Fallen Crest High

chapter FORTY





I wasn't sure what time it was the next morning when I woke. I had knocked the clock off the nightstand at some point and a jolt of warmth rushed through me at the memory of it. Mason was sprawled out on the other side of the bed. I blinked at the sight of his tight butt. The sheets had slipped down to his thigh and I was tempted to run a finger up the backside of his leg and over his cheeks. They were tanned, muscular, and itching for my touch.

"Don't even think it," he mumbled out of the corner of his mouth. One of his eyes opened enough to see me with his face pressed into his pillow. A half smile spread over him and then he tugged the sheet across my lap. It was wrapped around my legs and I was soon pulled into his arms.

He nuzzled my neck and pulled me over so I was across his chest.

When he started tickling under my arm, I pulled away, breathless. "Stop it!"

He chuckled and gave me a quick kiss. "You have morning breath."

"So do you." I kissed him back and soon he rolled us to our side. Our legs and arms were wrapped around each other and it wasn't long before I felt him harden against my stomach. "How long do you have the suite?"

He ran a finger down my arm and grinned as goosebumps poked up. "For as long my mom's around. Logan and I didn't want to stay with her so we got this one. He'll probably keep that other suite for the day until everybody's been kicked out."

I shivered when he started to plant soft kisses under my jaw. "Will he be okay? You know…about me and stuff?"

His mouth lingered at the corner of my mouth before he pulled back and settled on his side. He propped himself up on his elbow. "Yeah, he'll be fine. Logan's not an idiot. He doesn't really want you, but that bitch pushed his button."

"And that is?"

He groaned and fell to his back. "Ever since Tate, Logan's never forgotten that she wanted me. He loved her, but she wanted me and worked her way through him to get to me."

"They were together for two years."

"Yeah." He gave me a rueful look. "I'm not exactly welcoming to girls."

"But I saw you with that girl at the house when I caught Jeff."

He shrugged. "She'd been on me for awhile and I never pushed her away. I had an itch to scratch, but she was too drunk. We didn't do anything."

"You said that you had some girlfriends before?"

"Awhile ago, when I was young and stupid. I haven't had to work at getting sex for a long time. If I want it, I can pick the girl. Basically."

"And me?" I grinned down at him and he gave me a knowing smirk.

"What do you think?"

"Am I just for sex? I am convenient."

He tugged me down so I was sprawled over him again and lifted his hips against mine. "Does that feel convenient to you?" His voice was breathless as he cupped my head and turned my lips to his. He brushed against them. "You've been on my mind ever since that damn gas station. I couldn't shake you and then when you moved in, it's been torture. I get hard the second you walk in a room."

"So you're saying…" I opened my mouth and his tongue swept in. He took control of the kiss and I tasted his desperation. I pulled back as I realized it was for me. The hunger in him was insatiable.

"What?" He reached for me again.

I scrambled up as a different emotion raced through me. My teeth started to rattle against each other and my arms started to shake. My knees buckled when I tried to get up so I scooted to the farthest side of the bed.

"Sam? What's wrong?" Concern was thick in his voice.

"I…" I closed my mouth and stared in horror. He held my gaze, but there was no fear. There was no self-consciousness or doubt. That's when I realized that he never questioned himself. He was so strong, on the inside and out. For the first time I was intimidated by Mason Kade and I had no idea what to do about it. So I stumbled out the truth, "I love you."

"I know."

"You know?" I didn't even know.

"Sam, I'm not stupid. You've been on lockdown since you moved in. That's why you go running. Any time you start to feel something, you numb yourself. I get it. Trust me, I do. But I know you wouldn't be with me or done half the stuff with me that you have if you didn't love me."

"But…" I hadn't known. Why hadn't I? A cold feeling took root in my gut.

"Hey," he said in a soft voice and moved so he was close again. He moved on his side and tugged me so I faced him. His forehead rested against mine again. "Everything will be okay. I promise."

I sucked in a tortured breath. And then I surrendered. "I'm scared."

"I know."

"After everything's that happened…" I didn't know I was trembling until he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me tight. The shaking stopped and a sense of safety started to seep in. This time it wasn't a temporary feeling, it wasn't going to leave after he left the bed.

"I'm tired, Mason."

"I know."

We both knew I wasn't referring to sleep.

And then nothing mattered. His lips touched mine and it was tender. He didn't roll me underneath him this time, but lifted so I was on top and then he let me set the pace. After I climaxed and collapsed on top of him, I blinked back tears. It was different. The tears were different. Our love making had been different and the way he held me was different. Or maybe I was the different one?

"Stop thinking." Mason brushed a kiss against my shoulder and laughed. "We'll have plenty of time for that later. Right now, we need to shower. I'm hungry too." And he picked me up, bedsheets and all, and started for the bathroom.

