42. Mason

Chapter forty-two

Mason

I slipped through the shadows of Bridgetown Pack territory, every sense on high alert. This place had never been home, but now it felt downright hostile.

My feet glided silently over the damp earth, leaving no trace of my passage. The scents of pine and jasmine hung heavy in the air, but beneath them, I caught the faint musk of wolf—patrols, but not close enough to be a concern. A twig snapped nearby, and without breaking stride, I cataloged its source: a rabbit about twenty feet to my left. Irrelevant.

Memories of holding Shya in the hospital flashed through my mind, of me admitting I'd killed Dad. What the fuck was I doing? She was a Pack princess, for fuck's sake. I was a killer who ran a PI agency. She deserved better than this. My wolf growled at me, and I shoved those thoughts aside. No time for that self-pitying crap. I had to concentrate. I had a job to do. Get to Shya. Stop this mating ceremony. Nothing else mattered.

The Alpha house loomed ahead, dark and imposing. I pressed on, keeping to the shadows of the trees. A patrol passed north of me, two wolves padding silently through the undergrowth. I tensed. The wolves paused, sniffing the air. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought they'd caught my scent. But then they moved on, disappearing into the night.

I waited another minute before setting off again. I was almost there. I could see Shya's window now, a faint light glowing inside.

I ran, reached the base of the Alpha House, and leaped. My hands found holds in the rough stone. My muscles strained as I pulled myself up, each movement precise and controlled.

Shya's window was just above me. I slid the window open and slipped inside.

My eyes immediately found Shya, sleeping in just her panties and a pale pink vest. She looked so fucking beautiful. Delicate, vulnerable, soft. For a moment, I just stood there, drinking in the sight of her.

Then reality crashed back in. We didn't have much time.

"Shya," I whispered, moving closer. "Princess, wake up."

Her eyes snapped open instantly, alert and focused. In one fluid motion, she was out of bed, a knife seemingly materializing in her hand. The blade pressed against my throat before I could blink.

Delicate, vulnerable, soft? Yeah, not my princess.

I was oddly proud of her, even as the blade broke my skin.

"Mason," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous as the knife disappeared as swiftly as it had appeared. "How did you get in? We've tripled our patrols, and you sauntered past them! What the hell are you even doing here?"

"What the fuck do you think I'm doing here? I heard about the mating ceremony," I growled. "You can't go through with it."

Shya's eyes widened, a flicker of pain crossing her face. She took a step back.

"Mason, I—"

"No. Don't give me the bullshit excuses your mom has put in your head. Tell me why the fuck you would agree to this?"

She took another step away from me. "Mason, try to understand. I have a duty to my Pack, to my father. We're facing threats all around us. I have to ensure we're safe, that we're protected."

"And you think mating with Edmond will do that?"

"Yes." She said it so matter-of-factly.

I held her gaze. "What about you?"

Shya frowned. "What about me?"

"Is this what you want? Not for your father, or your mother, or your Pack. Is Edmond who you want?"

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter what I want."

"You're wrong. What you want is everything."

"Really?" She threw her hands up. "You make it sound so easy. ‘Hey, Shya,'" she said, trying to imitate my voice, "‘even though you don't trust your own feelings, why don't you give up everything you've been brought up to believe, abandon your family and friends, go off and have hot, sultry sex with me for the next year.'"

"The hot, sultry sex sounds fucking awesome."

She ignored my quip and started pacing. "You're asking me to give up all my responsibilities, to forget my duty, to leave everything I've ever known, all for something I'm not sure about. I hardly even know you! If you think what you want is everything, what is it you want, Mason?"

I didn't have to think about that for even a second. "You."

Shya blinked. "What?"

"You, Shya," I said, my voice dropping to a husky whisper. "I want you. Every fierce, stubborn, beautiful inch of you. I want your fire, your passion, your strength. I want your laughter in the morning and your sighs at night. I want to stand beside you, whether it's here in the heart of your Pack lands, beneath the pines of Three Rivers, or in some distant corner of the world we haven't even dreamed of yet. I don't care about the where, Shya. I just want you. Your hopes, your fears, your dreams. All of it. All of you." I raised one eyebrow. "And especially the hot and sultry sex."

