Twelve
If it had been in a movie, what Mason and I had just shared together would have been certified an eighteen, easily . My whole body still tingled with pleasure.
We retrieved my stuff from the ground by the porch, including my torn underwear. I stuffed them in the pocket of my skirt as we climbed the stairs to the front door of my house.
Withdrawing my keys from my bag, I went to open the door, but Mason took them from my fingers and inserted them into the lock. He was such a control freak and I loved it.
The house was deathly quiet. I was pleased we had the place to ourselves. I wondered if he’d stay the entire night this time. Hoped more like.
I offered Mason a round of toast or a coffee and he declined.
As we got to my room and turned the lamp on, Mason shut the door and leaned back against it. Like he had that first time I’d come out of the bathroom to find him waiting for me. I wondered when to broach the subject of the fact that we’d just had sex without a condom and I wasn’t on the pill.
“You should have a bath, you’ll be sore in the morning,” Mason said, his face now unreadable. I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment but nodded. I knew I needed to clean myself up anyway.
With my hand on the doorknob to my ensuite bathroom, I turned back.
“Will you stay the night then?” I asked in a quiet voice. If he said no, I’d be crushed.
He didn’t even contemplate my question, “Wild fucking horses couldn’t keep me away,” he replied with a smile. One that reached his eyes and relief crashed through me. I released a satisfied sigh and returned his grin.
Uncertainly, I suggested, “I’ll run a bath for us both if you like?” The scent of sex lingered on my skin.
The slight shake in my voice was evidence that I felt nervous. Being forward wasn’t me really, but I was gradually gaining confidence.
Mason pushed off the door and lifted the tank top over his head, revealing his naked body, “I like,” he whispered gruffly with an arched eyebrow .
We bathed together; it was intimate and real . Mason climbed in first and took up most of the tub he was so large. I lowered myself into the warm water and it felt so soothing against my limbs, especially when I sat down and was pulled back against Mason’s chest. I was sitting between his legs and he grabbed a sponge and started to squeeze warm water over my chest, it trickled between my breasts tickling the skin there.
He kissed the cuff of my ear as I relaxed back against him, the back of my head on one shoulder. I started to fidget with my hands but I wasn’t nervous, not really.
Being with Mason like this made me happy. The prickly Amy had fallen well beneath the surface and in her place was a smoothed-out version. Like he’d filed away my rough edges.
“So, Sunday morning,” Mason suddenly started to explain and I was scared that his words would ruin the moment. The prickly Amy was still in there somewhere, waiting to react.
“It doesn’t matter now Mason,” I cut in as I traced one of the ornate taps with my toe. Mason’s thighs were corded with thick muscle, I only just fitted between them in the small space.
“It matters if it upset you,” he delivered in a soft voice.
“Really? When we’ve spent a lifetime upsetting each other,” I replied.
There was a beat of silence.
“Well, I think it’s safe to say something has shifted,” Mason defended, his tone suggesting he was also trying to figure out when and how.
I was too tired to start any conversations about what it was we were doing. Was this a sex thing like fuck buddies or were we together and all that serious stuff. That was a discussion for another time. It must have been one in the morning.
There was also the shit show that would be my parents when they found out. If they found out. I did not relish that thought. Mattie and Chrissy would be cool, as they had their own shit to deal with and Jenna already knew, in a fashion.
Deciding it was better to allow him to explain, I prompted, “So, Sunday?” twisting my head to one side. Mason ran his fingers up and down my arms affectionately.
“I got a message from Boyd to say he was at the hospital with Seth. ”
This revelation made me sit forward and half turn to give him my full attention. My brow was creased.
“What happened?”
Mason scratched his jaw, his eyes searching my face.
“The doctors think someone put something in his drink and he had an allergic reaction to it,” he said.
My heart leapt in my chest, “What, where, here ? At our party?” I questioned, my words falling from my mouth in panic.
He nodded his head, “Yes, it must have happened here. They stayed on doing shots until the early hours.”
A hundred questions surged to the front of my mind. OMG!
“You don’t think it was me?” I blathered. If he said yes, a part of me would die inside.
