ALONE. I WAS ALONE AT long last, well, besides the bodyguards and Sam and the puppies. I hadn’t been by myself in the house, like, ever. Even when I was in the hospital I always had a Silverman with me in the room. I was so happy right now. I needed time with just me, myself and I, and I was enjoying the peace. Tonight would be busy, a family dinner with Mason’s brothers and parents.
I bounced around the room dancing to My House by PVRIS. I loved the lead singer’s voice. Since moving in with the Silvermans they’d given me so many iTunes cards that my account was choked with new music. I was into rock music. There were a few pop artists I didn’t mind, like Demi Lovato, Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clackson, Pink, and a couple of others. One of the personal items I managed to keep during my time on the streets was my iPod with solar power charger. I had been tempted to pawn it so many times when my stomach grumbled after going two or three days without eating, or when I wanted clean clothes, but it had helped me keep my sanity. I never sang or danced on the streets or in the foster home, because to me you only did those things if you were happy.
The song finished and I stopped singing and almost jumped out of my skin when clapping sounded at the door. “Bear, that was beyond amazing. I had no idea you could sing like that.”
My cheeks heated and I ducked my head, my gaze darting around the room looking for a hiding spot. I hadn’t sung for anyone since my parent’s death. I hadn’t even realized I’d been singing.
“Not sure about the lyrics.” He winked. “It’s my aunt and uncle’s house, so not your house.”
Rolling my eyes at his comments, I took several calming breaths as I realized what I’d done. I’d sung, out loud, and Mason had heard.
“My family loved my voice. When I was six they started taking me to a singing coach.” I smiled as I remembered. “Racheal. Mrs. Racheal Whickhan. She was my coach. She called it fine tuning.” I laughed, but I could tell it sounded funny, not a normal laugh. “Racheal said I only needed fine tuning, because I could sing like a hummingbird and I had one set of pipes on me.” I shook my head, not wanting to go down that path.
Muscular arms circled my waist and brought me back to his chest. “From what I heard I agree with her. Do you only sing? What about an instrument?”
I settled against him, enjoying his warmth. “Piano.” His body jolted and I knew what he was going to say next so I spoke before he did. “I can’t. My grandmother taught me. She was an amazing player. I could sit and listen to her play for hours. I’m not one for classical music, but when it’s played right and by someone you love, it’s amazing.” Tears slipped down my cheek as visions of my grandmother teaching me and of her playing and me falling asleep to the soothing sound filled my head. “She even taught my type of music. I learned the classical to please her.” I turned in his embrace and gazed up at him. “It feels wrong to play without her. I . . . my singing . . . I haven’t sung out loud since they died. It was one of the things they loved. It’s theirs. It’s happiness.”
“Oh, Alexa. Bear,” he breathed out in a soothing voice. His fingers stroked my cheek. “I’m sure your parents and grandmother wouldn’t want you to keep those gifts to yourself. I would bet everything I have that they’d want you to share what they loved so much with others.” His arms squeezed me against him and his fingers trailed up and down my back in a calming motion.
I don’t know how long we stayed there just holding each other, but Mason eased away and kissed my forehead before brushing his lips over mine. His hands found mine and he tugged. “Come on. Show me. I want to see what your family loved. Show me, please.”
Mason’s eyes were molten chocolate as he smiled at me. I nodded, unable to speak at the moment, but I followed him. He took me to the living room where the huge white grand piano sat and placed me on the seat and lifted the lid. Gently, I caressed the keys as my feet settled over the pedals.
I could feel Mason’s gaze on me, but all I could do was study the piano. Leaning down I whispered, “Hello, old friend.” This wasn’t my old piano, it wasn’t even close. Mine had been my grandmother’s. I let the tears roll down my cheek as I straightened and tested the keys, checking they were tuned and I wasn’t surprised to hear they were perfect. I didn’t expect anything else from a Silverman’s piano.
Closing my eyes, I started playing my grandmother’s favorite, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. I was rusty and I cringed when I hit wrong notes, but then as my tears flowed and I released the tension I’d been holding in, the notes poured out like a dam bursting free.
I switched to Clair de Lune and then when I couldn’t remember the notes I went back to Für Elise, and then finished up my classical with Mozart’s, Rondo Alla Turca.
I lost myself in music. I switched to my mum’s favorite song, November Rain by Guns N’ Roses. I sang and every emotion I felt rushed out. I poured everything into my song. I always felt I never understood this song. I never wanted to be away from my parents and I’d never loved anyone but my family. As I sung now, I knew the meaning of the words and I could feel the difference with each note.
When the last note played and every emotion had been wrung from me, hurt, anger, pain, sadness to love, happiness, and finally acceptance, I opened my eyes, my breathing fast and quick like I’d just run a marathon. I smiled for my family, for the hours upon hours I’d spent with them enjoying music. Mason was right. They wouldn’t want me to stop playing and singing music. They’d want me to share my talents. I know they would. They were always so proud of me and showed me off to anyone who was willing to listen. I was going to play. I was going to sing.
