Rising Up: Finding Me book 1 (29 page)

I giggle to myself and run my hands over the very small bump.  When I walk in I see everyone is here, and Lake and Lucas are already arguing over how many pizzas to order and what toppings to have on them. 

I see a couple of new faces in the room and walk over to Mason to get him to introduce me to them.  "Hey babe, come and meet Lake's other brother and his sister.  Hey guys, this is Imogen my much better half.  Ginny this is Leighton and Lexi, they are twins and are still at college."

"Hi to both of you, it's great to meet you.  What are you studying?"  Mason wanders off and I see him talking to Beth.

"Well Leighton is doing architecture and I want to be a teacher, so we are at the same school but very rarely catch up with each other. It's great to meet you Imogen, we've heard so much about you from Aunt Nancy and from Beth."  Lexi leans in towards me and whispers. "Did you really tell Beth that you were with Mason because he's good in bed?"  Leighton spits his beer everywhere and shouts "What?"

I lean in and say "I think I actually said he was really, really good in bed!" I wink at her.

"You are so cool Ginny."  Lexi laughs.

Leighton looks me up and down and down and says "You're really hot too!"  But unfortunately Lake over hears him and cuffs him round the ear.

"Behave baby brother or I won't let you hang out with the grown-ups again."  But he's smiling and I see that there is a lot of love between all of these people.

I see Maddie stood by herself against the kitchen counter, so making my excuses to the others I walk over to her and lean up by her side.  "It's all a bit much to take in isn't it?"  Her voice sounds so sad.

"Yeah, it's not like our family life back home.  I never realized that families like this existed outside of 'The Waltons'."

She laughs dryly but the sadness stays in her voice.  "You seem to have fitted in flawlessly though Ginny and I'm very envious of you for that.  I'm not jealous I'm actually very happy for you, and after what has happened I think you deserve this life with these people, but I don't think I fit in with them yet, maybe I never will.  We are nearly half way through our time here and I think I will be returning home without you Ginny and like I said that makes me envious.  I love you Ginny and you will always be my best friend and the sister I never had."

I turn to her and wrap my arms around her. "I love you to Mads and don't give up on things here, Lake really likes you, who knows maybe he loves you but hasn't realized it yet."

"Thanks Ginny, but he doesn't love me and I don't know what more I can do to make him.  Maybe it's his problem not mine."

"Hang on in there sweetie we've still got seven months here yet.  I've got something to tell you..."  It's on the tip of my tongue to tell her about the baby and I'm just about to when I see a strange but familiar face enter the room and make his way towards me.

"Hi Heidi, sorry I messed that up I know your name is Imogen now. But hello little sis."  He leans down and starts to hug me.  "I've missed you so much and I am so very sorry I wasn't strong enough to stay and protect you. 

Can you forgive me?" 

He looks around and spies Maddie.  "Shit Melanie you look fantastic, it's great to see you too.  Sorry you changed your name as well didn't you?  It's Maddie now isn't it, it suits you."  But his eyes move back to me.

"Theo!  Oh my God, I can't believe you are here, I have missed you so much.  Don't blame yourself for our parents’ evil behavior.  There is nothing to forgive you for, I don't blame you for leaving I wished I'd had the balls to do it.  Come and meet Mason, did you come here with Lucas?  God, Theo we have so much to talk about and to tell each other, how long are you in town for?"

Mason walks up to me and kisses my cheek before holding his hand out to shake Theo's hand. "Thanks for coming here tonight Theo, Imogen has missed you.  But there is a reason Lucas invited you here tonight." 

Mason raises his voice and tries to catch everyone's attention. "Hey, can I have a bit of quiet please, as much as I love having all my family and friends around there is a reason for you all being here tonight, it's not just to celebrate me and Ginny being back together again but because we are very pleased to announce that we are having a baby."

He pulls me against him and along with all the cheers and whoops he kisses my very soundly.

Suddenly I'm surrounded by everyone all hugging and kissing me, Mason doesn't let go of my hand they whole time but I look around the room to find Maddie, and when I see her she is hugging her arms around her waist trying to hold herself together.  I let go of Mason and walk over to her.  "I was just about to tell you when Theo turned up.  Maddie I really did want to tell you before the others."  I stroke her arm as I speak.

