Chapter 22
Mason
On my way home to get ready for our date, I returned Maddie’s call that I had missed while spending the morning with Thomas. We hadn’t spoken since I’d called them the day after meeting Shannon. Both of my sisters had been shocked beyond belief.
“I still can’t believe all of this. I’m not sure I can ever speak to them again. I might boycott every fucking holiday for the next twenty-eight years in solidarity.”
I laughed. “I love you, but don’t do that. Those decisions were made long before you were born. And they’re both your parents, Maddie. Don’t cut them out of your life because of me.”
She huffed out an irritated breath. It was scary how much she was like Axel. “I still can’t believe they kept our brother from us. Did you know Dad moved out?”
My breath caught. “What do you mean, moved out?”
“He moved to the New York apartment last week when I told him you were in London. When you didn’t pick up his calls, he called me to ask if I’d spoken to you,” her tone softened.
“It took everything in me to be civil to him. It’s hard to believe the father we grew up with is the same man who kept our brother a secret.
” My stomach churned at the picture she was describing.
“I didn’t call to ruin your day, Mason. But I do have something to tell you.
” Her voice lifted from the bleak tone from before, instantly elevating my mood.
“Okay. Is everything okay, Mads?”
“I think so. I’m pregnant. Zane and I are moving the wedding up to the first week of August. I don’t want to wait until next year. Simple is better anyway. Mom is the one who wanted the big wedding. This way I get what I want.”
I wasn’t expecting that, but it was great news. “Oh, Mads, that’s great! Are you happy?”
“Very,” she crooned. “I love him, and he’s going to be a great father. I have a couple of months to put together everything before I really start to show. Not that I care about that anymore. We just want to start our lives as soon as possible, ya know?”
“I know, Maddie. You’ve always wanted a family. But August could be tricky for me with the pre-season.”
She huffed. “I checked your schedule before we set a date. We picked the week after you go to training camp for that reason. Is that okay? If not, I’ll change it. We can move it up.”
“Maddie, please don’t plan your life around my schedule. Do what’s best for you and Zane.”
She sighed. “I am. And I need you to be here, standing beside me when I marry the love of my life. We’ve been through everything, Mason, and it won’t be the same without you. So it’s no big deal if we change the date.”
I pulled into my driveway and ran my hand over my beard. All I could picture was the scene Melinda would probably cause. “Are you sure you want my drama there after all of this? I’d understand if you don’t, I really would. You deserve a beautiful wedding with both of your parents present.”
Maddie sighed. “I want everyone there. We’re getting married at the Covington resort on Long Island.
It’s a big place, and we can make sure you and Thomas are nowhere near them.
Or we can rent you a house for the weekend.
I’ll leave it up to you to decide, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen. ”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Have you considered that maybe it would be uncomfortable for them? They deserve to enjoy their daughter’s wedding.”
“It’s my wedding. I won’t press you, but I’ve also invited our brother as well. He’ll make sure things go as planned.”
I smiled, thinking about how right she was about Axel. “When did you do that?”
She snorted. “After you didn’t answer the first time.”
I chuckled. “Is he coming?”
“Yes. You don’t want to miss out on all the fireworks and family pictures. I can’t wait to see their faces when you both walk in.”
“The two of you are so much alike,” I teased.
“I’m reserving a suite for you. It’s up to you to change the reservation. Either way, I love you.”
“Love you too, Mads. I’ll call you next week. Tell Zane congratulations for me.”
“I will.” She paused. “It’s going to be okay, Mason. I can feel it.”
I hoped she was right.
When I got inside, I sent Thomas a message.
Me: Keep your calendar open for the first weekend in August.
Thomas: Why?
Me: We have a family wedding to attend.
Thomas: It’s on my calendar. Now get ready. I miss you.
I grinned.
Me: Miss you too.
We were ridiculous, but that’s what love does to a person. Made you see things differently than before. The sad moments in my life didn’t seem so overwhelmingly terrible with Thomas. I just needed to find a way to keep him forever.
“Where are we going?” We were headed downtown after Thomas picked me up for our date at seven p.m. sharp.