“Holy shit, bro. She has a set of lungs on her. That was fucking amazing.” Andrew interrupted my revelation.
I turned to look at Mason’s younger brother and gasped when I saw his parents, an older couple who I hadn’t met before, Richard, Bailey, and their baby Sebastian, and Zeck.
“Andrew,” Gillian snapped. “What did I tell you about your language?”
He waved his hand back and forth at his mum. “Yeah, yeah, mum. No swearing, bla, bla, baby, bla bla, rude. Come on mum, you have to admit that performance was swear worthy. I mean, come on mum, I bet you have no idea who Gun N’ Roses are but I bet you loved Alexa’s version.” He winked at me. “Fuuuuck.” He drew it out. “I think I even like your version better.” He shook his head dramatically and I watched Andrew trying not to laugh as he sighed. “I mean, I already thought you were a lucky bastard because you got an easy woman who hasn’t fought the curse, er, I mean, gift, of a soulmate bullshit and all that.” Andrew came over and patted Mason on the back and Mason swatted his hands away. “Bro, I was so wrong. You’re fucked. With a capital F. With her voice and skill on the piano and how hot she is now she’s all cleaned up and has been able to eat, well, yeah, she’s going to famous. F.A.M.O.U.S. Men are going to be throwing themselves at her. Hell, I’ll throw myself at her if she’ll sing again.”
Mason whacked his brother upside the head. “Shut the fuck up Andrew. Can’t you tell no one cares what you think.” He groaned. “You’re right though. Alexa is amazing.” He gathered me to him and we both turned and stood to see his family. His parents seemed to have recovered now. Their mouths weren’t open in shock at least. Bailey and Richard were still staring at me in a daze of shock like they couldn’t believe what they’d come along and heard. Zeck was much the same as Bailey and Richard, but had a huge smile on his face and it made him look different. He usually had a thoughtful expression, like he was always thinking, always had the switch on.
“Alexa, that was beautiful.” Albert, Mason’s father shocked me by speaking. He didn’t talk often, well, not to me anyway. He was very protective of me, as I’d learned when the officers had come to the house, but otherwise he didn’t talk much. “I didn’t know you played, and your voice . . . ” He closed his eyes a beaming smile on his face. “It’s so strong and has so much feeling in it. We were all hypnotized.”
The older lady I hadn’t met stepped forward and held her arms open. “Come here girl. I’m Shirley and that old guy beside me is Russell, but you can call me grandma, grandmother or gran, if you’d like.” I didn’t move, but she came to me and grabbed me from Mason and hugged me tight. “My son and . . . ” She shot a glare at Andrew, who didn’t seem to care what look she sent him. “Grandson, are right. That performance was amazing. I can honestly say that was better than some of the performances I’ve seen in the Sydney opera house or Madison Square Gardens. You have a gift, truly you do.” She squeezed me. “Now I’ll let my grandson introduce you.”
Shirley pushed me back to Mason and I barely had time to react before his arms circled my waist and he brushed a kiss on my neck and then spoke. “Gran, this is my Alexa. Alexa, this is my gran and pa. They’re early. I didn’t think they were arriving for a couple of weeks.”
Mason’s pa rolled his eyes dramatically. “Ha, she’s been waiting to leave for months. Since the babies started arriving. She’s been telling everyone who’ll listen and even those who don’t care that she’s a great grandmother and she has a granddaughter. I swear that at least one of the suitcases is just for the first Silverman little girl.” The shine in the man’s eyes gave away that he was pretty excited about being a great grandsire and a girl Silverman.
“I bet after that performance you could use a nice glass of wine,” Shirley said.
“Gran, she’s not eighteen.”
“Pish, posh, Mason,” She waved her hand elegantly in front of herself. “She’s only got a week to go. A glass won’t hurt her. If she was in France or Italy they would give her one. It’s legal there for wine at sixteen.” She sighed. “America needs to catch up with the rest of the world or at least move it to eighteen like Australia.”
“Mother, you do realize you’re talking about giving wine to people like Andrew.” Albert jerked his head in his youngest son’s direction.
“I’m with you, gran.” Andrew came over and wrapped his arm around his grandmother.
Shirley huffed and I couldn’t hold back my giggle as she patted her grandson like he was special in a slow kind of way. “Andrew, you didn’t follow the rules. I don’t think you ever have, kid.”
As I watched Mason’s grandparents I knew that I could let go. That I hadn’t released my anger at my parents being taken from me. I’d been holding back on doing anything that I’d done with them, things that they loved. I’d been holding out hope that I had family, but as I looked around, I realized I did have family, and just because I had a new family I didn’t have to forget about my old family or stop doing what they loved. I needed to enjoy everything, not just the new things that had come my way. It was time to live my life again. Time to find old friends, time to find out what happened to my parent’s things. It was time to find out what life was going to be now.
