“Second best?” I exclaimed, my head shaking in disbelief. “Oh my god, you don’t get it!” I marched up to him. “I loved Ben so damn much. I never thought I could love someone else again.” My body shook with life, with the truth I was about to utter. “Then I met you, and you ripped everything I was sure of to shreds. You forced me out of my safety and comfort and made me see and feel things I never had before. Everything was against us, yet I still couldn’t fight you. I never feel more alive than when I’m with you. If anything, you have this all backward. I dreamed of you before we even met. You somehow have always been there, casting a shadow on him. The moment you looked at me across the field, deep down, I knew. It’s always been you.” My voice wobbled with emotion. “When I look at you, I only see the man I’m falling for.”
He took a staggering breath, his chest moving up and down violently, staying silent for a long time.
“Mason?”
“That’s even more reason I can’t consciously do this to you.”
“Do what to me?”
“Leave.”
“You going somewhere?” I snapped back, my anger rising.
“You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t. Explain it to me.” I grabbed at his arm. “Because all tonight showed me is I don’t want to be with anyone else.”
“You want to be with someone you know will die?” Fury coated each word, and he stretched his arms, daring me to really look at him. “All I will cause you is grief and agony all over again.”
“Yes!” I yelled. “Because I’d rather live a short life with you, living it the fullest we can, than live a long life feeling as if part of me is missing. I’m just filling time until I go,” I bellowed. “Plus, you don’t know what will happen in the future. I could die first.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Why not? You don’t know. I could get into an accident tomorrow. Look at Ben. He was healthy, was supposed to live a long life, but he didn’t. You are jumping us ahead to something we don’t know yet. You could find another heart. There might be technologies we don’t know yet.” Tears formed under my lids. “And I want to believe he saved you on purpose, and all this wasn’t for nothing. And this life, with you, is where I’m supposed to be.” I motioned to us. “I want to be by your side during all the ups and downs. I want my life with you. My future with you.” I took a huge gulp of air. “I love you,” I croaked out. “I am so completely in love with you. I have been since the moment we met.”
For a moment, he watched me, his nose flaring, his dark gaze wild. A growl vibrated in his throat.
It was my only warning.
He moved in a blink, cupping the back of my head, his mouth covering mine, seizing me like he would raze me to the ground. Searing hot desire rushed between my thighs. His mouth was desperate and hard, overflowing with pain, love, grief, and desire.
“I’m so fucking in love with you too,” he muttered against my mouth before he claimed it again. Taking our emotions out on each other, vicious for blood, ruthless to feel life pumping in our veins. His tongue pushed deeper into my mouth, forcing a moan from my throat. He picked me and tossed me up onto the workbench, pushing between my legs, his mouth devouring mine.
“Fuck. I’ve missed you,” he rumbled, biting down on my lip, tugging and sucking on it, making my pussy throb with need.
“I’ve missed you too.” I pulled him closer to me as he kissed my tears away.
Ripping my shirt over my head, he unhooked my bra, baring my breasts to him. With the garage light on, anyone could see us clearly, giving us that extra dose of raw need.
“Fuck,” he rumbled, taking one in his mouth. My back arched as his tongue flicked, his teeth scraping over my nipple.
“Oh god.” My whole body pulsed with need, the time apart only adding to my desperation. I tore at his shirt, wrenching it off him. He paused as I followed the scar down with my fingers. “This scar is mine.” I leaned over, kissing the raised skin. “You were marked for me.”
His chest heaved as he recaptured my lips, consuming me. He breathed me in and took everything left of my soul, possessing the rest of me. “I need you now.” He grabbed my hand, yanking me off the table and pulling me toward the house.
“Mason.” I stumbled after him, one arm covering my bare chest. “What are you doing? Your grandparents?”
“They are asleep and deaf as doornails.” He marched me down the hall, kicking his bedroom door closed the moment we were inside. He took me in with hungry eyes. “Strip,” he demanded.
Heat flooded my skin as his hungry gaze watched me take off my jeans, slinking down my underwear, leaving me in nothing.
He grabbed me, pulling me into him, his lips taking mine. “I want to take my time with you. Lick every inch of your body.”
“You can do that after.” I went on my toes, my mouth grazing his. “Right now, I need you to fuck me, Mason. Show me you’re mine.”
A guttural noise clawed up his throat. He tossed me back on his bed, yanking off his jeans and briefs. As he climbed over me, his hands wrenched my legs wide apart, and his mouth dipped between my legs, licking through me as he traveled up. “I’ve craved nothing but this pussy.” He dragged his cock between my folds.
A loud moan curled me up into him, my veins on fire. “Mason.”
“I’m not going to be gentle.”
“I never want you to be.” I wanted it rough and dirty, deep and passionate.
I wanted us.
His heavy erection rubbed against my entrance, making me cry out. “Please.” I bucked into him, my muscles shaking with need.
“Jesus, I can feel how wet you are. How bad you want me.” He grunted as he drove into me. Both of us cried out, his dick stretching me, my fingers digging into the sheets as he pushed in deeper.
I would never get over how he felt, how our bodies moved together, how much pleasure he could draw from me. I became obsessed. Addicted.
“Shit!” He drew back, slamming into me again, my head hitting the headboard. “Emery?” His teeth clenched together, and I could feel him trying to hold back.
“I want it all. Ruin me. Make me only yours.”
He growled, pulling out of me and flipping me over. Gripping my hips, he thrust back into me.
My cry got stuck in my throat as he took control, taking all his anger and pain out on me. Pummeling me so hard, tears leaked down my eyes as both pain and pleasure consumed me, taking control of my vocals and my mind.
He pulled my hair, making my pussy clench down on him. He hissed, pulling me up. “Ride it.” He shoved a pillow between my legs. “I want you on my pillowcase. Dripping on it. Soaking it.”
Damn, his dirty mouth turned me on. A cry pelted from my lungs, utter bliss taking over my body as my clit rubbed against the fabric, his cock spearing me so deeply my nails embedded into the wood.
One palm wrapped around my neck as he thrust in deeper, squeezing his fingers just enough for my entire body to ignite.
I lost all control, no longer trying to stay quiet, my eyes rolling back.
“Mason…” I rasped out. “Oh god!”
He yanked out again, flipping me on my back. “I need to watch you come. Know you are mine.” He wrapped my wrists with one hand, yanking them above my head as he torturously sank into me, inch by inch.