"Imogen, I am so happy for you and Mason, you deserve this and so much more but this is a bit tough for me to take right now, do you mind if I head off, I'll speak to you in the morning, okay? Ginny many congratulations sweetie. I'll see you later. I love you girl."

As I watch her walk away and out of the apartment a strange feeling runs through me and I have a feeling of foreboding, I think I may have just lost my friend.  I stand in her spot and look around the room looking at the scene through her eyes.  Lake is stood with his arm round Lexi's shoulder laughing hard at something Austin has said, it should have been her he stood next to, embracing her. 

Leighton is getting cozy with Amber, well that's new neither of us could have seen that one coming and Theo, my long lost brother is standing with a beer in his hand talking to Mason as if he's known him all his life and Lucas is stood next to Tamsin by the large window and I get it, I see what she sees and it hurts. 

But then Mason sees me standing by myself and I can see a look of confusion cross his beautiful face before he comes up to me and leads me back to the people that are now my family.

"Is everything okay babe?  You looked a bit lost then.  Where's Maddie gone?"  He kisses me and pulls me down on his lap.

"She left."  My voice breaks.  "And I think she really has."  The man I love so wholly, who has filled the empty broken part of my soul, he has seen me at my very worse and my very lowest and who I desperately want to see me at my best holds me just a bit tighter before quietly agreeing with me.

"I think she has too babe and I'm sorry."

Imogen

It's been two months since Maddie walked away from me and I don't blame her, but I miss her.  I don't think she realizes how important she is to me.

She is still working here but has moved out of the apartment and has found a place of her own.  I know she will be going home at the end of this year.  Lake has never understood what went on and I think that was where the main problem with them lay, but as Mason keeps telling me it's not my story to tell and I have to let her re-find herself.  But it hurts.

Mason

Lucas has dragged me from my warm bed, and my even warmer woman and seems to be driving me away from the city and out into the countryside.  The top is down on his car and the warm air rushes past us.  "I forget how close we are to the country, I love it out here, but the city seems to have taken over my life lately.  I've always imagined living out here."

"Just hold on to that thought mate, I've got something pretty damn special to show you."  He presses down on the accelerator and the car races forward.

"Hey slow down Luc!  I want to see my first born."  I'm joking he knows I love speed as much as he does.

Fifteen minutes later he pulls off the road and drives for a mile down a wide dirt track before passing through a small copse of trees, and then there in front of me is large but pretty rundown house.  Timber built with a wrap-around porch on the ground floor and a balcony just as wide, surrounding the second floor with large windows and doors opening out on each level.  It's an impressive looking place.

"Well, what do you think?"  Lucas removes his sunglasses and is watching my reaction closely.

"Wow, it’s a really nice place.  Are you thinking of buying it and fixing it up?"  I can feel a bit of jealousy building up in me.

"Nope, not me!"  He leans back against his car and smirks.

"Then why have you dragged me out here then, you've seen my girlfriend Luc and she's pretty damned hot and I could be doing all sorts of things that would make even you blush to her right now."  I punch his arm.

"Because Doofus, I think you should be buying it and fixing it up for you, Ginny and the baby to live in.  It has only just come up on the market the elderly couple have both died and none of the kids want to be bothered with it they just want the cash in their bank accounts.  So I would snap it up now if I were you before anyone else gets a chance to see it."

I'm just staring at it as I start to imagine Ginny with our baby on her hip standing on the porch watching and waiting for me.  "Fuck Lucas, it's awesome.  Are you sure you don't want it?"

"Nah, I'm far too young and good looking to leave the city yet.  There are far too many girls out there just waiting for a taste of me."  He slides his mirrored Aviator glasses back on.

"Do you actually know what you sound like when you say things like that?"

"C'mon, I've got the keys, let's go and look around."  Grinning at me and walking towards the door.

"Cool."  As I walk around I get a real feel for the place and I know I want this house.  I really can see us living here.  After twenty minutes of walking around it and talking about what changes could be made to really update and improve it, I know I've got to have this place.  "Hey Lucas, make the call I want this house put a low offer and tell them it's cash and can be in their account within the hour."

"Seriously Mase, don't you think you should show Imogen first?"

"No way!  It's her birthday in a few months this can be her birthday present and I know she'll love it too."

"Okay, let me call the agent."  He walks away and I explore the outside just embrace the sheer size of the land and what we could do with it all.

An hour later it's done and I own a fucking house.  "Shit, she's gonna have my balls for this y'know."