WE’D HAD ANOTHER BREAKTHROUGH. ALEXA was a different person. I’d thought she was coming along fine, but I was wrong because after the previous week’s discovery of her musical and vocal talent she had blossomed. She had goals. She had a focus I’d not seen before. I’d worried that I was holding Alexa back as she didn’t socialize with anyone but me. The children at the daycare didn’t count as they weren’t adults and her therapist didn’t count either. Alexa had to talk to her. This week she went out with my mother and sister-in-law, Bailey, shopping. She even went out to see a girly movie with Bailey, Jade, and Cassie, who barely left my cousin Dustan’s side. Today she’d gone with my gran to go get their hair done.
This week she didn’t cling to my side. I frowned as a shiver ran up and down my spine and not the good kind. My skin felt itchy and I was tense and on edge. My employees had started to avoid me. Alexa wasn’t coming to work with me much anymore, either. On the one hand I was happy she was gaining independence, and on the other I was scared, because if felt like she didn’t need me anymore.
I made my way to our suite eager to see my woman when I heard the haunting melody of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, but she was singing it like Jeff Buckley. She sounded like a fallen angel. Needing to touch her and remind myself she was mine, I went to her. This last week I think I’d figured out why I wasn’t all caveman with Alexa. It was because she’d stuck by my side, but this week, I could feel my rein on that side of me slipping.
Alexa’s eighteenth birthday was two days away and my mother and I had planned a huge surprise party for her. I couldn’t wait to give her all her gifts. I was so happy she would be legal age, too, and I intended to tie her to me before she changed her mind. I had wanted to take her away after her birthday, but with the date she needed to testify in court so close I couldn’t risk leaving.
Going to the living room, I paused at the entry and closed my eyes and enjoyed the haunting melody. She really was amazing. Alexa would be crazy if she didn’t do something about her talent. I savored the last note before I opened my eyes and let my gaze rest on her only to take a step back.
“Alexa?”
She turned and I was shocked to see the changes. She still had her long length, but it was layered to frame her face and there were bright pink streaks in her hair. It didn’t look bad, just different. Striking, and confident, not the little wallflower that hid when danger came. She stood out. It would take me a moment or two to get used to it.
“What do you think?” Her eyes shined and she practically bounced on the seat. I could tell she loved her new hair style.
“It’s different. Pink?”
Her smile disappeared and the light left her eyes. “You don’t like it?”
I shook my head franticly, wanting the shine back in her gaze. “Yes. No. I mean. It suits you. I really like it. Pink. It stands out.”
Slowly the shine crept back into her eyes. “You know I love the color pink. Gran thinks it goes really well with my blonde and green eyes.” She giggled and my heart beat faster at the happy sound. “She said it gives me attitude. Some major cred.”
I laughed, because sadly, I could see my grandmother saying that. She was one big kid herself. We may not be that close, but she was always hilarious. Trying to keep up with what she called kids’ lingo.
Hesitantly, Alexa stepped towards me. Growling at her slowness and her unsure movement, I stalked her, tilted her head up and plastered her lips to mine, showing her in my kiss just how beautiful I thought she looked. When I broke away we were both panting a little. “You look gorgeous. Stunning. Gran is absolutely right. It just shocked me at first. It’s so different.”
Her sigh showed me how relieved she was that I liked her new hair style. She kissed my cheek. “I missed you. How was your day?”
She snuggled in and I tightened my hold on her. “Good. I’m glad I was missed.” She smirked up at me. “I missed you too, but I got so much done. Guess who I found and talked to today? Guess?”
I’d never seen her that excited. “Dunno, bear, who?”
“Oh, you’re no fun.” She was still beaming at me. “You could have at least guessed once.”
“Okay. Argh, an old friend?”
She shook her head, then stopped, and nodded. “I suppose she’s a friend.” Her eyes were shining bright. “Mrs. Racheal Whickhan, my singing coach.” She danced around me showing her happiness. “She’s going to come and see me.”
“Has Darren been told?”
Alexa stopped her dancing and her glare was deathly. “She’s not going to kidnap me and she isn’t any threat.”
As much as I wanted to let her have this, my family had learned the hard way that people who they thought were friends, or could trust weren’t, and had betrayed them. I didn’t want to ruin this moment further so I nodded. I would make sure Darren, the head of my security, checked Racheal Whickhan, and maybe if all was good, we’d see what she was doing in two nights’ time. “Okay, bear. Are you just catching up or do you want her to continue her lessons?”
She cocked her head to the side and I could practically see her thinking. “You now, when I got in contact with her, my first thought had been just to see how she was and catch up, but now you mention it, I wouldn’t mind getting back into lessons.” Her lips started to curl up into a blinding smile. “Maybe if I do lessons and look into other music classes I could go that way. You, know, like maybe study music at uni.”
I couldn’t have been prouder of Alexa in that moment. It was the first time she’d talked about university, a future other than just me and children. I wanted her to know she could have both. Holding her tight in my embrace I pressed my lips to her head. “Alexa, you can do anything.”
