“I’m going to be honest with you, Mason. All of this frightens me. If things were and are as bad as you said, then there’s no way you can be sure something wouldn’t happen. And that thought alone makes me worry for you.”
He lightly squeezed my hand and let out a heavy breath. “I know this is scary for you, and I’d understand if you wanted to part ways. When this plan came to me, I didn’t think you’d stay.”
He furrowed his brow, and my heart broke for him as I shook my head. “I don’t want to leave you, Mason. I just…I feel like right now, while all of this is going on, we need to take some time apart. I don’t want whatever this is to go away, but I also don’t want my face all over tabloids, either. I need to look out for myself, but I still want to be there for you.” I groaned as I glanced away. This was all so hard.
He lifted my chin to meet his gaze once again. “I don’t doubt that this is what you want, because this is what I want, too. And I agree with everything you just said. You need to do what makes you feel more comfortable. I don’t want you to run away after I thought I’d already lost you.”
The pain I felt for him, from all the things he’d endured as a child, had built up, causing my eyes to water.
I shook my head. “You didn’t lose me. I just needed to think.” He wiped away one of my stray tears, and I smiled slightly. “And I’d never run away, Mason. I like you too much.”
He chuckled softly and moved in closer. “Is that right?” I smirked and stared into his beautiful blue eyes.
He tilted his head down more and pressed his lips against mine. Excitement exploded in my core, and I reached up to grab onto his shoulders. It had only been a week, but I’d missed those lips. I couldn’t imagine never kissing them again.
He lifted his hands, lacing his fingers in my hair, and I let out a soft moan of approval as his tongue danced with mine. All too soon, he pulled away with a soft kiss.
“I told you before, Emma. I’m not a good man, but I want to be. I know I need help. I know things aren’t going to be easy for me and I’m still going to be a controlling ass. But at the end of the day, this is what I want, too. I promise you I’m going to try,” he stated as he tightened his hold on my hair.
I lifted my chin to kiss him softly as I felt another tear fall down my cheek. I was glad he realized he needed help, and I’d be there to help him. I wanted it. I wanted to be his rock. We’d only known each other for a short amount of time, but deep down it felt like I’d known him my whole life. It was crazy but felt so amazing, like I’d met the other half of my soul.
I pulled away and looked him in the eyes.
“That’s all I can ask for.”
Twenty-eight
Mason
I was surprised to receive a text from Emma, but all too eager to see her. After she’d walked out that night, I figured things were over, that I’d never see her again. I knew if the roles were reversed, there was no way I’d ever put forth the effort to deal with something like this. It was a lot to ask of her, and that was one of the reasons I hadn’t asked her to stay.
Once the news hit the stands that Monday morning, things began to spiral out of control. I couldn’t leave my house without being bombarded with reporters asking question after question. I knew it was coming, but I hadn’t fully prepared myself for the aftermath.
I’d resigned from my job as a professor, knowing it was inevitable anyway. A scandal like this wasn’t good to have around the students and I knew it, so that wasn’t a big thing for me. I didn’t need to work, but it was what I’d grown to love. Teaching students the law gave me purpose. Everything in my life had led me to this place, so letting it go was hard.
I’d also gotten my ass chewed by Luke, who started doubling as my bodyguard, because I had never told him what I’d had to endure. I knew he would take it hard and I had planned on telling him before the news spread, but after Emma had walked out, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I let him find out the same way everyone else did.
I turned the lights off in my office and was about to make my way up the stairs when a knock sounded at the door.
I turned around and looked through the peephole before opening it.
“You couldn’t stay away, could you?” I said to Luke with a smile, opening the door to let him walk through.
“I’m just doing my daily rounds,” he said with a laugh. “You want to come out for a drink? I’m meeting Drew and Steve.”
I shook my head and turned to walk toward the stairs. He’d been doing that all week, stopping by late at night to check on me. I’d told him to quit, but he didn’t listen.
“Nah, you go on ahead.” I knew if I went out I’d drink, and I hadn’t touched a drop since the night I slit my thigh. I didn’t need a new addiction.
“You sure?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Emma’s asleep in my bed.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “Okay, call me if you need me, Mase.”
I started walking up the stairs when he called out to me again.