40. Mason
Chapter forty
I managed to leave the house today … Okay, I managed to leave my apartment to drive to my other house. A shower and a change of clothes were involved, so I’m taking that as a win.
No one’s here. The painting’s done, and the tilers aren’t booked to start until Monday, so I’m sitting in the house I built for my girlfriend, not knowing if she’ll walk back into it.
My hands run over the new floorboards of the attic playroom where Callie and I first found the letters.
Did Greyson and Florence get their happily ever after? What did he do that he thought Florence wouldn’t forgive him for? Did she forgive him?
I pull the small notebook from my back pocket. I’m sure one day, I’ll give Callie the letters I’ve been writing, but over the last few weeks, they’ve served as my own personal comfort for working out my feelings.
My Callie,
You’re not talking to me at the moment. I’m trying to give you space because I know I hurt you by going behind your back to pay off your ex, even though I know how important it was to you to stand your ground with him.
I also said that I didn’t hook up with Emilia when I had.
I don’t think it’s my past that bothers you, it was me trying to hide it.
It’s only because I know how you’ve been hurt before, and I never want to be someone who causes you pain or doubt.
I did everything wrong, when all I wanted to do for you was everything.
I’ve never experienced jealousy before. I know I’m privileged to say I’ve never wanted something I couldn’t have.
Not until you. That was the first time I had chased something I was desperate to hold in my hands, and instead, you captured me by the heart.
I couldn’t even fight the fall the second I learned how fierce and loyal your heart was, even when you were soft and vulnerable.
You had me wanting more when you showed me how curious and daring you could be, even if you were fighting uncertainty.
I never wanted to let you go when I realised the parts of me you loved were the ones no one had ever wanted before.
I was never looking for home. I was looking for you.
“I thought I might find you here.”
My head snaps up the second I register her voice as real and not a beautiful figment of my imagination.
I scramble to my feet, my eyes locked on Callie, where she leans in the doorway.
Her hair is down and falling over her shoulders, and she’s wearing the same outfit I saw her in the night we met.
Cropped black tee, long skirt with the split all the way up her golden thigh.
Black high-top sneakers. There are little braids scattered through her hair with her star clips.
“Hi,” she whispers, and it’s that hope in her voice that has me closing the distance, practically sprinting across the room until I’m lifting her into my arms.
Her legs wrap around me, and she buries her head into my neck. I squeeze her tight as she trembles in my arms, sniffling against my skin.
“I’m sorry,” she says, slipping into gentle sobs, and I soothe her with a hand up and down her back. “I was so ungrateful, and I wasn’t there for you.”
“I should have told you I wanted to pay Derek to stay out of our lives.”
She shakes her head against my neck, and I can feel the traces of tears left on my skin.
“I should have told you he tried to blackmail me.”
“I heard him do it. I could have stopped him then and there. I was trying to let you stand up to him, then I took over anyway.”
She lifts her head to look at me, her beautiful blue eyes rimmed in red. “You were thinking of our future.”
“I was.” I nod, brushing away a tear.
Her eyebrows pinch together as she twists her lips, looking at me with eyes full of resignation. “I got jealous of Emilia.”
I cup her cheek, keeping her eyes on me as I take a breath. “ I wasn’t trying to lie, I was hopelessly and desperately trying to protect your heart. She didn’t mean anything to me. You… you mean everything.”
Callie’s fingers twist in the ends of my hair.
“I’d seen my dad earlier that day with his wife.
” She stutters over the word before rolling her lips together and taking a deep breath.
“All those feelings of betrayal resurfaced, not only for my mum and what Derek had done, but for the father I never had.”
“Baby.” I cup her cheek, pressing a kiss to her forehead as my heart clenches. “I’m so sorry.
“Truth is, no one’s ever done as much for me as you do.”
I kiss the corner of her mouth, not yet brave enough to seal my lips to hers. “This is all new to me too. And I don’t care how much we fuck up, or how long it takes us to get things right, so long as we figure them out together.”
Callie chuckles softly, wiping under her eyes. “Well then, there’s something else you should know.”