USING THE EDGE OF MY towel, I wiped the bathroom mirror. Staring at myself, I searched for any differences in my reflection. I didn’t see any. I still had the same green eyes, small red lips, sharp small nose and light olive skin. I’d gotten my hair done the other day and Mason’s grandmother had encouraged me to take a chance. Do something drastic. So I added the first color to my hair with pink streaks through it. I loved the color and had enjoyed matching some items of clothing with it.
Eighteen. I was an adult today. I could vote, drink alcohol, get married, and the most important, I wasn’t a ward of the state anymore. I received all the Centerlink payments and benefits. I now managed my own life. Mason’s family had been great, the best foster care so far, but it was such a relief to know I was free. I hated that word, especially when I had more protection and restriction than I’d ever had, but as I looked at the woman staring back at me in mirror that was what I felt. Free.
Mason came up behind me and I jumped when he smacked my arse before leaning down to blow on my ear a couple of times, sending shivers of pure need coursing through me. “You’re beautiful.” He nibbled my ear and I ground my arse against him. “Get dressed, birthday girl. I have everything planned and if we’re going to get it all done we need to go A.S.A.P.” He smacked my arse again.
I spun and pushed at his chest. “Hey, if you want to go anywhere no spanking the goods.” I smacked my own arse and stared up and him with a cheeky grin as I flashed my lashes at him dramatically.
My favorite sound, and the best one to start my day, came deep from his chest as he chuckled. “Go change into comfortable clothes. Flat shoes too, not the ones my mother and the other women are teaching you to wear.”
I rolled my eyes as he talked about my ever-expanding high heel collection. I rose on tip-toe and brushed my lips over his and before he could capture me, I gripped my towel and ran out of the bathroom and to the walk-in-wardrobe. It was the size of a small room and I wasn’t sure Mason and I could fill it. His mother sure did help me try though. Hearing the shower turn on I dropped the towel and went to my underwear drawer, found a sexy new set, and put it on. I then stared at all my new clothes, but settled on items that Gillian, Mason’s mother, had definitely not helped me buy nor would she approve of them. A couple of weeks ago I had bought some funky leggings online and after wearing them once I was hooked. I went back and bought a bunch of them. I got out the pair I’d been saving. They had Disney princess Jasmine, and a black background with colorful flowers. I matched them with a baby doll style black top. Darting my gaze lovingly over at my growing range of heels, I turned back, opened a drawer and got out socks. I slipped them on before I grabbed my black and purple sparkly joggers and eased into them and leaned down to do up my laces.
Going to the vanity mirror I looked at the make-up I’d bought but only grabbed the glossed pink lipstick. I didn’t know how to do make-up. I was sure I could have a try, but I didn’t think looking like a clown on my birthday would be ideal. And I was sure that’s what I would look like if I attempted to do it. My skin was blemish free. It was one of the features I gained from my mother’s side. I remember she never really wore much make-up.
As I combed my hair, Mason came in wearing only black boxers. He must have brought them to the bathroom with him. Disappointment washed over me for a second at not getting to see all of him, before I remembered that if I did see every inch of him, we wouldn’t leave the room today. We’d been exploring each other—er, more like he’d been exploring me and letting me do small explorations before he stopped me saying that it drove him mad when I touched him – and gotten good at oral. I knew me being eighteen made a difference to Mason and if we stayed home he’d let us progress to love making. Watching as he dressed in jeans and a tight black shirt with a high-end brand name logo on it, I smiled as his muscles flexed with each movement, this was my man. He slipped on black joggers and stalked his way to me.
I stood and spun around. “I’m dressed okay?”
He stopped at my back, his arms circling my waist to bring me back against his chest. I leaned into him, and breathed in, loving his manly sent. He used a Hugo Boss brand of body wash and cologne. He leaned down and rubbed his cheek against mine and kissed his way down my neck. His arms left my waist and I instantly missed them, but then I felt him gather my hair to one side and his hands came over my head and then I felt it as the cool chain settled on my skin. His fingers moved back around and did up what was now against my neck and settled perfectly above my breasts.
“You are beautiful, bear. But this is to add to your beauty.” His lips gently brushed feather light kisses up and down my neck sending delicious tingles through me and pulses straight to my pussy. “It also reminds you that you’re mine.” His husky voice had my legs turning to Jello and I was glad I was in flat shoes. I gazed into the mirror and softly traced the necklace. It was stunning. A gold infinity symbol with diamonds and Mason’s name up on the top of one loop and my name on the bottom loop with pink sapphires.
“Oh Mason. This is . . . is just . . . just . . . wow. I mean, it’s . . . I have no words. This must have cost a fortune. You didn’t have to.”
His fingers caressed over my breasts and up to trace our names on the pendant. “Happy birthday, Alexa. I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to. This is just the start of your birthday gifts.” He spun me and before I had a chance to react his lips were smashing down on my own with a snarled, “Mine.”
This birthday was starting out to be one of the best I’d ever had.
