“Don’t be a stranger, Victoria,” Amelia Liner said as she walked them to the door hours later.
Mason thought the dinner had gone well, and her parents had genuinely liked Victoria. “Thanks for dinner, Mom, and we’ll be here Sunday.”
“Good, but not so many doughnuts next time. Your father is watching his figure and his sugar intake.”
“Does Dad know he’s watching his figure and his sugar intake?”
“Let’s keep it our little secret, and I still have the power to ground you if you tell him.”
Mason lifted Victoria into the cab of her truck and put the crutches in the back seat. Dinner had been wonderful, but she was ready to have Victoria all to herself again. “Thank you for humoring them. Sometimes they’re a little too much,” she said as she slid into the driver’s seat.
“They were fine, and they were so happy you finally got a girl to talk to you.”
“You might be the one on the couch if you keep that up.”
Victoria took her hand and pulled on her fingers. “Thank you for bringing me. Your parents are lovely, and it’s easy to see why you turned out so wonderful.” Victoria leaned over the console and kissed her. “Are we in agreement?”
“About what?” The way Victoria was looking at her made her hope it wasn’t her bank account Victoria was after, because even if it was, she was ready to write a check.
“Start driving and we’ll discuss it.”
The drive was fast, and they stayed clear of the main house as they switched to a utility vehicle to get to the river house. Victoria made it in with her crutches and headed for the bedroom once she flipped on the light. Mason stood by the door, not sure what was going on. Hesitation was way out of character for her. And yet, here she stood.
“Mason,” she heard Victoria call.
Heading into the bedroom was going to change everything and could jeopardize what they were doing to help Sophie. If things went south with Victoria, all the good she was trying to accomplish could blow up in her face, but right now her heart didn’t care. She wanted to gamble for once and see where that got her.
“Mason, are you there?”
She locked the door and walked headlong into the unknown. “Do you need something?”
Victoria had her back to her and was sitting on the bed fully clothed. “Can you help me with this boot?”
It wasn’t exactly the question she was hoping for, so maybe all her pondering was for nothing. She knelt in front of Victoria and started pulling all the straps open. “You want me to get you an ice pack?”
“Not right now.” Mason closed her eyes when Victoria ran her hands through her hair. “What’s wrong?” Victoria stopped her hand at the back of Mason’s neck, prompting her to open her eyes. “Have you changed your mind?”
“About you?” For all her fight, Victoria really was just a lost soul who seemed convinced it was only a matter of time before another bruising hit would come. “No, and I know it’s hard, but I want you to believe me. I’m going to be here until you tell me to go.” Given the doubts that had just been floating through her mind, it felt like an untruth of some kind, but she pushed that thought away.
“You’re really something.” Victoria leaned forward and traced her lips with the tips of her fingers before she moved to her eyebrows and the slope of her cheeks. “That first night I saw you, I was so angry, but I was also so aware of you.”
“What do you mean?” She took Victoria’s shoe off and ran her hand up her leg.
“You’re so damn good-looking.” Victoria kissed her hard, and Mason dropped her hands to her hips and pulled her forward. “I thought about you for hours—you and these perfect dimples.”
“Do you want to kiss me or smack a stick against my perfect dimples?” She laughed when Victoria scowled at her, but still put her legs around her. “Are you tired?”
“No.”
She remembered her promise to go slow but she kissed Victoria again. “Want to change for bed? When you’re done, we can talk if you want.”
“I’m sure my pajamas are around here somewhere, but I’d rather talk to you than hunt for them.” Victoria leaned back and started unbuttoning her shirt, and there was no way Mason could stop herself from staring.
There’d been plenty of women before Victoria, but none had completely captivated her like this. She now knew what captivated meant, but she was at a loss as to why it was this woman. She wasn’t prone to romantic fairy tales, but she did want to sweep Victoria off her feet and make enough of an impression to make her want her. This had to be mutual, though, or it wouldn’t have a future.
Victoria stopped when the shirt was completely open and the pretty pink lace bra was visible. “What’s going on in here?” Victoria tapped her temple gently before kissing her.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” She didn’t mean to be so blunt, but being sure was important.
“Am I not what you want?” Victoria leaned back, dropped her legs, and closed her shirt as if trying to protect herself from the hurt of rejection. “I’m sorry, I thought—”
“Vic, stop, okay?” She slid her hands up until she reached Victoria’s skin. “I want to be sure you’re okay because I don’t want this to be a one-shot deal. I don’t want you to feel like this has to happen in any way. I want you to want me.”
“You’re afraid the bitchy Victoria will make a comeback and kick you to the curb?” The teasing question seemed to relax Victoria and she came closer. “Believe me, Mason, you are the first person who actually sees me. You see me, and your first instinct isn’t to criticize or to ask for anything. I’m sorry I was so distrustful and downright mean, but what I want comes from in here.” Victoria put her hand over her heart and sighed. “I have absolutely no experience with this, and yes, the sky could fall, and I could get buried under the rubble before this is over, but I believe you when you say you want me here.”
