Fifteen
“What the fuck are you doing?” Mason’s voice struck behind me like a crack of thunder.
Martin’s eyes widened, “What me?”
“No not you . You were just about to leave,” Mason informed him, his voice firm and hostile.
I watched as Martin literally jumped to it; I’d never seen a boy move as fast.
“Right, of course. Yes, that’s what I was doing. Bye Amy,” he stuttered with a nod, his beer sloshing as he trotted away.
Pursing my lips, I turned slowly, my head snapping back to see Mason standing there all tall and imposing, his face was in semi-darkness as the sun was at his back, but I didn’t need to see his expression to know he was pissed off.
Really? Well so was I! Fucking double standards. How dare he scare off the boy I was talking to like a possessive boyfriend?
Although a piece of me was appalled by that unspoken stamp of ownership, satisfaction still rolled through me that he was there. He said the fair wasn’t his scene, so the only reason he had turned up was for me. I savoured that thought.
Mason moodily folded his arms over his chest. He wore jeans and a white tank top and looked fricking incredible . His scent entered my nostrils and my pulse skipped a beat. God, how I fancied this man.
I attempted to shift my body into a more attractive position. His eyes narrowed at the movement.
Mason cocked his head to one side, “Do I need to repeat myself Amy?” he drawled, that throaty noise causing a frisson to snake along my spine. Warmth filled my veins.
“What did it look like I’m doing? Talking and drinking,” I replied abruptly, flicking my hair back over my shoulders.
“Talking and drinking with whom ?”
Jealous-man-syndrome bounced off him in waves. I wasn’t stupid, it was written along every angry crease on his face. The thought of Mason feeling jealous of me talking to another boy was a welcomed one. And I had behaved quite flirty with Martin.
I frowned at the man that I’d allowed to own me for the last few weeks. I would not weaken and let him destroy me all over again.
“He’s an old school friend. Not that it’s any of your business.” Anticipation surged into my chest at the thought of how he’d take my response. If he thought for one minute that I was about to bend over and take it, he could do one. Mason McKenna was not the boss of me.
Chrissy and Betty shuffled to their feet as they watched the drama.
“Hey you two, call a truce. No fighting at the fair,” Betty chimed with a saucy look. She was already quite tipsy. Chrissy just stood there, staring at me with a knowing glint in her eye. I decided against trying to decipher that one. Maybe Jenna had said something to her about Mason and I? Blabbermouth.
“Oh, I haven’t even started yet,” Mason rudely interrupted.
I opened my mouth, but my words were just vapour. Our eyes were tangled, and that angry promise in his tone forced a wave of excitement to crash through my abdomen. I know fighting shouldn’t have been considered a good thing between us, but it was so much better than being ignored. I hated the silence.
Betty and Chrissy shared a glance before stating, “Don’t let us stop you then. Sounds like you two have things to say,” Betty remarked with a tight smile.
Mason shot her a sideways glance before twisting his head back toward me, “I couldn’t agree more.” And without another word, he took me by the wrist, his long fingers curling around my skin. I dropped the rest of my beer, and it fell to the ground, the liquid splashing up my legs. He swore as some hit the bottom of his jeans before turning on his heel and pulling me behind him like a rag doll.
“Mason,” I panted, trying to pull away but his grip tightened and he started to drag me through the crowd, causing all sorts of attention. I was about to get my arse chewed off that much was apparent.
OMG! What would people think? Mason McKenna was manhandling me through the fair. I was usually all about being the centre of attention but not right then .
Suddenly Alex stepped out in front of us, “What’s going on? Are you OK Amy?” he questioned; his face drawn into a puzzled yet accusatory expression.
“I’m fine Alex,” I assured him in a breathless voice as I drew level beside Mason. It wasn’t a complete lie.
Mattie wasn’t with him and his position had forced Mason to stop. I swayed on my feet, suddenly feeling unsteady and tugged against the manacle almost crushing my bones. Mason tugged me in front of him, my back against his chest. He was no doubt glaring the death sentence down at Alex over my shoulder.
Alex stood his ground, “I think you should let her go until you calm down Mason,” he suggested in a reasoning voice.
Mason inhaled slowly, the hardness of his chest swelling behind me. He’d released my wrist and now his hands were on my hips like he was branding me his, marking his territory.
“I suggest you go back to your girlfriend and stay out of it,” Mason barked, no stranger to violence.
A flicker of panic ran through me.