I HAD LIVED IN QUEENSLAND all my life and never heard of Lone Pine Sanctuary. To come to it and find the sanctuary had over a hundred and thirty koalas was beyond amazing. As one of my birthday surprises I had a private tour, not only holding the koalas and other animals, but I learned about all the research they did. I’d found my favorite place on earth, so much so that I didn’t want to leave and go where Mason had planned to take me next.
I was happily watching the koalas when I was lifted and carried out of the Sanctuary. If I’d thought fighting would have helped I would have, but Mason held me tight and no one said a word with the security we had surrounding us.
I sat in the car sulking. “I would have been perfectly happily to have spent all day there.” I huffed and I knew I sounded like a selfish brat, but being with the koalas had been so relaxing, so comforting.
Mason sat in the back of the SUV with me. “I know and I promise that another time we can spend the whole day there, but today I have your birthday planned.” He held my hand and squeezed.
I was sure whatever he had planned would be awesome. Mason always outdid himself when it came to me. “Fine. Thank you so much for taking me there. It was amazing. What’s next?”
He shook his head. “Nuh-uh, we are just around the corner and this is a surprise.” He pulled out a blindfold, reached over and I let him put the black and pink fabric over my eyes.
When the car come to a stop, I trusted Mason to take me to where he wanted me and not get me injured. I felt the breeze of being outside for only a second or two, but I smelled it, the sweet surgery scent filled the air and Mason guided me toward it. The breeze was replaced with warmth and Mason removed the blindfold. I stared at my favorite baker, Sarah Donaa, who smiled at me. She was a YouTube sensation with her cakes and I loved watching her work.
“Happy Birthday, bear,” Mason whispered in my ear. He pressed a kiss to my neck and came to my side.
“Happy Birthday, Alexa.” Sarah nodded her head at Mason. “Mr. Silverman has organized for you to do some cake and cupcake decorating with me.”
My eyes widened and I jumped up and down. One of the best parts of baking was decorating. Mmmm, icing. I looked around and noticed we were in a commercial kitchen, all stainless steel, but what I was most excited about was the three dozen cupcakes in varying flavors, and six cakes. On the opposite side of the cakes were icing, chocolate, and many other yummy toppings.
Bouncing with excitement I beamed at Sarah. “Thank you so much. I’m looking forward to decorating.”
Sarah nodded. “Great. There’s an apron and hair net and everything you need next to the sinks. Please wash your hands thoroughly and once you’re ready we’ll get started.” She winked at me. “Mason, there’s an apron for you, too.”
I went the sink and next to it was a wrapped present in bright pink cupcake paper. I tore into the present, eager to get to my gifts and start on decorating. An apron that almost matched my wrapping paper along with oven gloves and small towels, and a clear hair net were my gifts. I didn’t waste time in putting the apron on and the hairnet, then I washed my hands and dried them on paper towels. Spinning around, I burst out laughing at the sight of Mason. He had on an apron that matched mine, and a hairnet and he looked hilarious. Getting my phone out, I took a quick pic before Mason caught me. He was scowling at the bodyguards, daring them to say anything, and my laughter had him turning his gaze to me. I quickly shoved my phone into my bag and washed my hands again.
“Don’t think I didn’t see that, bear. Get rid of it.”
I grinned over at Mason and shook my head. “No way. It’s my birthday so I get to take whatever photos I want.”
“Would you like me to take a picture of the two of you before we start?” Sarah asked.
“Yes,” I quickly replied.
“No.”
I glared at Mason, went and got my phone, turned on the camera, and gave it to Sarah. She took a couple of photos and Mason even posed for me. Sarah handed the phone back and I put it away again. We both washed our hands.
“So, Mason said you love to cook but baking is a favorite?” Sarah smiled at me as she brought some of the cakes and icing closer.
“Yeah, my mother and I used to bake on weekends. It was something special we did together.”
“Well, this should be easy and fun, then. Now I have a cake that I’m shaping into a piano. Would you like to help?” I nodded because I knew if I talked I would have yelled my yes, I was so excited. “Good. This is going to be a rainbow cake. We won’t be able to have it finished in the time you have here with me, but we’ll get a good start before we focus on the cupcakes.”
I just nodded again, speechless as I was in heaven. Needing to show my gratitude I twirled and rose up and kissed a startled Mason. By the time he started getting really into it I pulled away. “Thank you. This is awesome.” I didn’t wait for his reply before I turned back and saw a smiling Sarah.
“I’ve started on the keys. Do you want to do some? Use the measure.” I watched as she showed me how to do them and then I tried myself. Sarah guided me and before long a timer went off. “That’s time with the cake done.” I looked at it and could see the shape of the piano. It was a huge cake.
Sarah went and put the cake in the fridge. While she did that I looked at Mason. He was being so good. I was sure he would be bored by now, especially since he did barely anything on the cake. He seemed happy enough, though, just watching me.
“Thanks for this. I really am enjoying this.”