“It’s a surprise,” he said, smiling over at me. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “I’ve had enough surprises to last a lifetime.”
Reaching over, he put his right hand on my thigh. “I know. But this is a good one, and you’re going to have to trust me. Think you can do that?”
Leaning over, I placed a kiss on his cheek as he drove. “I do. And if I forget to tell you, this is the best night of my life.”
“Mine too,” he whispered, giving me that look I now recognized as love.
I held his hand until Thomas pulled into the parking deck of a downtown high-rise. He parked the Escalade on the top deck, then turned off the engine. Smiling over at me, he popped the door locks and took off his seatbelt. “Ready?”
“More than.” Meeting him at the back of the car, he took my hand and led me to the elevator. “Are there restaurants in this building?”
“No. It’s residential.” He smirked as the elevator opened.
Leading me inside, he pushed the button for the top floor as we stood hand in hand.
Staring at us in the mirrored walls, I marveled at how perfectly we fit together.
Hip to hip, we were the same height. The difference came in my torso.
He was sexy in his crisp dress shirt with his sleeves rolled to his elbows.
Strong forearms dusted with dark hair caught my attention.
I’d never noticed a man’s forearms before, but Tommy’s did something to me. And of course, he noticed me staring.
“You okay, sweetheart?”
God, I loved it when he called me that. Meeting his gaze in the mirrored door, I got a glimpse of a future I really wanted. “Perfect.”
When we reached our floor, we stepped onto a rooftop terrace with a stunning view of the sunset over the ocean. Pulling me to the left, I stopped in my tracks as my eyes fell across the top of the building. “Tommy,” I gasped, “what is this place? It’s incredible.”
His gaze drifted across the space before turning back to me. “A friend owns this. He created an oasis for himself and his wife. They’re out of town, so I thought we could have dinner and spend some time together. What do you think?”
“It’s perfect.”
The top of the building had been made into an outdoor living space that was intimate and private from surrounding buildings.
Soft music drifted from the hidden speakers as I looked around the most romantic setting I’d ever seen.
A barrier wall along the edge of the building surrounded the space with lush plants and palm trees.
Walking to the edge, we took in the view of the darkening ocean.
“His architect did a fantastic job,” he murmured. “But there’s more for you to see.”
Pulling me toward the flowering vine-covered pergola, we found a raised platform against the back wall. The ambiance was accentuated with warm Edison lights and a fireplace where a table was set for dinner. “I thought we could have dinner here, then move over there to relax.”
Turning around, there was a U-shaped seating area with plush lounges, a million pillows and blankets, sat behind another firepit and facing a huge built-in movie screen. Looking up, the night sky was beginning to appear just for us. “This is perfect.”
Thomas’s eyes melted into mine. “I wanted this to be a night we wouldn’t forget.”
“Like our kiss in the rain.”
His loving gaze reached the darkest part of my heart. “Even better, if that’s possible.”
After dinner, we got comfortable on the sofas and started a movie.
When he sat back, I put my arm around him and pulled him into my side.
Rather than look at me, he kept his eyes on the screen.
I stared at the side of his face until he had no choice but to acknowledge me.
“Can I help you with something, sweetheart?”
My heart pounded in my ears as I reached for his hand. Placing it on my full erection, I answered his question. “Feel this? This is how I stay when I’m with you. You can help me with this.”
Thomas held my stare and reached for my hand. He mirrored my move and placed my hand on his equally hard erection. Wrapping my fingers around as much as I could through his pants, he took a deep breath. “This is what you do to me.”
Crashing my mouth to his, I let my desire and need do the talking.
Our tongues sought control as I rubbed him as he rubbed me.
It wouldn’t take much more before I lost control if we didn’t make a change.
As much as I didn’t want to stop, I found the strength to pull back and slipped to the floor in front of him.
Reaching for his belt, I kept my eyes on his as I kneeled in front of him. Tommy’s chest rose and fell with labored breaths as my own did gymnastics. “Can I suck you off?”
With molten heat in his eyes, he ran his hands through my hair and gripped my head. “Take me out.”
My eyes flared, and I wasted no time. I unbuttoned and unzipped in record time.
