Return to Her (7 page)

“
I guess knowing Mason was
stuck in some hellhole somewhere made me feel uncomfortable about
having fun. You’re absolutely right. I’ll do better.”

Ashley grinned and dove into her
plate. Cassie picked up her fork and began to eat, trying to keep
away the rising concern she had over that missed call.

It was nothing.

He was busy.

He’d call her next Sunday and they’d
laugh about her being a little crazy.

She pushed the fork into
her mouth, but really didn’t taste the food. Cassie was sure it was
good, but she couldn’t let go of her growing concern. Three days
late. He’d had three days to make up that phone call. Where
was
he?

As the sun started to set and the air
cooled a bit, she listened to her friends talk about their recent
exploits and tried to release a little of that burden. The more she
worried, the more she willed it into fruition. Ashley put a beer in
her hand once the fireflies had come out to play. She drank it, and
after a while, her shoulders eased a little and she could breathe
easier.

Everything was going to be
okay.

Mason was fine.

He would return to her—in one piece.
Wouldn’t he?

Cassie’s phone started buzzing in her
pocket and she dug it out. Looking at the screen, she saw the one
name she’d most needed it to be. A flood of relief filled her and
she scrambled to hit Accept.

“
Mason?”

“
Hey sweets. How are
you?”

Cassie climbed from the bench and
started moving to the edge of the party. She could barely hear him
over the noise, but once away from the shelter, it improved.
“Better now that I’ve heard your voice. Why didn’t you call on
Sunday? I’ve been so worried.”

“
I had a last minute order
late Saturday night and I had to get moving much sooner than I’d
anticipated. I’ve been tied up until now. I called you as soon as I
finally stopped. I didn’t want you to worry.”

Cassie leaned against the
trunk of a large oak, the picnic shelters far enough away that it
felt private. “I’m just glad you’re okay. You’re nearly done…” She
paused, unwilling to jinx the statement by finishing it.
You’re nearly done, and you need to come
home.

“
So are you at a
party?”

Guilt swamped her. “Everybody nagged
me until I came out to the Fourth picnic.”

“
Why did they have to nag
you?”

“
It doesn’t feel right
having fun when you’re not here,” she answered him.

Silence drew out on the other end. She
could still hear a slight crackle in the connection and knew he was
still there.

“
Mason?”

“
I’m here,” he said, his
voice huskier. “You shouldn’t feel guilty about living your life,
Cassie. Don’t let me stop you from enjoying your
friends.”

“
I know. In theory, it
sounds logical. In action, I just want you here.”

“
Then turn around,” he
said.

She frowned. “What?”

“
Turn around,
Cassie.”

Cassie looked over her shoulder and
saw a man standing in the middle of the parking lot. He held a
phone to his ear. As he began to walk closer, she turned to face
him, her lungs burning as she held her breath.

Could it be…?

Once the man walked under
a floodlight, she saw him more clearly. Short dark hair graced a
head above a set of wide shoulders. It looked like…
Mason.

Her heart thundered in her chest, the
sound echoing in her ears. As the shock faded some, she began
running, as fast as her feet could fly, to eat up the yards between
them.

The closer she got, the more the
realization hit her. He was home. He was safe. He’d returned to
her, as promised.

Mason opened his arms wide and she
raced into them, tears streaming down her face. Sobs wracked her
body as she held him close, never wanting to be out of his embrace
ever again. He drew her against him, holding her still and rubbing
her back until she calmed some, the sobs melting away as the
initial intense feelings of relief subsided.

He held her tight, kissing the top of
her head and face, holding her so close she could barely breathe.
When she pulled away slightly, his lips found hers and they kissed,
time standing still in that moment. It felt like the time that had
held them apart had been nothing. They’d just said their goodbyes
and picked right off where they’d last been—in one another’s
arms.

Finally they broke apart and stared at
one another. Cassie laughed, happier than she’d been since before
he’d left. Shock still filled her, her body thrumming from the
excitement of seeing him.

“
Not that I’m not elated,
but what are you doing here?” she asked.

“
We finished our
assignment early, so they let us go home,” Mason said. “One of the
perks of a volunteer assignment.”

Cassie hugged him tight. “I’m never
letting go. I can’t do this again.”

Mason cradled her face in his hands
and stared down at her. “I never want to leave you again, but this
won’t be the last time. It’ll get easier. Trust me. But, it
shouldn’t come anytime soon, so you’re stuck with me for a
while.”

“
Stuck sounds
wonderful.”

He pulled her even closer and kissed
her passionately, his arms wrapping around her so tight she could
barely move. She’d have had it no other way, though. The closer,
the better. When he finally released her lips, she leaned in and
kissed him, thinking no one kiss would ever be long enough for her.
She had a year-full of them to give him. And more. Her body was
already on high alert, ready for his touch.

Mason squeezed her ass and pulled her
lower body against his hard–on. A moan ripped from between her lips
and he swallowed it with his kisses. She wanted him, right there.
But they’d have to wait. There were people all over with all the
picnics and gatherings around.

Cassie drew away from Mason, realizing
there were a lot of people at the picnic he’d want to say hello to,
as well as a celebration to enjoy. “Are you hungry? There’s plenty
of food.”

Mason stared down at her, a flash of
lust filling his eyes. “I’m only hungry for one thing,” he said
lowly. “Everything else can wait.”

Need churned in her gut when she
locked her gaze with his. Her body was ready for him, her nipples
hard, her clit beginning to tingle as the blood flowed there to
swell the little nub.

Breathless, she smiled up at him.
Cassie didn’t want to deny him—she was just as needful as he was.
“Our friends are here and I can’t just disappear without questions
and concern. We need to go make a quick round and then go home. As
soon as we can break free.”

