Page 21 of Mason

She shook her head, then stopped, and nodded. “I suppose she’s a friend.” Her eyes were shining bright. “Mrs. Racheal Whickhan, my singing coach.” She danced around me showing her happiness. “She’s going to come and see me.”

“Has Darren been told?”

Alexa stopped her dancing and her glare was deathly. “She’s not going to kidnap me and she isn’t any threat.”

As much as I wanted to let her have this, my family had learned the hard way that people who they thought were friends, or could trust weren’t, and had betrayed them. I didn’t want to ruin this moment further so I nodded. I would make sure Darren, the head of my security, checked Racheal Whickhan, and maybe if all was good, we’d see what she was doing in two nights’ time. “Okay, bear. Are you just catching up or do you want her to continue her lessons?”

She cocked her head to the side and I could practically see her thinking. “You now, when I got in contact with her, my first thought had been just to see how she was and catch up, but now you mention it, I wouldn’t mind getting back into lessons.” Her lips started to curl up into a blinding smile. “Maybe if I do lessons and look into other music classes I could go that way. You, know, like maybe study music at uni.”

I couldn’t have been prouder of Alexa in that moment. It was the first time she’d talked about university, a future other than just me and children. I wanted her to know she could have both. Holding her tight in my embrace I pressed my lips to her head. “Alexa, you can do anything.”

USING THE EDGE OF MY towel, I wiped the bathroom mirror. Staring at myself, I searched for any differences in my reflection. I didn’t see any. I still had the same green eyes, small red lips, sharp small nose and light olive skin. I’d gotten my hair done the other day and Mason’s grandmother had encouraged me to take a chance. Do something drastic. So I added the first color to my hair with pink streaks through it. I loved the color and had enjoyed matching some items of clothing with it.

Eighteen. I was an adult today. I could vote, drink alcohol, get married, and the most important, I wasn’t a ward of the state anymore. I received all the Centerlink payments and benefits. I now managed my own life. Mason’s family had been great, the best foster care so far, but it was such a relief to know I was free. I hated that word, especially when I had more protection and restriction than I’d ever had, but as I looked at the woman staring back at me in mirror that was what I felt. Free.

Mason came up behind me and I jumped when he smacked my arse before leaning down to blow on my ear a couple of times, sending shivers of pure need coursing through me. “You’re beautiful.” He nibbled my ear and I ground my arse against him. “Get dressed, birthday girl. I have everything planned and if we’re going to get it all done we need to go A.S.A.P.” He smacked my arse again.

I spun and pushed at his chest. “Hey, if you want to go anywhere no spanking the goods.” I smacked my own arse and stared up and him with a cheeky grin as I flashed my lashes at him dramatically.

My favorite sound, and the best one to start my day, came deep from his chest as he chuckled. “Go change into comfortable clothes. Flat shoes too, not the ones my mother and the other women are teaching you to wear.”

I rolled my eyes as he talked about my ever-expanding high heel collection. I rose on tip-toe and brushed my lips over his and before he could capture me, I gripped my towel and ran out of the bathroom and to the walk-in-wardrobe. It was the size of a small room and I wasn’t sure Mason and I could fill it. His mother sure did help me try though. Hearing the shower turn on I dropped the towel and went to my underwear drawer, found a sexy new set, and put it on. I then stared at all my new clothes, but settled on items that Gillian, Mason’s mother, had definitely not helped me buy nor would she approve of them. A couple of weeks ago I had bought some funky leggings online and after wearing them once I was hooked. I went back and bought a bunch of them. I got out the pair I’d been saving. They had Disney princess Jasmine, and a black background with colorful flowers. I matched them with a baby doll style black top. Darting my gaze lovingly over at my growing range of heels, I turned back, opened a drawer and got out socks. I slipped them on before I grabbed my black and purple sparkly joggers and eased into them and leaned down to do up my laces.

Going to the vanity mirror I looked at the make-up I’d bought but only grabbed the glossed pink lipstick. I didn’t know how to do make-up. I was sure I could have a try, but I didn’t think looking like a clown on my birthday would be ideal. And I was sure that’s what I would look like if I attempted to do it. My skin was blemish free. It was one of the features I gained from my mother’s side. I remember she never really wore much make-up.

