Chapter Thirteen
Paul entered the hospital room and watched the little girl. Her arm and leg were encased in casts, and he knew she had a mild concussion. There was a bandage wrapped around her head. She looked so peaceful and silent as she rested. Anger washed through him as he thought about the monster who had done this to her. He wished that he were alive, so that he could wrap his fingers around that son of a bitch’s neck. Anyone who could do this to a child had no soul.
He gently touched her face and Tina shivered. As a Watcher, Paul had seen much pain and suffering. He watched helplessly as his wife opened the door to find his fire chief on the other side instead of him on the night of their anniversary to tell her about the accident. He felt her devastation and wanted to take her in his arms, but he couldn’t. The miserable nights she spent crying while he could do nothing, made him curse fate’s cruelty.
Then there were the women beaten by their husbands or boyfriends, teenagers strung out on drugs, parents abandoning their children, and mothers who cried themselves to sleep because they didn’t know where the next meal would come from to feed their children.
Paul knew the big guy had a plan, and he had no business questioning his boss’ will, but he couldn’t help but wonder why there was so much suffering in the world. He thought he would have the answers when he crossed over, but he still didn’t.
What devastated him the most was to see the suffering of children. Tina had been through so much, and she deserved some happiness. Paul realized that because of the considerable trauma she had been through, it wouldn’t be a good idea to drag her into the middle of Mason’s problems. They would try to find another way to bring down Rodney, but unfortunately, she was already involved.
Paul closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was inside Tina’s mind. There she was, in a dark corner, holding her knees to her chest, weeping silently to herself. He approached her with silent steps before kneeling next to her.
“Tina, don’t cry, sweetheart, everything will be okay.” He touched her hair in a soothing gesture.
Tina looked at him, her hazel eyes filled with fear. She opened her mouth and let out a silent scream, rolling herself into a protective ball.
“Please don’t be afraid of me, Tina. I’m your friend. I want to help you.”
The little girl didn’t respond as she rocked herself back and forth.
“I know you don’t want to talk and that’s understandable, but I would like to talk to you, okay?” he asked gently.
Still no response.
Paul sighed. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy. He sat down beside her.
“Sweetheart, I know you’re frightened, and you don’t understand why this has happened to you, but I want you to know that you have a friend. I will do everything I can to make sure the bad man doesn’t hurt you again.”
She looked at him then. Tina opened her mouth as though to say something but didn’t.
“Do you remember when I helped you out of the house? I said I wouldn’t leave you if you needed me.”
There was recognition in her eyes then. “You helped me,” she said slowly.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it wasn’t your time.”
“Oh.”
“Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you?”
She shook her head.
“I want you to get better, so you can grow strong. One day, when you get to be old, we’d see each other again in heaven.”
“Daddy said there’s no heaven,” Tina said, eyeing him suspiciously.
Paul gently patted her cheek and this time she didn’t flinch. “Your father was a very troubled man, sweetie. I can assure you that there is a heaven. I live there.”
“Is my mama there?”
“Yes.” Jessica Reed, although not a Watcher, was indeed in heaven and said a little prayer for her daughter every day.
“She is?” Tina asked with wide eyes.
“Yes, and she’s very proud of you. You look just like her, you know.”
“Mama was so pretty. Daddy said….” Her voice trailed off.
“I can imagine what your Daddy said, but he was wrong.”
“MomMom and PopPop are in heaven now, aren’t they?” she asked with a solemn expression.
She was referring to the Thornton’s. Damn Rodney. This child suffered too much loss for one so young. He was more than happy to reassure her that they, too, survived the fire.
“Will I live with them again? They were nice.”
“I don’t know, sweetheart. Without their house, they might not be able to take care of you anymore.”
“I’m all alone now.” Tina burst into tears and Paul felt such an acute pain in his soul that it almost felt like he was alive again. He took the sobbing child into his arms.
“Shh, shh. It’s okay, sweetie. Uncle Paul is here and he won’t leave you alone.”
He stroked her head and rocked her back and forth in his arms. At times like this, he wished he were alive again so that there was more that he could do. If he could, he would go back in time and find a way for Rodney to stay away from the police force then Damon might be alive and Tina would be okay.
No, he thought, chiding himself, maybe if Tina had been left alone, she would still be in an abusive home and perhaps her father would have eventually turned the gun on her.
There was really no point in wondering about the what-ifs. He had to trust that everything really did happen for a reason.
When she finally stopped crying, she looked at him.
“I’m scared of the bad man.”
“I know you are, sweetie, but I have a friend who will make sure that the bad man won’t hurt you anymore. I just want you to know that when you wake up, even if you can’t see me, you will never be alone.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
* * * * *
When they said goodbye that Saturday morning his heart felt like it was breaking. He couldn’t stand not being around her, so Mason called her and asked if she could drop the kids off somewhere for a couple of hours. He said it was important for her to come over to his place because he needed to show her something. He wouldn’t say what, but it sounded serious, so she had gone.
