Rising Up: Finding Me book 1 (15 page)

"I've never talked like that to anyone before, but I like it.  Will you please tell me if it's too much for you?"

"Mason, you can talk dirty to me any time."  Her face furrows as she contemplates her next question.

"What is it babe, what is worrying you?"  Thinking I've gone too far.

"I don't know what I've done to deserve you Mason."

"Back at you babe, maybe it's because we've both had to put up with a shitty relationship and now it's our turn to be happy."

"What did she do to you Mason?"  Her eyes look sad as she strokes my face.

"She cheated on me, and I only found out when I walked into my bedroom and saw her legs wrapped round some guy's neck as he fucked her.  Apparently he wasn't the first by any means."  Dark images cross my mind and I quickly shake them away.

"Oh Mason, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, I'm fine with it, I mean it hurt like hell but I got you, and I'm a great believer in everything happens for a reason."

"I believe in that too, also I believe in karma and I'm sure that both our ex's will get what they deserve.  Now let me get dressed so that I can charm your parents."

"Sounds good to me, I'll wait for you so go and get changed, Can I jump in your shower I don't really want to smell of sex when I kiss my mother hello!"  I wink at Ginny.

"Shit me too, I'm gonna have to have another one, so off you go to your place and shower and change there then come back to collect me." 

I get a swift kiss and then get shooed out of the door.

I
mogen

Oh God I'm so nervous, Mason hasn't told me much about his family so I'm firing off twenty questions on the drive over.  So far I've learned that his father is a surgeon, his mum is a high school teacher.  His brother Austin has just been traveling around Europe, so we should have a lot of things to talk about, and his sister Beth is in her second year at college and wants to follow in her father’s footsteps and be a surgeon.  I'm worried that my sad little life won't be enough for them. 

"Stop worrying, you're going to make your hands sore if you keep wringing them like that."  He grabs my hand so I can't carry on.  "They are going to love you."

"Am I dressed alright?"  I think I've asked him twice already.  I've chosen a floaty above the knee pale pink skirt, with a cream silk fitted vest top and a pink cardigan, and have cream ballet pumps on my feet so I don't look so tall.

"Imogen, for the third time you look beautiful and you would even if you had sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt."  He raises his eyebrows in exasperation but is smiling so I’m not too worried.

I look across at him.  "You look very handsome too." 

He chuckles at me and looks down at his black jeans and grey button down shirt.  The sleeves are rolled up and he still has his very sexy stubble.  I have to clench my thighs together when I think of his head between my legs and the stubble grazing my thighs.

"What are you thinking about babe, you've gone all pink and your thighs are clenched.  Come on spill."

"Um, no way.  I'm not telling."  I feel my blush spreading even further.

"Yes Imogen, I want you to tell me."  I love it when his voice gets all husky and deep.

"Well, I was admiring your outfit and then I started thinking about the stubble on your face and how much I like the feel of it on my thighs when you have your face between my legs."  This comes out as quickly as possible so I can hide my embarrassment.  “Shit!  I can’t believe I just said that.”  My head is in my hands.

"Oh babe, I can't wait to get you home."  He lets go of my hand and slides his hand up my legs.

Five minutes later we pull up in front of a huge colonial style house, it's just beautiful with white rendered walls and blue shutters at each of the large windows, allowing each room to be flooded with light, The door opens and two people I assume to be his parents wave at us as we park.  They both have wide friendly smiles and walk down to the car to greet us.

"Oh Mason, she's beautiful.  Hi Imogen it's so lovely to meet you, Mason has spoken about nothing but you for the last two or three months."  I'm pulled into her arms in a warm embrace, something I don't think my mother has ever done to me.

"It's lovely to meet you too Mrs. Reynolds."  I can feel the blush spread up my cheeks as I look down to her eyes, she is a tiny lady with shoulder length dark hair and is dressed casually but immaculately, how on earth can she have produced all 6' 5" of solid muscle that is Mason.

"Oh Imogen darling, please call me Nancy.  Look how tall and slender you are and your hair is such a beautiful color."  She leans in towards me and whispers.  "Is it natural or from a bottle?"

This makes me laugh.  "I promise you it's all mine, can't you tell by my pale freckly skin and constant blush."

"Mother, what have you said to embarrass Ginny already?"  Mason walks up and puts his arm over my shoulder pulling me into him so he can kiss my head.  "Ignore her Ginny babe, we all do."

I can tell he's joking as he pulls his mother into his arms and lifts her off her feet.  "Leave her alone mother or there'll be trouble."  He kisses her cheek as he puts her back down on her feet.

"Come and meet my dad babe."  He turns me round and walks me towards an older version of Mason with exactly the same color eyes and hair, although his does have a smattering of grey through, but it only seems to enhance his good looks.

