18. Bridget

EIGHTEEN

Bridget

The wine goes down like a golf ball as I swallow hard. Just seconds ago, I was about as relaxed as I could be, and now that usual dread is right back in place.

What the fuck am I supposed to say?

Mason's stare drills into me, and I can tell he has his suspicions. And they're probably nowhere near as bad as the truth.

My heart rate ticks up higher and higher, and I feel like an incredible jerk and an idiot.

How could I have been with that guy when Mason was here all this time?

I know it's not as simple as that, and I know that I was manipulated by Jai, but my stomach is still twisting itself in knots because I'm…embarrassed.

Correction, mortified.

It's all just that damn gaslighting and mental "abuse." I know it is. Hell, I sat down with a therapist for a whole five seconds when I first got away, and I know that, technically, none of this is my fault.

But it still feels like it.

"Bridget," Mason's voice is even, not pushing in the slightest, "I just…I want to know what happened. But if you feel weird, if this is uncomfortable?—"

I shake my head, holding up a hand to stop him.

"It's not that. Well, not entirely. It's just," I suck in a deep breath, trying to diffuse the tension with a lopsided grin, "it doesn't exactly put me in the best light, you know?"

Mason's lips part as he stares at me, and then his hand comes to my cheek.

"Hey, I don't think less of you because you dated a jerk. I'm pretty sure everyone has been with someone they regret."

My shoulders slump, and I drop my head against Mason's chest.

"I do. I regret it so much."

My stomach is still churning, my heart pounding, but it's time. I owe Mason something.

"He was…he was charming, Mason. He was really fucking charming at first." My voice quivers. "But it was just a fa?ade. That person was just who Jai wore on the outside. It wasn't the real him."

"Bridget, did he?—"

I squeeze Mason, gripping his shirt like a lifeline. "Please, just wait. If I don't…If I don't get this out, I don't know if I'll ever be able to."

He smooths a hand down the back of my head, just nodding like he's afraid to speak and ruin my confession.

"Jai was the jealous type, but he always," my voice cracks again, "took it, umm, too far. He made me feel horrible for even looking at another man, and I think…I think he knew that there was something between us."

When I can, I look up at Mason, stepping back just enough to suck in a deep breath.

"He basically demanded I leave, you know. I didn't want to try for the whole singing career thing, and I mean, I didn't really. Jai might have said that's why we were going but I was never really allowed to actually go to auditions and things. Every time I mentioned going home, even just to visit, he shut it down—hard.

"I just…Mason, I feel like I let him get away with so much. I could never stand up to him, but I know he manipulated everything to keep me too afraid to do so. What's it called…umm, gaslighting? Yeah, classic case, I'm afraid."

"Jesus, Bridget. I didn't…well, fuck. I never liked the guy. But I didn't think it was that bad. I'm sorry."

A choked sob rushes out of me. I can't hold them back anymore, and the words come tumbling out of my mouth even faster.

"The things he said…I couldn't eat what I wanted; Jai would take my plate away. In front of people. He picked on me and bossed me around. He controlled everything. It was like I was just a ghost haunting my own life."

The tears flow and flow, raining down my cheeks as I shake in Mason's arms. I can't stop it now that I've started.

But I manage to keep in the truth about Jai's threats. I'm still too worried that Jai could track me down to Red Lodge and do something to hurt someone.

Logically, I know that should be even more of a reason to say something. Still, that terrified part of me is convinced that if I lock away Jai's violence in the back of my mind, it won't be real.

If wishes were horses…

As I sit there crying like an idiot, I look up into Mason's eyes. His stare is dark, his brows down low over his eyes. A trill of fear rushes down my spine because Mason looks downright pissed, and I can't understand why.

"Mason, are you?—"

Before I can finish, he pushes forward and down to the step in front of me, kneeling right at my knees.

"I hope you don't believe a word that asshole said, Bridget."

My chest squeezes, and I feel both relieved and embarrassed.

"It's hard to shake what he said, Mason. I…yeah."

"Bridget, you're beautiful. The most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on."

He takes my hands, wrapping his around mine and staring into my eyes so intently that I almost want to look away.

"He's not right, Bridget. Not one fucking bit." Mason uses his grip on my hands to pull me into his arms. "And I'll do anything to prove that to you."

"Honestly," I laugh a little against him, "this helps."

He holds me back so that he can look down into my eyes. "I'm not done yet, Songbird."

