It's finally happened. He's finally made me into a woman.

That night, I sleep in his bed. His hand between my legs, pressing hard against my mound. He breathes deep and low breaths, and I lie awake all night thinking about what happened, what he said.

That's why I love you.

I didn't imagine it, did I? He really said it, and then he tried to distract me as quickly as possible to make me forget he really said it. But I remember the words rolling off his lips, the way he rushed to cover them up.

I decide not to mention it. Better to pretend I never heard anything. He's going to tell me when he's ready... and even though it stings, knowing I already told him I was falling for him, I know I have to be patient.

I wake up to an empty bed, the sheets rumpled and the AC humming softly in the cool room. Goosebumps prickle my skin at the sudden drop in temperature as I climb out of the bed. Mason's nowhere to be seen.

I have breakfast by myself, spooning oatmeal into my mouth and thinking about the previous day. I really shouldn't be. I should be focusing on the present, not on yesterday. He might even act like nothing ever happened between us...

The mere thought of that makes me panic and I grip my spoon firmly between my fingers. Surely, he wouldn't do that? Not after the fucking connection we had, not after I let him cum inside me.

I'm on the pill, but Mason doesn't know. He never asked me when he was fucking me, and I didn't let him pull out, either. I don't know whether that makes our night together special or just plain dangerous.

I spend the day wandering around the grounds. Filippe makes my meals, but it seems like I'm alone in the house. My mind is swimming with everything that happened - Mason confessing he was the one sending me messages. So it wasn't Luca after all. I feel relieved, and embarrassed I ever thought it was him.

As the day drags on and on, I begin to get upset. Why is he not here? Why is he not taking care of me, making sure I'm alright after last night? Maybe he doesn’t care anymore... maybe he lost his interest now that he's had me.

It's tough to concentrate on anything but the negative thoughts taking over my brain. I try to convince myself he'll come back, but as the hours pass, it becomes more and more obvious I'm waiting in vain.

I spend the rest of the evening in the gardens, skipping dinner. I don't ask Filippe about Mason's whereabouts, and he doesn't elaborate. But thin lines of worry are etched into his face, making him appear somber and serious. It makes me worry even more.

After the sun goes down, I walk towards the walled-in garden. As a force of habit, I check the overgrown door leading inside it, and I'm shocked to find it open. I haven't been here since the night Mason caught me, and it makes me wonder if he forgot to lock the door that night... or maybe he left it open on purpose. For me.

I cling to the thought as I walk inside. The garden is silent and beautiful in the dusk of day. There are insects buzzing, and I find a bird's nest in one of the gnarled olive trees in there. Finally, I settle on the bench where Mason made me cum, and I lose myself to the world of my fantasies.

I've never paid much attention to why I am the way I am.

I guess not having a mother does play into it - I've always known my dad spoiled me because I only had one parent. I think of myself as quite intelligent, knowing I'll always get what I want if I play my cards right. But with Mason... it makes me different.

It makes me want to be real, not lie constantly and cover up the little untruths that have a tendency to spill from my mouth. It makes me want to lose control for once in my life.

I don't know how much time I spend in the garden, but when I get up to leave, it's pitch dark outside.

I smooth down my simple, long dress. I'm wearing it over my bikini as I had planned on testing out the pool tonight - something I've longed to do for a while now. But the day passed faster than I intended it to. I wonder if I could take a night dip.

I head to the pool in the back of the house and look around to make sure I'm alone. Then, I strip off my dress, and on second thought, my bikini too. I dive into the pool, relishing the feeling of the cool water against my skin.

I swim, I float, I let the water wash away my worries. I don't notice that I'm crying until I hear a splash.

I stand on my toes, panic taking over as I see a body in the water.

Instinctively, I cover up my pussy and my tits, my chest heaving with suppressed panic.

A male form emerges from the water. I know right away who it is, and as he wipes away the water from his face and grins at me, I know this won't end well.

"Hello, Cara," he says sweetly, but he's slurring his words.

"Luca," I say in a shaky voice. "Do you mind? I... I don't have a swimsuit on."

He approaches me, the water making his movements painfully slow.

