Page 66 of Boundaries

“And I mean to sleep. You won’t be ready again for me tonight. Not after that. You need to give yourself time to recover.”

Again, his words made me feel shy, so I changed the subject slightly.

“So, when did you realise, I was a woman and not a little girl?” I questioned with a slight smile. Not really knowing when I’d noticed Mason as a man, at least not one that I wanted. And oh my, how I wanted him now.

“You were with Jenna by the pool last summer. It was the first time I’d seen you in a bikini. That was probably when I noticed how grown up you looked,” he confessed.

His comment made me feel gooey inside, “You never gave me any indication.”

“Of course not, you were only seventeen. This year it just got harder. Plus. you were always coming around, on one of your missions to make all McKenna men pay. I gave up the fight and went with my gut.”

I nodded. “The first I got a hint of any type of attraction was that day at your house when I heard about the Boyd and Chrissy kissing thing.”

Mason shuffled in the bath and the water lapped around us. I felt so relaxed.

His next words were a surprise, “The rumour about Boyd and Chrissy was a load of crap.”

I turned in the bath again, totally puzzled. “How do you know?”

“Because I was the one who made it up.”

Now I was floored, “What, why?”

Mason cleared his throat, “The rumour mill in the village had kicked off big time about a kiss between two people, but it wasn’t Boyd and Chrissy. It was between your brother and Alex Simpson. And it wasn’t a rumour, it was true. I knew that because I’d seen them together. I fabricated another rumour to take the heat off.”

My head almost turtled into my neck as my eyes roamed over his face.

“So, you hid it from me. You let me go on without knowing my boyfriend was gay and seeing my brother behind my back?” A hint of resentment speared through me. Mason saw it and grimaced.

“I didn’t do it for that reason. I did it to protect you from finding out the wrong way. That day in the pub when I saw you both, I wanted to throttle the fucker for being there and lying to you. I’d made enough hints and I was going to tell you, but the timing wasn’t right and I didn’t think you’d believe me anyway.

I pursed my lips and unwound my neck.

“Oh.”

“Yes, oh.”

“Well, thank you I guess, but the way I did find out was much worse,” I explained without managing to keep the look of revulsion out of my face. Not because of the gay thing, but more due to seeing Mattie with his cock hard. So gross.

“How did you find out?”

“I walked in on my Mattie and Alex at it.”

Mason viewed me with a flicker of fascination before he said on an exhale, “Ouch.”

Smiling, I replied. “Yep, that’s one that will stay with me for years.”

I nestled into him, “So, you wanted to protect me?” I smiled, unable to stop my adoring look.

“Yes, and you can wipe that silly girl’s smile off your face. I’m the only one who gets to hurt you,” Mason replied with a wink.

We shared a moment. That look between us was precious and one I would always cherish. Having spent years fighting with this boy, I was now thoroughly enjoying our truce.

We both climbed out of the bath, Mason playfully swatting my backside and I laughed. He then helped me dry myself, being so attentive to those more sensitive areas. I felt special and cared for. No one had ever made me feel like that. Not even my parents and I realised that my family life wasn’t perhaps as perfect as I’d thought. My life had lacked affection, real love. Like what Jenna was showered with.

We then climbed into bed and I slept peacefully in Mason’s arms as he held me, feeling safe and significant.

*****

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