He shuffled in the water, creating a wave. “Of course not,” Mason shot out. Totally not happy with my question. Thank God.
He watched my shoulders droop. “You’ve been a pain in my side since I can remember, a provoking little witch, but you’re not vindictive.”
I nodded in agreement. Yes, I could be a bitch and spikey but I wasn’t a nasty person, not really. Most of the time, I used the mean girl attitude as a cover. To hide the fact that I wasn’t the strongest of people. Especially not emotionally.
“Is Seth OK now?”
“Yes, he’s almost fully recovered,” Mason confessed in a relieved tone. “Shit always happens when our parents are away. I was going to contact them, but he seems OK now and it would just freak my mother out. She has enough on her plate with Mitchell.
I nodded my understanding.
“Well, we need to get to the bottom of it, try and establish who did it and whether anyone else has been targeted. To be honest, there were quite a few people there I didn’t know. ”
Mason agreed with me, “Yes, same here. But I will find out and once I do, they will pay. Big time. I just hope I get there before Nixon does. The guy is desperate to tear someone’s arms and legs off.” I could imagine.
I thought about that for a moment longer. To be on Mason’s shit list was bad enough but Nixon’s. Damn.
I started thinking back to that night and who was there. Maybe we could write the names down and make a list. Work through it.
Mason put his hand on my shoulder and manoeuvred me back against his chest.
“Don’t think about it now, it’s too late. We need to get to bed really,” he whispered against my neck and my skin prickled. I released a suggestive sound and he chuckled.
“And I mean to sleep. You won’t be ready again for me tonight. Not after that. You need to give yourself time to recover.”
Again, his words made me feel shy, so I changed the subject slightly.
“So, when did you realise, I was a woman and not a little girl?” I questioned with a slight smile. Not really knowing when I’d noticed Mason as a man, at least not one that I wanted. And oh my, how I wanted him now.
“You were with Jenna by the pool last summer. It was the first time I’d seen you in a bikini. That was probably when I noticed how grown up you looked,” he confessed.
His comment made me feel gooey inside, “You never gave me any indication.”
“Of course not, you were only seventeen. This year it just got harder. Plus. you were always coming around, on one of your missions to make all McKenna men pay. I gave up the fight and went with my gut.”
I nodded. “The first I got a hint of any type of attraction was that day at your house when I heard about the Boyd and Chrissy kissing thing.”
Mason shuffled in the bath and the water lapped around us. I felt so relaxed.
His next words were a surprise, “The rumour about Boyd and Chrissy was a load of crap.”
I turned in the bath again, totally puzzled. “How do you know?”
“Because I was the one who made it up.”
Now I was floored, “ What , why? ”
Mason cleared his throat, “The rumour mill in the village had kicked off big time about a kiss between two people, but it wasn’t Boyd and Chrissy. It was between your brother and Alex Simpson. And it wasn’t a rumour, it was true. I knew that because I’d seen them together. I fabricated another rumour to take the heat off.”
My head almost turtled into my neck as my eyes roamed over his face.
“So, you hid it from me. You let me go on without knowing my boyfriend was gay and seeing my brother behind my back?” A hint of resentment speared through me. Mason saw it and grimaced.
“I didn’t do it for that reason. I did it to protect you from finding out the wrong way. That day in the pub when I saw you both, I wanted to throttle the fucker for being there and lying to you. I’d made enough hints and I was going to tell you, but the timing wasn’t right and I didn’t think you’d believe me anyway.
I pursed my lips and unwound my neck.
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh.”
“Well, thank you I guess, but the way I did find out was much worse,” I explained without managing to keep the look of revulsion out of my face. Not because of the gay thing, but more due to seeing Mattie with his cock hard. So gross.
“How did you find out?”
“I walked in on my Mattie and Alex at it.”
Mason viewed me with a flicker of fascination before he said on an exhale, “Ouch.”
Smiling, I replied. “Yep, that’s one that will stay with me for years.”
I nestled into him, “So, you wanted to protect me?” I smiled, unable to stop my adoring look.
“Yes, and you can wipe that silly girl’s smile off your face. I’m the only one who gets to hurt you,” Mason replied with a wink.