He leaned down and brushed his lips over mine. “Don’t mention it. I love watching you in your element. I could watch you all day.”
He was so sweet, and not just because we were in a bakery. I loved this man. It was the easiest thing I’d ever done. “You’re the best.”
He chuckled and nibbled on my earlobe. “Remember you said that the next time you get cranky.”
Elbowing him, I smiled at Sarah as she came back with paper towels. “You can do whatever you want with this lot of cupcakes. I’ll show some icing techniques if you want but you can go wild with the cupcakes.”
“Yes, please, I’d love to know how to do the different flowers styles.”
“Sure. We need different ends for each style.” Sarah gathered a couple of different ends for the icing. “Mason, are you going to have a go at flower style icing?”
“I’ll give it a go. How hard can it be?”
Half an hour later I was laughing my arse off. Mason’s cupcakes looked like those funny nailed it videos where they do terrible jobs. Mason did genuinely try, but with his big beefy fingers and the fine detail it didn’t work. He was covered in pink, purple, green and peach colored icing and edible glitter. Most of mine looked good. Not in the same league as Sarah’s, but they were decent.
“Okay, the other cupcakes can be done with the candy and other things,” Sarah said between giggles.
“I don’t know why you two are laughing. I think I did an awesome job.” Mason pouted his full lips and pointed to his cupcakes. You couldn’t tell they’d tried to be flower cupcakes. One or two weren’t too bad, but most of them looked like blobs. He’d squeezed too hard, or not hard at all, and when he’d tried to fix his mistakes, he had smudged the other parts.
Knocking my hip against him, I smirked. “Sure, sugar. You did great.”
His grunt and rolled eyes had me laughing harder. “Come on, bear, stop making fun of me and help me finish these cupcakes. We only have a little under half an hour before we’re going to your next surprise.” He grinned down at me as he picked up the icing and squeezed it over a cupcake, grabbed a piece of Kit-Kat and stuck it in, then sprinkled M&Ms on it.
I was having a ball, but knew whatever he had planned next would be A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. I didn’t think the day could get any better, but boy, was I surprised.
“THIS IS THE LAST THING, bear, before we go home and get ready for our family get together,” Mason said as I took the blindfold off. We were out the front of a warehouse pet store that had everything.
Mason threaded his fingers with mine and we walked in. “You can have anything they have in stock. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
“Is this a joke?” I whirled around, getting the best look I could of the pet shop. “You gave me four dogs already.”
Mason smirked at me and I felt like a kid in a candy store that had just been told they could have it all. Well, I had. “Nope. Go for it. Get whatever animal you want.” I let go of his hand. “I’m sure after today we’ll be able to start our own petting zoo.”
I didn’t even bother responding. I ran down towards where all the pets were. I already had four dogs, but one could never have enough pets. I went to the rescue animal section first.
She was the first one I noticed and I just knew I had to have her. She was the ugliest cat I’ve ever seen, with patches of fur missing and only one eye. In a way she kind of reminded me of myself when I first met Mason.
I turned to one of the waiting staff and pointed. “I want that one, please.”
Mason came up and his arms circled my waist. I spun to face him. “Are you sure, bear? She’s um . . . well, she’s . . . er . . . she’s ugly.”
“Exactly. Who’s going to take and love her if everyone thinks like you?” I poked his chest. “Me. I’ll love her so much, she won’t remember being abandoned. I’ll be the only owner she’ll ever want.”
He tilted my chin up and came down to take my lips in a kiss that took my breath away and left me panting and forgetting where we were. “You’re one of a kind, Alexa Jennings, and I’m one lucky man.”
Feeling the heat on my skin, I knew I was blushing like the virgin I was. Turning back to the employee I smiled at her as she brought out the cat.
“This here is Tabby. She’s three years old and was brought in over three months ago. We were worried no one was going to adopt her. She’s very funny with who she likes though. She gets on with all the other animals, just not many humans. She lets me and one other employee come near her. Her skin is healing as you can see, and the fur is growing back.”
I nodded and hesitantly let her smell me before I patted her. She leaned into my touch and I just knew we would be fine. After a while the woman handed her over to me. “Hello, Tabby. You’re coming home with us.” I snuggled her close and she let me. The lady seemed surprised.
Mason stared at the cat. “She seems taken with you just as much as you are with her. I’m not sure what the staff is talking about. In your embrace she’s a baby.” He leaned in and said, “You’re just a big softie.” He reached out to pat her and I giggled as Tabby hissed at him.
“Tabby, I love you already. I think you just gave him his first ever rejection.”
“Ha, ha, very funny, bear.” He went to touch me and Tabby hissed at him again and added a paw swipe. My giggle turned into a full-blown belly laugh. This day was awesome.
By the time we left I was the proud owner of one cat, three kittens, two rabbits, four gold fish, six tropical fish, and three guinea pigs.
Best birthday ever.