“I’m just saying that you need to calm down,” Alex said again.
I heard the whistle of Mason’s breath as it rushed through his clenched teeth and he moved me to the side, squaring up against the smaller man.
Alex didn’t like that and surprisingly, he made a move, surging forward. People jostled past us and a jet of fear shot into me at the thought of Alex attempting to hit Mason again. He wouldn’t get away with it twice.
My face must have given away my thoughts, but Alex didn’t pay any attention.
This isn’t one of those silly fighting games you play on the Xbox Alex, this is real. Back the hell off. Dread clawed inside me at the thought of a looming scene.
Alex had no chance and my hand covered my mouth, as Mason drew back his arm and hit the other man in the jaw, the punch perfectly placed. Alex stumbled back grabbing his face, but he didn’t fall and I knew that Mason had purposefully pulled his punch. The crack of bone hitting bone was still eye-watering stuff.
“Mason!” I yelled and attempted to go to Alex but Mason grabbed my arm .
“Leave him, I barely grazed him,” Mason said in his defence as he tugged me against his side.
As I was pulled away, I turned to look behind me and saw a couple of girls from the crowd move to help Alex, shock on their faces. The looks on the men around us screamed not getting involved in that thank you and I lurched forward. Mason was so strong there was nothing I could do but follow him.
“I sure hope you’re proud of yourself? I can’t believe you hit Alex, and where are we going?” I shot out breathlessly, almost falling to keep up with his long angry strides.
“We’re going to have a little chat about your friend,” he bit down at me, unleashed fury marking his features. I felt intimidated, not knowing what to expect. Mason McKenna was a law unto himself and could never be second-guessed.
Great. Another little chat, my breasts felt heavy as I thought about that last time, he’d wanted a little chat with me.
As he dragged me along with his bad boy swagger, I struggled to keep up with him. His legs were so much longer than mine and the grim determination in his stride forced me to power on.
The crowd started to become a distant hum as Mason continued to walk me alongside him, his pace purposeful. We eventually came to the style in the fencing which led into a pathway through one of the farms in the area. It was secluded.
Mason’s hands went under my arms and he picked me up like I weighed nothing and dumped me on the other side of the fence, before manoeuvring his strong frame over the style. He then took my arm again.
“You’re going to pull my arm from its socket,” I snapped, trying to twist away from that vice.
“Good,” Mason huffed.
I hooked my chin back toward the fair, “My friends will wonder where I’ve gone.”
“No, they won’t. They know you’re with me.”
We came to a standstill under a large oak tree, it was shaded from the sun and the breeze was gentle, caressing the grass there. Mason positioned me against it, the bark biting into my back. He then placed his large arms on either side of my head, caging me in. The movement both frightened me and turned me on at the same time. A strange concoction.
Mason’s eyes were locked on mine, “So, who was he?”
Snorting, I repeated my words from earlier, “An old school friend, and we were just talking. You didn’t have to go all psycho and hit Alex,” I yelled up at him. His face was so close and his eyes were hooded so I couldn’t gauge his expression.
“Alex will be fine, I lightly tapped him. I can’t have him thinking he can get away with hitting me again now, can I?”
“Well, you could have really hurt him, you don’t know your own strength,”
“Oh, I know my own strength all right. I could have knocked the fucker out if I had wanted to.”
“Well, thank God for small mercies then. I still think you overreacted.”
“And that’s the thing, as you should know by now. I don’t do anything by halves. He was trying to involve himself in business that isn’t his anymore. I would say he’s lucky he isn’t picking up his teeth. No one gets involved in my shit.”
Unable to help myself I shot out, “You’re such an arrogant dick,”
He ignored that, obviously still upset, “So, what have you been up to with the old school friend? The guy who had his hands all over you.”
“OMG, I just said. Talking and he didn’t have his hands all over me.” Well, apart from the tickling thing. As I digested his words, I realised that it may not have looked as innocent from where Mason would have been standing. Oops. Damage control time.
“You were flirting with him like you wanted to drop your knickers in the middle of the fucking fair is more like it.” I didn’t really agree with that but what could I do?
“I remember you threatening me with other guys before,” Mason huffed.
“So, what if I was flirting? What the hell has it got to do with you?” Angry tears were now threatening at the back of my eyes. I didn’t want to fight with him, I wanted his arms around me.