We shared a moment. That look between us was precious and one I would always cherish. Having spent years fighting with this boy, I was now thoroughly enjoying our truce.
We both climbed out of the bath, Mason playfully swatting my backside and I laughed. He then helped me dry myself, being so attentive to those more sensitive areas. I felt special and cared for. No one had ever made me feel like that. Not even my parents and I realised that my family life wasn’t perhaps as perfect as I’d thought. My life had lacked affection, real love. Like what Jenna was showered with.
We then climbed into bed and I slept peacefully in Mason’s arms as he held me, feeling safe and significant.
*****
The next morning, I awoke with Mason still beside me. He had a large muscled arm around my waist and one of his thighs was draped across my legs. I noticed the fine hairs on his arm and how his skin contrasted mine. I’d had the best night’s sleep and had dreamt about wicked things; wicked sexual things.
As I turned, my eyes met Mason’s. He was watching me, his hair tousled with a sleepy face on and my heart twisted; a thousand tremors skating around my body. A very, tender body.
Mason’s hair was mussed and I wanted to smooth my hands over it.
We smiled at each other before he placed a soft kiss on my lips and I was transported back to what we’d done the night before. It had been rough and raw and thoroughly sexually overwhelming.
“Good morning beautiful, you smell like heaven,” Mason husked in a long throaty breath before burying his head in my neck. His voice was thick from sleep; his words were like a balm to my ego. To me at that moment, Mason was everything I needed, rolled into the perfect package and I never wanted it to end.
After raining kisses along the skin there, he lifted his head.
“Morning. You don’t snore which is a surprise,” I informed him thoughtfully. We shared a look. It should have felt mental, the fact that I had woken up with Mason McKenna, but my life had never felt so right. I didn’t even care about morning breath or anything. I just craved his nearness.
Mason stretched before his expression changed and he gave me a pointed look. “Last night I didn’t use anything, so you could be at risk,” he began, all stern and business- like and my expression must have said it all as he rolled his eyes. Nothing escaped his notice.
“Not like that. I’m clean and get regular check-ups. I meant from pregnancy.” That rigidity of my shoulders suddenly dropped. The word pregnancy on those lips also didn’t overly shock me. I was team Mason suddenly. The man was now a threat to my sanity and, I realised with a wariness, my heart.
To be honest I had forgotten about it and was glad he’d mentioned it first. The thought of getting pregnant at eighteen was just too horrendous to think about.
“Yes, I was thinking about that last night,” I whispered back, my eyes locked on that perfect face. It was such an odd feeling, waking up with this man who had once been my enemy.
The question on everyone’s lips, was… what was he now? My boyfriend, my lover? An occasional shag. I deleted the last one from my memory as that was the lowest and seediest of the trio.
Mason was talking again, or should I say instructing; his favourite pastime.
“I’m annoyed with myself as it was irresponsible and I don’t take things like that lightly. It won’t happen again, I guess I just lost it. You need to go to the chemist, Amy. And how do you feel about possibly going on the pill?”
My eyes narrowed; I didn’t see what the problem was really. All my friends took it and were fine. Sex was also way better without a condom; I knew that now. In spades.
“I’m fine with that.”
Mason smiled, “You’re very accommodating all of a sudden.”
My nose wrinkled as I grinned back, “It must be the magic you work.” He was right, I now appeared to be under my nemesis’s thumb.
He arched an eyebrow, “The magic of my cock you mean.”
“Something like that.”
“The sex was good, Amy, considering you’re a newbie. And now I’ve done it without using anything, I don’t think I could go back. Being so close to you, feeling your skin against mine was unbelievable. I’m surprised I lasted as long as I did.”
I laughed shyly and then Mason started kissing me. My whole body ticking again, like a timebomb of pleasure .
“I suppose I should also ask for the morning-after pill,” I muttered. I’d been with Betty to the chemist for that one time when the condom broke on her and James one night.
Mason gave me a lasting, lingering look, “If you’re happy with that?”
I nodded; it was the best way. I’d also speak to the pharmacist about the pill.