As I combed my hair, Mason came in wearing only black boxers. He must have brought them to the bathroom with him. Disappointment washed over me for a second at not getting to see all of him, before I remembered that if I did see every inch of him, we wouldn’t leave the room today. We’d been exploring each other—er, more like he’d been exploring me and letting me do small explorations before he stopped me saying that it drove him mad when I touched him – and gotten good at oral. I knew me being eighteen made a difference to Mason and if we stayed home he’d let us progress to love making. Watching as he dressed in jeans and a tight black shirt with a high-end brand name logo on it, I smiled as his muscles flexed with each movement, this was my man. He slipped on black joggers and stalked his way to me.

I stood and spun around. “I’m dressed okay?”

He stopped at my back, his arms circling my waist to bring me back against his chest. I leaned into him, and breathed in, loving his manly sent. He used aHugo Bossbrand of body wash and cologne. He leaned down and rubbed his cheek against mine and kissed his way down my neck. His arms left my waist and I instantly missed them, but then I felt him gather my hair to one side and his hands came over my head and then I felt it as the cool chain settled on my skin. His fingers moved back around and did up what was now against my neck and settled perfectly above my breasts.

“You are beautiful, bear. But this is to add to your beauty.” His lips gently brushed feather light kisses up and down my neck sending delicious tingles through me and pulses straight to my pussy. “It also reminds you that you’re mine.” His husky voice had my legs turning to Jello and I was glad I was in flat shoes. I gazed into the mirror and softly traced the necklace. It was stunning. A gold infinity symbol with diamonds and Mason’s name up on the top of one loop and my name on the bottom loop with pink sapphires.

“Oh Mason. This is . . . is just . . . just . . . wow. I mean, it’s . . . I have no words. This must have cost a fortune. You didn’t have to.”

His fingers caressed over my breasts and up to trace our names on the pendant. “Happy birthday, Alexa. I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to. This is just the start of your birthday gifts.” He spun me and before I had a chance to react his lips were smashing down on my own with a snarled, “Mine.”

This birthday was starting out to be one of the best I’d ever had.

I HAD LIVED IN QUEENSLAND all my life and never heard of Lone Pine Sanctuary. To come to it and find the sanctuary had over a hundred and thirty koalas was beyond amazing. As one of my birthday surprises I had a private tour, not only holding the koalas and other animals, but I learned about all the research they did. I’d found my favorite place on earth, so much so that I didn’t want to leave and go where Mason had planned to take me next.

I was happily watching the koalas when I was lifted and carried out of the Sanctuary. If I’d thought fighting would have helped I would have, but Mason held me tight and no one said a word with the security we had surrounding us.

I sat in the car sulking. “I would have been perfectly happily to have spent all day there.” I huffed and I knew I sounded like a selfish brat, but being with the koalas had been so relaxing, so comforting.

Mason sat in the back of the SUV with me. “I know and I promise that another time we can spend the whole day there, but today I have your birthday planned.” He held my hand and squeezed.

I was sure whatever he had planned would be awesome. Mason always outdid himself when it came to me. “Fine. Thank you so much for taking me there. It was amazing. What’s next?”

He shook his head. “Nuh-uh, we are just around the corner and this is a surprise.” He pulled out a blindfold, reached over and I let him put the black and pink fabric over my eyes.

When the car come to a stop, I trusted Mason to take me to where he wanted me and not get me injured. I felt the breeze of being outside for only a second or two, but I smelled it, the sweet surgery scent filled the air and Mason guided me toward it. The breeze was replaced with warmth and Mason removed the blindfold. I stared at my favorite baker, Sarah Donaa, who smiled at me. She was a YouTube sensation with her cakes and I loved watching her work.

“Happy Birthday, bear,” Mason whispered in my ear. He pressed a kiss to my neck and came to my side.

“Happy Birthday, Alexa.” Sarah nodded her head at Mason. “Mr. Silverman has organized for you to do some cake and cupcake decorating with me.”

My eyes widened and I jumped up and down. One of the best parts of baking was decorating. Mmmm, icing. I looked around and noticed we were in a commercial kitchen, all stainless steel, but what I was most excited about was the three dozen cupcakes in varying flavors, and six cakes. On the opposite side of the cakes were icing, chocolate, and many other yummy toppings.

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