“I’ve been living in hell.” My throat tightens as I share the worst moments of my life. “Always afraid, always waiting for the next punishment. Last night… With you?” How do I explain to this man the gift he’s given me? “It was different. You didn’t take anything from me. You let me give. I felt wanted. Safe. Protected.”
He exhales hard, scrubbing a hand through his hair as he leans back against the headboard. “You said that was the best sex you’ve ever had.”
“It was.” My voice is quiet but certain. “I’ve never come apart like that in someone’s arms. Never felt that safe. That free.”
A slow, wicked grin spreads across his face. “Careful. You say things like that, and you’re gonna give a guy a god complex.”
I arch a brow. “A god complex?”
“Yeah. Giant ego. Swagger for days. Probably start carving notches in the headboard.”
“Huge ego.” I laugh, the sound easing some of the heaviness still pressing on my chest. “And for the record, you already have a swagger.”
He leans in, voice dropping to a husky murmur. “That’s not the only thing I’ve got that’s huge.” He glances down at the sheets, and the indisputable evidence rises between us. Eager and ready formore.
“You did not just say that.” My cheeks flame, and I swat him with the nearest pillow.
His grin widens as he catches the pillow mid-swing. “Babe, you’re the one who saidbest sex of your life. I’m just living up to expectations.”
I roll my eyes, but the smile won’t leave my lips. “Unreal. One night and you’re already impossible.”
“You started it.” He shrugs, completely unapologetic.
“I’m trying to be serious here.”
“I’m very serious when it comes to sex.” He waggles his brows and lifts the sheets, checking. “Yup. Very serious.”
“Truly impossible, and while I’d love more, we need to talk.”
“About your asshole husband and the fucktard he sent to bring you back?”
“Fucktard? Haven’t heard that one before.”
“Didn’t feel like asshole was strong enough for this Drake dude.”
“Anyway…” I slap him playfully. “I want more sex. A lot more sex. But we need to talk about what’s out that door.”
“If you insist.”
“Steffan won’t let me go. Drake and his team are still out there, hunting me. This is a dream, a wonderful dream, but a dream, nonetheless. I can’t stay here.”
“We deal with Steffan. Together. No arguing about that part.”
“I can’t ask you to?—”
“You’re not asking.” His dominance flows naturally into his words, sending a familiar shiver down my spine. “I’m telling. Or did you forget you’re mine to protect?”
“You’ve known me for less than a day. I would never ask that of you… I would never expect it. All I’ve done is bring trouble into your world and a day of… Well, a day and night of the best sex of my life.”
But even as I embrace the moment, even as I lose myself inhis touch, his kiss, his love, a part of me can’t help but mourn the inevitable end. Because I know, deep down, that this can’t last. That eventually, I’ll have to go back to my real life, back to a world where this kind of passion, this kind of trust, this kind of love, is just a distant memory, a beautiful dream, a fleeting fantasy.
As the day turns to night, we stay in bed, our bodies entwined, our hearts pounding in sync. Mason pulls me into his arms, holding me close, his touch gentle and tender. He presses a soft kiss to my lips, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“You’re incredible,” he murmurs, his voice filled with awe and satisfaction. “The way you give yourself to me…”
A bittersweet smile touches my lips as I look into his eyes. “Mason,” I say softly, my voice barely a whisper, “this is a fantasy. The best fantasy I’ve ever had. This kind of sex… It’s not real. It can’t be real. It’s beautiful and intense, but I don’t know how to have this in a normal life. I don’t know how to maintain this or let go like this outside of this cabin.”
He looks at me, his eyes filled with understanding and sadness, but there’s also a fierce determination in their depths, a resolve that burns like a flame. He cups my face in his hands, his thumbs gently stroking my cheeks, his gaze steady and sure.
