Chapter 38

Mason toyed with the blindfold that covered his eyes."Where are you taking me?" he asked.

"It's a surprise," I told him for the fourth time as we drove to Isle of Palms.

His large hand fumbled around the side control panel until his fingers found the small plastic button to manipulate the car window. With a satisfying click, he pushed it down, and a gentle breeze seeped into the stuffy interior of the car.

"Smells salty," he said. "Are we going to the beach?"

"Not quite," I answered.

As we approached my new home, my nerves began to escalate rapidly. One pressing thought consumed me.

What if he didn't want to live with me?

"Almost there," I informed Mason with a shaky voice.

His hand found my thigh and gently squeezed, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah!" It came out as a feeble squeak, weak and unconvincing. Thankfully, Mason's eyes, covered tightly by a blindfold, could not search mine for the truth.

As the car rolled to a stop in the driveway, my palms instantly turned slick with sweat.

"Stay put!" I commanded Mason as I climbed out of the car and rushed to the passenger side. My heart pounded in my chest as I reached for the door handle.

"Ready?" I asked Mason as I offered him a hand.

He climbed out of my car, his tall stature casting a shadow over my figure. Standing tall and strong, he seemed like an impenetrable shield. The very sight of him instilled a sense of calm and trust within me.

"Definitely," he said as he pulled me into him. Even blindfolded, he knew where to touch, where to kiss me. He knew my body so well.

I had no reason to be nervous. Mason was my safe place.

I guided him up the front steps, the sun casting its rays over us as we ascended onto the large porch.

As I fiddled with the keys, Mason's curiosity seemed to rise.

"Where are we?" His voice was deep and husky as he asked, his lips trailing kisses along my neck.

I giggled, squirming at his touch, "You're about to find out."

Mason's fingers danced over the smooth material of his blindfold. "Can I take it off?"

"Yes," I finally whispered.

He swiftly removed the blindfold and squinted at the sudden onslaught of bright afternoon sunlight that flooded the room.

"Where are we?" he asked as he scanned the empty living room.

"My house," I said. "Our house, if you want it to be."

His face contorted with utter shock, leaving his features frozen. My heart pounded furiously in my chest as panic set in.

His eyes moved around the room before meeting mine. "Kenna," he whispered. "This is amazing."

I lit up at his words, "You think so?"

He wandered over to the sliding glass door that led to the backyard. His sharp, blue eyes scanned the tranquil marsh view before us. A vast expanse of water and greenery stretched for miles.

"Are you kidding me? This is epic," he said.

I still couldn't believe it was my backyard.

I felt a surge of pride well up within me for finally taking the leap and making a commitment. Hell, I was taking more than a leap by asking Mason to live with me.

I was jumping in headfirst.

"I know it's only been a few months—" I began to explain.

But Mason interrupted me. "Kenna," he sighed as his hand glided through his dark, curly locks.

The look on his face was scaring the absolute shit out of me.

Was I about to get dumped?

"This is something you've wanted for a long time," Mason said. "The house, I mean. I don't want to take that away from you. You deserve to make this your home."

"You living with me would make this house a home," I explained.

I barely finished speaking before Mason's lips were upon mine, urgent and needy. His hands cradled my face as he pulled me closer.

His kiss was filled with a fierce longing that left no room for doubt.

His answer was yes.

He would move in with me.

He turned me with a gentle but firm grasp, pressing my back against his muscular chest. As he slowly slid the hem of my dress up my thighs, I felt a thrill of anticipation course through my body. I gasped as his fingers grazed my bare skin where my panties should have been.

"Such a dirty girl," he growled into my ear.

He dragged two fingers expertly down my slit. When he caught my clit between his fingers and gently squeezed, I spread my legs even further for him.

"Tell me what you want," he said as his left hand tickled my collarbone.

His right hand continued to rub me in soft, circular motions, teasing my sensitive nub relentlessly.

"Your hand," I squeaked, "I want it around my throat."

His hand slowly traveled from my collarbone to the flesh of my neck. The pulsing sensation between my thighs grew stronger as he applied pressure to my throat.

"I need you inside of me," I told him as I reached around behind me to find his zipper.

"Get on your hands and knees," Mason demanded.

I groaned when his hands vacated my body, but I did as I was told. He quickly positioned himself behind me, guiding his shaft to my heat.

"Fuck," Mason grunted as he entered me, his expert fingers returning to my clit as he slowly pumped in and out of me. He loved taking his time. Each movement was deliberate, drawing out the anticipation.

I pushed my hips against his. "Harder," I demanded.

His grip on my throat returned, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. It was just the right amount of pressure, bringing a rush of pleasure without causing any discomfort.

With each rhythmic thrust, his hips gained speed, driving deeper into me with a sense of urgency. His skilled fingers expertly teased my sensitive nub, unleashing waves of pleasure that pulsed through my body like electric currents.

He seemed to have an innate understanding of my desires as if he could read my mind and anticipate exactly what I needed in that moment.

Every time with him was outstanding.

It was unlike anything I had experienced before, something I had only read about before.

"You're desperate to come," he groaned. "Let it all out, Kenna."

I was teetering on the edge of my orgasm when his words pushed me over. I screamed out Mason's name as his hands released their hold on my throat and clit to grip my hips, thrusting forward. He slammed himself into me, his orgasm as explosive as my own.

"How can it be that good," I laughed as I collapsed onto the floor.

"Because it's different when you love someone. When you love each other."

"It is," I smiled.

"Loving you is like sinking into a steaming hot bath at the end of the day," Mason told me.

"Isn't that what I told you love was? Or at least, my definition of love?"

He nodded, "You are my happy place, Kenna."

"Thank you for trusting me to cherish all the parts of you, even the messy parts that you'd rather hide," I told him as I crawled over to him. "Thank you for loving me enough to show me the parts of you that you aren't proud of."

His eyes bulged. He hadn't expected me to remember.

After Mason told me his definition of love while eating ice cream, his words stuck with me. Those words told me more about him than he ever did in those first few weeks. It took some time to decipher their meaning, though. Eventually, he started to open up, revealing more to me about his past. The wild stories Mason told me about him and his former friends were eye-opening, but they didn't change my view of Mason. I knew his heart, and that was all that mattered to me.

"Thank you for loving me despite everything," Mason said.

"Despite what?" I asked. "Despite you being fucking amazing? I'm so proud to call you mine, to be yours."

For the first time since I had known him, his cheeks blushed at my words.

"So, will you move in with me?"

He grinned bigger than I imagined possible. "Sure," he shrugged.

"Sure?" I asked.

He pulled me into him. "I'd love nothing more, Kenna," he whispered. "Of course, I'll move in with you."

I took his face in my hands and covered it with kisses.

"You'll always have my heart," I told him.

"And your heart will always be safe with me," he said.