Page 132 of The Young & the Sinner

“Oh.”

Mason played with my hair, and I moved closer to him. It felt so good. “How do you feel about that?”

“I don’t know. It was so new. I mean, everything we do is new, but this is different.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Do people usually do this?”

“People do whatever they feel is right. As long as it’s consensual, there really isn’t a right or wrong way to have sex. But partners should be mindful of each other’s limits.”

“Is that why you told me to say vegetables if I wanted you to stop?”

“Yes. That’s your safe word. It’s your power. You say it, and everything stops. I won’t ever do anything you don’t want.” He turned me then, until I look at him. “You didn’t say it.”

“I feel safe around you. I wanted to see where you were taking me, and I didn’t feel like I needed to say it. But knowing it was there made me feel better.” And as I said it, I knew that was the truth. Not once did I feel the need to say it, even if I did beg him to stop, even when I thought I might burst. I knew he wouldn’t push me past what I could handle. I knew he would keep me safe.

Mason smiled. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”

He leaned down and kissed me. I moved my hand up his jawline, feeling the rough stubble there. And when he deepened the kiss, I felt his arms tighten around me, and I wished he would never let me go.

When he pulled away, his eyes were somber, and I knew he wanted to talk about why I avoided him all week. But right here, in his arms, I didn’t want to talk about it. I wanted to forget about my problems and guilt, even for a little while longer.

“Tell me what’s wrong, sweetheart. Tell me so I can fix it.”

But could he? Was this fixable? Or were we so wrong for each other that this relationship was doomed from the start?

“We shouldn’t do this. It’s wrong, isn’t it?”

Mason pulled away so he could catch my eyes. I tried looking away, I really did, but there was just something intense about the way he gazed at me that held me immobile.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because we’re hiding it from Max. And that’s wrong.”

Mason swiped his thumb under my eyes, and I closed them, the tears I was trying so hard to contain spilling over and running down my cheek. Maybe it was because of all he just did to me. Or the terrible week I had. I couldn’t stop from crying.

“No, baby. This isn’t wrong. Being with you, holding you… nothing about us is wrong.”

I opened my eyes, my eyebrows pulling together. “But Max—”

“Is crazy protective of you. We’ll tell him, eventually. I don’t want to keep you a secret from my brother. Not when all I really want to do is shout it to the world.”

One corner of my lip pulled upward in a beginning of a small smile. “When?”

“Whenever you’re ready, sweetheart. We’ll tell him together.”

I looked down, from his chin to his neck. I watched as he swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down his throat, and I watched the little stubbles of dark hair growing there.

I nodded. We would tell him.

Eventually.

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