“I’m here. What was it you wanted to show me?” Brandi walked into his house.
Mason pulled her against him and brought his mouth down on hers. He cupped the back of her head to kiss her more deeply. His tongue slid between her slightly parted lips and explored the warm, wet cavern.
Brandi moaned into his mouth before wrapping her arms around him as she pressed her body against him, molding her tiny frame to his. She returned his kiss eagerly, her tongue darting forward to meet his.
The scent of her floral perfume was playing havoc with his senses and her lips tasted of peach lip-gloss. He pulled back slightly to trace them with his tongue and then repeated the process because he couldn’t help himself. Brandi shivered with obvious pleasure. “You taste delicious as always,” he said, grinning down at her.
“So what was the emergency?”
“I needed a kiss.”
Her jaw dropped. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I never kid about needing a kiss. Wasn’t that kiss worth the trip?”
“Mason, as wonderful as your kisses are, that was a dirty trick you pulled. It’s a school night and my sister reamed me out for dropping the twins off with such short notice and not telling her where I was going. Here I was thinking something was terribly wrong, but you called me because you wanted a kiss?” She placed her hands on her hips, glaring up at him.
“Never underestimate the power of a kiss.”
“We would have seen each other next weekend. You could have had all the kisses you wanted then.”
“I couldn’t wait until next weekend. Besides, this was an emergency. My cock has been hard as a rock from just thinking about you all day. If I don’t get some relief, I may get blue balls. I thought you were a woman of compassion. Blue balls are a serious medical condition, you know.” He tried very hard to keep a straight face.
“You have got some nerve, do you know that, mister?” Although the tone of her voice was stern, Mason saw the hint of a little smile growing on her face.
“But why shouldn’t I have called you when you’re the cause? Can you imagine what it’s like to walk around all day with aching nuts? My pants were rubbing against me all day and I had to walk with my hands in front of me. Some little old lady called me a pervert at lunch today as I was standing in line at a fast food place. My erection was so huge I had to leave the damn place.”
Brandi burst out laughing.
“You think this is funny?”
“Oh, my, that does sound like you have a problem.”
“I didn’t realize that my dilemma would be a source of amusement.”
“You nut! I can’t believe you called me over here for this. You know I can’t stay. I told Lisa that I would be a couple hours at the most.”
“Just enough time for a quickie. Besides, you should see what I wanted to show you.” He quickly unfastened his pants and slid them down over his hips and kicked them away. Then he quickly discarded his boxers and freed himself. His cock ached so badly that if he didn’t get some of her pussy soon, he would explode.
“It’s so hard. Poor thing. I guess I could take care of that for you.” She ran her fingers lightly over the head. His breath caught in his throat.
“You little tease. I’ll teach you what happens when you torture me like this.”
She let out a shriek as he lifted her into his arm and carried her up the stairs, taking them two at a time. When they reached the bedroom, Mason dropped her unceremoniously on the bed and ripped his shirt off. He was ready and eager.
“You have no idea how much I’ve wanted you all day,” he said before falling on top her.
“I can, because I was thinking about you today, too,” she confessed, then wrapped her arms around him.
His mouth merged with hers and their tongues met passionately, circling and entwining with the others. She tasted like heaven. Her sweet warm breath mingled with his as she sighed into his mouth. He cupped her face to thrust his tongue further into her mouth. He couldn’t get enough of her. The sensual feel of her fingertips gliding up and down the back of his neck was making him delirious with desire.
Mason didn’t think he would ever get tired of kissing Brandi. Every kiss always felt like the first. He wished this moment could last forever. “God, you taste sweet,” he muttered against her mouth.
“And you taste yummy, too.” She smiled up at him.
“Why are we talking? I want that scrumptious pussy of yours. Help me get you undressed, otherwise, I can’t guarantee what state your clothes will be in when I get finished with them.”
She chuckled softly, raising herself up slightly.
The feel of her clothes rubbing against his heated skin only served to arouse him more. He got up on his knees and unbuttoned her slacks. Meanwhile, her fingers went to her top.
Mason made quick order of pulling her pants off and Brandi worked quickly on her blouse, removing it to reveal her small, but perfectly formed dark-chocolate mounds. His mouth watered just looking at her. He was torn between sliding his cock between her thighs and taking one hard pointed nipple into his mouth. In the end, he decided he wanted both.
Mason grabbed her and rolled onto his back so that she was straddling his thighs. “Ride me, baby.”
Brandi gave him a seductive smile as she climbed over him. They both gasped as she impaled herself on his cock. The delicious sensation of their joining made Mason shudder with a savage desire.
“Oh, God, Mason, your cock feels so good.” She began to move over him, her breast jiggling as she rocked on him.
He fondled her breasts, squeezing and shaping them with his hands. Brandi arched her back, pushing her breasts forward into his palms. Her cunt was so small and tight around him, made just for his cock.
“Lean forward, baby, and let me taste those nipples you’ve been tempting me with.”