"Hell yeah Mase, can I be there when you tell her?  I want to see you grovel at her feet."

"Shut the fuck up you douche!  She'll forgive me as soon as I show her it."

"Either that or you're gonna have to give her one hell of an orgasm to soften her up first."  Lucas is laughing so hard he nearly crashes in to one of the trees as we drive away.

"Hey cut it out man, I own these trees.  And don't you ever mention Ginny and orgasms in the same sentence ever again or I'll have to kill you."  But this just makes him laugh even more.

Unfortunately though I think he may be right.  So I start to plan how to get her on board with this, luckily her pregnancy hormones have kicked her sex drive up another notch, I didn't believe that it happened but she can't get enough of me right now.  Her bump is much bigger and that just gives us more chance to experiment with new positions.  I fucking love my life!!

"Stop thinking dirty thoughts you jammy bastard!!  I'm going to have to get hooked up tonight, my balls are going blue."

"Haven’t you cracked Tamsin yet?  She seems to be softening up to you, well she doesn't call you so many names lately and I'm sure I saw her smile at you once."

"Yeah, she's a tough one to catch but I'm getting there."  He smirks as if there's a secret in there somewhere.

"Yeah right.  Are Amber and Leighton still seeing each other?  Maybe he could find out why she's so tough on you."

"I've already tried that and Amber's not saying.  I'll just keep chipping away at her she'll give in eventually, she won't be able to resist me."

"You just keep telling yourself that dude."  We've reached home now and I'm excited to tell Ginny what I've done.

I walk in and she's lying on the couch in a skimpy pair of shorts and a tank top, this is riding high over her bump, at more than half way through now she is most definitely sporting a fucking sexy baby bump.  Her weight has now reached a sensible level and the doctors are happy with her now, but to me she is just perfect, her long legs are bent at the knees as she reads from her Kindle. Her hand rests on her stomach.

My dick twitches in my jeans and I have to adjust myself before I can walk over to her but she noticed and drops her pad to the floor and opens her legs at the knees giving me a perfect view of her smooth wet pussy.

"Hey Mase, where've you been? You'd left before I woke up."  Her eyes are already dilating as she sees me pop the button on my jeans.

"I had some shit to sort out with Luc, I'll tell you all about it later."  I've reached her now and run my hands down the inside of her thighs and slip one inside her shorts, my middle finger slides between her wet lips and strokes her while my other hand slides the shorts off her hips. 

I take my finger away and a small mewl escapes from her so I place my finger in her mouth where she greedily sucks off her own juices.  Her top soon hits the floor and I whip my T-shirt over my head and drop my jeans, her hand wraps around my solid length and pumps me from the base to the tip.  It's my turn to moan now but I move away and down opening her legs further so I can dip my head down and lick her hard from her ass to her clit. 

My hands hold tight to her thighs keeping them wide and her hands reach down to grip my hair and tug as the first of her orgasm rips through her.  "Good girl, I think we'll have a few more of those before I tell you my secret."

"God Mason, I want you so much, give me more."  Her words are staggered as she pants through her climax.

"I think I can manage that sweetheart.  I’m just deciding how I want you?"  I'm sliding my finger through her juices.  Keeping the pressure in and out I start to lick and lave at her nipples, her breasts are fantastic and heavy with desire, closing my mouth over a nipple I start to suckle hard before biting down.  Pulling my finger out I flip her over on to her knees.

"Oh God Mason just fuck me!"

"I love it when you beg babe, it just makes me take my time."  I chuckle as I lower my head down and with her ass up in the air I nip the tender sensitive skin at the top of her thigh, my fingers enter her tight pussy and I stroke the sensitive spot on the front wall.  "I know this is driving you crazy babe, but go with it my love, come for me." 

I slap her ass hard and her pussy walls clamp down on my fingers and she screams out my name as she comes, so before she can come down I pull my fingers out and slam my cock hard inside her, the muscles still pulsing and trembling.

"Yes, God Mason! Yes. Harder!"  Her voice is muffled as her head leans against the sofa cushion, but before long she start to push back into my matching my thrusts and I know that I won't last much longer.  Gripping her hips so hard I'm sure I'll leave bruises there but I can't stop now.

Lifting one hand up I slap her ass again as she pushes against me forcing me deeper and deeper into her tight channel.  I smack her one more time before reaching round to her clit and pinching the delicate nub setting her off again.

