Chapter 30
Thomas
Kneeling in front of Mason, I’d never been so scared in my life. When Lennox called and told me to get to the locker room, I feared Mason had been injured. But whatever this was was a thousand times worse. The kind of pain that can only be inflicted by people you love.
Prying the facemask from his hand, I put his helmet in his locker. My eyes found the splintered wood, but it was the least of my concerns. I got on the floor where Colin held him and took his face in my hands. My heart ached for him as a fiery rage streaked through me. “Tell me what happened.”
Bloodshot eyes I loved stared at me, exhausted as the adrenaline faded.
He slumped in Colin’s arms, but the safety didn’t release him.
“Melinda sent a text. She told me not to come to the wedding. She could have sent that weeks ago, but no, she waited until I went back to work. Why does she fucking hate me so much, Tommy? I was a baby.”
Stroking his cheek with my thumbs, I tried to reassure him. “You didn’t do anything. She knows how close you and Maddie are. I guarantee you that your sister has no idea that the message was sent.”
He swallowed. “I shouldn’t have let her get to me. I’m a grown man.”
“Don’t do that. Your age has nothing to do with it.
You’ve been traumatized by someone you trusted.
Who was supposed to love you. Pain and hurt have no expiration date.
She gets some perverse pleasure in putting you in your place when she wants to hurt your father.
He probably did something to piss her off, and the only way she can get back at him is to hurt you. ”
“She was supposed to be my mother.”
“She’s a fucking cunt,” Colin murmured under his breath. Mason’s eyes widened as the Aussie’s words filled the room. “Sorry mate, but it’s true. Fuck that bitch. We should all go to the fucking wedding. We’ll stand around you like a pack of dingoes, daring the cunt to make a move.”
I held Mason’s stare, trying not to laugh, but it was impossible where Colin was concerned.
But he was right. She was exactly as he described.
Mason inhaled deeply and burst out laughing.
Colin leaned forward and put his chin on Mason’s shoulder to speak.
“If I let go of you, you’re not gonna wail on my head for saying that, are you, mate? ”
Mason picked up his hand and patted Colin’s arm. “No, man. But I might hug you.”
“That I’ll take.”
Colin released him, then got to his feet. Holding his hand out to Mason, my boyfriend took it as his friend pulled him to his feet. I thought he was going to cry again as he hugged his friend. “Thank you. I love you, buddy.”
Clapping him on the back, he smiled up at Mason. “I love you too, mate. We all do. Just don’t forget that, okay?”
Mason nodded. “Yeah, I won’t.”
Colin took him by the shoulders and met his eyes.
“You know my story. I pushed a lot of shit down for a long time, until Carson talked me into seeing someone. That’s why I can say you need to get some help, my friend.
You shouldn’t carry her bullshit around on your back.
You deserve to be happy now that you know how good dick can be. ”
I snorted and shook my head as I sat on the floor, watching the two of them. Mason turned to look at me, then held out his hand. I didn’t need help getting up, but I’d never say no to holding him.
“I’ll leave you in good hands,” Colin said. “I’ll tell coach you’re under the weather. Take the rest of the day off.” Colin winked as he strode back toward the field, cleats clicking in the quiet room.
Mason turned, and I took him in my arms. I’d been itching to hold him, but he needed the comfort of his friend more. He had to realize how much they cared about him.
“Did you see any of that out there?” he asked.
“No,” I sighed. “I was meeting with the new security director when Lennox called.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry I interrupted your meeting. But I’m really fucking glad you’re here.”
I pulled him back into my arms as the melancholy set in. “Me too, sweetheart. And I never plan to leave your side.”
He breathed deeply then pulled back. “I should go apologize to the team. Especially Lennox.”
“There’s no apology needed for the field. What happened was my fault,” the quarterback said, walking into the room. I stepped to the side as Lennox walked over and stood in front of Mason, but kept his hand in mine. It was a lifeline for him, even though he didn’t need one with his friend.
Mason’s brows drew together as he hung his head. “I’m ashamed of how I handled myself out there.”
“Know what I’m ashamed of?” Lennox replied. “That I didn’t do my job. I knew something was wrong, and I should have stepped in.”
“It’s not your job to fix my issues, Lennox. It’s your job to run the team.”
He huffed an aggravated breath. “It’s my job as your friend to be there when you need me.
I’ve got your back, just like you’ve got mine, on and off the field.
We are a family, Mason Kennerly. We are a family out there and in here.
” He placed his hand over Mason’s heart.
“You people are the only goddamn family I have, and you will no longer hold us at arm’s length, do you hear me?
Because that shit hurts, and it doesn’t have to. ”
A tear slid down Mason’s face, prompting Lennox to pull him in for a hug. “Besides,” he said, “I’ve had my hands on your balls for too long to change now.”
Mason groaned, but laughed. “Just had to make it weird, didn’t you?”