I took a step closer, close enough to see the flecks of gold in her eyes, to feel the heat radiating from her skin. "I want a future where we face every challenge together, where we make something that's ours. Not your Pack's, not your parents', not anyone else's. Ours." I could hear her heart thumping quickly in her chest. "I want the chance to show you that what we have isn't just a passing attraction. It's real, princess. It's powerful. And it's worth fighting for."

She seemed frozen on the spot. Petrified.

"Princess, look at me," I said softly. When she locked eyes with me, I slowly reached out, giving her time to pull away if she wanted. She didn't. My hands cradled her face, my thumbs brushing her cheeks.

"You have to start trusting yourself again," I murmured, looking deep into her eyes. "Right here, right now, what is your heart telling you? What is your body telling you?"

Her breath caught, a shiver running through her at my touch. I could feel her pulse quickening under my fingers, see the flush spreading across her cheeks. My own body responded, a rush of heat and need coursing through me.

"Mason," she whispered, her lips parting slightly. The hunger in her eyes matched my own.

"Tell me to stop, princess. Tell me, and I will."

But she didn't. Instead, she closed her eyes. Slowly, ever so slowly, I lowered my mouth to hers. My lips hovered there for an eternity of seconds, a breath away from contact. Waiting for her signal to stop. When none came, I closed the distance and captured her mouth in mine. She melted against me instantly, just like I knew she would. Her arms wound around my neck, pulling me closer as her body sank into mine. The taste of her lips was fucking intoxicating. This was what I wanted. Every day for the rest of my life.

I lifted her up, her legs wrapped around my waist, kissing her so completely. Her hands buried themselves in my hair, tugging slightly. A low growl rumbled from the back of my throat. She liked that. She kissed me harder, as if she was pouring all our pent-up frustration and longing into it.

Holy hell, she was fucking amazing.

Something bright flickered in her eyes, a spark of something wild and untamed. She reached up and slipped off my shirt, revealing the expanse of skin beneath. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of me, a soft gasp escaping her lips.

"Like what you see, princess?"

Her cheeks flushed crimson as she looked at me sharply. "You said that before. In my dreams."

I arched an eyebrow. "Really? And what did you say?"

"I said … I said, ‘Oh, yes.'"

I surged forward and kissed her.

"Mason," she whimpered as my fingers trailed downwards, skimming the delicate curves of her body, and I reveled in the sound.

We crashed into the wall, and my hand skimmed lower until I met the waistband of her panties. I couldn't take my eyes off her, and her chest heaved as she sucked in a sharp breath, anticipation making her pupils dilate. I wasn't wasting time putting her down; I ripped off her panties, then whipped her vest off. She was finally naked, thank fuck, and I took a moment to drink her in.

"Goddess, princess, you're so fucking beautiful."

Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of crimson at my words.

"And fucking adorable."

"Mason—"

"I'm going to suck your clit until you come all over my face, princess."

Her eyes widened as she squirmed, a fucking delightful combination of shock and anticipation painted across her face.

Her back arched as I brushed my fingers lightly over her nipples, a soft whimper escaping from between her parted lips. I watched as they tightened under my touch, the sight of it driving me wild with lust. Unable to resist any longer, I dipped my head down and captured one in my mouth, teasing it gently with my tongue. She gasped, her hand fisted in my hair.

"Mason," she moaned out my name like a prayer, her voice shaky with need. The sound sent a jolt of heat straight down my spine, making me so fucking hard. I switched to her other nipple, giving it the same attention, eliciting another ragged moan from her. Her hand slipped down my back, fingers tracing the designs inked into my skin.

I moved lower still until I was kneeling between her thighs, my breath fanning her heated core. Her breath caught in anticipation as I hitched one of her legs over my shoulder, then parted her with my fingers, gazing in deep admiration at the sight before me.

"Your pussy is a sight to behold," I whispered. Her scent filled my senses, and I leaned in, flicking my tongue against her folds. The taste of her on my tongue was intoxicating, and I groaned, unable to resist delving deeper.

