Chapter 13
MASON
Iwoke up around dawn to a hairy snout in my face.
Dog was standing with his front paws on the bed, his nose pressed firmly against my cheek, his back end wagging.
Then I became aware of a warm body lying against mine and an arm slung over my front.
It had been so long since I’d taken anyone to bed that it took a moment for my brain to catch up.
I carefully eased myself out from under Cash’s arm and rose to my feet.
I stooped down to grab last night’s clothes.
Dog headed for the door, anxious to get outside and pee, but I couldn’t stop from turning around to look at Cash as I dressed.
In the faint predawn light, his skin looked pale and ghostly. His hair was a mess, some of it flattened by the pillow and the rest standing up in all different directions at once. His lashes were dark smudges against his cheeks, and his mouth hung open a little as he slept. He was cute as hell.
I let Dog out and fed the kittens, and Cash was still asleep when Dog and I got back. I slipped back into bed beside him, hoping I could at least doze until my alarm went off, but Dog jumped up onto the bed. He wriggle-tornadoed his way toward Cash, and I couldn’t grab him fast enough.
Cash jolted away when Dog launched at his face in a flurry of enthusiastic kisses. “Wha—” He gave a sleepy grin. “Hey, Dog. Good morning.”
Dog wriggled even more frantically.
Cash’s gaze slid to mine, and his grin softened into a warm, shy smile. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” I reached out for his hand and threaded our fingers together.
Cash leaned against me and let out a long breath as Dog finally settled. “Is it time to feed the kittens?”
“I already fed them when I took Dog out.”
“Good.” His eyes slipped closed. “This is nice.”
It was more than nice. If life was nothing but this moment stretched out forever—Cash, a warm bed, a new day, and Dog—it would be perfect.
I leaned over and brushed a kiss to Cash’s lips, and he blinked his eyes open as a slow, lazy smile appeared. I could get addicted to those. I could get addicted to everything about Cash; I was halfway there already.
He squirmed, and a moment later Dog’s claws skittered on the floor as he was deposited off Cash’s side of the bed.
Cash huffed out a silent laugh at Dog’s protesting whine, then linked his hands around the back of my neck and drew me in for another kiss.
He pulled me down over him, opening his legs to make space, and lifted his chin to deepen the kiss.
Heat built slowly but inexorably between us, and Cash began to rock his hips.
“You want to take this further?” I asked against his mouth.
He nipped at my bottom lip. “Yes.”
I kissed him one more time and then rolled to the side and shoved my sleep pants down, kicking them to one side while Cash did the same.
Once we were both naked, I lay on my side and pressed my lips against Cash’s as I reached between us.
I was hard and so was he, as into this as I was.
I wrapped a hand around both of our cocks and started stroking, spreading the precum that had gathered there.
Cash buried his head in the curve of my neck and panted as he thrust up desperately into my grip.
I loved how eager he was, and the added friction had my cock throbbing.
Heat bloomed under my skin, and I knew I wasn’t going to last long, not with Cash’s breath hot against my skin and his body pressed against mine.
But Cash got there first, his body shuddering as he came, hot cum spurting over my fingers.
I couldn’t hold back and followed him seconds later, adding to the mess.
We lay there for a minute, both breathing heavily, before Cash tilted his head back and gazed up at me, wide-eyed. “That was—”
“Yeah,” I said, grinning. “It really was.” I wiped my hand on a corner of the sheet and then I leaned in and kissed him, soft and slow.
He kissed me back, and I could feel the curve of his smile against my mouth.
Yeah, I could definitely get addicted to this. I ignored the tiny voice in my brain that reminded me that I wasn’t here forever and let myself enjoy the moment.
It lasted until I traced a hand down Cash’s side toward his hip.
When I touched a long scar, Cash’s breath hitched.
I pretended not to notice, kept moving my hand until it was resting on his hip and kept kissing him until he relaxed against me.
When we broke apart, though, Cash gave me a rueful smile and said, “I need a shower,” and I knew our peaceful bubble had burst, for now at least.
I just wished it had lasted a little longer.
I plastered a smile on my face and said, “Sure thing.”
Cash got out of bed and started in the direction of the bathroom. His movements were cautious and I wondered if last night had been too much for him, but before I could ask, he caught my gaze and said, “I’m fine.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he said. And before I could ask if he was sure, he gave me a crooked grin and said, “You’re not that big.”
