Page 132 of Letting Go at 40

“I love you, baby.”

His mouth is on mine while his hips take over, moving faster. His length fills me, and the friction of his fingers sets me off. Mouth open but sound stilled, I silently scream as I come undone around him.

“Every time,” he mutters. “Fucking gets me every damn time.” He stills, digging into my depths as far as he can reach and going off inside me.

Mason gives me his weight only briefly before slipping to my side, taking me with him. We’re a tangle of legs and arms, still connected in one important way.

“I don’t want you to leave.”

Mason pulls his head back, scanning my face. “Your bed?”

“My bed. This house. My life.” Earlier fears strain my final thoughts.

He pops up on an elbow. “What are you saying?”

“I don’t want you to move to a new house.”

“Are you asking me not to leave the apartment?” His expression hardens a bit. A muscle in his jaw ticks.

“I’m asking you not to go anywhere. I’d like you to stay tonight in this bed.” I hesitate, suddenly shy about what I want. “And every night after that.”

“Anna,” he whispers.

“I’m tired of sleeping alone. I’m tired of you being over there and me being in here. I want you with me all the time.” I lower my lids, fearing he’ll reject that idea. He said he wanted a house of his own. One for Lynlee and him with a yard and a swing set. Maybe he doesn’t want more in this house.

“Yeah?” His voice croaks around the word.

“Yeah.” I meet his eyes and hold, willing him to read the emotion in them. I love him like I’ve said but there is so much more to what I feel than just three words. “I want to go to bed every night with you and wake up with you and spend days with you and—”

He’s kissing me and I sigh against his mouth.

“I want all those things as well. I know some of it isn’t much different than what we already do but going to bed each night . . . when you leave my bed . . . I’m always missing you, sweetheart.”

“Me too,” I admit.

“Ask me to stay and I will.” He stares at me, and I’m puzzled a second.

Then it hits me. He’d asked me this once before and I told him to leave. We had reasons then.

“I want you to stay. I want us.”

Mason smiles before crushing his mouth to mine once more and rolling so he’s on his back and I blanket his body.

“I’m going to love you all the days and all the nights. In this bed. In this house, Anna. Always.”

We both know forever isn’t guaranteed, but all the days and all the nights equals . . .

“Always.”

Chapter 46

1 Month Ago

August

Weddings and Other Rituals

[Mason]