Chapter 1 – Mason
MASON
Waking up with Everly’s warm, almost naked body curled around me in my bed has got to be the best Christmas present I have ever received.
I wasn’t sure she wanted me the way I’ve always wanted her.
It’s amazing the information you can pry out of someone after a couple of drinks.
I need to thank Jinx for teaching me how to make the Taming of the Shrew for the ladies.
It tastes sweet and hits hard and fast. Apparently, it doubles as a truth serum.
When Ever came up and put her arm around my waist and leaned her head on my shoulder, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Normally, she keeps me firmly locked in the friend zone.
Constantly reminding me that what we once had was in the past, but last night she let her guard down and let me in enough to see she’s not over me. Over us. She’s just scared.
She looks so at peace here with me. Her gorgeous hair spills over my arm and down her back, tickling my bare chest whenever she moves.
She looks amazing in my t-shirt that only covers her down to the bottom of her sweet ass cheeks, which are currently tucked back against my raging hard-on.
I want nothing more than to flip her over and watch her come apart on my cock, but Ever’s not ready for that.
She stirs in her sleep, and her ass pushes back even harder, and I can’t stop my groan at the feel of her. Her body goes stiff beside me, and I know she’s awake. She doesn’t move, but I hear her little gasp as the reality of where she is hits her.
“Good morning, Sprite.” Not wanting to give her time to panic and rethink last night too much, I push her over onto her back and hover over her, resting my leg between hers and my now fully awake cock lies on her thigh.
She lets out a little squeak, and the corners of my lips curve up at her shyness.
“Mason?” She says my name like she’s unsure what else she should say. It’s cute how nervous she looks.
“Who else’s bed would you be in, Ever?” I ask with a raised brow, teasing her.
“No ones. I mean … not like I should only be in your bed. I mean, I don’t sleep around or anything, I just meant—fuck.
I shouldn’t be in anyone’s bed except my own, and …
what happened? How did I get here? And where’s Kaylie?
” I can see her wheels turning, and I know when she stumbles over her words like this, Everly is about sixty seconds away from freaking the fuck out.
“Okay. Relax.” I stop her rambling by placing my finger over her lips to shush her. “Kaylie is in the playroom with Lilah and Carter, probably making a mess with all her new toys.”
“Toys you shouldn’t have bought her,” she grumbles. I ignore the dig and press on.
“You were drunk last night and asked to come up here so we could talk away from the loud noise of the music and crowd,” I explain.
“And my clothes?” she asks, raising her own brow at me in defiance. “How did I get out of my clothes and end up in one of your t-shirts, and …” She pauses.
“Nothing else?” I smile. “We didn’t fuck, if that’s your worry.”
Her cheeks are tomato red, and her green eyes are wide and full of—is that disappointment?
Whatever it is, it’s gone in a flash. Everly hates getting emotional about anything.
Unless she’s angry or dealing with Kaylie, Everly holds her shit together at all times.
She sees emotions as weakness and sex as something only men need.
She wasn’t so guarded last night when she spilled her guts about all the shit she’s kept bottled up these last few months. But I can’t tell her about that right now.
She’s still looking at me skeptically, waiting for further explanation. She never was one to put up with half-truths and bullshit.
“We kissed a few times. But nothing more.” I lick my lips at the memory.
My dick twitches against her thigh, letting us both know he remembers too and wants to do so much more.
“But we didn’t fuck. I wouldn’t go there with you while you’re drunk.
When we finally come together, I want you to remember every wicked thing I do to your body and how good it feels when I’m inside you. ”
Everly rolls her eyes. “We’re not fucking. This,” she waves her hand between us, “is nothing more than a friendship. I shouldn’t have let you kiss me again.”
“If I remember correctly, and I do. I remember every vivid detail.” I scan every inch of her face, then gently lick over her bottom lip. “You kissed me, and it was fucking perfect.”
“Mason, I’m not …” I cut her off by biting the same lip I just licked. She yelps, then glares at me. “You’re an asshole.”