Mason then played tenderly with my breasts and stroked my stomach and we kissed, but we didn’t have sex again. I was partly relieved as he was right. I was sore. My body felt delicate everywhere.
Mason studied me for a long moment before he said, “So, I wanted to talk to you about Mabel.”
My stomach dipped as feelings of regret trickled in. Great. Now the mood was about to be ruined as he chewed me out about past mistakes. I braced myself.
Deciding to beat him to it, I said, “I know and I’m so sorry. I never said it, but I am.”
His forehead scrunched, “We were all sorry but I don’t get why you appear to think it was your fault. You said something at Kipling’s that day about how you were responsible for her death.”
My mind raced as I drew in each word. My expression must have revealed my confusion.
“I don’t understand. Her foot stumbled. I was riding her without due care.”
He exhaled as if he was striving to be patient, “She had suspected laminitis, Amy. That’s why she was destroyed.” His expression was strained.
Shock flooded into my system. She’d had a crippling disease?
A mixture of relief and frustration pooled in me as I thought about all those wasted years thinking I was responsible.
“Really?” My voice was hoarse.
“Yes. I can’t believe you’ve thought for all these years that we put her down because of you. That’s crazy. We hadn’t had the results back which was partly the reason I was so pissed that you’d taken her. She also wasn’t fully broken. I hadn’t had enough time with her.”
A surge of respite kicked in and tears hit my eyes. The news made my chest feel lighter somehow. Like a burden had been lifted .
“Don’t go fucking crying on me, Amy. I can’t stand to see you cry,” Mason whispered, running his thumb across one wet cheek as we faced each other in my bed.
I was just so happy; they were more like tears of joy. They soon evaporated with what went down next.
BANG! The door downstairs slammed. Shit! Someone was home. I tramped down that swell of irritation and I made my move.
It would have been comical under any other circumstances, as we both flung off the covers, searching for Mason’s joggers and top.
I so hoped it wasn’t my younger sister. Chrissy usually just barged in.
Mason dressed with lightning speed. Thank fuck he’d walked over last night and his truck wasn’t there. This brought my thoughts to my car and what we had done on it and the pulse in my neck fluttered like the feathers of a wild bird.
I pulled on designer skinny jeans with rips in and a tee. I quickly brushed my hair.
We both waited in my room for the sounds to increase and reveal who had come in but it was strangely quiet.
Mason and I moved out onto the corridor and toward the large curving staircase. Sounds were coming from the kitchen. Drat, you had to walk past the kitchen to get through the front door.
They’d all probably find out eventually, but did I want them to know just yet, absolutely not. I wasn’t ready for those difficult questions yet. Everything was too new.
The thought of going out the window vanished quickly when I popped my head out and saw the drop. That was a neck-breaking opportunity right there.
Mason and I whispered suggestions before his mouth broke out into a massive smile and his shoulders started to shake.
“I feel like I’m on a residential trip with school trying to sneak into the girl’s dorms,” he whispered. I grinned. I could so imagine him doing that. Mason had been charming girls since the strike of puberty.
Having told Jenna, a thought suddenly occurred to me, “Why are we sneaking, it’s Nixon. Don’t you tell him everything? That’s what you said at the barn that day when you told him you’d… well, you know,” I struggled to say the words, they felt too coarse in my mouth.
“Fingered you,” Mason supplied with raised eyebrows.
I nodded my yes.
“I was fucking with you, Amy. I really don’t kiss and tell and especially not to my brothers. Boyd can’t keep his mouth shut to save his life and Nixon has no interest in anything that isn’t Jenna shaped. He probably just thought I was just messing with you.”
So, his brothers didn’t know about us. At least, not from the horse’s mouth so to speak. Whatever they thought was going on would be a guess. Although it was still obvious something was going off. Especially that day at the beach when Boyd had caught us. I felt a bit guilty that I’d let the cat out of the bag to Jenna. Maybe I could back-peddle and say I was winding her up. But then I’d be lying to my sister, something I had never done, not really. Bend the truth here and there of course but blatant lies, no way.
As we stood at the top of the stairs waiting for the best moment to make a run for it, my sister Jenna left the kitchen and walked out into the lobby.