“Did I just hear you correctly? I’ve had my dick inside you for weeks and you speak to me of rights? That’s fucking rich?” A zing went through me at his words. The way he said dick set off an orgy in my stomach. He had such an arresting voice .
Glancing up into his face, I had never felt so uncertain about anything. Mason was severely messing with my head. Why was he acting this way when he was the one who would end things when our parents came home?
I decided to take the bull by the horns, “So, what of it? We’re having sex. It doesn’t mean anything.” Attempting to sound carefree about that was no easy task.
“You’re telling me, it doesn’t mean anything?” Mason exhaled, his nostrils flared and he pushed off the tree and clenched his fists by his sides. I could see he was trying to get hold of his temper. He was outraged, probably the maddest I’d seen him. The thought that I had inspired this display of emotion struck a chord inside me.
He had to care, there was no way this was a saving-face reaction. And who the fuck would he have been saving face for, no one knew about us. Not really. Even Jenna only knew about that one time, not those mind-blowing occasions that followed.
Lord, he was so handsome, even when his face was etched into an expression of extreme wrath. I noticed he had a small cleft in his chin, a detail that I had never noticed before.
I wondered how I could defuse the situation. I was pleased to see him and I didn’t want us to continue wasting that small amount of time together screaming at each other.
“Look, I’m sorry. I was just chatting and having fun, there was nothing in it. I didn’t even know you’d be there. You said it wasn’t your scene,” I pointed out, gesturing with my hands toward him.
Mason rolled his shoulders and then dashed a frustrated hand through his hair. His muscles rippled with the movement. He looked so hot in the tank top and I wanted him so much. It had only been a few days but I’d missed him.
He was staring down that blade of a nose of his, those eyes wandering up and down my body. I wondered if he liked my dress and my body started to tighten with desire as he watched me.
“Take your underwear off,” Mason suddenly instructed in a low voice. I swallowed, nerves suddenly kicking me in my solar plexus. Briefly casting my eyes to and forth.
I loved how Mason ordered me around, it was a huge turn-on.
Inhaling, I looked up at him through my lashes .
“And you can stop it with the girly eyelash-fluttering shit. You don’t need to do that; you’ve hooked me already.”
And I had, I could see that in his longing expression.
That heat from his gaze was making my entire body tingle. My tongue slipped out and ran across my lips automatically, it wasn’t a come-on move, it was a reflex. I stepped toward Mason, keeping eye contact before I slipped my hands under my dress and hooked my fingers into the lace of my knickers. I then pulled them down my legs.
Mason watched me with a smoky look; desire now evident in those dark deep eyes of his. He held out one strong hand and I handed him my underwear which he then shoved into the pocket of his jeans. That scrap of delicate lace peeked out and looked so out of place against the roughness of the denim he wore.
“You’re mine Amy, tell me you get that?” he growled, lowering his head, getting in my face. When I didn’t answer straight away, he grabbed my upper arms. My head snapped further back and a jet of heat shot between my legs. I was such a sucker for the rough stuff. He was so strong and mean looking and I wanted to straddle his body right there.
“Amy,” he repeated, his nostrils flaring like an angry bull.
“Yes, I get you,” I said breathlessly, desire pumping through me.
Mason placed his head against mine and I felt his breath fan my face. It was then that I knew I needed answers.
“So, this sell-by date. My parents are due back in three days. And then does the fairy tale end? You say I’m yours now but that’s not the message you gave me the other day.”
Mason drew back his head, his brow creased, deep groves in his forehead and he released my arms and stepped back.
“What are you talking about? Nothing is fucking ending.”
Shaking my head to clear the cobwebs of my memory I reminded him, “But you said we have a sell-by date, remember? The ham sandwich thing?”
Quirking his head to one side he shot me a pointed look.
“I meant the sneaking about shit has a sell-by date, not us,” he bit out, totally shocked by my words. His hand motioned between our two bodies .
“What?” My voice came out in a croak.
“Us, seeing each other behind people’s backs. That’s what’s got to stop. I’m done fucking hiding. I want to see you whenever I want. No more cloak and dagger shit.”
And BOOM! A rocket went off in my chest. So, I had misunderstood his sell-by-date comment. He meant the sneaking thing. He wanted people to know about us. I still felt slightly frustrated, did all men talk using such a bullshit code?
To be clear, I repeated, “So, you’re saying you want people to know about us?” I questioned, wafting a clump of hair from my eyes. Hope soared into my chest. I refused to allow it to blossom until I heard him say those words. The ones I wanted, needed to hear.