When I had him out, I inspected his beautiful cock.
It was long and thick, and fit my hand perfectly.
Looking up into his eyes, I licked across the head, making him gasp.
I wanted more of that. Swirling my tongue around the top, he held on to my hair, tugging me closer. “I need your mouth on me, sweetheart.”
“Just so you know, I’ve never done this before. So if it doesn’t go well…”
He sat up from his reclined position and kissed me hard before pulling back. “I could cum just from you breathing on it, so you will never disappoint me. So get that shit out of your head.”
I believed him. I wanted to please him in every way imaginable, to keep the smile on his face, and for him to never stop looking at me like that.
My eyes filled with emotion as my reality struck me. “There’s no going back.”
He leaned forward and kissed me again as I squeezed his cock. “Never.”
Wrapping my lips around the head, I sucked it like a lollipop. Thomas groaned and tightened his grip in my hair. Why did I love this so much?
Working to elicit more sounds from him, I took him further into my throat as my eyes watered. I focused on giving him everything I’d ever enjoyed and took him as deep as I could without gagging.
“Mason… Sweetheart…You need to stop if…” he trailed off as his grip tightened in my hair.
Wild horses couldn’t make me stop, so I summoned every ounce of self-control when Tommy lost his.
I looked up just as he sucked in a deep breath and threw his head back onto the sofa.
The tendons in his neck flexed as his eyes closed, taking his pleasure from my mouth.
I kept after him until he opened his eyes.
The heat was back when he leaned forward, put his hands on my shoulders, and pushed me onto my back, careful not to hit the firepit.
I landed on my elbows as he crawled over me, dick out, to take my mouth.
I closed my eyes and surrendered to the kiss as Tommy tasted himself on my tongue.
Just when I thought I might lose it, he pulled back.
“Move back, sweetheart, and give me some room to work.”
I obeyed without hesitation, scooting back on the floor as he reached up and tossed me a couple of pillows. “Tuck this behind your head, and relax.”
Nodding, I did as he asked, knowing full well I was on fourth-and-goal.
He went to work on my pants in another feat of speed as the cool evening air hit the tip of my wet cock.
The contrasting sensations against my otherwise heated skin sent a shiver through my body.
Of course, he noticed. “I, too, have never done this before. So if I’m terrible at it… ”
I grinned and gave his words right back to him. “You’ll never disappoint me. I love…” Oh shit. I almost said it during the middle of sex. Thinking as fast as my addled brain would work, I said, “I love everything you do.”
Tommy’s eyes were heavy, knowing exactly what I was going to say.
“I love everything too.” I watched in awe as the man I loved took me into his mouth and literally blew my mind.
For someone who’d never given head, it was perfection as I lasted maybe three seconds.
He pulled back and placed a sweet kiss on my tip, making me shiver.
When he caught my eye, he lay across my body.
Both of our cocks were exposed to the night air, but neither of us seemed to mind. “How old are you again?”
I laughed as I wrapped my arms around him. “Twenty-eight.”
“Hmm,” he said, settling inches from my face. He raked his hand through my hair as I stared into his eyes. I was so gone for him that I was afraid to open my mouth. But he wasn’t. “Was that okay, sweetheart?”
I skated my hands up his back to his shoulders. “The only thing that would have made it better was to be skin to skin. I crave that closeness with you.”
Tommy’s eyes melted me again. “Next time, sweetheart. I’ll give you everything you want.”
Lowering his mouth to mine, he stopped right before our lips touched. “I haven’t allowed myself to feel this way about anyone since Vanessa. Haven’t wanted to. But I’m all in with you. No holding back.”
I grinned at him as I rolled him to his back in the cramped space.
Settling on him, I looked down into his eyes.
“You’re the only person I’ve ever wanted to be with every minute of every day.
You make me feel like I matter in this world, and you’re all I want.
” I wanted to be the first one to say it.
“I love you, Tommy. I think I have since that night in Sacramento. I needed you then as a friend, now I need you as my everything.”
He cupped my face with his hands. “I’m yours, Mason. For as long as you’ll have me.”
Forever would never be long enough.