The Fighter's Stubborn Lover (The Burton Brothers Series Book 2) (6 page)

Mason glanced at her, his eyebrows shooting up. Where did all this worry of hers come from? “Do you always assume the worst?” he asked.

She sat down again. “Something’s bothering you?” Her mouth took on a stubborn pout.

Walking past her, Mason threw two logs on the fire. Snow dusted his shoulders. He brushed it off. “I’m cold. You’re probably exhausted. Do you need anything before turning in for the night?”
A kiss, a hug, a good lay?
His mouth twisted at the turn his thoughts had taken. She’d put on her sweats again, but the memory of legs that went on forever teased him.

She folded her hands together. “Does this have to do with that phone call?”

“Okay, there’s the tenacity I’ve admired in Dustin. Must be a family trait. And, kind of. That was Dustin.”

Avery stiffened. Anger hardened her voice. “And? You didn’t think I’d want to talk to him—or he didn’t want to talk to me.”

“He called from a friend’s phone, and had to drive down the mountain to get any signal at all.”

She stood up and faced him. “When is he coming back? Is he coming back?”

“Kid’s going to take a few days to get his head straight. He knows his ability to train right now is paramount to him winning his upcoming fight.”

Letting out a breath, Avery slumped onto the couch. “Meaning he didn’t want to talk to me.” She brushed at her eyes. “Now I’m feeling like some kind of monster.”

Coming over to her, he sat down and put an arm over her shoulders. He couldn’t leave her like this, hating herself, thinking that her brother hated her. “No, he doesn’t. Look, you’re beat. I can see that in your eyes.”

She swiped at them and gave a shaky laugh. “Meaning I look awful!”

He touched a finger to her cheek. “Not awful. You look—okay, you’d probably look great no matter what, but I’m used to staring at fighters and seeing if they’re worn down or not getting enough of what they need. If you were training here, I’d have you on a high protein diet to put some muscle on you and a solid eight hours of sleep every night.”

She gave another watery laugh and Mason shook his head. “Don’t tell me—nightmares?”

She shrugged. But she didn’t move away from his hold. He liked her close like this, snuggled up almost. “I…I do worry. A lot. And now Dustin doesn’t even want to see me. I know I’m…I’m driving him away, aren’t I?”

“I want you to know, I do get where you’re coming from. I’ve never lost one of my brothers, but hell, if I did…we’re close and I can guess what kind of hole that leaves in your life. But life is…it’s all dangerous.” Mason hugged her closer. “Maybe your brother, Edward, made a bad decision and it cost him. But Dustin’s not the same guy. Yeah, he’s young and sure he’s stupid at times, but he’s careful, believe it or not. And he’s training with some of the best in the business.”

Avery looked at him, her eyes still brimming with tears. She did look beat, with shadows under her eyes and her skin pale and seeming stretched too tight. “I really, really want to believe what you’re saying, but when I think about Edward and being in that hospital waiting room when—”

“So don’t think about it.”

“And how do I shut that off?” she asked.

He shook his head. He knew just one answer. Lowering his mouth to hers, he kissed her. Just a soft touch of his lips to hers, a brush of his mouth over the soft sweetness of hers. He tasted a touch of wine on her lips—and something even sweeter.

She gave a soft moan and he pulled her closer, letting the kiss deepen. Some part of his brain was yelling at him not to do this, to stop, but she tasted so damn good. She tasted like summer. She tasted warm. She tasted a lot like heaven. He didn’t want to stop, but he got hold of himself at last and pulled back.

She put her head on his shoulder and leaned into him. “I still need to talk to Dustin,” she murmured.

He gave a small laugh. “Yeah, I know. Look, I warned him that if he doesn’t have the luxury of taking anything more than a day off his training. He’s going to be back—or if he’s not, maybe you’ll get what you want and he’ll quit fighting.”

Sitting up, she pulled away and looked at him. “Do you think that’s why I’m here? To just keep him from training here? It’s not…look I want this to be his decision, too. I don’t want to drive him underground, like you said.”

“Yeah, if he does that, I’ll go drag his sorry ass out of that kind of mess. Now go get some sleep will you?” Mason asked

She gave a nod—and a yawn. He wanted to reach out and drag her back into his arms. But that wasn’t smart. It was one thing to share a kiss...if he kept that up, they were heading to a lot more than kissing.

Standing, Avery turned and reached a hand out. She touched his shoulder. “Thanks for at least trying to understand.”

He gave a nod. “Come along, angel. Let’s get you in bed before you pass out on me.” Mason stood. He took her hand and pulled her along to her bedroom. Holding open the door he leaned on it and asked, “Can you take it from here?”

