“Thank you, Mason. You and your brothers are beyond amazing, do you know that?” I couldn’t hide my gratitude. These grown men risked their lives for our pets. I squeezed Mason’s hand tightly.
“It’s the least we can do, considering, well, you know.”
“I know.” I sighed and looked at Skyler. She was so happy and carefree right now, but what would happen when she found out about our home? I would have to break it to her gently. I stroked her hair back with a free hand and listened as she talked Mason’s ear off, telling him all about the house we were staying in and how much she loved it.
Mason looked past her, at me, and smiled.
And I no longer felt alone. Not with Mason at our side.
Ooo000ooo
“Zeus! Gris!” Skyler squealed as we opened the door to the rental.
Both dogs were waiting for us, bodies wiggling and tails wagging. Zeus let out an excited bark as soon as he saw Skyler.
Skyler picked the little terrier up and hugged him tightly, as if they hadn’t seen each other in days. “I missed you, little guy.”
Graham was standing in the entry to the living room, arms crossed and smiling down at my daughter. “She’s adorable.”
“Thank you. I hope the critters didn’t give you any trouble?”
Graham shook his head. “Not at all. The little one even came around to me after a while. He sat on my lap for a whole five minutes. Never a problem with the big one.”
I scratched Grizzley’s head. “Not surprised. He’s a gentle giant.”
“The cats are hiding somewhere. Last I heard, they were running around upstairs,” Graham said.
“Probably exploring the new digs,” I chuckled. “I need to get their litter boxes set up or we’ll have a mess.”
Mason walked in the door behind us, moving a little slower than normal.
“And what about you, man? How are you doing?”
“I’ve been better, but can’t complain too much,” Mason said.
“Did they stitch you up?”
“Yep. Thankfully, the cut wasn’t that deep. They were mostly concerned with the blood loss.”
Graham walked over to his brother and patted him on the shoulder. There was a look between the two men, a brotherly love that warmed my heart. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Me too.”
Graham looked between me and Mason, then over at Skyler, who was distracted and rolling on the floor with Zeus. He leaned in close and whispered. “Did they, you know, figure out what happened?”
“Not yet,” Mason said softly. “They’re still working on that.”
“What about the cameras? Did they catch anything?”
“All gone,” Mason said.
My stomach dropped. I’d already known all this, but I kept trying to forget. I couldn’t believe our home - and everything we owned - was gone.
Mason must have seen the look on my face because he draped an arm across my shoulder and leaned in close.
“I’m going to take care of you and Sky, don’t worry about a thing.”
My initial reaction was to freeze in place and panic. How could I ever trust a man after everything Greg put me through? Then I saw Skyler on the floor with Zeus, with Grizzly sitting nearby, wagging his tail. The cats were upstairs, and I could see the guinea pigs and Jellybean in their carriers in the living room.
This man, along with his brothers, had risked their lives for animals.
It truly said a lot about them. I remembered how I felt about Mason, how terrified I was when I thought he could be hurt or worse. I cared about him, and from the way he looked at me, I realized he cared about me too.
Relax, Danielle.
I turned my head toward Mason, and he gave me a quick kiss on the lips. Graham raised an eyebrow and grinned but didn’t say anything.
“I think I’ll stay here tonight, just to keep an eye on things, if that’s alright?” Mason asked.
“I planned on it, too. Already told Emmy I might not be home tonight,” Graham said.
“I’ll sleep on the couch. There’s an extra bedroom upstairs for you, Graham,” Mason started to say.
“No,” I said.
Mason looked ready to argue with me. “Danielle, after what—”
“No, I mean, you’re not sleeping on a couch,” I said. “There’s a double bed in the master upstairs?”
“A king size, actually,” Graham said. “I already scoped out the house, just making sure it’s secure.”
“Well then, I see no reason you can’t join me in the king bed,” I said, biting my lower lip as I met Mason’s gaze. “I think you need a good night’s rest with that injury and all.”
“If you’re okay with it, so am I.”
“I’m more than okay with it,” I said.
Mason and I stared into each other’s eyes, and I found myself smiling.
