Page 6 of Mason

As much as I’d have liked to say no, I knew what he was saying about the self-defense, and it would be a good tool to have in my belt. If I’d learned anything in my life on the streets it’s that you never know what’s around the corner and go with your gut. Something was going on in the streets and my gut was telling me that what I’d seen and why I’d run from the guys trying to grab me was going to bite me in the arse.

I WAS WAITING FOR THE other shoe to drop. None of my uncles, brother, or cousins had had it so easy. Since meeting Alexa, she hadn’t wanted to leave me and she’d been acting the opposite of how I’d seen my families’ soulmates act. My uncles, brother, and cousin had all had to fight and beg to get where they were with their soulmates.

Their ones.

This was our first night at my aunt’s and my conscience was battling within. I knew she was of age to date me as she was over sixteen and I was under twenty-one, but I questioned if she was in over her head. Was she being so easy going and eager to be with me because of the situation she’d been in and how I’d found her, or was it the curse, er, gift from the gypsies kicking in stronger for her because she’d needed me more than any of the other soulmates? I was conflicted and as much as I wanted to stay with Alexa and hold her in my arms all night, I didn’t want her to see me as a clutch.

“Mason, I know that face.” My mum snapped her fingers in front of me and I turned my gaze to her and my aunt who was waiting with me in the living room of our suite.

“What face?” My mum may be the biggest socialite, and I had a nanny growing up, but my mum was still amazing and she never missed a talk, or a grounding, and always knew what her sons were up to.

She raised a regal brow. “The worried look. Thesomething-is-not-rightlook.”

Running my fingers through my hair I closed my eyes for a moment and thought over my answer. “I know this will sound like I’m just trying to make problems where there aren’t any, but I’m worried my relationship with Alexa is too easy. All the stories I’ve heard from the other men, they’ve had to fight to get their woman. Alexa barely leaves my side. I know she already has feelings for me.”

“This is good, son. Maybe it’s working different because she’s already had such a bad life.” I hated the concern in her gaze, and quiet tone of her voice, like she was even unsure of what she said.

“Maybe. How is she going to do when I go back to work? I know I can have someone work it for a while, but I don’t want her dependent on me so badly that I never go back to work.”

“We’ll slowly ease her into it.” My mother wrapped her arms around me and kissed my cheek. I returned her hug and knew that with my family’s help everything would be okay.

ALEXA WAS GETTING BETTER. EVEN though it had been a few weeks, she still barely left my side and I really didn’t mind. I loved spending time with her. She was sweet, kind, and caring to all my family and the guards. I had learned she’d lost her parents in a home invasion. She wouldn’t talk about the night that I found her or how she got into the state she’d been in. Her therapist wouldn’t discuss anything she’d been told due to patient-doctor confidentiality.

I knew something was wrong, though, and I was sure it had to do with the night I found her. I wasn’t ready to push her to tell me yet. I enjoyed the peace between us too much. I hated to admit it, but I was scared, too. Scared that if I pushed her to tell me what had happened that the easy-going relationship between us would stop. I wouldn’t want her to feel the need to run away. I couldn’t lose her. I didn’t want her to run like my cousin Dustan’s soulmate Cassie.

“I need to go shopping. Can you take me? Please.” She knelt on the lounge beside me and pouted. I wondered as she stared at me with her big green eyes, if she knew the power she had over me.

Shrugging, I flicked through Netflix for what I knew she wanted to watch. “Sure, I’ll organize with security. Anything you need specifically?”

Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink and she mumbled, “Just stuff.”

I wanted to tease her, but I didn’t know if we were there yet, so I smiled and selected her favorite show. “Okay. The family is coming around tomorrow, but we’ll go this week to get you ‘just stuff’.” The pink darkened to red and I had a feeling I knew what the just stuff was. Not wanting her embarrassed, I pressed play.

“Star Trek is one of the many shows and things I missed while living on the streets.” Alexa snuggled against me on the huge sofa in the tv room. She enjoyed Netflix. Since her coming home a couple of weeks ago we’d spent a lot of time watching tv and catching up on a lot of movies, when she wasn’t working with a tutor.

Alexa was smart. Even though she’d missed a couple of years of school she wasn’t that far behind. She didn’t want to go back to high school and the therapist thought it was best we let her be home schooled and work towards her attending university.

“I know you like Star Trek, and anything sci-fi, but I don’t even know your favorite color.”

She didn’t move, but I felt her shrug. “Pink. I always thought that pink brightens anything, but lately I’m liking brown.”

“Brown? Really? Stick with pink. I don’t know anyone with brown as their favorite color.”

This time she did move and sat up so we locked our gaze. “They don’t get to have the same view I do lately.”

My cheeks heated and I was sure they were red. Alexa turned me into an untried teenager. “You’re such a charmer.” Her giggle, my favorite sound had a smile spread over my face. “Cats or dogs?”

“Both. Well, really any type of pet. I always wanted a kitten to raise, and a puppy, but I need a home first. I always thought you can never have just one dog or cat, you need at least two of each, so they can keep each other company.” Her eyes shined like she was thinking of the pets she wanted.

“You have a home.” I held both her hands in my own. “I’m your home.” I brought her hands up and kissed them both.

“You’re the answer to a prayer I never knew I asked for.” She beamed at me.

“I’m the lucky one to have found you. I just wish you hadn’t had to go through what you have.”

“Me, too. I pray every night I wake up and my parents are alive, but I wouldn’t be who I am now and I highly doubt I would have met you.” She sighed, long and loud. “Does it make me a bad person if I say some part of me is glad that because of what has happened, I met you?”

I hugged her to me and kissed her forehead. “No, it doesn’t. I’m just glad I’ve found you. I want to get to know you and move on with our lives.”

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