Avery blushed. She looked adorable with her eyes at half mast and her hair rumpled. She gave him a sleepy smile.
“I’ve got this. Night.”

Mason started to close her door, but stopped. “Oh, we run at eight every morning. And that is rain, snow, sun or mud. If you want to join us, be ready a few minutes before. It’d be good for you to get out and work off some of those worries.”

Avery wrinkled her nose. “I hated that type of physical exercise. You want to talk
Zumba
classes, swimming, or tennis, I’m there, but running…that’s just not my thing.”

Mason laughed. “Oh, come on. Woods. Pines. Great for your legs!”

“Yeah, and I’m taking two steps to everyone else’s one. I’ll just see you when you get back.”

Mason shook his head and pulled the door shut. “Sleep well, Avery. And wake me if you need anything.” He headed across the hall for his own room—and thanked everything she was too tired to realize he was staying in the cabin tonight.

She stood in the middle of a sterile hallway, bright fluorescent lights hurting her eyes. She turned to search for a doorway that would lead her out, but only saw walls. Urgency pushed at her. She needed to get out of the hallway. Her chest tightened and her heartbeat turned into a loud pounding.

No…the pounding was a fist hitting flesh and bone. She turned again and saw a dark ring. The man in the ring stared up at her, blood dripping down into his eyes and from his fingers. She gave a cry. It was Edward—only it wasn’t.

His face seemed all bone and decaying flesh. He swung and she saw him hit another man. The man’s head flew back. He hit the ground and his head rolled to the side, his blue-gray eyes open and staring and blank, accusing her for not helping him. Edward turned and started to walk toward her.

She screamed.

***

Mason jolted awake. The scream echoed through the small cabin. His heart rate tripled.
What the hell?
Jumping out of bed, he slammed his toe into the bedpost, cursed, and ran for Avery’s room. Had a bear gotten in there?

He pushed open the door and slapped at the lights. The light on the night table came on. Avery lay face down, tangled in the sheets and blankets. Mason glanced around, but he couldn’t see a threat. Heading to her side, he touched her shoulder. “Avery?”

She sat up. She’d taken off the sweat shirt and a thin tank top clung to her sweat-dampened skin. She glanced around, eyes wide and confused. Grabbing her shoulders, he sat down on the edge of the bed. “What was it? Nightmares?”

She blinked and pushed a hand into her tangled hair. Her eyes glistened with tears. She bit her lower lip and nodded. She looked young and lost. He pulled her into his arms and she clung to him, her body still shaking.

“Sorry. I…I’m not like this every night.” She sniffled. She wouldn’t meet his stare and he could guess she must be embarrassed she had woken him.

He glimpsed bare legs and pink panties—so the pants earlier must have been meant as a distraction or as armor against him. He smiled. He liked the bare legs, but he had to admit, he didn’t mind the cartoon characters, either.

Untangling himself from her, he headed into the bathroom and came back with a glass of water. He found her sitting up with the covers up to her chin. He handed her the glass of water. “Drink.” She did—and without giving him any grief. Sitting down on the edge of her bed, he said, “Must have been some dream. I used to have one—had it before every fight—where I was falling off a cliff. Woke up on the floor every morning. My brothers starting laying out mats for me.”

Avery didn’t smile, but merely nodded at the story. “Sorry I woke you up. I’ll be fine now.”

“Will you?” Mason asked. “What—are you thinking you’ll get up now? Work? How about you just talk about it?”

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

“Now you sound just like Dustin.” He brushed a fingertip over the bruising beneath her eyes. “When was the last time you got a full night’s sleep?”

“I’m fine when I have a regular routine. It’s just…” She let the words trail off.

Mason put an arm around her. “The training camp? Me? Dustin bailing on you? Way too long a day?” He could see her try to slow her breathing, catching soft breaths. He could still feel a quiver in her body, trembling just under her skin. He could also feel the press of her thigh against his. “Avery, I know one cure for nightmares. One way to get a great night’s sleep.”

She stared at him, her lips parted and her cheeks pink. He saw interest stir in her eyes, a flicker of something that pulled him to her. He touched the base of her neck where the pulse beat erratically. “Do you even know how enticing you are?” She licked her lips. Mason gave a groan. He brushed stray strands of hair from her forehead. “Avery, let me stay with you. Just for tonight. I won’t do anything you don’t want, but God help me I want to do more than just sleep with you.”

“You do? Are you...?” She shook her head but that gleam in her eyes didn’t go away. “This is a bad idea. A really bad idea.”