“We’re not having this conversation again Jenna, I’ve said no and that’s my final answer. It’s not happening,” Nixon’s voice still grated on me. Yes, Mason was also controlling, but Nix’s voice was like a force to be reckoned with. Each word was like a direct order. You could so tell he was in the army.
I shot Mason a disgusted look and he held out his palms as if to say, who gives a shit.
“But I can’t keep doing this Nixon. You’re smoothing me again. I need to have my own voice. Make some decisions about stuff,” Jenna said, her sweet voice so light and airy compared to the deep rattle that came from her husband’s mouth.
“It isn’t my intentioned to smoother you, but you know what the doctor said. Nothing strenuous. You need to take it easy. And carting boxes around in a shop isn’t taking it easy.”
What was I hearing? Whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Jenna was seeing the doctor? I couldn’t stop myself and I pushed up from my hiding place and moved to take the stairs. Mason grabbed my arm, shooting me daggers. A look that screamed where do you think you’re going.
I pulled my arm back and said in his ear, “I’ll go down and take them into the kitchen, distract them and then you can leave. OK?”
He thought about the plan before nodding and released me but not before he planted a quick kiss on my lips.
I cleared my throat and started down the stairs loudly , so they’d hear me coming.
They were both standing by the front door. Face to face. Jenna was exceptionally pale and panic raced in me. Doctor? What the hell was she not telling me?
They both turned to face me as I strolled down the stairs, wearing surprised expressions.
“I take it you’re here to collect some more stuff?” I said in a sweet voice. I knew I needed to be more accommodating to Nixon. Being a bitch to him didn’t appeal as much now I was sleeping with his brother.
Jenna’s mouth dropped open and her eyes roamed over me like she was seeing me for the first time. OMG, was that sex glow I read about, an actual thing? I swallowed and attempted to appear as normal as possible.
Why did I suddenly feel so guilty that Mason was upstairs when it appeared Jenna was also hiding something?
Nixon’s face was a mask of cool.
“Everything OK?” I breezed as I came to stand beside them. Jenna’s eyes flashed between Nixon and I. Like a rabbit in the headlight scenario. What had they been discussing?
“It was,” Nixon grunted. He didn’t even attempt to hide the contempt in his voice. Would the guy ever let it go? Surely, he should try offering the olive branch for a change. He was older and therefore shouldn’t he have been more mature?
I decided to go for the gut. I didn’t need to pretend I’d not heard about the doctor’s comment.
My eyes narrowed up at Nixon who was wearing a blank expression. The guy was all over the poker face thing as usual .
“I heard you say something about the doctor, is one of you sick? If so, don’t come near me because I so don’t want any summer lurgy thank you.” I decided to play it cool.
I saw Jenna tense out of the corner of my eye.
Nixon pinned me with a look and I dropped the charade, needing to know what was wrong. “Look, I heard you say you’ve been to the doctor Jen and it worries me. Are you OK?”
Jenna glanced at Nixon before starting to chew her bottom lip.
“It really isn’t any of your business, Amy. Jenna is fine, she’s been for a check-up. That’s all you need to know,” Nixon deflected calmly. My God the boy was good a hiding shit. No wonder he’d joined the army where it was all about secrets and deceit. I hated cloak-and-dagger shit and was always honest, well, most of the time. Maybe sometimes I was a little too honest. Especially in how vocal I’d been about these two in the past.
I was suddenly very aware that Mason was still hiding upstairs and that my mission was to get them out of the hallway and away and into the kitchen.
“OK, well that’s good to hear. Anyone want a brew?” I offered and set off for the kettle, hoping they’d follow me. And they did which surprised me.
Walking over to the kettle, I filled it with water and then set it on the side. Turning to face them. Jenna had moved to sit in her favourite seat at the kitchen table and Nixon was leaning against the fridge with his arms folded.
He wore the tightest of tops, you could see every muscular bump on his chest, pecs and abs, everything. God, the boy was more stacked than Mason.
I nodded my head toward his body, “Nice top, didn’t they have one that fits?” I teased to lighten the tone. This caused Jenna to grin which was a shock, she usually hated it when I bated her beloved.
