Chapter 2

MASON

I kiss Lily gently at first. But when her legs wrap around my waist, I kiss her harder and roll my hips against hers, making both of us moan.

I move my lips away from hers and down to her neck, stopping at the top of her bra. I slow down, my kisses becoming softer.

The lace of her bra tickles my lips, and I make each kiss linger longer.

Her fingers slide along my back muscles, and she exhales a soft moan, arching into my touch. “Keep going,” she says.

“Hasn’t anyone told you that patience is a virtue?”

“Hasn’t anyone told you that you should never leave a woman waiting?” she retorts sternly.

I chuckle against the lace and then obey, making my way down her body, stopping at her panties.

She breathes out, bucking her hips up. I place soft kisses on the inside of her thighs before moving up and gently placing a kiss on the outside of her panties, making her moan.

“Mason,” she groans, lifting her hips in impatience.

I take her panties off as slowly as I can before I begin kissing her thighs again.

“I swear to God, Mason, if you don—”

I cut her off by attaching my mouth to hers. Her words are replaced by a little scream. I savor every part of her, enjoying it as much as I can tell she is.

Her legs start to tense around my head. I push her thighs down, knowing she’s going to orgasm.

“Oh, fuck. Mason,” she pants out as her body shakes with pleasure.

I don’t stop. I let her ride out her orgasm on my face until she tugs my hair to pull me up to her.

She pulls my lips to hers with no hesitation, her heart beating fast and hard against my chest.

“I need you, Mason,” she whispers, moving her legs to wrap around me.

I easily slip inside of her, ecstasy overtaking me instantly.

“Your pussy is fucking incredible,” I say. I move slowly so I don’t cum, because I want her to cum again before I do.

I move up to my knees, lifting one of Lily’s legs up to rest on my shoulder, both of us covered in a layer of sweat.

“Holy shit,” she moans, her pussy clenching around me, making my own moan escape.

“Mase,” she moans again. I lean my head against her calf, kissing gently, trying so hard not to cum.

“I need you to cum again, Princess,” I say.

Lily instantly moves one of her hands to her clit and starts rubbing as I watch her tits move with every thrust.

“That’s right, Princess, cum all over my cock,” I say just before her body starts trembling again.

I take that as my cue and cum as well. I collapse on top of her, and we just lie there, breathing hard and clinging to each other.

The windows are completely fogged over, blocking out the world. Sweat soaks the car seat beneath us, but I don’t care.

I brush a strand of hair from Lily’s face as she catches her breath. We stare into each other’s eyes for a long time, neither one of us wanting to break the spell. My princess makes everything perfect.

***

Eventually, we have to go back to reality. We dress, and I drive her home. After one last kiss, I go back to my place to finish packing.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving us,” Tayla sighs as she walks into my bedroom, flopping onto my bed next to the last duffle bag I’m packing.

“I know, me neither,” I say, trying to hide my guilt.

I get to start a new life at college with Lily while Tayla and Gemma are stuck here with our alcoholic mother. I finally, FINALLY, don’t have to worry about my mom coming home drunk or high and yelling at me, but they’ll still be stuck in this reality.

And without me to protect them. And that kills me. No matter how much I tell myself it’s for the best, that I need to do this for my future, it still feels like I’m abandoning them.

I feel guilty leaving her and Gemma behind, but I know I need to do this for myself. Besides, it’s not like I’ll be far if they need me.

“But I won’t be far away—an hour’s drive, and I’m back. You can call me whenever you want,” I reassure her.

In classic sister mode, she rolls her eyes at me. “Thanks, Mr. Protecto.”

“We can handle the bitch,” Gemma, my youngest sister, snorts as she makes her way to my bed. She’s the one I’m most worried about. Like me, she tends to bottle everything up.

I place my hands on both their shoulders and summon my best big brother voice. “I need you to know that you can call me any time, and I’ll come deal with her. I’m moving out, but I’m not leaving your lives.”

The message breaks through their teenage ~I-don’t-give-a-shit-about-anything~ façade, and they both nod.

“I’m going to miss you both very much,” I say.

“Yeah, and we’re going to miss Lily,” Gemma says.

I sigh and return to packing, shoving my phone charger into the bag.