Ooo000ooo
“She went down fast tonight,” I said, closing the door to Skyler’s room.
“Well, it’s been one heck of a day for all of us,” Mason replied.
Graham had given us some space, retiring out on the back patio with a beer. Sam and Eli had also stopped by, and there was a decent chance they might all spend the night. I wasn’t sure where they’d all sleep, but Mason said they would find a way. There was a couch and several chairs in the living room.
It was weird being surrounded by his family, but they were all so kind. And it made me feel safer than I’d felt in a very long time.
“Want to go down with your brothers?” I asked.
“What are you going to do?”
My heart fluttered as I stared at him. “I think I’m going to call it a night. It’s been a long day.”
“I agree,” Mason said softly.
He took my hand in his and walked me across the hall to the master bedroom. With everything going on, I hadn’t even stepped into the room until that moment. And the moment I did, I was in awe.
The bed was a king - a four poster bed with privacy drapes pulled back and showcasing a luxurious mattress. It had a thick, velvety soft blanket in burgundy, just like the drapes. Large windows overlooked the backyard, and the curtains were open so I could see the trees and mountains in the distance. The ceilings were at least ten feet high, making the already large room feel gigantic.
“I think this room is bigger than my entire house,” I laughed.
“Well, what can I say…I want only the best for you and Sky.”
Mason walked me over to the bed, and he slowly began to undress me. His rough hands grazed my skin as he lifted my shirt, letting it fall to the soft, lush carpet at our feet. He helped me slip out of my yoga pants, the band of which was already way too tight around my growing belly. Then he did something that surprised me.
He knelt slowly and placed his lips against my stomach. I ran my hands through his hair, feeling like my heart might explode in my chest as his grey eyes stared up at me.
“I will do anything for you and this baby,” he promised. “And Sky too. I love you. All of you. So much.”
I reached for him, my hands shaking as I pulled him to his feet. He leaned down, and I pressed my lips to his. I gave myself to him.
I believed him.
He loved me.
He explored the curves of my body as we kissed, and he slowly moved me back toward the bed. He nudged me to sit, then dropped down to his knees again.
“What are you—” Before I could finish the question, he parted my thighs. “Mason, do you think we should—”
The warmth of his mouth against me surprised me. I forgot how to speak as his tongue worked my most sensitive parts, gently teasing my clit.
“Oh God, Mason… we shouldn’t,” I whimpered. “You’re injured.”
“We can be gentle,” he said, barely lifting his head to speak. I felt the vibrations of his words against me. “But please, Danielle, I need you.”
“I need you too, but—”
My head rolled back and my eyes clenched shut. For a moment, I was lost to the pleasure. I’d forgotten everything except the way his tongue circled my clit. My hands were in his hair, and I had to fight myself to not pull him into me, to beg him to fuck me with his tongue.
Before I knew what was happening, a ripple of pleasure washed over me, and it quickly turned into a tidal wave. I could no longer control the pressure on his head. My back arched upward, and I cried out, “Oh God, Mason! I’m coming!”
Mason never let up, keeping up the rhythm and drawing out my orgasm. My toes literally curled, and I’d never come so hard in my life. And it wasn’t just the one orgasm, but several in a row. I lost count and eventually had to nudge on his head for relief. My body jerked; my clit extra sensitive.
I thought we were finished, as I couldn’t imagine a position that would be safe for Mason. But he had other plans.
He dropped his pants and ripped off his shirt, and I saw the bandage on his side. The gash underneath it was stitched, and I hated that he’d been injured while helping me. I sat up and kissed the bandage gently.
“I’m so sorry you were hurt,” I whispered as I looked up at him.
He climbed into bed with me and kissed me deeply, holding my face in his hands. “No apologies necessary.” He smiled at me, then murmured, “Roll over. On your side.”
I did as he told me, and he spooned me from behind, his strong, warm body pressed against mine. I pushed my ass against him, and he guided me into position, sliding his hard cock between my thighs. The tip pressed at my opening, and I groaned in need. Even with the exhaustion of my previous climax, my body still craved him.