Mason nodded and kissed the breath
from her. “Promise?”

“
Promise,” she
answered.

Mason eased from her arms and picked
up his duffel. “Can I have your keys? I want to throw my duffel in
your car.”

“
How did you get
here?”

Mason grinned. “A cab.”

She was a little upset he’d robbed her
of her chance to meet him at the airport. But he’d come straight to
her, so she’d let him off the hook. Cassie fished her keys from her
shorts pocket and tossed them over. Mason leaned in to kiss her
again before wandering toward her car. While he was gone, she
started fixing him a plate of food, piling it high with his
favorites. Once she was done, she brought the food to their table,
along with a couple of beers, and sat impatiently for him to
return. Within minutes of her sitting, he was there, at her side,
climbing onto the bench.

An overjoyed cry rang out as Mason
returned. Everyone came over to shake his hand or bid him welcome
home. She watched the procession and observed Mason while he was
busy talking. He looked so different, yet completely the same. He
wore a t-shirt and shorts, and a pair of running shoes on his feet.
She felt a twinge of sadness. His clothes hung on him a little. His
body appeared thinner, his face a little more gaunt. She didn’t
know what he’d been through during his time away, but if she could
be the soft place for him to land, she would.

“
Oh, this looks great. I’m
starving,” he said, grasping the fork she’d brought him, his other
worming its way between her thighs and brushing against her
heat.

Cassie swallowed a moan and tried to
act as if nothing was amiss. He glanced at her with wickedness in
his eyes as he began to stroke her through her shorts. While he
talked, ate, and drank with everyone at the table, he toyed with
her body, building the fire within her. Not that he had to work
hard to build anything. Knowing he was home, safe, and in her reach
once again was enough to make her ready for his kisses and
caresses.

Mason’s gaze drifted her way often,
the heat in his stare enough to send shivers racing up her spine.
The longer he stroked her, the more insistent his fingers were. She
noticed his breathing grow shallower, and he struggled to focus on
anything but her.

He slipped one finger along the edge
of her shorts, brushing along her wet folds. Cassie had to swallow
a moan that almost escaped her lips. She covered with a quick
cough, but from the odd looks she got, their friends knew something
was going on.

“
I have a present for you
in my bag. I forgot to give it to you. Come with me?” Mason asked,
drawing his hand away from her. His eyes glistening in the glow
coming from strings of lights wrapped around the shelter. The soft
light was just enough for her to see the wan smile play with his
lips.

Tonight was almost magical. The air
was heavy with promise. She only hoped it wasn’t a dream and Mason
was really there with her. After he stood, she took his hand and
let him lead her away. Before they could make it to the small
parking lot, he pulled her into a copse of trees that had grown
beside a large shed. Three tall, full evergreens stood wide, hiding
the pair of them from other picnic participants.

In the darkened space, they were very
much alone for the first time that night.

Mason’s lips came down onto hers, his
mouth starving. He licked along the seam of her mouth, a silent
plea for her to open for him. She yielded, letting him taste the
summer on her tongue. Drinking her in, he pushed her against the
outside wall, pressing his hardness against her. He was just as
ready for her as she for him.

He drew away and looked down at her.
Cassie could see the outline of his face from the dim light coming
through, but it wasn’t enough to see his features. Cassie wanted to
see the emotions he felt. Here, she was robbed of that.

“
I’ve missed you more than
I expected,” he said softly. “I’m so happy to be home.”

Cassie drew her hand over his chest,
feeling the even harder muscles he seemed to have now. His service
had hardened him more, chiseling away a little of his softness. She
would give it back to him in spades, if he’d let her. “This feels
like a dream. I’m scared I’ll close my eyes and you won’t be there
when I open them.”

“
I’m here, sweet. Right
where I want to be.” He kissed her again, greedier than the
last.

After their time apart, she matched
his ardor, kissing him with equal fire. His hands gripped her ass,
pulling her closer. He’d already driven her insane with his lusty,
secret touches and now she was nearing the edge.

Cassie reached down to grab his shaft
through his shorts, stroking the length through the material. She
looked over her shoulder and could see no one, but the possibility
of being caught only heightened her frenzy.

Mason moved his hips, thrusting
against her touch, a low growl coming up from his throat. He pushed
her shorts to the side, exposing some of her pussy. She gasped as
he slid two fingers inside her, testing her.

“
So wet,” he whispered
against her lips. “I can’t wait for fireworks. Let’s go
home.”

“
No,” she answered. “No
one can see us.”

Mason looked over his shoulder and
then back at her. “Are you sure? I don’t have any
protection.”

“
I went back on the pill,”
she said. “Three months ago, in anticipation of your
return.”

A rush of air left his lungs. “I was
tested before I left, and I’m clean.”

“
Same here,” she
whispered.

Mason’s chest shuddered. “I’m at my
limits,” he whispered, pain in his voice.

She knew what he was trying to say. It
had been too long for them both. This would be hot and fast. “We
have all the time we need for slow and seductive later. I just need
you now, Mason. Fuck me.”

Cassie tugged his shorts down around
his hips and drew his hard cock out of hiding. She stroked the
length, the fiery heat making her head spin. Mason yanked on her
shorts, pulling them down to her knees.

“
Step out,” he
whispered.

Unsure, she paused for a moment, but
did it anyway. If anyone found them, there would be no denying what
they’d done with her half-dressed. Her nipples beaded even tighter
in the cool night air, excitement coursing through her veins. The
same chill rushed over her pussy, only covered in a scrap of
lace.