"Fuck Ginny! Fuck! I can't hold off."  I can feel my cock grow harder and longer as she grips me and starts to milk me of every drop I pour in to her.  I slow my strokes down but still keep them deep loving the feel of her around me, until drained I collapse over her and pull her down on to the floor beside me, the last of her violent tremors pulse around my softening dick.

As I lie there I realize I may have been too rough and may have hurt her or the baby.  "I can't believe I just did that to you Imogen.  I hope I didn't hurt you, either of you?"

"Babe, you can do that to me any time you want and little Cookie here seemed to enjoy it too, it's bouncing around like crazy just now."  She moves away from me so that she can turn to face me and puts my hand over her bump and I can feel the movements inside her.  I love feeling the baby move even though they are quite faint right now I know they are going to get stronger as it grows in size.

"Wow!  I love this.  But maybe it wants us to pack it in and let him rest."

"You just said him, do you want a boy Mason, I mean we can find out at the next scan if you want?"

"I don't mind either way babe, and no I don't want to find out, I want a surprise.  But in my head I just think it's going to be a boy."

"Well it's fifty/fifty Mase, so I'm happy to wait too.  Now, what did you have to do with Lucas that dragged you away from our bed so early?"

I stand up and start to put my clothes on in case I have to make a quick escape and Ginny pulls her shorts back on too.

"Well....."

Imogen

"You did what?  You went and bought a house?  A house!  Mason.  That's not something you just pop out to do.  It's not like going to the grocery store for a pint of milk!"  I can feel my eyes blazing.

"It's a very nice house, I know you'll love it."  I can see he's starting to walk away from me like I'm going to slap him, this makes me sit down and think about what he's just said he's done and really does it matter?  It's his money to do as he wishes with and I suppose we can't really stay here with the baby, penthouse apartments aren't really child-friendly, unless it really hasn't got anything to do with me, and that thought scares me.  Jake had other properties I never went to.

"I'm sure I will.  When do I get to see it?"  I stand in front of him and stroke down the side of his face.

"Why aren't you angry anymore?  You looked ready to strike for a moment then."  He's still looking at me warily.

"It's not up to me Mason what you choose to do with your money.  I'd like to think you bought it with me and the baby in mind but if not then it really isn't my business."  I move off to put something more decent on, I suddenly feel very vulnerable and exposed but he catches my arm as I try to walk past him.

"Hey Imogen, what's going on, why are thinking like this?  Look I'm sorry if you think I excluded you from my plans, but Lucas sprung this on me this morning and it was too good to miss out on.  I've always liked the thought of living out in the country.  I don't think you've seen much of it but it's actually not that far away from us stuck here surrounded in this urban jungle.  Look, let me take you out there to see it, please?"

"No thanks Mason not today, I'm tired I think I'll have a lie down."  He drops my arm and lets me walk away before he sees the tears in my eyes.  I can't believe how much I've cried since I met him, Jake would make me cry in pain and I seemed immune to the jibes and put-downs from my mother, and refused to be upset in front of her but Mason has me weeping at the slightest look or word.  Maybe because I would be lost without him, I mean that month after I sent him away I could barely function.

"Don't walk away from me Imogen please, I'm trying to understand why you think I've done this without you in mind.  You are always in my mind, what you are doing or what you are thinking when I see your mind drift off when you think nobody is watching.  Everything I do I do for you, for us and for us with the baby.  I'm sorry if I misled you.  I bought this house as our forever home.  I bought it for you, for your birthday present. 

Please babe, never ever doubt my feelings for you.  “You are my everything."  He sits with his head in his hands and looks at me so desolately that I know every word he said is true.

"Mason, I'm sorry.  I let my insecurities from before take over then.  I lived in a constant stream of lies and deceit and of secrets that everyone seemed to know about but me.  You are always in my thoughts too which is why I was surprised that you did this without me, I thought house-hunting would be something we did together when the time was right. 

But if this house is a good as you seem to think it is then I'm sure I'll love it too but as a birthday present? No I don't think so.  You can buy me a bracelet or some perfume but not a bloody house."  I sit next to him and take a hold of his hand.  "I take it we can go and look at it again."

"Only if you're sure, I mean I can just fix it up and sell it then we could choose a place together."  He sounds so dejected and I know it's my fault I caused him to doubt himself, I belittled his judgment in his choice of a present for me.