“I really couldn’t give a shit if they know or not, it’s no one’s fucking business what we do. We’re adults, but I won’t be hiding anything from anyone. If your dad has a problem, he can come and see me.” Even through my excitement, his mention of my father was like he’d stuck a pin in me. Shit. I couldn’t begin to imagine my dad’s reaction. And on what level would he know? That we were just fooling around or that we were in a relationship of some kind.
I sniffed, “So, what are we, Mason? Are we boyfriend, girlfriend? What do we tell people?”
“We tell people to mind their own fucking business, we’re together, we don’t need to put a label on it.”
I so wanted that label but accepted that was one to firefight another day, “But we’re exclusive, right? I’m not doing this shit with you if you’re seeing other girls.” I hated how I now sounded like a jealous lover. I was of course but I didn’t want him to know that.
“Of course, we’re fucking exclusive! Hence me being pissed off by you being all over that prick out there,” Mason thundered.
Giddiness erupted in my guts but I still didn’t let it show, “Fine, so we’re exclusive and it’s just us and when my parents come back, we won’t hide. Yes?” I noticed that he hadn’t really answered the boyfriend-girlfriend card but I decided to continue to hold off. Picking your moment was important when dealing with this annoyingly un-straightforward boy .
The fact that he said we were exclusive and would carry on seeing each other was all the news I needed. Joy bounced through me and I wanted to throw myself into his arms.
Before I could say another word, the look we shared was a sure-fired connection, un-snappable. We were now on the same page. Whatever was happening here would carry on until things stepped up a notch or it burnt itself out and I was looking forward to the ride.
Moving toward him, I ran my fingers across his chest between those pectoral muscles which flexed against my hand. It was the same gesture I’d used at the beach that day and it kicked him into action. Actions speak louder than words after all.
“Enough talk,” Mason said, reading my thoughts. He then stepped forward, the huge bulk of his body forcing my much smaller frame back against the tree again. He then lowered himself onto his knees and my heart squeezed. To see him before me in that semi-vulnerable position lit a spark inside me, but before I could get too mushy, he knocked those thoughts straight out of my head.
Mason McKenna was a full-on predator as he shifted on his knees, his fingers drawing up the skirt of my dress exposing my thighs.
Mason parted my legs slightly and moved his head between them, my feet automatically shifted to allow me more balance as he buried his dark head between them.
I gasped as his mouth touched my most intimate area, my fingers curling into his hair as he shifted his hands from the hem of my dress. I inhaled sharply as he parted me with his fingers. Mason’s tongue then licked the core of me and my head fell back against the surface of the tree. He then pushed his free hand under my leg to lift it slightly to allow himself better access to the most intimate part of my body. His fingers were firm against my thigh and I knew he’d leave marks there. But I didn’t care and I lifted my hips toward him.
We had never given each other oral sex before. I had thought about it, and played around with surprising Mason, wanting to kiss him from the thickest part to the tip but I’d always lost confidence .
Those musings were smashed away by the madness Mason was creating between my thighs or should I say magic. His tongue and fingers were everywhere, caressing me, one minute soft and gentle the next more demanding, tasting and touching every swollen part of me.
“Oh yes,” I panted, I so needed that release. Those days of silence had built up such tension inside me and I needed this so badly. I dropped my arms to my sides, my hands now fisted. I wanted him so much I was trembling.
After one more strong surge of his tongue, Mason stood and took my lips in a frenzied wild kiss. I could taste my sweetness in his mouth and my breasts were smashed against his chest.
Mason continued to work on me with his fingers, probing between the folds of my sex whilst strumming that tiny bundle of nerves. His tongue then drove in and out of my mouth, copying the sensation he was creating at the centre of me. Every muscle inside of me was tense.
After one last flick of those strong fingers, I felt myself coming apart. Releasing a gasp of ecstasy as I let go, the strong climax causing me to lightly buck against his hand and I gasped into his mouth.
Every nerve in my body was alive.
The comedown took time, my whole body was shaking and Mason held me in his arms, whispering sexually sweet things into my ear. Saying how he enjoyed touching me and that I was his. He reminded me about that day at the beach and how much he had enjoyed feeling me fall apart, even then when we were enemies. He said he’d originally intended to teach me a lesson but then I’d called his bluff when I hadn’t stopped him. Since then, he had thought about nothing but me.