MY AUNT’S HOUSE WAS NOW a zoo. Alexa had gotten pretty much every pet she could, but she had cringed from the reptiles, mice, and rats. She broke my heart when she whispered, “Those were what I could never get used to, being homeless. The mice crawled over me, but the rats were worse. They nibbled any open wounds and bit.” I had been speechless. My anger rose that she’d known those things, but I didn’t know what I could say, so I held her to me and kissed her forehead and made a promise that she would never have to go through anything like that ever again.
When we arrived back at the house my sister-in-law and cousin’s wife and friends were at the house with bags full of presents and clothes. Divinity had dragged Alexa up to our rooms telling her they were going to help her get ready. Alexa had no idea we were going to Richard’s club, Here and Now. It was the best for security and large enough for everything that I wanted for her party. Richard had made it a private party night, and to compensate had reduced the entry fee into three of his other clubs.
We were now just entering the club and I wanted to see her face when she saw who I’d found and invited. My security team had been working hard the last couple of weeks finishing up background checks.
I moved to be in front of her and guided her in. Alexa looked stunning. Her hair was done in an elaborate half up, half down around her face do. Her eyes were a smoky pink that matched her shining lips and sparkly skin. Her dark pink dress was corset style at the top and flared out to her knees in a classy fifties style. Her cardigan was silver and glistened with the sparkle of her silver, rhinestone-covered shoes. She looked like a fairy. Since she’d walked down the stairs and met me at the door to leave, I’d had a permanent hard on.
As the doors opened I moved to the side for her to move as everyone yelled, “Surprise!”
Alexa’s gaze widened and then tears slid down her cheeks and a sob left her. “Oh, God. Oh. My. God,” she gasped out. Her gaze caught mine and my whole body stiffened as she cried out. “I love you. I love you so much.” She ran at me and I caught her before she fell in her high heels. “I love you. I love you. Oh, I love you,” she repeated over and over.
I held her to me and searched with my gaze for help. This was not the reaction I thought I would get finding all her old friends and her parents’ closest friends and her singing coach too. My mother came to my rescue, but the look she gave me wasn’t a nice one as she gathered Alexa to her.
“Grr, go see your father before I strangle you,” she growled.
I had no idea what I’d done, but I knew with that look that I was going to my dad and would find out.
As I walked away I got death glares from other people, too and tried to figure out what the hell I had done. My dad was at the bar and as I approached he shook his head in disappointment. He came to me and dragged me to the staff area and into Richard’s office.
“Son, I can see from your face you have no idea what you’ve done.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t think she would cry like that. Is that it?”
He whacked me upside the head and muttered, “Idiot boy.” I eased away from my dad and resisted the urge to rub my head. “That girl just told you she loves you. Not only did she say it once, but over and over in front of everyone she knows and loves and what did you do?” I opened my mouth, but he waved me quiet. “You stood there like an idiot and didn’t even say a fucking word.” He sighed and scrubbed his face. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
I tried to think of a reply that didn’t make me sound like even more of an idiot, but nothing came to me. “Argh, I was in shock at her reaction to the party. I mean. . .” I shook my head trying to shake something to say into it. “I love her. I do, but well, this all seems so surreal. I’ve been falling for her from the moment I laid eyes on her. No, then I’d just felt sorry for her, but at the hospital she’d started talking, and as I got to know her she became easier and easier to fall for, but this . . . well, I just froze. I’d told her I was falling for her and she had told me she loves me before, but never in front of so many people. I didn’t expect her to say it when she had so many guests. It’s her birthday. Oh shit.” I realized what had happened. My woman had just confessed she loved me in front of everyone on her special day and I hadn’t said it back or even said a word. “Oh Fuck.” I turned to go out to her and tell her but my dad grabbed my arm and stopped me.
“Not now son. If you say it now it will look forced, like we made you say it. You need to say after tonight, now. In its own time. You have groveling to do. Hopefully she was so overwhelmed with everything that she will forget that you didn’t reply.
I nodded and felt my stomach sink and my shoulders drop.
EVEN THOUGH I’D BOTCHED THE start of the party, it was going off without a hitch now. Alexa was buzzing around all the people she knew like a busy bee. The beaming smile on her face hadn’t left since I’d come back to the party and found her talking to her singing coach.
Now though, a very drunk Alexa was dancing on the dancefloor and receiving a lot of attention from the opposite sex. I hadn’t invited many, as I didn’t want any close to my woman.
One of the guys, Randell Stuart, if I remember correctly was getting closer and closer to Alexa as she danced, shaking her arse. When she turned on him and gave him her sunshine smile, I growled and stalked over to her only to be held back by my brothers Richard and Zeck.
“About fucking time the curse hit you like it did me,” Richard yelled over the music.
“I hope I have it as easy as you’ve had it,” Zeck added. “So, don’t fuck it up now by going all he-man. She told you she loves you tonight.” Zeck jerked his head to the guy too close to Alexa for my comfort. “I highly doubt she’s going to jump his bones.”