And then he disappeared out the door laughing, reminding me that underneath his shy exterior, Cash was kind of a smart-ass.
I liked it.
Cash and I were busy trying to get the kittens to take some solid food when my phone started to ring.
I set the kitten I was holding down and pulled it out of my pocket just in case it was a callout, but when I saw my mom’s name flash across the screen, I ignored the call.
It eventually stopped ringing, only to start again moments later.
Cash shot me a curious look, and I shrugged. “She’ll call back.”
But when it started to ring a third time, I groaned and gave in. Might as well get this over with. I debated taking the call outside, but we needed all hands on deck for the feeding, so I hit the speaker button. “Hey, Mom. You’re on speaker.”
“Are you back from Goose Hole yet?”
Fine, thanks. Miss you too.
“It’s Goose Run. And I’m here until Uncle Jim gets back from his vacation, you know that.”
My mom gave an annoyed huff, as if this was the first she’d heard of it. “Well, I need you here to help me with something. Can’t you just close the shop for a few days?”
The warm sense of contentment I’d been carrying around inside me since this morning drained away, and I counted to three and prayed for patience before I answered.
“It’s a vet practice, Mom, and no. I can’t.
It doesn’t work like that.” Then, already knowing I’d regret it, I asked, “What did you need me for?”
“I need you to help me move the good furniture into a storage unit before your father comes and collects it.”
“What? You want me to close Uncle Jim’s business so I can help you move furniture? Mom, just hire someone!” I snapped.
Cash ducked his head at my harsh tone and curled in on himself. I wasn’t sure he even knew he was doing it.
I took a deep breath and counted to three again, and when I spoke I made sure my tone was even. “Mom, I can’t leave.”
My mother sighed dramatically. “I sometimes wonder why we bothered having you,” she said.
I didn’t even flinch at that—it wasn’t the first time she’d said something similar, and it had lost most of its sting by this point.
I knew that I was a disappointment, okay?
I didn’t need her to rub it in. But I’d annoyed her and she was trying to get a rise out of me in return.
I’d seen it in action in my parents’ marriage for as long as I could remember—Mom sent out increasingly sharp barbs, and I ignored them, just like my father did.
The difference was, I didn’t flirt with her old sorority sister weeks later for revenge.
Mom wasn’t dissuaded by my lack of reaction. She never was. “I mean, what good are you? First, you won’t get your real estate license, and now you won’t even take the time to move a few little items for me. You really are your father’s son—completely useless.”
Okay, so that one was a hit. “Mom—”
But she’d already ended the call.
When I glanced up, Cash’s mouth was pinched in a thin line, and he was scowling at the phone with an expression that reminded me of his twin.
“She shouldn’t say that,” he whispered fiercely.
I took a breath. “They’re getting a divorce,” I said. “Mom’s not taking it well—well, neither of them are—and she’s mad I won’t take sides. She doesn’t mean it.”
Or maybe she did; I didn’t know, and I wasn’t sure I even cared.
Cash’s scowl deepened. “That doesn’t matter. Your parents are meant to love you, no matter what.”
And suddenly, I knew he wasn’t just talking about me.
I set the kitten I’d been holding back in the carrier and held my arms wide.
Cash put his own kitten down, swallowing thickly, and then pressed his face into the crook of my neck as his arms wrapped around me.
I wasn’t sure who was comforting who right now and it didn’t really matter.
It had been too long since anyone had cared enough to hold me like this—my own parents included.
My eyes burned, and a wet sound escaped me. Cash’s grip tightened, and he hugged me silently until I got myself under control. It took longer than I liked to admit. When I finally let out a long, shuddering breath, he lifted his head from my shoulder and gazed at me intently.
“Sorry,” I said. “I thought I was past letting them get a reaction out of me, but I guess not.”
He paused in the way he did when his words were acting slippery, and I waited. When he finally spoke, his voice was hesitant. “Chase always says our folks were methed up. Like it’s a joke. But it’s not, not really.”
My heart clenched at the words that said so little and yet, at the same time, said everything.
I’d seen the scars—literally. And I wanted to say something, to tell him he didn’t deserve whatever had happened to him and his brother growing up that had made him too afraid to even open his mouth, but for once I was the one who couldn’t summon up the words.