I shrieked, laughing, as I hit his shoulder. "Put me down." I was gasping as he did and danced out of his reach when he pretended to lunge for me again. I felt drunk. I wanted to giggle and smile, and never stop doing both of them. As we showered together, a delicious tingle raced up and down my spine. My heart never stopped pounding and I was lightheaded by the end. Afterwards, he slid on some jeans and started to tug me towards the door. I laughed and dug my feet in. "Let me put some clothes on first."

The corner of his mouth curved up, but his eyes darkened as he watched me.

I sighed. "You should too."

He smirked at me and dropped his jeans to pull some boxers on. He left the shirt and socks behind as he caught my hand. I dressed in a hurry and finished tugging my shirt down when he dragged me behind him and out the door.

As soon as we stepped outside, his demeanor dropped. The standoffish Mason was back in place, but his hand continued to hold mine. A buzzing sensation spread through me when I realized I was grateful for the touch. I missed the feel of his body against mine and knew I was addicted. Then I admitted to myself that I didn't want to kick this addiction. It was threatening to take control of my life and I was okay with that.

Nate smirked at us as we approached the kitchenette and gestured from the coffee maker. "I called in the works. Bagels, omelets, bacon, pancakes." He held out a cup for me. "And coffee."

I inhaled the aroma and groaned. "I just cheated on Mason."

There was a moment of silence before Nate burst out laughing. "Sorry, bud. I think I'm going for your girl."

Mason flashed him a cocky smile and popped some bacon in his mouth. "No worries. I had her primed before we came out."

I shot them both a look and sank down in a chair with my coffee. And then I started to take in the scene around us. A few girls sat at the table with their hair pulled up in haphazard ponytails. They were sprawled in chairs with bags under their eyes. One of the girls narrowed her eyes at me, but stopped halfway. She lifted a hand and let it drop down with a loud smack. "Hi. I'm too tired right now. I'm Natalie."

I nodded and sipped my coffee.

She jerked a thumb beside her. "This is Kate and Parker. We go to school with these dickwads."

Nate laughed as he lifted one of the girls and took the seat beneath her. He held her on his lap, but she never resisted. The movement had been done with an ease that spoke of its history. He'd done this many times with that girl. She nestled back in his chest and gave me a droopy smile. Her eyes shot over my shoulder. "Logan's missing in action, Mason. We're not sure where he is."

He had taken a cup of coffee for himself and lounged against the farthest counter. He lowered it from his mouth now. A scowl took form. "Nate?"

"Relax," Nate hissed at him and pointedly looked at the girls. "It's done."

Mason visibly relaxed. His coffee was lifted again.

And then the door to the suite was thrown open. Logan entered with his arms spread wide and an arrogant smirk on his face. "The deal has been done."

Natalie lifted haughty eyes. "What's done, Logan?"

He winked at her, but crossed the room and pressed a kiss to my forehead. He whispered to me, "Last night was a show. Did Mason fill you in?"

"A show?" I turned hard eyes towards the kitchenette. "Mason."

He held my gaze for a minute and looked past my shoulders in a pointed fashion. A sick feeling took root before I turned. Everything seemed in slow motion and I froze at the sight of Miranda Stewart in the doorway. She wore nothing except for a long white buttoned-down shirt that grazed beneath her bottom. Black lacy panties could be seen and she looked back with wide eyes. I gulped as I saw fear in them. That look doubled when she surveyed the room and I turned as well. All three girls had disdain on their faces and each of them didn't contain a smug look.

Miranda's throat jerked up and down as she met my gaze.

A normal girl would've had sympathy for her. Everything went flat inside of me and I stood to stand beside Mason. He lifted his arms over my chest and leaned forward to rest his head on my shoulder. We watched together as Logan motioned for her to come in. As she did, her throat moved up and down again and she dashed for his lap. As soon as she was there, she curled in his arms and turned her back to the table.

Natalie spoke, "Oh. My. Gawd."

Another started laughing. "Are you serious, Logan?"

The third girl in Nate's arms laughed with her friends, but pressed her face against his arm.

I asked underneath my breath, "What is going on?"

"Logan's got a new girlfriend. That's what's going on." Mason sounded amused.

I twisted my pinkie to curl around his and leaned all my weight back on him. "Was that his idea or yours?"

"Mine."

"Does Logan know that?"

His chest moved up and down. There was no response.

"Mason," I prompted. My heart was pounding again. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear his response.

"No."

I sighed, "At least you don't sound proud for that fact."

"Don't tell him. Please."

I turned around in his arms and looked up. He gazed down and the wall fell aside. It was the guy who was with me in the bedroom, the one who told me he loved me. And my heart broke. I couldn't look away. I couldn't move away. I couldn't tell his secret and when I turned back around to the group I knew everything changed in that moment.

Mason and I were linked together with that one plea. And as a shiver of dark excitement wound through my body, I didn't want to be anywhere else except at his side, no matter where it would take us.

My fingers slid through his and clasped on. Hard.


THE END