“Funny, looks like you need new jeans, those are ripped to fuck,” Nixon volleyed back. This time there was a glint in his eye like I’d managed to amuse him. Well, this was new.
I shrugged my shoulders and started to make coffee, saying over my shoulder. “I don’t think the day will ever come when I ask you for fashion tips Nix. ”
Nixon joined Jenna at the table and I tried not to throw up at how touchy-feely they were. I saw a flash of Mason as he left the house and my anxiety levels reduced dramatically.
I decided to shelve my brattishness.
Once I’d made coffee, I joined my sister and annoying brother-in-law at the table and we had a normal conversation. Mainly about Nixon’s decision to leave the army and what his intentions were at the farm. He said he intended to build a house for himself and Jenna to live in, so he’d still be near the family but they would have their own privacy. Mitchell’s name came up a couple of times with Nixon saying how he’d need wrap-around care eventually.
As for the house he spoke about, I thought it a great idea as then Jen would still be close to home.
What nobody did mention, however, the old elephant in the room shit was what everyone thought would happen when our parents came home.
Hopefully they’d come around. Nixon had over the years. After the fire at their house, Nix had believed my family had been involved and after struggling with severe anger management issues had signed up for the Army. When he’d returned, he’d decided to focus his revenge on Jenna. Use her weakness to make us all pay. Eventually he’d fallen in love with her, or his version of love which I still saw as semi twisted. His beef about the fire had eventually fizzled out.
Now this semi-truce the McKenna kids and the Taylor-Joys had managed to forge, may not be strong enough to withstand hot adult tempers. Although saying that, Mitchell was poorly now. Maybe things would be different.
Would there be fireworks again or could everyone finally move on? I knew I wanted to.
Only time would tell. And what the hell would happen to me and Mason?
The biggest question was, who knew?
When I got back to my room there was a velvet box on my pillow. It was tied with a bow and had obviously been left by Mason. A gift of sorts ?
I pulled the knot and lifted the lid, there tucked inside was an SD card. It was the one Mason had taken the night of the fight. A grin of pleasure spread over my face. He’d given it back.
Moving over to one of my DSLR cameras, I slipped it inside and checked the pictures. Every single one of them was on there. The images of the fight, Mason looking amazing, his hard sweaty body highlighted in the ring by the glow from the barrel fires. He hadn’t erased a thing and excitement thrummed through me.
I spent part of the day down in the darkroom but with the lights on, I had a laptop in there where I could view electronic shots.
I entered the SD card and started to view my past work. I’d forgotten what else was on that card, it was one that I didn’t use that often.
As I flicked through a variety of images, a selection of buildings came on screen and I remembered the pictures I’d taken of a fire in the building next to Crawley’s Butchers last year. Luckily it had been vacant at the time.
I was in the area and so it was pure luck really. I’d been taking pictures of a local street picket which had come up on the back of the Indian farmers' protest.
My eyes narrowed as I clicked through the pictures. Some of the firemen were in the shots, I particularly remember Betty favouring a picture due to one huge hunky firefighter who looked like he belonged more on the pages of a magazine than fighting a fire.
As I scanned the pictures, I noticed Jonathan Proctor standing in the crowd of one of the shots. Probably rubbernecking with that other sea of other faces.
Carrying on through the other pictures there was one of me on there. It had been taken by Betty. I hated my picture being taken, ironic really, considering how much I loved photography. I enlarged the image.
It had been taken when I was unaware. The shot wasn’t posed. I was sat on my porch with my hair blowing in all directions, no make up on, laughing away from the camera. My shoulders were bare.
I remember Betty had been winding me up and trying to get me to pose .
The shot was quite appealing, my eyes glancing past the camera, almost like I had seen something or someone that made me happy. I looked content almost. I couldn’t recall the rest of that day.
My head was suddenly a tired jumble, having not had much sleep the night before and I moved away, leaving the shots out on the table.
I saved a superb image of Mason in the ring, shirtless and sweaty as my laptop screen saver. I’d check the rest of the photos out later.
I left the darkroom with a huge grin on my face.