He insisted on carrying me up to the bedroom, wrapping me up in his strong arms. After a quick rinse in the beautiful shower and climbing into bed, I thought it might take me a while to find sleep in an unfamiliar place, but as it turned out, I’d barely shut my eyes before I fell into an exhausted sleep.
Chapter 6
ELLIE
It was too dark to see as my hands felt along the wall, searching in vain for a way out. I could hear footsteps above and the rumble of a voice—his voice. My fear spiked as I began clawing at the walls, trying in desperation to get out.
“Ellie, wake up. Baby, you’re okay.” Mason’s deep voice pulled me from my nightmare. I bolted up in bed, breathing heavily, trying to get a handle on my surroundings. I hadn’t had that dream in so long.
“Dammit,” I breathed, bringing my knees into my chest, my head in my hands. Mason sat up beside me, putting an arm around me and pulling me to his chest. I was trembling slightly as he rubbed his large hand up and down my bare back in reassuring strokes. Gradually, I was able to slow my breathing and stop shaking. “Sorry,” I murmured, embarrassed.
“It’s okay,” he assured me, kissing my head.
“I haven’t had that dream in a long time,” I muttered, feeling safe and secure in his strong arms.
“What is it about?” he asked quietly.
“I’ll tell you everything,” I promised stoically. “But not right now, okay?” I pleaded. He’d assured me that nothing would change, but the truth was, he couldn’t promise that—not until he knew everything. The thought of him looking at me differently, of him not wanting me once he knew… it wasn’t a reality I was in a hurry to discover.
He sighed, and I could tell he was frustrated that I was putting it off yet again, but he let it go. “Okay, but before we leave here, babe,” he coaxed gently.
I nodded, knowing I needed to tell him before we took another step toward what was already becoming one of the most meaningful relationships of my life.
Part of me was afraid that he would judge me for being with someone like Brian, that my judgment could have been so off. Shit, I still didn’t understand it myself. And with Mason’s life in the spotlight, my past wasn’t a small blemish like it might have otherwise been. I just needed one more carefree day with him before we dug into the skeletons in my closet.
“What time is it?” I wondered, glancing around for a clock.
“Early. C’mere,” he coaxed with a grin, pulling me on top of him and putting an end to any further conversation.
After we forced ourselves from each other’s arms and the warm bed, we headed out into the crisp morning air for a run with Kodi. There was a trail that started from right behind the house, and I relished the fresh mountain air as we ran side by side. I’d never run with a partner before, but he let me set the pace. I knew he could undoubtedly go faster and farther than me, but he seemed content to go at my speed. We ran for a few miles before turning back toward the house. I was already tired at that point, with the increased altitude and steep hill we’d climbed, and by the time we got back to the house, my legs felt like jelly.
Mason barely seemed to have broken a sweat. I glared at him in mock frustration, and he simply gave me a cocky grin. “Gotta be in shape on the field.” He shrugged.
“When do you start practice again?” I asked as we climbed the stairs.
“A couple of weeks,” he answered.
“Do you have to travel a lot?” I asked, thinking of it for the first time. I seriously needed to put more thought into what he did for a living.
“Some, not as much as a lot of other sports,” he replied as we stepped back into the warmth of the house and headed upstairs. “Worried you’ll miss me?” he growled, hauling me over his shoulder as I shrieked in protest. He carried me up the rest of the stairs to the bathroom and started the shower.
How much I’d miss him and after such a short time wasn’t something I was ready to formulate into words. Instead, I stepped under the warm spray of the water, beckoning him to join me.
* * *
We went into town briefly for lunch and a little window shopping. Mason was clearly recognized, but no one bothered us, for which we were both grateful. We just wanted to be in our own little bubble. I offered to make dinner, and we stopped at the store for groceries. By the time we got back to the house, the sun was low in the sky.
Mason started the fire and turned on some music while I opened a bottle of wine and started dinner, trying to stave off the dread that had begun to bloom in my belly, knowing I’d need to start talking and soon.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, coming to stand behind me, kissing my neck. “You’ve gone quiet on me.”
I forced a smile, turning in his arms to put my arms around his neck. “I was thinking that I’m really happy,” I answered honestly.
His gaze roved over me, reading my expression, no doubt guessing I was holding something back. His ability to read me after such a short time continued to confound me.
After a dinner that I barely tasted and couldn’t finish, we curled up by the fire, sipping wine. The ambiance of the room was completely serene, warring with the utter turmoil I felt inside. I knew I had to start talking, that he was waiting. I just wasn’t sure how to start. So I decided from the beginning would be best.
“You know Lily and I were roommates in college,” I murmured, looking into the fire, unable to look his way just yet. I’d deliberately sat a bit farther from him than I typically did. I needed my own space. He seemed to sense this and didn’t push me.
“We had a great time. We used to have these parties, her doing much more than mine, which I’m sure you could guess.” I cracked a pained smile. “I met Brian when he and his buddies came to one of them. He seemed like a really nice guy. I let him pursue me.” I shrugged. “He was handsome and seemed kind, though Lily never liked him,” I added. “But he seemed to have much stronger feelings for me. I just never felt that spark—the one I feel anytime I’m with you,” I said softly, risking a glance at Mason. He was watching me, his expression willing me to continue.
“I was sure it was me, my fault that I never felt that with him. He was handsome, thoughtful, and clearly smitten. So I slept with him.” I swallowed audibly. “I guess I thought maybe it would change the way I felt. Ignite something…” I drifted off. “But I knew right away that wasn’t the case, and I broke it off soon after.” I took a long swallow of my wine, my hand visibly shaking, my nerves racing.
“Do you have to sit so far away?” Mason asked, sensing my growing anxiety.
I nodded, glancing over at him. “I just have to get it out. Right away, it was as though a curtain dropped or something. It was terrifying. He’d clearly been keeping up a façade, because I’d never seen that kind of temper in him as when I broke it off. His face…” My voice drifted off before I continued, “He just had this wild look on his face as he screamed at me that I was a slut and only wanted one thing. That I’d used him.” I snorted. “Trust me, there wasn’t anything to use; it wasn’t like he’d shown me anything I wanted more of. He threatened me, pushed me into a wall. It was really scary. Luckily, Lily came home, and he took off.” I sighed, rubbing my temple. Mason reached over and squeezed my hand before releasing it so I could continue.