“I don’t deny it. But I’m not about to let you lie to yourself or me and tell me you don’t think we belong together. We’ve always belonged together. I knew it when we were kids, and I’m damn certain of it now. You and Kaylie belong with me. I can take care of both of you.”
She opens her mouth to speak, but one move of my hips, allowing her to feel how hard I am against her heated center, stops her.
“I need to talk to you about something, and I need you to promise to hear me out and not lose your shit. Can you do that?” I move again, slowly teasing her with my cock.
“I make no such promise.” She moans softly.
My chuckle snaps her out of her lust-filled moment.
Her eyes harden, and her body goes stiff beneath me.
Ever’s always ready for a fight when it comes to me, but that’s all right.
I like her fire. It’s going to make things all the more explosive when I finally make her completely mine.
“You mentioned last night that you thought someone had been following you for a while and that Kaylie had mentioned a man—a friend of your mom’s—snooping around the house.” Everly gasps, leading me to believe she never meant to tell me any of this, which pisses me off.
One thing at a time, Mason.
“I’m having the guys install a new security system at the house and at your salon.”
“Mason, I can’t afford that,” she complains, trying to push me away with no luck.
“It’s handled. You don’t have to pay for anything. I take care of mine.”
With strength I didn’t know she had, Ever pulls free of my grip, and her hand comes crashing across my cheek, leaving an intensely burning sting in its wake.
“What the fuck, Ev?”
“Get off me. Get. Off.” She shoves at my chest, and seeing the panic in her eyes, I roll off her and allow her to stand up off the bed, but I watch her closely as she frantically moves about the room looking for her clothes. I’m on my feet and grabbing my jeans, quickly throwing them on.
Everly tosses my shirt off, throwing it at me.
I’m momentarily paralyzed as I take in the beautiful bare body before me.
I’ve always known she had a rockin’ body, but this is the first time I’ve seen it this closely and fuck me.
It wouldn’t take much to toss her down on the bed and kiss her stupid until I sink myself inside her and make her feel just how mine she is.
Unfortunately, I know my girl. I need to get my shit together before she bolts.
She always fucking runs from me when we get too close. She’s scared.
I toss my shirt on over my head, pushing back the urge to smell it, knowing it will hold the scent of her pina colada body wash she’s used since the tenth grade.
She quickly throws her own shirt on over her head, not giving a shit about her bra.
Then she’s pulling her jeans up and spinning around to face me as she buttons them.
Her finger points at me as she stalks toward me, yelling.
“I’m not yours, Mason. We are not yours.” Her voice cracks slightly, but she reins it in, pulling herself together.
Always the calm, cool, unshakeable girl. Never let anyone see your pain.
One of these days I’m going to get her to break down that wall of hers.
Everly takes a deep breath, and with complete resolve, says, “Listen, Mason. You have been one of my best friends for years. And for that, I have always been grateful. You’re great with Kaylie, and if I said I didn’t appreciate all the times you’ve helped babysit or fixed something for me around the house, I’d not only be an asshole, but I’d be a liar too.
But Mason, I’ve always been straight with you.
I don’t—no—I won’t be a part of this life.
” She gestures around my room. “I don’t want to be the one always hoping to fit in and belong, knowing that I don’t and never will. I’m not na?ve like my mother.”
“And I’m not your father,” I growl.
Her eyes turn to steel. “Fuck you, Mason Wright.”
It might fix a few things if you did.
I sigh, reaching for her waist and pulling her to me. Her hands find my chest, pushing, but I’m not backing down.
“Ev, come on. You’ve got this all wrong.
” I try. “You’re holding us accountable for things your father and his asshole club did.
My club isn’t involved with the Devils. We don’t sell women or drugs!
” My own temper is rising now. She’s got everything pegged all wrong.
“You’re lumping the Kings and me into the same category as those dirty fucks.
I get your hatred for bikers, but we aren’t them.
The Kings are nothing like your asshole father.
Kings take care of their own. We would never get a woman knocked up and leave her to raise a child alone. We own our mistakes!”
Her eyes narrow, and I know what I just said has put me in deeper shit.