“Oh, it’s the worst.” He touched a hand to the top of her tank top right above the swell of her breasts.

She pulled in a breath and said, “I wanted to get to you earlier, you know. So I could get you on my side to help me save Dustin.”

Mason looked at her and wet his lips. “This won’t change my mind about Dustin. You know that, right?”

Avery nodded. “I’m tired of trying to fight. I’m…just tired.”

He put a finger to her lips. “Angel, I’m all about being on your side tonight.” He let his hand drift over her collarbone and he began to rub his thumb back and forth. “Let me make everything go away, if only for a little while?”

She gave a sigh. “I want that. I want you, too.”

“What are we going to do then? Are we going to be smart, sensible people who listen to reason, shake hands and head to our respective corners?”

Avery pulled in an even sharper breath. He could see thoughts dancing behind those wide eyes of hers. No matter what her decision, he would honor it. He knew that. He also knew he didn’t want to screw things up.

Yeah, she was Dustin’s sister, but she was also a woman who could easily get hurt. He didn’t want that for her. He knew he should listen to the warnings in his head, kiss her good night, and get out. But he was way too far past that point of being reasonable.

She looked lost and needy and like she could use someone who would make her feel as precious as she was. He wanted to be that someone.

A smile trembled on her lips. “You know, suddenly, the thought of spending the rest of the night alone, trying to work the nightmare out of my mind is the farthest thing from my mind.” She cupped her hand around the back of his neck. “Stay with me? Please?”

Avery watched as Mason stood up from the bed. She wanted him, his body, his lips and his obvious desire for her. It’s intoxicating. He left the room and came back with a small silver packet that he tossed on the night table. He peeled off his T-shirt.

He’d left the light on in the bathroom, so she was able to see the chiseled muscles of his stomach and the small line of dark hair that trailed down to his abdomen and disappeared beneath the waistband of his pants. Reaching up a hand, she traced his pecs. She let her hand glide down across his abdomen, over the smooth skin and hard muscle.

“Like what you see?” he asked. Leaning over her, he kissing her on the nose before trailing his lips down across her jaw line.

Avery gave a soft hum. She turned her head until their lips met. This wasn’t like his earlier kiss. That had been tender—sweet. This time he possessed her mouth, tasting her, nipping at her bottom lip, and tangling his tongue with hers.

Slipping into the bed next to her, he cupped a hand over her breast. She lay back on the sheets and arched to his touch. He seemed fascinated with her breasts. Lifting up her tank top he leaned down and sucked one nipple into his mouth, tugging hard. She let out a breath and a soft moan.

Sitting up, he smiled at her. “I like the sounds you make.”

“I think you talk too much.” She cupped her hand around his neck again and pulled him down to kiss him. He cupped her breast with one hand and then moves his hand down to skim across her stomach before tracing the edges of her panties. She wiggled and he slipped a finger under the elastic, dipping into heat and moisture. He stroked her, smiling at her. The breath caught in her chest. She could feel sweat forming on her skin and moisture between her legs.

She snapped the edge of his pants. “These have to come off.”

“They do—or I do?” he asked. But he stood and pulled off his pants. He seemed big—really big. Bigger than any guy she’d seen in any photos. She gave a small gasp and he grinned and came back to her. Pushing the sheets to the side, he lowered himself onto the bed next to her. He touched her again and she parted her thighs. He shifted and moved between her legs.

“You’re so wet, Avery.” The words fill the room as his fingers slide through her folds.

Then he lowers himself down and Avery felt his mouth brush her mound. His tongue moves quickly, diving deeply into her. His hands grasp her hips and he moans into her.

“Mason,” she said, her voice breathy. “I’m close.”

His head moves quickly as he lashes her clit over and over again. She grabs the back of his head as the orgasm bears down on her.

“I have to be inside you.” He said, as he emerged from under the covers.

His arms caging her against the sheets, and the heat pouring off his body as he hovered himself over her. He fitted himself to her body and slowly started to push in. She gave a gasp. He was so damn big.

“Slow,” she said. She dug her fingernails into his skin. “Go slow.”

“Slow as you want, angel.” He slowly rocked his way into her body, using his hands on her breasts and his mouth on her skin. For an instant, a sharp pain jabbed inside her. She caught a breath. Mason pulled out and pushed in again. This time her body seemed to open to him. The pressure inside eased, replaced by nothing but a wave of raw pleasure. Her skin heated. She held him tighter.

“More,” she said, rocking her hips.

Mason grabbed her waist and rolled her with him so she straddled him and stared down at him. “You’re ride, angel. Any way you want.”