“I do, and this is more than about tonight.” Mason placed a row of kisses from Victoria’s chin down her neck and inhaled. The skin above Victoria’s hips where her hands were resting started to warm as did the spots where she’d kissed.
“What do you think is going to happen tonight?” Victoria took her shirt off and lowered the straps of her bra. It seemed like a second later it was off her body and on the floor after Victoria reached behind her and unhooked it herself. “Isn’t this about sleep and talking?”
Shit. Mason wanted to say the word out loud but thought it wouldn’t be appropriate. What in the world was the protocol here? Was she allowed to look or was this a test? Would Victoria flick her in the head if she looked too long? Or would it be rude not to stare at the perfect breasts she’d only gotten a glimpse of? Even with the threat of a head flick, she couldn’t help herself.
“I’ll talk to you forever if you want.” She smiled when Victoria put a finger at the center of her forehead and pushed back. “What?”
“My eyes are up here.”
“True, but your nipples look really anxious to get acquainted, and if you wanted to just talk, you’d probably have kept at least your bra on.”
Victoria smiled as she unbuttoned her jeans next.
“Is our conversation going to revolve around the naked truth?” Mason tucked her hands in her pockets so she didn’t start using them with abandon.
“If you don’t start getting ready for bed, it’ll be hard for you to carry on any conversation from the couch.”
There wasn’t anything Mason wouldn’t do at this point to stay, and Victoria appeared to realize that. The smile she gave her was anything but innocent.
“Will you help me off with these?” She tugged on the open jeans.
She helped Victoria stand and concentrated on keeping her upright, and not on all the naked skin under her hands. There’d been some great unplanned moments in her life, but Victoria tripping on a tree root ranked in the top two right this second. The sight of her bra hitting the ground was in the lead by a solid margin.
“You can put me down, Mason.”
Victoria’s voice broke through the adolescent Neanderthal part of her brain, and she steeled herself to look down. And we have naked, she thought when she eased Victoria back on the bed. It wasn’t the time to break into song or a happy dance, so she stood there like an idiot instead.
“Aren’t you joining me?” Victoria patted the spot next to her. “I really would like to talk to you.”
“What would you like to talk about?” She considered taking her clothes off, but Victoria’s shaking head made her drop her hands from the buttons of her own shirt. Maybe tonight was a good time to let Victoria take the lead. She’d gladly follow her anywhere.
“So many things.” Mason sat down and Victoria turned back to her. “This foot is a pain. Will you help me move?”
“You need the bathroom or something?” She started to get up but stopped when Victoria grabbed the back of her shirt.
“Not the bathroom.” Victoria got her to sit propped against the headboard. “I want to sit on your lap.”
Mason exhaled so hard it made her nostrils flare. She wanted to rush, to put her hands on Victoria and ratchet up her want, but it seemed like a good time to quench her desire, to be a follower. Victoria had to take the lead and set the pace so she knew she had control, something she’d rarely been given before.
She was careful with the injured foot and smiled when Victoria put her arm around her once she was next to her against the headboard. There were so many words she wanted to say, but none came when Victoria started unbuttoning her shirt. She stopped after every button to touch the skin she was exposing, and Mason did her best to keep her breathing steady. There was no way she wanted to make any move that would scare Victoria into stopping. Wherever she touched, the slowness of Victoria’s movements made her feel cherished.
“Is it okay to touch you?” The discipline of keeping her hands on Victoria’s knees was making her sweat, but she didn’t want to fuck this up. “Usually a good conversation is a give-and-take.”
Victoria leaned in and kissed her like she wanted everything she could think of to offer. It was slow, thorough, and caring. Victoria said, “I have so much to say if you’re willing to listen.”
The smile on Victoria’s face made Mason inordinately happy, and she caressed her cheek before kissing her again. She moved her hand up and cupped Victoria’s breast, and Victoria moaned into her mouth. Her nipple hardened under her palm, and it made her want to lay Victoria down and touch her everywhere until she knew every inch of her. This wasn’t about all the things only she wanted, but a dance they’d have to learn to do together.
Mason said, “I want to listen, and I will, even without this particular conversation.” She slid her hand over the slight swell of Victoria’s abdomen, and Victoria spread her legs slightly. The only conceivable way to resist that invitation was to get up and leave the room. And she wasn’t about to do that. “Can I touch you?” She needed to be sure.
“I’ve wanted you to from the moment you picked me up and carried me back here when I hurt myself.” Victoria tugged at the hair at the back of her head and kissed her. She opened her mouth slightly when Mason’s fingers went over her clit.
“You’re so wet.”
“Uh-huh,” Victoria said, laughing briefly. “I need you to do something about it instead of announcing it like you’re a sports broadcaster.”
She wet her fingers as she stroked from the opening of Victoria’s sex to the base of her clit, not wanting to make her come too soon. Victoria’s breathing changed, and she spread her legs wider. “Not a sports announcer, baby, just observant. You’re wet, and your clit is as hard as stone.”