Once my body had become a little more grounded, Mason took my hand and led me back to the fence, underwear-less. Thankfully there were no dog walkers in the area as the flush on my face must have said it all.
We walked back to the village, Mason explaining how things had gone with the cattle drop and it felt so normal. Like we were a couple, hand in hand, chatting about this and that .
The fair was still in full flow and I could see the Proctor boys at the end of the green setting up the bonfire for tonight’s party. I had so dodged a bullet there.
The knights were out jousting and the crowd was thick.
“Come on, let’s find your friends. Tell them I’m taking you to mine,” Mason said in a raised voice so I could be heard above the chanting from the crowd.
“I’m coming to yours?” I questioned with a grin.
“Absolutely. We have unfinished business.”
We found Betty, Chrissy, and a guy I didn’t recognise. Mattie and Alex were by the tapes which cordoned off the horse show. They were watching the event and were totally oblivious until Mason popped a hand on Betty’s shoulder. They all turned at once. It should have been considered comical as they looked back and forth between us. Mason kept his hand on my lower back like he was possessive of me.
Alex was looking sorry for himself and his jaw was slightly red.
“Apologies for that,” Mason said, sheepishly. A tone which I had never heard him use. Alex just shrugged, nodded, and then shot him a half-smile.
My brother just glared, not at all happy, but before he could comment, Mason put in, “Again, I apologise and it won’t happen again. I’m taking Amy home Mattie, if you don’t mind.”
My brother’s eyes widened in shock that Mason had just asked his permission. His mouth dropped open in a fish-like motion. Mason and Mattie had exchanged fists in the past and so I hoped he accepted the olive branch. He did.
“All right, if you’re OK with that sis?” he replied, flicking a look at Betty.
“I think she’s more than OK with that. Am I right Amy?” she grinned with a suggestive look.
My smile must have said it all and I moved closer toward Mason. He said he didn’t want to hide us anymore, well neither did I.
“I’ll stuff Chrissy into a taxi later, if that’s OK?” Betty said. “James is coming over tonight. We have things to discuss.” Oh, dear, that didn’t sound good.
Drat, so if Chrissy was coming back to the house, I couldn’t stay at Mason’s the whole night.
I nodded. “OK, and Mattie? Are you back tonight? ”
“Alex and I are going to the movies and then I’ll stop at his. Are you OK on your own at the house, with just you and Chrissy? Jenna texted to say Nixon’s back from London.”
His words amused me as he’d never been bothered about me or my sister’s whereabouts before. He was playing the big brother card now that Mason had given him that power. I nodded.
Mason shot me a knowing look.
We said our goodbyes and Mason led me back to his truck. Stopping briefly to speak with Boyd and Seth who were talking to a couple of girls. If they seemed shocked that I was there with Mason and we were holding hands, they didn’t show it.
Mason took me back to his house and stripped off my dress. We made love in his bed at least three times. The first time was rough and wild, frantic, as if he’d been carrying so much built-up frustration and just needed a release, the second time again, passionate and charged and that last time was slow and gentle. Tender. Mason kissed me all over my body and we ended our evening by sharing a bath together.
Mason asked me to stay the night but I said I needed to get home to be with Chrissy and he understood. He then suggested he’d keep me company at mine, but I didn’t think Chrissy wanted us under her nose in our house and so I declined. It was hard but I managed it.
Mason walked me across the fields and through the pool and onto our property. We spoke briefly about Jenna who had settled in well at Lamb Hill. Most of her stuff had been moved across and from the sound of it, Boyd and Seth were making a huge effort this time. Maybe things would be good there after all.
I thought about my sister and Nixon’s relationship. If they could work, why couldn’t Mason and I?
Mason traced my jawline with his fingers before cupping my chin and pulling me close to kiss me. After saying goodnight, I turned on my heel and made my way into the house. It was quite late, much later than I intended on coming home and I felt a stab of guilt. Chrissy had made me a sandwich and had covered it with tinfoil. It was sat on the kitchen counter with a note attached .
Where have you been, young lady? Joke. I hope you had fun. I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow. I want all the details. I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. Yeah right, like I was sharing any of that with my sixteen-year-old sister. No thanks.
I grinned, peeled back the foil, and ate the sandwich like I’d been starving for weeks.
As I made my way up to my room, a thousand delicious thoughts circled my head. Mason made me so happy. It looked like I was losing my heart to my childhood nemesis, and I was thoroughly looking forward to what the future held.