"How delicious," he says. "Let's play now, Cara."

I scramble to get away from him, a million thoughts racing through my mind.

What is he doing here?

Didn't he leave last night?

Mason wouldn't want us alone together. I think he doesn't trust Luca.

Mason.

Where is Mason?

I push my feet off the ground, trying to get outside of the pool desperately. Any notion of shame at Luca seeing me naked is forgotten as I realize there is a bigger risk at play.

He wants to hurt me.

I've known that since the first time I met him.

It's what made me so uncomfortable around him.

He makes a grab for me, reaching towards my naked skin. His fingers brush my hip and I scream, loud and scared and panicked. I try to run in the cool water, but my foot slips on the slippery floor of the pool, and I crash face first into the pool.

Strong arms wrap around me, one of them going to my face and covering up my mouth with a thick, meaty palm. I scream into his hand but no sound comes out, only muffled whispers.

Luca pulls me towards him, makes me face him and stares me down with a cruel, glazed-over look on his face. If I wasn’t sure he was drunk before, it’s painfully obvious now. His breath it tinged with alcohol, he reeks of booze. He holds me down firmly and I struggle in his arms.

“What’s so special about you, then?” Luca’s slurring at me. “You must have a magic fucking pussy if it made the old man like you this much.”

My cheeks burn up as he reaches for my throat, his nasty fingers wrapping around my neck and choking me. Hot tears of helplessness fall from my eyes, stinging my cheeks on the way down.

“Get your fucking hands off her, NOW!”

Someone’s yell interrupts us, and Luca lets go of me like he’s been burned. We turn to face the garden, where Mason is pulling off his clothes before diving into the water.

I sob, unable to stop my body from heaving from what I’ve just experienced. Mason resurfaces and grabs Luca by the throat as I retreat out of the pool, grabbing a towel I’d brought with me earlier and wrapping my shivering naked body inside it.

The two men are fighting in the pool, throwing punches at one another. Mason’s got the upper hand – he’s bigger, broader, and he’s pissed.

I shiver on the lounge chair, retreating somewhere deep inside of myself as the two take it out on each other. I don’t know how much time has passed when Mason emerges with Luca from the pool, holding him down with disgust.

Luca has a bloody nose – maybe even broken. He’s crying like a child.

“You’re leaving,” Mason tells him. “Right the fuck now. And you’re not coming back.”

“You can’t kick me out,” Luca groans, wiping the blood from his face.

“Can’t I?” Mason snarls, pulling him closer by the throat and making the younger man groan in pain. “I don’t owe you shit, little boy. And when you pick on her,” he gestures towards me, “you’re picking on my fucking property. I don’t want to see you near her again.”

He pushes Luca to the ground and I look away when the man tries to make eye contact. I can’t stand to look at him, not after he scared me so badly.

“You’re picking her over me?” Luca asks angrily. “She’s just a piece of fucking ass, Mason! When are you going to realize that, old man?”

“Get. The fuck. Out.” Mason emphasized every word with a jab in Luca’s throat, and the younger man laughs bitterly.

“Call me when you’re alone again,” he says to Mason and storms off, his clothes dripping with water from the pool.

Mason approaches me as soon as Luca is gone from the garden. He gathers me in his arms and lifts me up.

“You can’t carry me,” I protest softly. “I’m too heavy for that.”

“Shut up,” he says gently. “You weigh nothing.”

He carries me inside the house, into his own bedroom. He dries me off with the towel, wrapping my hair up and putting PJs on me like he’s dressing a little doll. He tucks me into bed and climbs in along with me, his fingers trailing a line down my arms.

“Where were you?” I ask him. “I didn’t know… I thought you left me here by myself.”

“I had to deal with some shit,” Mason says roughly. “Luca… he got into a fight at some bar. I had to go intervene. I had no idea he’d come back here, sweetheart. He was gone by the time I got there.”

I sniffle and he pulls me tightly against his chest, crushing me on top of him. I climb on top of his strong, muscular body, and Mason’s hands go to my hips, holding me in place as I settle down.

“Don’t leave me again,” I beg him.

“Never,” he mutters in my hair.