She grinned, and gave another experimental wiggle of her hips. Mason’s eyes closed and he gave another moan. She shivered. She could feel Mason inside her—so big, filling her, and so hot. She loved the feeling. She moved again, leaning down to brush her breasts over his chest, feeling the soft curly hairs tickle and tease. She licked a stripe over his chest. “You taste good.” Bending down, she pulled his nipple into her mouth the way he had hers.

He gave a gasp and grabbed her hips. “Do that again and this is going to stop being slow.”

Lifting her hips, she smiled. She lowered herself back down on him. “Like that?”

“Oh, yeah—like that.”

She pulled off and down again—the pressure inside eased even more. She seemed to fit him perfectly. Her skin heated. She closed her eyes and threw back her head. Mason dug his fingers into her hair. A sudden spiral of pleasure snuck up on her, leaving her trembling and gasping. She dug her fingernails into his shoulders. He bucked up into her, thrusting forward once, twice, three times before she felt his body tighten and shake. Another wave of heat poured into her—raking up inside and down her spine. She lay on Mason, gasping, listening to her heart pound along with his.

He turned and settled next to her. She immediately missed his warmth and wrapped herself around him, seeking the comfort and the sense of security she’d just had.

Smiling she snuggled closer, Mason’s woodsy smell wrapped around her as she fell into a dreamless sleep.

****

Mason tried to stop his brain, but it kept spinning. What the hell? Could it—no, no way. He wouldn’t believe it. That had been the best sex of his life, and Avery…..no.

He pulled her closer, feeling her body go heavy with sleep. The need to protect her rose strong as an instinct. Dammit, what had just happened? He pulled off the condom and found tissues next to the bed that he could wrap it in for now until he could dump it. Something sticky seemed to be on it and he pulled his hand close, thinking to smell Avery. Something else—something coppery clung to the aroma, and he knew that smell…but, oh hell. What if?

He gave a sigh and tried to close his eyes.
Not going to deal with that now.
But what was he going to do with Avery in the morning?

Finally, he drifted off to light sleep himself around dawn, Avery wrapped around him like she belonged there. She woke him when she stirred and slipped out of the bed, padding into the bathroom. Not a bad idea that, but it was going to have to wait.

He sat up and rubbed at his hair. The room smelled of sex. Avery stepped back into the room and Mason caught his breath. She looked like some kind of goddess fallen to Earth. Her long hair tousled, her skin so pale and barely touched by the dawn’s light, her small high breasts and the curve of her hips. She took his breath away.

He kept staring at her.

“Good morning.” She smiled.

Mason frowned. “We need to talk about last night.”

He watched the wariness fill her eyes, and wished there was a way to have this conversation without causing her any embarrassment. “We do? Why?” Avery came back to the bed and sat down. She didn’t seem to mind being naked. “Last night was wonderful!”

“The best you’ve ever had, huh?”

Avery grinned. “You could say that. Looking for compliments?”

“No, just the truth. Why didn’t you tell me, or stop me? Deflowering a virgin is not part of my usual game plan.”

“It wasn’t important.”

“Like hell. What would Dustin say if he found out?”

She stiffened. “It’s none of his business.”

“So you get to meddle in his life, but he doesn’t have a say about yours? Families don’t work that way.”

“It’s fine, Mason.” Avery stood and stretched. “Except I’m sore in places I’ve never been before and I could use a hot bath.”

Mason gave a groan. “Now you’ve got me thinking about you, me, and lots of water.”

She shook her head. “Mason, last night was great, but it was just last night. A one-time offer taken up. That’s all. I’m not looking for a relationship here.”

He stared at her. Weren’t those his lines? Mouth pressed tight, he stood and pulled on his pants. When he looked up he saw Avery’s cheeks had pinked. He gave her a nod and strode closer. “It’s not my habit to bed virgins and dump them.”

“You’re not dumping. I needed comfort, you offered, I took you up on it. End of story.”

Mason shook his head. “No, it’s not. But I’m late for my run and there’s a very nice, very warm hot tub outside the training gym. Why don’t I walk you over and get you settled before I hit the trails?”

“Thank you.” Avery stretched up and placing a chaste kiss on his cheek.

Mason grabbed her arms. “That is not a kiss, but I’ll allow it for now. If I kiss you like I want to, neither one of us is going to get much else done this morning. Get dressed and I’ll walk you over to the gym.”

“What about a suit for the hot tub? I didn’t bring one.”

Mason grinned at her. “You look fine as you are. Just grab a robe. Or are you too much the shy virgin to go skinny dipping?”