Savor Me(18)

“She is such a f*cking cunt!” I yell even though it’s unnecessary in the silence outside.

“Who exactly is she?” Mason questions. His eyes scan the parking lot to make sure we are alone before pulling me tight against his side.

“That would be my sister Abby.”

“No shit?”

“Totally true story.” I melt further into his arms.

The bar doors swing open as the bouncers escort Hunter outside. I’m guessing his manhandling my sister didn’t go over too well with the staff. He strides over, and just as he gets close, Mason releases me and steps away. He pretends it’s only to get his keys out of his pocket, but I can’t help but feel like he is handing me back to Hunter. And the ease with which he is able to do that stings.

We pile into Mason’s truck and head back to the barn. I’m lost in my head, replaying the latest run-in with Abby.

“Okay, spill it. Why does she hate you?” Hunter asks just as we pull out of the parking lot.

“I slept with her fiancé.”

Both guys’ heads immediately snap to me.

“Well, that explains it!” Hunter says, but it’s Mason’s response that surprises me most.

“No, you didn’t.” He catches my eye for only a minute before looking back at the road.

“I just said I slept with him.”

“And I’m calling bullshit. You wouldn’t do that.”

“You’ve know me for, like, five days now. I hardly think you know me well enough to say that.”

His eyes purposely flash over to Hunter, who is staring out the passenger’s side window. Then he shakes his head in a silent explanation of why he won’t be discussing this right now. He lowers his voice and says, “I know enough.”

We ride the rest of the way home in silence.



“YOUR BED IS TOO small,” Hunter complains as I lie sated at his side.

“You are more than welcome to sleep on the floor. Or, ya know…go home!” Mason replies, pulling me closer to his side.

“And miss round two? Hell no.”

“I want you to stay, but I have to be at work super early tomorrow, so there will be no round two tonight.”

“So I have to sleep in this small-ass bed for nothing?”

“You can hold my boob while you sleep if that would help,” I tease.

“You do have nice boobs.” He rolls over, gliding his hands over my chest. “Okay, you convinced me. I’ll stay.”

“That didn’t take much.” I lean over, planting a lingering kiss to his lips.

“It never does with you, sugar.” He nuzzles into my neck and quickly falls asleep.

Not ten minutes later, Mason rolls me away and into his side.

“Hey,” I whisper, kissing his jaw.

He gives me a tight squeeze. “Hey.”

“Thanks for going out tonight. I know dancing isn’t really your thing, but I loved having you there.”

“Oh yeah. I could tell,” he says sarcastically.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. I’m glad you had fun.” His shield slips into place. “So tell me about this bullshit with your sister.”

“I already told you. I slept with her fiancé.”

“And I already told you that I don’t believe you. So spit it out.”

“Why don’t you believe me?” I ask just before my voice catches.

“Lace, I may not know much about you, but you told me your biggest fear is being left alone. There is no way in hell you would ever try to steal your sister’s fiancé, effectively leaving her alone. You’re not that girl.”

“Mason…” I suck in a breath as his words release me. “I didn’t sleep with him.” I whisper.

“I know, but tell me why she thinks you did. And better yet, why you are willing to accept that you did?”

“They had been together since high school. He was very much a member of the family, and there was no question they were going to get married. The night Sean proposed, I thought my father’s face was going to split in half from the smile he couldn’t wipe away.

“I’ve always been the wild child and loved boys since I was very young. My whole life, I loved that, while my parents didn’t approve of how quickly I went through boyfriends”—I make air quotes around boyfriends—“they always loved me enough to look past it and not give me shit. Well, that is until Abby found Sean pinning me against the bathroom door. I wanted nothing to do with that *, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I tried to tell them he was forcing himself on me, but he said I came on to him. I’ll give you one guess who they believed.”

“Shit!” Mason lets out on a huff.

“Pretty much. He told my sister that he got drunk and we had sex the night before. Said that he was trying to let me down easy when I threw myself at him. I haven’t spoken to any of them since that night. Even my own mother and father believed him.”

“Knowing your fears, they still left you alone? All of them?”

“See, this is where you don’t know me. Being alone was never my fear until three years ago when every member of my family turned their back on me. All because a guy they knew for a few years said I slept with him. Everything else they knew about me flew out the window as they focused on my biggest flaw.