Page 34 of Merrily Mine
“You’re enough, Mason. Of course you are.”
“I don’t blame her for changing her mind. I just can’t help but feel like I wasted so much time, you know? That was what hurt the most. She never told me she didn’t want to start a family together until the end.” Mason looked down at his lap. “Turns out she was spending a lot of time at work with one of her coworkers with all her long hours in the office. I didn’t think anything of it. Of course I didn’t. And now…
“And now they’re getting married, next year,” he finished, leaning his head back against the headboard. “We parted on good terms. I don’t hate her, Emily. Of course I don’t. It’s just…”
“She should never have let you go,” I whispered, running my fingers through his hair. “I know I wouldn’t have.”
He shut his eyes, tears trailing down his cheeks, and I kissed them off, taking my time as he clung to my body, holding me tight.
I sensed he needed this hug more than anything. Had he ever mourned the end of his marriage? Had he evercried?I got the sense that he hadn’t. That he’d been bottling it up inside of him all this time.
“I’m sorry,” I told him. “You deserve everything, Mason. The life you dream of.”
His damp blue eyes met mine, and he kissed me softly.
I couldn’t read the emotion on his face. I wasn’t sure I was ready to.
He slid back inside me, making me gasp as his cock filled me, burying to the hilt, and once more, we lost ourselves in each other’s bodies, clinging to each other with everything we had.
Mason closed his eyes, sinking into the warm water.
It had taken us a lot longer to leave my bed than I’d planned, but we got the hot tub on and as soon as it was hot, we’d sunk inside, the water seeming to melt away all our problems.
Thankfully, my parents’ property was extensive enough that I didn’t have to worry about someone seeing us, or any sort of propriety. We’d wrapped ourselves up in fluffy white bathrobes for the walk outside, but neither of us had bothered to find a swimsuit before slipping into the water.
I let out a happy moan as it soothed my muscles, my body relaxing almost immediately.
We didn’t talk about what had just happened. About everything he’d told me, or how I’d held him as he cried, or how we’d made love again as he held me to his body.
Maybe we didn’t need to. Maybe some things were better left unsaid.
The world was still. Pine trees were dusted with snow, everything covered in a thick coat of white, like even the universe needed to take a breath.
Maybe we needed this too.
Maybe we needed each other.
I climbed onto his lap, winding my fingers into his hair. “Hi,” I murmured, scratching my fingernails through his scalp.
He let out a moan, eyes fluttering shut. “That feels so fucking good, Em.”
“Good.” My words were barely a whisper. “Are you feeling better?”
His blue eyes blinked open, holding mine. “Yes. Thank you. I’m sorr?—”
“You don’t have to apologize,” I told Mason, cutting him off. “Not for having feelings. And definitely not for the way she broke your heart.” I placed my hand on his chest, over his heart, feeling it pounding under my touch. “Okay?”
He nodded. “Okay.” He looked like he’d just had a realization—like something important had flickered through his face, even for only a moment.
Scooting further onto his lap, I let my hardened nipples press against his chest. “Okay,” I repeated.
Mason brought his hands up to my thighs, rubbing up and down as I rested my forehead against his, just soaking up his presence. Neither of us moved for a long time, except for our hands as they rubbed and soothed. Like somehow, this was healing every wound, every broken piece inside of us.
As if we were getting ready for something entirely new to begin.
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