Chapter 17 Mason
mason
Iwas in a staring contest with Hunter and Benjamin’s wives, and I really wasn’t sure what was going on. I’d never had a sister—maybe this is what it was like.
Both women were downright terrifying.
After Emily had slipped out of bed, I’d gotten up and come to the kitchen, starting breakfast for the whole family.
Even though I’d known Hunter and Benjamin my entire life—and had considered the Sullivans like a second family—I wanted to impress them.
I wanted them to see that I could be good for Emily, that I would take care of her and provide for her.
Even if she didn’t need it, there was nothing I wouldn’t do to prove that I was right for her. A year ago, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be lucky enough to find someone again. To fall in love, to find someone who wanted all the same things as me. A life, marriage, a family.
But now it all felt in reach again. Craning my neck, I looked out the window.
My girl was outside, cuddled up under a blanket on the back porch with her brothers. Hunter and Benjamin had nodded at me before heading out to join her, taking a seat on either side of the porch swing.
Pancakes were on the griddle when their wives had joined me downstairs, babies in tow.
The twins looked like spitting images of Benjamin, dark hair with Angelina’s brilliant blue eyes, while baby Quinlan was the perfect blend of both of her parents, brown hair pulled up into two tiny pigtails and a smattering of freckles on her cheeks.
God, I hoped our kids would be just as cute. It was way too early to be thinking about that, but I couldn’t help but smile thinking about our conversation last night. Telling her I loved her had been incredible.
And knowing she loved me too? That she wanted the things I wanted?
That made the standoff I was currently in way easier to deal with.
“So… is one of you gonna say somethin’, or is this just a stare-down until I break?” I raised an eyebrow at the two women. Honestly, they were downright terrifying when they wanted to be, especially ganging up on me.
They looked at each other, then back at me as I flipped another pancake. “Emily is like our little sister, you know,” Angelina started, crossing her arms over her chest.
I nodded. Once upon a time, I would have said that too.
When had it stopped being true? Maybe when I’d met her again for the first time as an adult.
She was such a strong, independent woman who seemed to sparkle wherever she went.
Emily had traveled all over the world, sharing herself with hundreds of thousands of people online, and yet I’d never seen her have a bigger smile than when she was on top of her horse, riding through the Montana countryside covered in a fresh dusting of snow.
“I care about her,” I told them, not wanting to hold back. “This isn’t just some fling—not for either of us. It’s real.”
Angelina picked at her perfectly manicured red nails. I could almost imagine her sharpening them and using them as little tiny blades.
Gabbi gave me a soft smile. “You love her.”
I ran my hand through my hair, looking out the window at her. “Yeah. I do. With all my heart and with all that I am. I wanna do right by her, you know? Give her everything she wants.”
They both looked at each other, nodded, and then smiled at me. “Welcome to the family, Mason. We’re glad Em seems to have found a good one. And we’re happy to have you.”
“Thank you.” I cleared my throat, trying to hide the fact that I was a little choked up.
I hadn’t had a full conversation with Hunter yet—though that would come, as well as Em’s parents once they were back from their tropical vacation—but just the idea of having their blessing meant the world to me. “I won’t hurt her.”
“No, you won’t.” A shudder ran down my spine at Angelina’s intimidating glare.
She was five-foot-ten, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her without her hair perfectly styled, heels, or a swipe of red lipstick on until this morning, when she’d come upstairs in a pair of Batman pajamas and her hair up in a messy ponytail.
Still, she was still menacing, even if I had six inches and a lot of muscle on her.
Gabbi laughed. “Don’t scare him off, Ang. We like this one, remember?” I was having a hard time believing her when she gave me a look that I was going to file away for later.
Right when I turned off the burner, a stack of pancakes ready to be devoured, the three Sullivan siblings all crowded inside, looking slightly misty-eyed but happy.
“You good?” I whispered into Em’s ear as she walked over to me, wrapping her arms around my stomach. I slid an arm around her shoulders, tugging her tight into my body.
“Never been better,” she admitted.
I grinned. “That’s what I like to hear, baby.”
Kissing her on the forehead, I turned to everyone. “Merry Christmas, Sullivans. Who wants pancakes?”
one week later…
“That’s the last of it,” I said, carrying another box full of shoes into my cabin.
Emily looked up from a pile of clothes on the floor. “Thanks, cowboy.”
“Of course,” I told her. “Want me to help unpack?”
She bit her lip. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. This is your home now, too. Least I can do is help you.”
As of today, she was officially moved in.
Over the last week, she’d been shuttling her stuff over, one bag at a time, like she thought I didn’t know exactly what she was doing. As if I hadn’t cleared out drawers for her the second I’d got back from her house on Christmas Day.
Today, I’d finally said, enough. After I’d finished my work on the ranch, we’d gotten in my truck, finished emptying her basement room, and I’d carried it all into the cabin. Now, her clothes hung side by side with mine in the closet.
The rest of them—and her shoes—were all in the guest room closet, because my girl had more clothes than I was pretty sure I’d ever know what to do with.
Not that I was going to complain. I’d let her fill up my entire house with her things, because her presence made me feel whole. Like I’d been walking around with something missing for all these years, and I’d finally found it in the little vixen of a brunette.
God, I loved her so much.