My entire body shivers at the word, Mason's little hint at what's to come, and before I can say anything, he scoops me up into his arms.

"But I need a bed."

We are upstairs in a flash, and as Mason lays me back on the mattress, I stare up into his eyes.

"Are you sure, Mason? I'm…I'm far from baggage-free."

He grips my chin, locking his stare on me. "I do not care. Now, hush. I have work to do."

I give in again to how incredible Mason makes me feel, not willing to fight this anymore. Mason hovers over me as my breaths make my chest flutter up and down.

Nervousness still clings to me, but Mason lowers his lips to the top of my breast, gently kissing the skin exposed by my bathing suit.

I moan low as he grips the straps on my shoulders and quickly pulls them down. He gets my suit all the way down to my hips, kissing every inch of my skin as he goes.

As he gets the tight suit over my hips and down my legs, my emotions are a tumble of arousal and nagging insecurity. Jai's words did sink in farther than I should have ever let them.

Seeing myself as beautiful is damn near impossible now.

"You are so gorgeous, Songbird."

Blushing, I smile at him, turning my head to the side as he kisses more and more of my exposed skin.

Time warps in a heightened blur of frenzied kisses and caresses, and in no time at all, Mason is gloriously naked in front of me, as am I.

Mason travels his lips over every inch of me, growling against my skin as I moan and whine, my pussy aching for him. As he reaches the space between my legs with his mouth, my body roars for his touch.

"I will never get tired of seeing you, Bridget. You're fucking stunning."

"Please, Mason." I arch against his touch, my entire being hungry for more of his touch. " Please ."

"Sing for me, gorgeous. Let me hear those beautiful sounds."

He licks up my slit as I grip his hair. The feeling is delicious and sinful, and I whimper as he teases my heated skin with light caresses.

I meet his hungry stare—burning and raw. God, I fucking need him .

Dragging him up to my mouth and claiming his lips, I can taste myself on his tongue. Mason wraps an arm under my waist, pulling me closer to him with a grip on my head.

"That's it, precious." I shakily reach for his hand, laying it on my breast.

Mason seems thrilled to give it the attention I want, rolling my nipple between his fingers.

"Ugh, Mason. Oh, God. Don't stop."

"Anything for you, Songbird. Anything ."

Pressing his lips to mine again, Mason pushes his hips between my legs until his erection is poised right at my entrance.

My nerves go wild as he smooths himself through my folds, readying me with his taunting teases just a bit more.

I arch my back, moaning.

"Mason, please."

The cry is soft but intense, and I look up long enough to see Mason smirking down at me.

With that, Mason drives himself home, deep and up to the hilt in my pussy. It's pure bliss, my walls clenching around him.

I cry out again, gripping his shoulders and digging my nails into his flesh. The intensity is staggering, and Mason's grip on me is iron.

He fucks slow and strong, a steady rhythm that lets me feel every inch of him rub against me.

An intoxicating dance starts up as we move together, and my brain empties of all the insecurity and doubt, the sensations of Mason sliding in and out of me forcing everything else out.

"Oh, God, Mason."

He flexes his hips back and forth, making me rock against him. Each movement is pointed and deliberate, zinging my nerves with incredible electricity.

I let go, and there's nothing in the world as breathtakingly exquisite as this moment right here and now.

"That's it, Songbird." Mason groans, burying his nose in the crook of my neck. "Goddamn, you feel like heaven."

The world around me fades from existence as Mason claims me so completely. Desperate moans and arches take control as he sinks deep inside me.

I wrap my legs around his hips, riding the pleasure with him and feeling…beautiful.

Tingling burns in my clit, and I feel Mason thicken inside me. We ride the wave of release as it powers through us—sharp and explosive.

"Mason," I cry out, clamping down around him.

Stillness gradually takes over, and all I can hear is our breaths as we come down.

For several moments, Mason lays there, his head buried in my neck, and I hold onto him tightly.

When Mason eventually slides back, he tumbles onto the bed next to me and pulls me under his arm. Grabbing the covers, Mason throws them over us and sighs.

As silly as it is, I can't stop myself from nuzzling against his side.

"You are beautiful, Bridget, and you deserved none of that." Mason's hand runs down my back.

I crane my neck to look up at him. "Thank you, Mason. It's…it's been a while since anyone made me feel that way. So…thank you."