Best of 2017

"I fucked up," he admits. "More than once. But I'm hoping we can make things better, since it seems like you're here to stay."

Mason grunts at that and I stand prouder behind him.

"Maybe," I say doubtfully, and Luca flashes his brilliant smile at me.

"I'm leaving for school today," he lets me know. "I'll be back for the holidays."

I don't reply, but my eyes follow him around the room carefully, as if I'm anticipating another attack on either me or Mason.

"Oh, and Cara?"

He looks over his shoulder on the way out, and bores his eyes into mine.

"Always knew you were perfect for the old man," he grins. "I never would have touched you."

With that, he leaves the room. Mason turns around and kisses me gently, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Sorry I didn't warn you about him," he says, and I give him a look that speaks volumes. "I should have, I know. We're... trying to make things better. Luca found his mom a while ago."

"His... and Olivia's mom?" I ask tentatively.

Mason looks away at the mention of her name, but he doesn't flinch like he did yesterday.

"Yes," he says. "She's remarried. Won't talk to either of us."

I look at the door Luca's disappeared out of and wonder what it must be like to lose both his parents that way. He really is alone.

A sudden urge awakens inside me and I look at Mason desperately.

"Do you think I could make a phone call?" I ask him.

"Of course, sweetheart," he nods. As an afterthought, he adds, "Your dad?"

I nod.

He takes my hand and leads me into his study. He shows me to the phone in his office and then leaves quietly, giving me some much-needed privacy.

I hesitate with my hand positioned over the phone for ages before finally picking it up. I type in dad's number with shaky numbers.

The phone rings and rings and rings. I'm almost sure he isn't going to answer.

But then, I hear someone pick it up, and my dad's frazzled voice greets me.

"Hello?"

I take a sharp intake of air, wondering if he knows if it's me. He's quiet for a long time, listening to me breathing.

"Cara?" he finally says.

His voice is shaky and filled with so much sadness it breaks my heart. I think back to the time we lost mom, to how well dad took care of me. How he always tried to make things better for me, for us. He was a great father.

"Hi, dad," I say softly into the phone.

He breathes a sigh of relief, and for a moment, I think he's going to cry. But instead, he laughs. A sound I know so well it makes me smile in response.

"Hi," he says, and his voice is calmer. "Hi, sweetie."

I don't know why, but I sob. Only once, but enough to make my dad worry.

"Oh, honey," he says softly. "We're going to make things right."

"Okay," I reply in a small voice.

"Maybe not today," dad jokes, and I giggle through the few tears that have escaped my eyes. "But soon. I'll... I'll come to terms with it."

"Will you come visit me?" I ask.

"Of course," he promises. "All the time."

"And..." I let the sentence hang in the air.

"And what, honey?"

"And you still love me, right?"

"Cara," he says simply. "Always. I promise you that."

I look up to find Mason standing in the doorway, his concerned eyes following my motions. I smile, and he smiles back.

"Good," I say into the phone. "That's good, dad."

CHAPTER TWENTY

MASON

1 MONTH LATER

I crawl closer to him. I'm only wearing a nightie, nothing else. Not panties, not a bra.

I crawl onto his lap, straddling him. My heart is beating a million times per minute, and I've no idea why I'm doing this. I just want his pain to leave his body.

"Cara..." he breathes a warning down my neck, leaning back so his torso isn't touching mine.

But the breath against my neck is enough for my nipples to harden, and I'm thankful the room is dark apart from the lamp on my bedside table. I don't want him to see how fiercely I'm blushing.

"Cara, you need to move," he tells me, his voice rough and strained. "If you don't, you won't be able to get away from me."

I take his hands gently and put them on my hips, and he groans out loud. I need him close. Need him touching me. Need him inside me.

"Please," I breathe. "I just need to feel safe. Can you help me?"

"Jesus," he groans when I grind my naked hips against his crotch.

I can feel him getting hard under me.

Mason’s hands push my nightie up, until it's above my hips. He doesn't look down at my naked pussy, instead focusing his eyes on mine, making it impossible for me to look away.

"Fuck," he breathes. "You're impossible to resist, cara mia."

"So don't resist," I tell him. "Just give in."

He hesitates, but only for a second. In the next moment, he's got his fingers wrapped up in my blonde mane of hair, pulling my head back.

"Strip," he orders me in a raspy voice.

I blush and try to look away, but he makes my head stay in place.

"I said strip," he repeats.

My hands shake as they leave his shoulders, going to my hips. In one swift motion, I pull my pink lacy nightie over the top of my head. It lands in a heap on the floor and I'm left exposed, my breasts tightening in the cool air of the room and my pussy dripping on Mason’s pants.

"Fucking hell," he breathes, and finally, his eyes roam my body. "I keep forgetting you’re fucking perfect, cara mia. So perfect."

I try to shield my body with my hands, suddenly feeling shy, but he gently pries them away, admiring my body with lust-filled eyes.

"Do you want to fuck me?" I ask him.

"No," he groans, thrusting his hips against mine. "I don’t, Cara. I want to make love to you, baby. Is that okay?”

I take a moment for the rush of the moment to wash over me, and finally nod. "Please," I beg him. "Show me what it feels like."

Mason is up in a second, lifting me off t

he bed and placing me gently on my back. He climbs on top of me, and I feel shy as I'm stark naked and he's still fully clothed.

"Do you ever touch yourself, Cara?" he asks me roughly, and I tremble.

He’s never asked me that before.

I nod.

"Show me," he orders me. "Show me how you touch yourself, princess."

My fingers don't obey my mind, which is shouting for me to stop. Instead, they follow an instinct of my body, roaming down my thighs and between my legs. I press my index finger against my clit and Mason grabs my hips as I moan.

"You like that?" he asks me as I circle the little bundle of nerves. "You like feeling yourself get wet, baby?"

I nod, moaning. He's holding my hips down with one hand, while the other goes to his neck and pulling off the tie he's wearing. My eyes glaze over, but he won't let me stop touching myself.

My fingers leave my clit, and he stops holding me down, his palm smacking my pussy hard.

"Fuck," I yelp. "Don't..."

"Don't?" he asks me, his hand lingering on my pussy and making me gasp. "Remember who's in charge here, cara mia. Tell me."

I look at him with my eyes wide, and his finger parts my pussy lips, making me arch my back with neediness.

"Tell me who owns this pussy," he orders me, circling my clit with his thumb. My eyes are glazing over.

"Y-you," I stutter over the word. "You do..."

With a groan, he gets off of me, pulling off his shirt and then his trousers. He stands before me in his boxers, his cock straining against the fabric and begging to be released.

"Go on, Cara," he tells me slowly. "Play with my cock."

I crawl over to the edge of the bed, slowly reaching for his ass. He thrusts his hips into my hands, and I look him in the eye when I pull down his boxers. His dick springs free and I moan at the sight of him, just like I always do.

Mason’s hands wrap in my hair again, making me look down.

"Do you want it?" he asks me, like he's talking to a pet. "You want a taste, sweetheart?"

I nod, moaning low in my throat. He doesn't even have to push inside my mouth, I lean closer by myself.

Slowly, I lick the tip of his dick, and Mason groans with pleasure.

"Fucking shit," he tells me, his fingers tightening in my hair. "More, baby. Show me how good you lick."