"Holy hell, you taste amazing, princess."

She writhed as I continued to explore her with my mouth. It was pure bliss watching her lose herself like this, feeling the way she responded to every lick of my tongue. Her thighs tightened around me as she whimpered again, louder now, the sound swallowed by the room. She moaned as I found her clit with my tongue. My hands rested against her hips, holding her steady while I began to devour her with an intensity that had her bucking her hips.

She was so sweet, so fucking divine. The taste of Shya was something I knew I would never grow tired of. I swirled my tongue around again and again. I was relentless, picking up the pace as I found just the right rhythm to have her shaking with pleasure. Her gasps grew louder with each pass of my lips.

"Mason!" she cried out as she hit her peak. Her entire body shook with the force of her orgasm. She clung to me tightly as she rode it out, her nails digging into my shoulders, and I fucking loved it. Loved that I could do this to her.

"Mason," she moaned, and her eyes were hooded with desire again as they met mine; a light sheen of sweat coated her body, making her skin glisten in the dim light.

I chuckled. "My greedy princess. So eager for more."

I stood up and kissed her, filling her mouth and mine with the taste of her.

My hand drifted up her torso, caressing the soft skin there before resting over her heart, where I could feel its rapid rhythm beneath my palm. Her whimpered response vibrated against my lips, and she shifted uneasily against me, her body still throbbing from the intensity of her climax.

I picked her up and placed her on the bed. My fingers trailed down the valley between her breasts before cupping them gently. I marveled at their fullness, the weight of them in my hands as they spilled over my fingers. I caught one hard nipple between my thumb and forefinger, rubbing it lightly to tease a soft cry from her lips. She pressed her chest harder against my hand.

"Mason," she pleaded, the sound dragging out of her throat in a low moan.

I fucking loved the sounds she made. My free hand trailed lower until my fingers found her opening. She was warm and wet and ready. Her hips bucked against my hand as I slipped a finger inside. She gasped, and I added another finger. Her legs spread wider for me without any prompting, inviting me to delve deeper.

"Such a greedy girl."

I finger-fucked her with a rhythm that had her writhing underneath me. I watched her beautiful face, captivated by the way she looked so relaxed, so blissed out. Her eyes locked on mine, and I saw the moment she realized I was watching her. Her breath hitched, and her pulse sped up. Without breaking eye contact, she reached out, her delicate hand tracing down my torso and under my waistband. Then my sweet little princess wrapped her hand around my cock. She started slowly, mirroring the pace I was setting inside of her.

Her touch was hesitant at first, fingers lightly stroking me as she watched my face closely for any reaction. Then, her hand moved more confidently, exploring every inch of me with a curious touch that had me fighting back a groan. She twisted her wrist slightly, her fingertips tracing light circles over my sensitive head before taking a firmer hold. She pumped her hand faster, and I increased the pace of my thrusting fingers. My thumb swirled around her clit. She gasped, and her grip tightened on me in response. Her eyes went wide and unblinking, her gaze never leaving mine as she watched my face.

"Fuck," I hissed through gritted teeth, struggling to keep control of my body.

She grinned wickedly up at me, and I almost came right then.

I added another finger, and leaned down and kissed her. Our bodies rocked in perfect harmony to our shared rhythm. It was intoxicating. I could feel the tremor growing within me, a tight coil ready to explode. The sensation was electrifying, coursing through my veins like wildfire. Her inner walls clenched tightly around me as her body arched into me.

"Mason," she all but screamed, her voice high and desperate.

I felt her tighten around me once more, and with a shudder that rocked her whole body, she came apart beneath me. The sight of her, the sound of my name on her lips in that moment of absolute bliss, was enough to push me over the edge. I groaned low and deep as my own release exploded. My vision blurred, and my muscles tightened. Every nerve ending in my body lit up like a fucking Christmas tree; the pleasure was so intense it was almost painful. Her eyes were still locked onto mine, wide and full of unadulterated pleasure as we rode our joint orgasms out together. And I watched every flicker of emotion cross her face, knowing I was the fucking one who put it there.