My whole body was tight as I held back from going over and punching the kid. He moved so he was a hairsbreadth away from Alexa. I watched transfixed as she danced with clear glee on her face, her eyes shining.
“This.” My dad came up beside me and nodded his head towards Alexa. “Is why you did today. I know you’re fighting yourself right now, but what your brothers said is true. You’ve had it easy. I think the gypsies’ gift hasn’t walloped you because Alexa needed you, so much so that she has barely left your side.”
I nodded, but didn’t even turn to look at my dad. My gaze didn’t leave Alexa. I smiled when she inched away from Randell and closer to her friend Emma.
My mother came up beside me and rubbed my back. “It’s time for cake. Why don’t you go get Alexa while I get a mic to tell people to head over to the desert corner? I have the cake up on a little stage for you two on a table. The knife and candle will be in front of you hidden from everyone by the cake. Okay?”
“Thanks, mum.” I leaned down and kissed her cheek before I made my way to my woman.
Without a thought about the guests around me, I went to Alexa, circled her waist and lifted her up. “Hey, Mason put me down.” Smacking her arse, I couldn’t help the grin that spread over my face as I walked over to the dessert tables. “Argh, it’s my birthday. You can’t smack my butt, you . . . you . . . you dick.”
Chuckling at her version of a swear word, I carefully placed her down in front of me and before her birthday cake. I knew as soon as she noticed the cake because her whole body shook. She turned and wrapped her arms around me and jumped up and down.
“This is the best birthday ever. That’s the cake I helped make?” Alexa screamed in my ear.
Kissing her forehead, I turned her back to the cake and leaned down to her ear. “Yes. You like?”
“Do you even need to ask? This piano cake is amazing and I helped make it. You’re too good for me.”
I barely caught the last of what she said, but I never wanted her to think that. “No. Don’t ever think that. You are my sunshine. The light of my day. Before I met you, I didn’t know what I was missing. The joy you show from simple things that I take for granted, like new clothes, an animal, safety of family. You’re my wonder.”
She leaned back against me and sniffled. “I’m so lucky. My family must be looking out for me. They had to have sent you to me. Thanks.”
I didn’t get to respond as my mother had found a mic. “Hello? Hello. Could I have everyone’s attention please? If you could all move over to the far left near the dessert tables, we are going to cut the cake and sing Happy Birthday.”
Mum handed me the mic and I stared at it for a moment before mother gave me the death glare to end all death glares. “Hi. I’m Mason, Alexa’s . . . ” I want to say something more than just boyfriend. That word felt so dull for what we had, but it sucked because as much as I could say she was mine, she didn’t have anything to show for it. Sure I’d given her the necklace, but no one else knew she was mine. Alexa was the love of my life. She was my soulmate, not just a girlfriend. On a growl of frustration, I searched for someone in the crowd and then snarled at Randell. “Boyfriend. You were invited tonight to celebrate this amazing woman’s eighteenth birthday.” I stepped to the side, got the lighter and lit all the candles. “If you could all help me sing Happy Birthday, I’d appreciate that. Trust me, I don’t have a singing voice at all.” I took a deep breath in and turned to Alexa and started singing the Happy Birthday song. Once we were all done I leaned over, and gently and quickly dashed away her tears. “Happy birthday, my bear,” I whispered in her ear. “Blow out your candles and make a wish.”
Flashes from cameras went off as she blew out her candles and laughed when there was the one stubborn candle that wouldn’t go out. When all the candles were out I gave her the knife. She beamed bright with her happiness.
Wanting a taste, I leaned down, twisted her to me and captured her lips in a kiss of pure possession. Her arms came straight around me and she opened her mouth, eager for more. Cheering, jeering and laughter followed our show, but Alexa didn’t care and I certainly didn’t. I held her tighter to me, my hands coming down to cup her arse.
“Mason,” my mother snapped. “It’s a party not a porn show.”
I eased away and Alexa giggled. She was drunk and tasted like the fruity cocktails she’d been downing like water. Leaning down, I kissed her forehead. “Go have fun. Mum and I will hand out cake.”
Her eyes were not just glazed with drunkenness, they still held a hint of passion and need. “Mmm, but I want some cake, too.” Mum handed me a cake and I held it out to her. She grinned up at me. “Wanna share?”
I knew what the little minx was trying to do. “You heard what my mother said. You trying to get me in trouble?”
Her pout, which I’m sure was supposed to entice me, was just too cute. I brushed my lips over her pouted ones. “Go have fun. I had you all to myself all day. I get to have you whenever I want.”
I watched her shiver and I knew it was from what I just said. Alexa studied me for a moment, looked down at the cake, glanced behind me and then sighed. “Fine.” She stomped over to her friends and I chuckled at her dramatics. My woman always made me laugh. I was lucky.
Two hours later as I carried a passed-out Alexa to our room, I still felt lucky, but I also felt the most sexually frustrated I have ever been in my whole life. I knew that jacking off wasn’t going to help. I needed the woman in my arms. I hoped she was ready very soon, because I was done holding back.