"You could've texted. It would've saved you a trip." Just like that, she built a defensive wall around her heart. Mason didn't say a word, most likely thinking he should've done exactly that. "Thanks for the warning. I can take care of myself." Her tone was soft and flat. It was all she could say without falling apart in front of him.
"You think?" he chuckled.
Did he find this amusing? Anger rushed through her, but she didn't know why. She had no right to be mad at him. So why was she so angry? Because she fell in love and it wasn't returned? This was her fault, not his. He had always been there for her, risking his life. Thinking she should be thankful instead, her anger eased.
"Noah and Tim said I could call them if I needed their help," Skylar said, unable to look him in the eyes. Focusing on her thumb instead, she twirled it over her other thumb. "Sooo, you don't need to worry so much. I've already taken up too much of your time. I'm sure there are other things you'd rather be doing." Skylar stood up, heading toward the kitchen. "Let me get you something to drink." She wasn't sure if Mason was thirsty, but she needed to walk away. Water started to pool in her eyes. She didn't want him to see her this way. What was wrong with her? Why did she feel the need to cry?
"Sky," Mason called out.
Startled by the tone, she turned. When she did, Mason was right in front of her, toe-to-toe. He embraced her tightly, snuggling his head to the side of her neck. Then his hands cupped her face. "Sky," he whispered tenderly.
Tears that were already threatening to fall streamed down Skylar's cheeks as her lips trembled. "Please, don't say another word. You can just leave. I'll understand. It's my fault for caring. You've already warned me that you could never care for me."
"Sky, don't you know why I've come?"
Assuming the worst, she tried to prepare herself for the twisting of the knife in her heart. Waves of hot and cold rippled across her ribs. Layer by layer, her heart was tearing apart from the sharp pain occupying every inch of her chest.
"Sky, I can't do this anymore."
"I know." She continued to focus on his sweater, too afraid to look him in the eyes. Her spirit was already breaking. She didn't need more reminders by seeing the rejection in his eyes. Instead, she inhaled the scent of his aftershave and molded into him, thinking this would be the last time she would feel his arms around her like this. "It's okay. You can leave."
"I want to, but I can't. I care. Do you hear me? I care too much. I've missed you. I can't sleep. I can't eat. Every waking moment I think of you. Every second of my sleepless nights you're on my mind, and if somehow I sleep, I dream of you. You're all that I can think of. I tried to stay away, but I can't. I'm sorry. I had to see you. I'm sorry if I've ever hurt you or wronged you in any way. It was not my intention. I didn't want to feel again. Before you my life was empty and cold, but you made me feel alive again, a feeling I thought was buried so deep from all the pain and loss that it could never resurface."
Skylar couldn't believe what she was hearing as her tears continued to fall. The sad tears turned into happy ones. The sweet words Mason was whispering overwhelmed her, making her weak in the knees. If not for his hold on her, she would have fallen as he continued to make her legs feel like jelly with his words and his touch. Her arms, which had been dangling at her sides, moved up to the curve of his neck.
"Mason," she whispered, peering up to meet his eyes. "I've missed you too. I've been a mess."
Still cupping her face, he pulled back and wiped her tears. "You missed me too?" He sounded completely surprised.
"More than you know."
"I'm sorry to have put you through all that. I told you I was broken and that I couldn't be fixed, but somehow you've torn down the wall I built around myself, and no matter how hard I try to resist you, I can't. I didn't want to care for you, but I do. I knew you were trouble the moment I set eyes on you-at least trouble for my heart." He produced the biggest grin Skylar had ever seen on his face. "I care about you, Skylar Rome, in more ways than I ever meant to."
"I care about you too, Mason Grand," she giggled, taking in the delight that erupted within her.
"I don't know what it is that I'm feeling for you, but I want it. I've never felt this with anyone before. I want to know what it feels like to really love someone and to be loved back the same way. I want to know love with you, if you'll let me."
At this point Skylar was speechless, but she managed to nod. Blinking her eyes, she soaked in all of his words, the words she had been so sure would never pour out of his mouth.
Mason continued, "Everett and Amanda were right. I've been so consumed by the pain of losing my mother and the guilt over not being able to save her life, it was controlling me. I had forgotten what it felt like to really live, to care, to love, to be happy. I lived my life just passing through. I think I was just waiting for you." He smiled again. "Everett, Amanda, Nick, and I need to start acting like a family. Perhaps they were one already. I just got lost. I didn't want to be a part of something that I may lose one day. Now I know I'd rather have it and risk feeling the pain than not have it at all. You helped me realize that. This past week without you has been pure torture. I want you in my life, even if it kills me."
Skylar remembered she could literally kill him and she took several steps back. Mason seemed to understand the meaning behind her gesture and pulled her into him again. "Don't be silly. I didn't mean that. You know you can't kill me with your kiss, thank goodness. If you could, I would've been dead by now. Not being able to kiss you? Now that would really be torture."
Happiness filled her. Mason was always reassuring her that she wasn't poison, and he'd even proven it by giving her a life-affirming kiss in his room, the kiss she'd held on to until this day.
"So now that we've got that settled, how about I take you to dinner? It must be around dinnertime. Are you hungry?" His hands held hers and guided them to the front of his chest, kissing each of her knuckles.
"Yes," Skylar nodded, enjoying his attention.
Mason pulled her in again. "I've missed holding you. I've missed the way your scent seems to follow me wherever I go, the way you always repeat what I say, your smile, your laughter. I've missed every part of you, Sky. You made my wish come true." Mason reached into his back pocket and pulled out the wishbone. "I kept this with me, hoping. Do you remember this?"
"I made your wish come true?" Skylar repeated his words, looking flabbergasted. "Yes, I remember. What did you wish for?"
"I wished that you would care for me as much as I cared for you. That you would have the patience to wait for me. To put up with my dark side and give us a chance when the time was right, or that my feelings for you would disappear so that I wouldn't care."
"You wished for that?" Skylar couldn't believe it. All those times she had thought it impossible, it had been right there all along. She just had to be patient. For him to have not wanted to feel anything if the feelings weren't reciprocated-well, that simply showed how much he did care. She had set him free because she'd had no choice. Like her mom said, since it was meant to be, he had come back to her, thankfully. But setting him free had been easier said than done.
Mason continued to hold her and gaze lovingly into her eyes. "You are the only wish I've ever had. And maybe what I'm about to do would be a close second." His eyes became playful.
"What would that-?"
Skylar was unable to finish her words. Mason dove in and conquered her lips, molding them perfectly together. Gently and slowly, his lips tasted hers, leisurely savoring every touch, every moment, and every thrill. At first Skylar stood still, unable to believe what was happening. When she finally realized Mason was kissing her and it wasn't a dream, she took in the reality, looped her arms around the back of his strong neck, and pulled him in tighter.
Responding to him, she kissed him back with hunger and passion. Hot tingling sensations poured through her soul like a wild blaze, driven by all the anger, sadness, wanting, hurt, and most of all, from simply missing him. She couldn't believe he was there. They were sharing this tender moment, knowing that this time his kiss meant so much more than the first.
Like two lost souls finally understanding each other, their bodies entangled and their kisses intensified. His hands explored her every curve as she moaned from his touch. Oh, he was experienced all right, from what she could tell. He knew exactly where to place his hands to make her come alive, completely unraveling her.