So did my parents. The first night I’d brought her home for dinner—the day after Christmas—they’d spent the entire night talking to her, barely letting me get a word in edgewise. After we’d eaten, my mom had pulled out the old photo albums, finding the ones of us when we were little.
My favorite were the ones of little Emmie Girl in her pink cowgirl boots and pink hat.
She’d worn the one I’d given her that night, and it made my heart feel like it was fit to burst. What would she think if she knew the thoughts that were running through my head?
I fully intended to put a ring on her finger by the end of spring.
Was that too soon? I didn’t think so. When my parents had gotten engaged, they’d been dating for two months.
My dad told me he knew my mom was the one on their very first date.
And look at them now. Happily married for thirty-eight years and still running the ranch together.
Honestly, it felt like they were more in love with each other now than ever before.
And I’d had the same feeling with Emily. On the first night at the bar, I’d tried to downplay the connection I felt to her. I’d tried to ignore it, for my friendship with Hunter’s sake, but I hadn’t been able to.
Though, apparently, we owed some of our relationship to our meddling moms, too. Neither of them was as sly as they thought they were, however. When Em’s mom had gotten back from her vacation, she’d let it slip that they’d been talking the whole time, scheming about ways to get us together.
Apparently, both of them thought we needed a little nudge because we were lonely. They were right, of course. My mom sending me over to check on Emily during that snowstorm had been the best thing that had ever happened for us.
And now, here we were—starting off the new year with her moving into my cozy little A-frame cabin. Starting the rest of our lives off right. It was small, but it was more than enough space for just the two of us.
I was already thinking about how I could expand it, though. I’d also been scouting areas on our property, thinking about building a big house with a wraparound porch. Enough bedrooms for as many kids as she wanted.
Getting ahead of myself? Maybe.
Her stomach rumbled, and I furrowed my eyebrows. I hadn’t even thought of what I was going to feed her yet. But clearly, that was a problem I needed to fix, and quickly.
“What are you feeling for dinner tonight?” I asked her, leaning against the doorframe as I watched her put away a pair of dusty blue suede cowboy boots.
“Mmm.” She bit her lip as she closed the closet. “What about breakfast? I’ve been dreaming about those pancakes you made on Christmas morning like every day since.”
I laughed. “Sure, baby. I can do breakfast.”
She stood up, wrapping her arms around my neck. “How did I get so lucky to find you? A hot cowboy who caters to my every whim?”
“I was thinkin’ the same thing, darlin’.” I smirked. “You’re too damn good for me.” I leaned down, pressing a kiss on her lips. “Gotta keep my girl satisfied.”
Emily licked her lips. “Satisfied, huh?” She wiggled her eyebrows.
I dipped my lips to her ear. “Insatiable.”
“Only for you,” she confirmed.
I lifted her up into my arms, carrying her into the kitchen and setting her down on the marble countertop before kneeling in front of her. “Guess it’s time for my dinner first, baby.” Sliding my hands up her thighs, I pulled down her panties.
“Mason,” she giggled, but the sound quickly turned into a moan with the first swipe of my tongue. “Oh, Mason.” She was already wet for me, her arousal practically dripping out of her.
I grinned. “That’s the sound I want to hear. Now come for me, darlin’. Give me that sweet release, and then I’ll feed you anything you want.”
And then I went to town on her. Feasted, savoring her taste with each lick, making her scream out my name before I finally made good on my word and cooked her the best damn breakfast she’d ever had.
Her cheeks were flushed when she took the first bite of her chocolate-chip pancakes.
“Good?” I asked, not taking a bite of my own yet.
“The best,” she confirmed, letting out a happy sigh. “Thank you.”
Leaning over, I dropped my head to hers, kissing her lazily and tasting the syrup on her tongue.
“Don’t have to thank me, Em. You’ve got me now.
All of me. I told you I’m going to keep you satisfied.
” I winked, taking a few bites of food before reaching over and wiping a drip of syrup off her lip. “And I keep my promises.”
“I know you do, cowboy.” She climbed into my lap, running her thumb across my jaw. “That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you.”
She kissed me—the rest of our food forgotten—and I picked her up in my arms, carrying her into the bedroom.
Our bedroom.
Where she’d stay for the rest of our lives, if I had anything to say about it.
“I love you,” I told her as I stripped our clothes off. “So damn much, darlin’. Thank you for choosing me. For loving me. For seeing past the broken shell I used to be. I’m so grateful to call you mine.” I kissed her bare skin.
Her hands slid into my hair, raking softly against my scalp. “I love you too, Mason Elliott. Now, make me yours.” Her eyelashes fluttered as she widened her legs, cradling my hips between her thighs.
And because I’d never been able to say no to this girl—not once in my entire life—I slid inside of her, the feeling of home washing around me, and nothing else mattered.
Nothing but Emily Sullivan and this all-consuming love I felt for her. Nothing but the girl who had changed my entire life for the better in just a few weeks.
Better than any Christmas present I’d ever received.
“You are,” I told her, thrusting inside of her in slow, languid strokes. “You’re mine. All mine. Forever and ever.”
She let her eyes flutter shut as I wrapped her in my arms, planting myself deep inside of her, and then there were no more words.
We didn’t need them.
Not anymore.
Not with a love like this.