“Maybe I am interested in what you have to say.” Victoria smiled, and her words sounded strained. “I’ve been waiting for you to touch me.”
Mason slipped her fingers inside her, as she wanted to possess Victoria and place her mark on her heart, one that she hoped would make it hard for Victoria to forget her if this didn’t work out. “You feel amazing.”
“Oh,” Victoria said, her eyes closed. “Wait.”
Mason stopped with her fingers inside and her thumb on Victoria’s clit.
“I want to remember.”
“Remember what, beautiful?”
“Having you like this.” It sounded like Victoria thought their time would be fleeting.
“This means something to me. I promise I’m not going anywhere.” She moved only her thumb and Victoria nodded.
“That’s so good.”
It seemed like any hesitation or fear had disappeared, and Mason took her fingers out a little and moved them back in. Her thumb, though, never stopped. “Look at me.”
“Please, honey.” Victoria squeezed her shoulders and parted her lips. “I want…oh, Jesus. I want you to make me come.”
Mason increased her movements and moaned when Victoria kissed her. Mason was desperately turned on, but right now all she cared about was giving Victoria what she’d asked for.
“So good,” Victoria said as Mason stroked deeper and faster. “So, so good.” Her uninjured foot pressed into the bed, which allowed Victoria to lift her hips. “Holy shit, Mason, harder. Don’t stop.” The walls of Victoria’s sex squeezed her fingers, and she threw her head back in obvious ecstasy. “Yes, yes, like that.” Victoria kept talking until she grabbed Mason at the wrist.
“Do you want me to stop?” She was confused that Victoria would stop her now.
“Don’t you dare.” Victoria was so adamant, that she almost laughed. “I want you to slow down.”
“I’ll give you whatever you want.” She bit down on Victoria’s neck but was careful not to be too rough. “You just tell me what you need.”
“I need you.” Victoria released the pressure on her wrist but kept her fingers loosely wrapped around her as if needing the contact. “Slow and deep. Fuck.” The word started low but ended up at a high pitch as Victoria stretched it out.
She glanced at Victoria’s injured foot to make sure it was still okay before she gave Victoria everything she wanted. Victoria’s desire soaked her hand, and she kept her eyes closed as if savoring the buildup again. Victoria’s nipples hardened, and Mason wanted to suck them in, but she wasn’t moving until Victoria came. All she could concentrate on was giving Victoria all the pleasure she could stand.
“Oh yes,” Victoria said, strengthening her hold again, but Mason didn’t think it meant stop.
Victoria tightened against her fingers, so she actually sped up. “Let go for me.”
“Mason—oh God, Mason. Harder, baby, harder.”
The way Victoria raised her hips and pulled her hair meant she was close, and Mason thrust as hard as the position allowed her.
“Oh yes, please yes, don’t fucking stop.” Victoria went rigid in her arms before completely relaxing against her. Then she started crying.
The tears didn’t take long to turn to sobs, and Mason’s heart hurt. It was such a physical pain that she worried there was something wrong with her. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” She kept her fingers where they were, not wanting to move and make things worse. Somehow she’d hurt Victoria. It was the only reason she could think of for her tears. “I’m sorry, honey, but I promise I’ll make it okay.”
“Why are you apologizing?” Victoria’s tears slowed, and she reached for her discarded shirt to wipe her face. “That was wonderful.”
“Did I hurt you?”
“What? No.” Victoria kissed her, and she tasted the salt of her tears. “You overwhelmed me, but you didn’t hurt me. Please believe me—I wanted that as much as you seemed to want to give it to me.”
“This isn’t a one-shot deal, though.” The way Victoria smiled at her made her wonder what was on her mind.
“Are you asking me or telling me?” Victoria’s eyes were still puffy from the tears, but her smile was beautiful.
“It’s a statement of fact, Miss Roddy.” The way Victoria moaned when she pulled out made her want to taste every inch of her, but the tears had spooked her.
“Why don’t you take your pants off and get more comfortable? We have so much more to talk about.”
“Are you sure?”
“Do you want me not to be?” Victoria lowered her gaze as if she was suddenly shy, and Mason wanted to kick herself.
“Do you want me to tell you what I want?” She bent her head and kissed Victoria’s throat.
“Yes.”
“I want you, all of you, and when we’re done, I want to wake up with you and do it all over again.” She lifted Victoria off her lap and shucked her jeans and underwear so they could be skin to skin.
“I want that too, and I have to say”—Victoria stared at her naked body—“you’re a great conversationalist.”
Those were some of the last words they shared until Victoria laid her head on her shoulder and drifted off to sleep after driving Mason to the point of insanity and back. It took Mason a little while longer than usual, as she thought of the tears Victoria had shed. She could understand being overwhelmed, and hopefully that’s all it was. But if the sobs meant that Victoria thought this had been a mistake, even fractionally, it would be hard to accept.
“Give me a chance,” she whispered, and she almost cried from the truth of it. All she wanted was simply that. The chance to have what her parents had, because that’s where true happiness lived.