital. God, I just feel...gross,” she admitted. “Like I can’t wash this day off me soon enough.”
Mason chuckled slightly beside her. “We didn’t get a full night’s sleep. Aren’t you exhausted? We can go back to bed for a few hours. I have some time off since we just got back.”
“No, I just want to shower and wash Eric and Jake and everyone else off of me.”
Mason stiffened beside her but rose and followed her into his bathroom. “They didn’t—” he broke off, the expression on his face grim.
“No,” she assured him. “Eric passed out drunk in my bed. And Jake—well God, I can only imagine what would’ve happened if you didn’t come in right then. But you saved me,” she assured him. “You got there in time.”
He nodded, then turned on the water as steam began to fill the room. He took a deep breath, the tension slowly leaving his posture. “I never would’ve forgiven myself if they’d harmed you,” he admitted. “I couldn’t get to you fast enough. I just couldn’t imagine anything happening to you.”
“Thank you for finding me,” she whispered.
“I’ll always come for you, sweetheart. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there to begin with.”
“You were doing your job,” she assured him. “Saving the world. But now I just need you here with me.”
“You have me,” he assured her.
Hastily, she took off her clothing, tossing it into a pile in the corner. Mason stripped as well, joining her a moment later in the shower.
He held her trembling body to his as the hot water poured down over them. She rested her head against his chest, loving the feel of his large hands running over her hair and back. Of his hard, muscled body holding her close. Of his lips brushing over the top of her head.
“Will you come with me to get my tattoo?” she asked suddenly as he held her to him.
Looking up, she met his blue gaze.
“Of course,” he said. “Whenever you want to go.”
“I realized once again how short life really is when Jake kidnapped me. My sister’s been gone for ten years.
It’s hard to believe, but it feels like both yesterday and a lifetime ago.
I want that heart tattoo with my sister’s initials.
I’m not going to wait around for the perfect time.
I just want to go ahead and do it. To live my life with no regrets. ”
“Where are you going to get it?” he asked.
“Right here,” she said, pulling away and pointing to her hip. “Just a small heart, but it’s important to me.”
His hand came to a rest on her waist, his thumb rubbing over the skin of her hip where she’d pointed. “To me, too,” he said. “Because I want you happy. Safe. I love you, Taylor,” he said, his voice thick. “I almost lost you, but I’m never letting you go.”
“I love you, too, Mason,” she said, her voice breaking. “Make love to me,” she whispered.
“Are you sure? You’ve been through so much.”
“I’m sure. I need you,” she said, watching as his cock hardened. “I want you.”
His hands reverently ran over her breasts, his fingers brushing over her nipples.
They tightened beneath his touch, and he ducked lower, kissing her, as he gently backed her against the cool tile.
His hand slid between them, parting her lower lips, and then she could feel his fingers sliding through her arousal-dampened folds.
“Hell, you’re wet,” he said, his voice gruff.
“For you,” she whispered. “Only for you.”
He stroked her sex, ensuring she was ready for him, and she whimpered and moaned as his fingers lightly brushed over her clit. He kissed her again, rubbing her gently, and before long she was gasping for breath.
Mason lifted her into his arms, his thick length running between her swollen folds as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
He lined himself up with her entrance, and then he was thrusting into her. Claiming her. Marking her forever as his.
The water from the shower washed over their skin, and with the cool tile at her back and the heat of Mason’s hard body against her front, her senses were overwhelmed. His chest rubbed against her sensitive nipples, and his heavy cock stretched her completely, stroking her inner walls.
His hands slid to her ass, his fingers digging into her flesh, and then he was lifting her up and down as he took her. She cried out, clinging to him, as he took complete control of their lovemaking.
She couldn’t move at all, he held her so tightly, and she didn’t care.
She wanted him, needed him.
Was desperate for more.
Mason’s cock hardened impossibly more, and with a series of short, hard thrusts, he had her screaming his name. Clinging to him as he lifted her up and down his rigid shaft. Drawing every last ounce of pleasure from her.
Mason stiffened, and with one last thrust, came inside her, shouting as he found his own release.
His seed coated her inner walls as she spasmed around him, milking his thick length.
He pressed her against the cool tile as he kissed her deeply, his cock still buried deep inside her.
“I love you, sweetheart,” he said, tenderness in his eyes.
“I love you more.”