“That’s what we’re most upset about,” Tayla agrees.

I roll my eyes but can’t help smiling. Of course, my own sisters would miss Lily more than me. To be fair, I don’t blame them.

“How are you going to cope not seeing your precious princess every night?” Gemma smirks as Tayla bursts into a fit of giggles.

“Yeah! You won’t be able to leave a game just to make out with her in college, you know?” Tayla says.

“You both can shut up or leave,” I warn, shoving more stuff into my bag before zipping it up and taking a look around my mostly empty room.

I’ve packed practically all my shit. The only things left are the bed and desk. I made sure to take my TV and Xbox because I know the moment I’m gone, Mom will be in here trying to find anything she can sell.

She doesn’t know that I’m aware of her dwindling fortune. The money she got from husband number four is drying up, and she won’t be able to afford this lifestyle much longer.

“Guess it’s time for you to go,” Tayla says, looking sadly at my bag.

“Guess it is.” I nod, slinging my bag over my shoulder and grabbing my pillow. “Walk me out.”

“You’re not going to cry, are you?” Gemma asks as we head downstairs.

“Do you take me for a crier?” I snort. The last time I cried was when Lily was in the hospital, and I cried enough then for a lifetime.

That wasn’t going to happen again.

Outside, I chuck my stuff into the backseat. I turn around to face my sisters, who both look like they’re holding in tears.

“Come on then,” I grumble, holding my arms up slightly.

They both throw themselves at me.

I wrap my arms around them as they cling to me, their bodies shaking slightly.

“I’ll miss you,” Gemma mumbles into my chest.

“I’ll miss you too. I love you,” I reply, making them pull back and look at me.

“I’m not repeating it,” I state as they fight their smiles.

“Aw, you love us,” Gemma teases as she wipes her eyes.

Tayla opens her mouth to say something, probably to join in on the teasing, but she’s cut off by tires screeching.

“Here’s the devil,” Gemma mutters under her breath as our mom pulls her car up next to mine.

She has a cigarette hanging out of her mouth and is wearing a dress that’s at least two sizes too small. She reeks of stale alcohol.

“What’s all this then?” Mom smirks as she looks between us.

“Mason’s leaving today,” Tayla snaps. Both girls’ arms instantly cross over their bodies.

“That’s right. Old hot shot is off to be a big fancy college boy.” Mom sneers as she leans against her car. “Say goodbye, girls. You’ll never see him again.”

I ignore her. The girls know it’s not true.

“You’re going to go away and never come back because you think you’re better than us.” She pushes herself off her car and comes to stand directly in front of me, unsteady on her feet.

She slurs her words as she says, “But just remember that you’ll always be pathetic like your father.”

“Why can’t you just say goodbye or good luck like a normal mom?” I ask.

I turn away for one last goodbye to the girls, but she just doesn’t know when to stop talking.

“Go abandon us just like Callum.”

His name coming out of her mouth makes me freeze. Talking about my dad, whoever the hell he is, is one thing, but talking about Callum…

Anger surges in my chest, causing the skin on my face to burn. I want to scream at her that Callum didn’t abandon us. He committed suicide, and he did it because of her.

The parade of worthless men she brought into our lives drove him to addiction.

I wish I were on the football field so I could hit someone. I take a deep breath to calm myself because I don’t want to lose control in front of my sisters.

I turn to look at her, keeping my voice as steady as I can manage.

“Please don’t talk about him.”

“He killed himself to get away from you,” Mom retorts.

I clench my jaw and fists as hard as I possibly can. If I don’t, I fear I might punch something.

“Shut up. You don’t get to talk about him!” Gemma snaps at Mom.

“Gemma, it’s okay,” I say. “She doesn’t mean it. She’s just trying to hurt me because I’m leaving.”

“I don’t give a fuck that you’re leaving. One less annoying mouth to feed,” Mom says, struggling to light another cigarette.

Tayla knocks the cigarette out of her hand just to mess with her.

Mom looks at her for a long beat. Then, without a word, she slaps her straight across the cheek.

Before I even know what I’m doing, I’ve pinned Mom against the car.

“Mason!” Tayla yells.

“Stop!” Gemma yells.

As I feel the rage erupting inside me, I don’t know if I can stop.