She complied, leaning forward just enough that the hardened peaks of her breasts touched his face. He rubbed his face against the taut mounds, reveling in the feeling of her soft skin against his.
“I love your beautiful dark skin. It was one of the first things I noticed about you,” he murmured, before capturing a hard tip in his mouth.
Brandi shuddered against him, going still momentarily, before she moved up and down on his dick again. “That’s it, baby, don’t stop riding me,” Mason said as his tongue flicked her nipple. He took it into his mouth again, and this time he sucked on it with the ferocity of someone who had been denied for a long time.
“Mason, I don’t know if I can take it if you keep this up,” she whispered urgently.
His teeth nipped the tiny bud and she gasped. “Yes, you can. You’re a passionate woman, Brandi, and you can take anything I can give you. That’s why when we make love it’s explosive. I know you like this because your pussy is dripping. I like that.” He turned his attention to the other nipple, licking and bathing it with his tongue. “Delicious.”
He knew she was enjoying this by the little gasping sounds she made. Brandi had always been a vocal lover, never one to hold back when she was enjoying something. It was one of the things he loved about her.
“Your tongue is magic,” Brandi said between gasps.
“As magical as my cock?”
“Nothing compares with your cock, but I think you need to be taught a lesson about teasing.” She kissed his neck, sucking on his flesh.
“Are you trying to leave a hickey?”
“And what if I am?”
“Just checking.” Actually the thought of her mark of possession against his flesh sent a shudder through his body.
Brandi’s tongue circled the spot where she sucked and then moved to another part of his neck, repeating the process. She was driving him crazy with each brush of her lips and flick of her tongue. She did all this while still moving on his cock. Her pussy muscles tightened around his dick and he cried out in pleasure.
“Oh, God, Brandi!” He knew she had done it on purpose.
Her muscles clenched around him again and he knew she was close to coming.
Mason was finding it increasingly difficult to hold on. Her pussy felt so damn good. Brandi straightened up and he grabbed her hips as she bounced up and down on his cock more forcefully. She threw her head back, exposing the delicate arch of her neck. He wanted to kiss that lovely neck, but he knew there would be time for that later. Sweat glistened on her dark body and she looked like a goddess, riding him with a wild look of ecstasy on her face.
Mason was too close to his climax to do anything except surrender to the wave of passion that Brandi was taking him on. His pulse raced, and his body tightened. The smell of their mingled sex filled the room. Her muscles clenched around his cock each time she ground her hips on him. She licked her lips in a seductive gesture, her dark eyes connecting with his. “Your cock is so deep inside of me,” she moaned. “I’m glad you called me over.”
“Me, too. Oh—” Mason was abruptly cut off by a jolt of pleasure so powerful that he jerked and shook. He shot his seed inside of her juicy cunt, grabbing her hips to get deeper.
“Mason, Mason, Mason!” she screamed. Her body shook, too. Brandi collapsed against him, her face buried in his neck. His cock was still firmly planted inside her. She panted against his neck, clearly as out of breath as he was.
He petted the damp hair plastered to her head.
“That was wonderful,” she sighed.
“Now can you see why I called you over?” he teased.
She gave him a kiss on the neck before lifting her head to look at him.
“Well, I guess if you had this type of emergency, I’m flattered that I was the one you called.”
“Who else would I call but you? I don’t know anyone’s whose pussy is as good, tight, or as wet as yours. It was a no brainer.”
“Hmm, you don’t have any other girlfriends that I don’t know about, do you? I don’t share, you know.”
“No. Only you.” Mason was secretly pleased at this sudden display of jealousy. It gave him hope that perhaps it wouldn’t be long before she admitted that she loved him. He knew it would take some time but if she were feeling a little possessive toward him, then it had to be a positive sign.
“You had better hope so, mister, because I don’t like cheaters.”
“I would never cheat on you, darling.”
“Have you ever cheated on someone before?”
Mason paused. Oh, dear Lord. What was he supposed to tell her? Technically he had never cheated on anyone, but the old Mason’s past was now his.
“Our pasts don’t matter now that we’re together. You have my solemn vow that I would never do that to you. You mean a lot to me, Brandi.”
“Mason—”
“Please don’t say it. I know you don’t feel for me the way I do for you yet, but I want you to trust me when I tell you how much you mean to me. I told you in the beginning that I wouldn’t push you, but please respect me enough to believe that I’m telling you the truth.”
A look of hesitation crossed her face. She searched his.
Mason didn’t realize he was holding his breath until she spoke again. “I trust you.” She bent down and brushed her lips against his. His heart raced with love for her. In a sudden movement, he rolled over, reversing their positions. His cock was still inside her and getting harder by the second.
“You’re ready again?” She seemed amazed.
“You shouldn’t be surprised by now. You know what you do to me, sweetheart. I can’t get enough of you.”
“But I’m going to have to leave soon. My sister is going to be furious with me.”
Mason eased himself into her.
“Okay, maybe a few more minutes.”