"Mr. Reynolds it's a pleasure to meet you, I can see where Mason gets his good looks from."  I hold my hand out to shake his, but instead he to pulls me into a great big bear hug.

"I'll have none of that Mr. rubbish, call me Jim, and it's our pleasure to meet you.  So come on, come on let’s get inside, I'm starving.  Austin and Beth should have surfaced by now too."

Mason holds on to my hand and whispers. "I told you they would love you." Leaning down to kiss the top of my head again making my heart skip a beat.

As we walk through the large double doors I'm rendered speechless by the tasteful elegance of this house.  I feel my mouth gaping like a goldfish.  "Wow!  What a lovely home you have."

"Oh thank you dear, we love it here even though it's a bit big for us now the children have left."

"Hey!  I haven't left yet Mother!"  I turn to see a pretty girl walk down the sweeping staircase, she is more like her mother and can't stand much taller than Maddie.  "Hey, you must be Imogen. Gosh you're tall!  It's nice to meet you, though what you see in my brother I'll never know."  She winks at me so I decide to see if we can be friends and whisper so that only she can hear.

"He's really, really good in bed!" I wink back at her.  Her face goes blank with shock and I think I may have fucked this up but no she grabs my hand and bursts out laughing.

"Oh!  I like you, you are going to be so much fun to have around.  Mason this one’s a keeper don't fuck it up."

"Thank you Beth for you seal of approval, and I promise you I have no intention of letting her go, or fucking it up." Mason nudges her shoulder affectionately.  I can tell that they are close.

Another voice joins the conversation, this time from a young man walking out of one of the downstairs rooms.  "Could this be the wonder girl herself?  Imogen, I'm Austin, Mason's younger, cleverer and much better looking brother, so don't waste any more time on him and come and live with me.  I'm sure we have much more in common."

"Yeah but Austin according to Ginny here Mason is really, really good in bed so I think she's gonna stick with him."

"How do you know I'm not better than him in the sack? Eh Beth!"  The two siblings walk off towards the kitchen still bickering.

I've got my head in my hands and can't stop shaking my head.  Mason pulls my hands away and bends his knees to look at me.  "Welcome to my family babe, I can't believe you said that to Beth, well done girl you've just made yourself very popular in this house.  I think they will be fighting over who sits next to you like five-year-olds.  I love you sweetheart."

"I don't know what came over me.  I've never said anything like that to a stranger before."

"She's not a stranger Ginny, she's family.  You’re mine now so you are part of this crazy household.  C'mon let's get to the table before Austin eats everything."

The rest of the brunch continues in the same madcap way.  Nancy tries and fails to control the light-hearted bickering that goes on between Beth and Austin, with Mason chipping in here and there just to wind them up even more.

Jim is very interested in my work back home, and how I'm settling in at work here.  It seems that he has a financial interest in Mason and Lakes' business, he has taken a semi-retirement from the hospital after a health scare last year, but likes to keep his hand in when asked, especially if a more difficult case comes in and needs his experienced hands.

"Imogen, how did your parents feel about you coming over here to work?  It's for a year isn't it?"  Nancy asks not noticing Mason’s agitation as his body bristles and stiffens as he sits next to her, but reaches for my hand.

"Um, well they were a bit surprised, but unfortunately I don't have an easy relationship with them.  They have never been very encouraging and I felt the need to branch out and try somewhere new.”  I give a tentative smile to see if they are okay with my explanation.

"Oh what a shame for you dear, please let me know if I can help out with anything while you are here.”

“I think I’ve got things covered Mom.”  Mason turns to his brother when he starts to snigger and clips him across the back of his head.  “Shut it Squirt!”

Trying to take the attention away from Mason I say.  "Thank you Nancy, that's very kind, and I promise when I need help I will ask you."  I smile at her hoping that we haven't offended her.

Austin soon takes over my attention my talking to me about the places he'd visited in England, and I loved his enthusiasm for my home country.  He really is very handsome, tall and dark and rugged, and although his looks are similar to Mason’s he doesn’t have anywhere near the same pull that Mason has for me.

An hour later Mason starts to make moves to leave.  "Come on Ginny sweetheart, we'd better make tracks, I've got some work to do before work tomorrow."  He gives me a look that sets the butterflies in my stomach into flight and my panties see I got the word right, damp.

"Thank you so much for inviting me and for such a delicious brunch."  I lean down and kiss Nancy on her cheek.

"You are very welcome Imogen darling, don't be a stranger."

Jim also gives me a hug before handing me over to Mason.  "Look after her son, this one's special."

"Hell Pops, you don't need to tell me that, I'm sure as hell not letting her go."