My eyebrows pinch, waiting for her next words.
“I love you too.” Everything inside me stops, suspended in time with her confession.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say it back the other day.
I love your generosity and kindness, and how your heart is ruled by love and believing the best in people before all else.
I love the pride and loyalty you have for your family, and the way you extended that not only to me, but to Navie. ”
I’m not sure if it’s her eyes or mine that are filled with tears. I just know everything is blurry as shit right now, and my heart is bursting. My fingers flex against her waist as I hold her.
“I grew up feeling like I was a forgotten piece of a puzzle. I was always learning and trying new things because it made me feel like I could be complete all on my own. Or that I was interesting enough to people that they’d want to keep me around.
” She reaches into her back pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper.
I can see some of the familiar lines from the floor plan, along with my handwriting, and I know she’s somehow found the original mark-up I did that included all the things she wanted.
“You didn’t just find a way to include me in your puzzle, you made one that was entirely our own before anything had even happened between us. ”
I shake my head. “You’re wrong. From the night we met, we were always destined to end up here.” I brush my thumb against the apple of her cheek. “Besides, I took it as you staking your claim when you leaked your breastmilk on me.”
She laughs and leans her forehead against mine.
“Are you okay?” she whispers. “With the photos and stuff that got shared.”
“I don’t care what happened to me, only that it affected us, but yes, Grams and my parents made it go away. The talk online seems to have died down now.”
“I still don’t like that Derek got anything from you. He didn’t deserve that, but I understand why you did it, and I’m sorry I didn’t see that straight away.”
“But you deserve everything that makes you happy. I know Navie is at the top of that list.”
“Along with you,” she says fiercely. “You’ve given me your unwavering and untroubled heart, and I give you mine right back.
” She pulls her T-shirt over her head, and at first, I think she’s gunning for some make-up sex, which I definitely wouldn’t say no to, but then I see the new tattoo on her chest.
My name is inked over her heart in a delicate, cursive font. A royal blue ribbon is woven through the letters with a key hanging from the tail, a replica of the key that opened our tin of love letters.
My fingers tremble as they hover over the fresh ink.
“Don’t make me regret this,” she says, voice thick with nerves that she tries to hide with a chuckle.
I have no trouble eradicating that doubt straight away.
My mouth crashes against hers as I walk forward, pressing her back to the wall.
Gripping her chin, I hold her in place so I can devour her lips, swiping my tongue over her and begging for entrance.
Callie’s fingers rake through my hair as she opens up, whimpering into my mouth as she meets the ferocity of my need with her own.
I hold her up, pinning her with my hips and gathering the fabric of her skirt until it’s out of my way, as she tugs on the buttons of my shirt. She groans in frustration, then grips the fabric in both hands and rips it open.
“Fuck,” I pant and drag my sleeves the rest of the way down my arms, tossing it behind me. I feel it everywhere the second her naked skin touches mine. Warm, smooth, and trembling.
My mouth travels down her neck as I hitch her legs higher so I can reach my belt, unbuckling it and popping the button on my jeans.
We barely have enough patience to undress properly before I ease inside her, holding myself deep and revelling in the sensation of being home before slowly pulling out and thrusting hard into her.
Callie clings to me, crying out for breath as I fuck her with pure desperation.
I’ll make love to her later—forever—but right now, I just need her.
I link my fingers through hers, pinning her hands above her head as I drive into her over and over.
“Don’t leave me again, Callie,” I rasp against her lips through greedy kisses.
“I promise.”
“We can get mad at each other, but you stay with me.”
“Always,” she cries out, rolling her hips to meet mine.
“I’m yours.” My hands tighten around hers as my muscles lock up on the peak of release. “And you.” Thrust. “Are.” Thrust. “Mine.” Thrust.
My gruff vow reverberates off the walls before it slips into a groan when her pussy clenches around me.
I bury my head into her neck as I spill inside her, our chests clashing against one another with each heaving breath.
“Always,” Callie whispers against my heated skin.