“That’s what he does best,” Evan added from the doorway. We turned to find him with Carson and Colin standing inside the doorway. “And ditto to what he said, man.”
Mason looked at the ground and shook his head. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I do,” Colin added. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets called for a personal foul.”
Mason smiled as they took the heat off his shoulders.
Leaning into Mason, I spoke softly. “I’m going to go make a couple of calls while you finish up.”
He nodded. “It might be a while. I need to talk to Coach.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere. Except to a wedding next week.” I raised a brow to convey I dared him to change our plans. His smile told me all I needed to know.
I stood on the sideline, watching the Storm scrimmage the last day of training camp.
The PR team had turned the day into a fan fest of sorts to replace the bachelor auction, and people were everywhere.
It made the protector in me nervous because I couldn’t be everywhere.
I was suddenly thankful my job was to protect the man I loved.
When the exhibition ended, Mason made his way to me. He held his new helmet between his arm and his body as he wiped the sweat away from his brow. I wanted to do that. And a lot more.
Containing my happiness to have him back in my arms was the most difficult thing I’d done all day. “Hey, Champ.”
The smile I adored crossed his face as he reached me.
We hadn’t discussed not showing affection to each other in public.
But if he kissed me like the look on his face said he wanted to, we’d be out in two seconds.
Stepping closer, his eyes melted into mine, and that’s all I needed to know.
Pressing my open palm to his chest, I balled his jersey in my fist and pulled him closer as his eyes sparkled.
He didn’t see anyone but me, and that’s all that mattered. Fuck the world and fuck the haters.
As people hovered around us, I pulled Mason’s mouth to mine. We got lost in the moment as we held each other and kissed like we hadn’t seen one another in a month.
Mason pulled away when the wolf whistles started, but the apprehension I expected to see was nowhere in sight. “Can we go home now?”
Running my hands down his shoulders, I smiled. “Would you like to shower first?”
Warm eyes melted into mine. “No. I’d rather do that at home with you, in our shower.”
“Then we’d better go. Your bag is already in the car, and dinner has been ordered for delivery.”
Mason took my hand as we started toward the locker room. “Sounds like you have a plan.”
I smirked. “I do. Tonight I plan to be the quarterback under center.”
He stopped in his tracks, eyes wide. “Are you serious?”
Reaching over, I curled my hand around the back of his neck and pulled his cheek next to mine. “I want it all with you, sweetheart. But most of all, I want you to make me yours.”
Mason shivered at my words, making me smile. “Then let’s go.”
A very long hour later, dinner forgotten, I was pressed face down on the bed while Mason repeated exactly what I’d done for him the first time we made love.
It must have been really good for him, because I was about to lose my mind.
I’d never made such noises as I did with him, and damn it was easy to lose myself when he worked me over.
An inhuman moan slipped from my lips when he swiped his tongue over my hole. My world was reduced to where he touched me reverently, like I would break if he pushed me too far. “Baby, you can give me more. I can take it.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he whispered as he slid one well-lubed finger into me.
“You won’t. I promise.” I’d done my homework twice.
Once before I made love to him the first time, and again to prepare for him to love me.
I knew exactly what this was going to take, so when he was busy with the team, I began the process of readying myself for him.
Hudson’s recommendations came in very handy, but I kept that to myself.
“Can you turn over? I need to see your face.”
Rolling to my back, I almost lost my breath when our eyes met. The magnitude of love I saw in them almost did me in. Undeniable affection that I’d never experienced at this level from a lover caused my breath to hitch. All I wanted was him, every day for the rest of my life.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, leaning down to nuzzle his face along mine.
I was ready to weep as an unexpected calmness settled over me. “Nothing. I just love you. That’s all.”
“I love you,” he whispered, kissing me softly as he went back to preparing me.
Mason swallowed my moans and took my breath away with the swipe of his finger over my prostate.
Rocking into him, I rubbed my torso along his, memorizing every point of contact.
It was all I could do not to come until he could get inside me.
Own me from the inside out. When I couldn’t absorb any more, he put me out of my misery.
“Breathe, baby,” he whispered against my lips.
I closed my eyes and focused on the point of contact, the place his warm, wet tip seared me to him. Needing to see, I looked between us where Mason hovered over me, connecting us in a way I’ve never felt connected to anyone. It wasn’t sex. It was love, and all I needed.
After almost two years of slowly falling for each other, we’d become attuned to one another.
Reading my body and my breathing, I closed my eyes as he slipped further into me until he made me his.
He held my heart and soul in his hands, and when we reached our release, he called my name over and over as he marked me for no one but him.
We didn’t need words as our touches and kisses said everything.
Until I met Mason, I’d never experienced the level of intimacy that seeped into the marrow of my bones.
The way I loved him was terrifying, because if my previous life had taught me anything, it was that an end was inevitable.
But with him, I would live like there was no tomorrow, because I would love and protect him for eternity.