In the background Austin’s voice pipes up.  "You know where to find me when you get bored with him baby!"

Mason actually growls back at him. "Be careful baby brother your job may not be that secure yet!"

"Let me know when you’re free to go shopping Ginny and we'll hit all the good stores."

"Thanks Beth, I'll call you."

Finally we escape and relax back in the car.  Mason looks over and smirks at me.  "How did you enjoy that babe?"

"It was really good fun Mase, I was a bit surprised by all the ribbing you give each other, but I could see it was all in good fun, and that there is a lot of love amongst you all. 

My home life was nothing like that, I have a brother a few years older than me, but he left when he was seventeen, and hasn't been back since, so it’s been about thirteen years since I've seen him."

"That must be tough for you, do you miss him?  What’s his name, have you tried to find him?  Maybe Luc could have a look for you."

"He's called Theo and I used to miss him but it's been so long now I don't know if we'd have anything to say to each other.  Maybe one day I might try to find him but I think I can only deal with one family drama at a time, and this latest one I think is going to be a real shitty one."

Mason

Just as I finish off the work I need for tomorrow a message appears on my screen from Lucas

Just thought you should see this.

You may want to find out what these

Two are discussing.  I can't imagine

It’s anything good.  Let me know if

You need my help.

Luc

I click on the picture to enlarge it and see Mark sat in the window of a cafe with Lauren.  What the fuck!!  Ginny leans over my shoulder and kisses my neck causing shivers over my body as goose bumps appear on my skin.  "Hey Babe, was that a good shower?"  I turn to her and run my hands up her still damp legs.

"Yeah I missed you though I had to make do by myself."  She giggles as I growl at her.

"That better not be true sweetheart.  I'll have to drag you back in there with me and show you that you can't beat the real thing."  I lean in and nip her stomach just above her navel.

"Hey who's that in the photo?  Is that Mark?  Who's he with?"

"Yeah, Lucas just sent it to me, it is Mark and the woman with him is Lauren.  So he was curious as to what they could be doing together."

"What Lauren as in 'your Lauren'?"

"Well yes, but she is definitely not ‘my’ Lauren.  It seems a bit strange that they are meeting, and the only thing they have in common as far as I'm aware is me.  I don't think he'll be showing up at work tomorrow and I know that the police have questioned him over the damage to my car but I have yet to decide whether to press charges."

"Why wouldn't you?  I mean he smashed up your car!"

"I need to sort out his work load before taking it further, he could cause us a lot of problems with his case load if we are not careful, our reputation as responsible lawyers could be jeopardized if it went to court, so we may have to deal with it separately."

"Okay, you know best.  So how are you going to find out what these two are doing together?"

"I'll get Luc on to it, he can check their computers, emails, Facebook you know all the sort of shit."

"Can he do all that stuff?"

"Babe, you'd be amazed at what Lucas can do, why, do you want him to look at anything your ex is up to?"  Looking up at her I can see she's scared.  "Ginny, what's up, why are you suddenly looking scared?"

"I know Jake had that video on his laptop, I know I deleted it but I don't know if he ever uploaded it or made copies, the other men probably wanted a reminder of their fun night, but I'm sure if what you say is right, that Lucas would find that and I don't want him to ever stumble across that."

"Would you rather he left him alone or if he knew of its existence before he started digging."

"I don't know, I think I'd rather see what happens between my mum and dad before we feel the need to investigate Jake.  Anyway, I'm tired and want to have an early night.  If you've got lots more to do would you rather I went home."

"Hell no, I was just finishing when Luc sent that pic through, so you go in and I'll finish up here and join you.  Have you checked in with Maddie today?"

"Yeah I called her while you were working, she's good and seeing Lake tonight so we'll catch up tomorrow and I'll probably stay back at mine tomorrow."  She kisses the top of my head and walks back to the bedroom.

By the time I wrap everything up and text Lucas letting him know I want him to chase the Mark-Lauren situation.  My thoughts are that they are probably up to no good.  Both of them have a grudge against me.  I think Lake hit the nail on the head when he said that the shit was gonna hit the fan. 

It's gotten late now and when I go to bed Ginny is already asleep.  I stand and watch her sleeping amazed at her bravery and resilience, she has had a really difficult time and this weekend has been tough.  I love her so much it causes an ache in my chest. 

Undressing quickly in the bathroom so I don't wake her, and after brushing my teeth, I slide gently in next to her and her body automatically moves against me and with her back to my chest I circle my arms around and hold her falling asleep quickly listening to her soft breathing. 

My mind is running at warp speed as I try to understand how she has survived this horrific ordeal, and be able to give herself to me so freely.  I tighten my arms around her body and as she sighs softly, I close my eyes.