Page 154 of Stolen Moments

The butterflies in my stomach flutter at his answer, reminding me again why I fell for him in the first place.

Biting back a smile, I nod back like a happy idiot. “Charmer.”

“Only for you.” Mason winks at me. He fucking winks.

In all the months I’ve known him, I have never seen him wink. Sure, he’s playful, but there has always been a seriousness about him. But this? It’s unexpected. It’s hot. It makes my damn knees wobble.

If he keeps pumping up the charm, there is no doubt in my mind Mason will have me falling all over again. Maybe even deeper this time around.

We need to have a serious talk about what happens next. I can’t go back to what we had before. I want more. If we are going to try making this work, he needs to know that, before I or both of us get hurt.

He holds out his hand and I take it, once again letting him lead me out the door and into the unknown.

“Rhys, don’t go too far ahead,” Mason shouts as his nephew.

“Okay, Uncle Mills.” Rhys continues to hop along ahead of us, with the leash in hand and a happy Henry at his side.

“Uncle Mills,” I repeat, shaking my head. “I still can’t believe I didn’t catch it sooner.”

Mason squeezes my hand. He hasn’t let go since we left the house, tightly twining his fingers through mine as if he’s afraid I might disappear if he lets go. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m afraid if he lets go, I’ll wake up from this wonderful dream.

He pulls me to a stop, softly rubbing his thumb over my knuckles, sending a surge of heat through me.

“It’s all my fault. I should have spoken about my family more. You weren’t the only one holding back. I’m sorry, baby doll.”

He’s right. We did hold back parts of ourselves. I did it to protect my brother, and he did it to protect himself. I knew about his ex and how other women have used him to get closer to his brothers. I hate those women for hurting him, for making him think he’s not worthy of love and attention. Mason is perfect just as he is.

“Me too,” I rasp, emotion clogging my throat. I want to throw my arms around him and hug him like nothing has changed, but the fear of losing him again holds me back.

Mason glances ahead and my gaze follows, watching Rhys’s back as he continues walking without a care in the world.

“We better catch up.”

Picking up our pace, we close the widening gap between us and Rhys, Henry still happily trotting along.

Is this how a future with Mason would be? He said he wanted children with me, but there is a lot I need from him before I fully let him back in.

“Penny for your thoughts.” He bumps his shoulder against mine, pulling a smile out of me.

“You’d be poor.”

Mason chuckles and shrugs. “I’d hand over every cent in my bank account.” He lifts my hand to his lips as he presses a kiss to my knuckles, sending my heart racing. “I’d give you everything right now if I thought it would help erase my mistakes and make you mine again.”

At his admission, my insides twist and dip like I’m on the rollercoaster ride of my life. Adrenaline and excitement course through my veins as my hold on his hand tightens, and I stop on the trail in disbelief.

“You can’t say things like that,” I squeak out, licking my suddenly dry lips.

He watches the movement like a hawk. “Why?” His voice is gruff, thick with lust as he stares at my mouth. “It’s the truth. I love you. I’ll do anything for you.”

“Please, stop.” My heart thuds in my chest.

“Never. Get used to it, baby doll. I’ll never go another day without you. You’ll never go another day not knowing you mean everything to me.” He stares into my eyes so intently there is no doubt in my mind that he’s telling the truth.

He leans forward, and I close my eyes, waiting for another kiss that never comes. He runs his nose up my neck and jaw, breathing me in before placing a soft kiss on my temple. I snap my eyes open when he tugs at the hand he’s still holding.

My feet find a way to keep moving with him as I attempt to wrap my head around this new Mason. A Mason who tells me how he feels. Everything about him and us feels the same, and yet it’s also so very different, like we are finally opening all the parts of ourselves we held back before.

“Aside from work, how have you been?” he asks after a few feet of silence.

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