I reach up to capture her mouth, these kisses softer and soul-binding. Our bodies are engulfed in a patient fire. The flames were fuelled with honesty and vulnerability. With safe acceptance and a promise of forever. It takes over until it feels like nothing exists in this moment but the two of us.
“Thank you.” Her thumb glides over my bottom lip.
I kiss it before reaching up to hold her wrist, caressing the skin. “For what?”
“Everything.”
***
Callie’s head rests against my chest, fingers tangling in my chain as mine trace up and down her back.
After she found me at the house, we went straight back to my place to get further lost in the comfort of each other’s bodies. A few hours later, we picked Navie up from Westley, who’d taken the day off to look after her when Callie came back from her mum’s early this morning.
She packed an overnight bag, then came straight back to mine. I got to give Navie her bath, then we ordered take-out and sat on my balcony, watching the water. It was perfect. I can’t wait to have nights just like this in our house.
“What if we break up, and you gave my ex two million for nothing?” Callie whispers in the dark room. We’re lying in my bed after yet another round. The balcony doors are open, letting in a cool, salty breeze, and the night air is quiet apart from the crashing waves in the near distance.
“That’s never going to happen,” I say with complete surety.
“Mason.” Callie sighs, and she lifts her head, propping her chin on my chest, her naked breasts pressed against me.
I wrap an arm across her lower back and drag her body over mine, her thighs cradling my hips as she gets comfortable.
“Baby, breaking up with you is the complete opposite of what my mind is thinking about. If you couldn’t tell by the house, I’m trying to figure out how to keep you permanently. On a completely unrelated note, do you happen to know your ring size?”
She drops her head to my chest, her chuckles muffled against my skin.
We’ve had so much sex today, I’m impressed by the stamina my dick displays as he perks up once again. I know Callie really needs some reassurance right now, but this is going to make it hard to concentrate.
“Hold still for a sec.” I suck two fingers in my mouth, then reach over her arse to find her pussy, easing inside to make sure she’s wet.
She gasps and jolts up. “Holy shit, no foreplay?” Despite the protest, her back arches in need as I circle her entrance.
The staccato beat of my breath is both a laugh and a groan. “I wasn’t going to do anything. I just wanted to slip inside, but fuck, you’re so wet.”
“That’s probably still some of you.” Her nails dig into my chest as her pussy contracts around my fingers.
Some of me? Damn, that’s hot.
I push my fingers further in. “I like that idea. Can I fuck you before work so you can walk around all day with my cum inside you?”
Her hips rock, chasing my fingers. “Oh god, I’m sore, but it still feels so good.”
I pull my fingers out, wrapping around my cock instead, and guide myself inside her, groaning as she swallows up every inch. Inhaling deep, I hold myself still, then let it out as I just sit there.
“Okay, now we can talk.”
Her head bounces up in shock. “What? Talk?”
“I’m very needy. This will keep my other head occupied while my big head has a chance to think.”
She chuckles and chews her lip. “This is so weird. You’re just gonna casually leave your dick inside me while we have a serious conversation?”
“I personally think it’s genius.” I cross my arms behind her back and kiss the tip of her nose. “Now, tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I just don’t want you to regret it. That’s a lot of money.”
“Not to me.” I shake my head. “I have a billion-dollar trust fund. My company makes millions, and I have investments. I’m not trying to be arrogant, but two mil means nothing if it gets your ex out of the picture. I’d hand over every dollar to my name if it meant calling you and Navie my family.”
“But you didn’t have to give him anything. We were already yours.”
I smile, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
“I should have spoken to you beforehand, but I panicked. I couldn’t stop imagining a day in the future where he showed up and wanted to be involved somehow with Navie.
I want to be her dad.” A tear slips down Callie’s cheek.
“Why are you crying?” I wipe it away with my thumb. “Are you mad at me?”
She shakes her head, turning to kiss the palm of my hand. “I grew up with a dad who didn’t care about me, who never put my mum first, but everything you’ve done to be a part of our lives…” She swallows, drawing in a breath. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Mason Heart.”