Always Darkest Read online

  When the kiss ended, Tori invited him into her apartment. “Mason, how did you get here?”

  “I came the same way you did,” he explained.

  “But what about your tavern, your home, Willa?”

  “It is all taken care of and you don’t need to worry about it. All that matters is that I am here with you now. I had to be with you. I need you Tori.”

  “I need you too, Mason,” Tori said as she led him over to her couch. She sat him down and climbed up on top of him, straddling him as her dress rode up high on her thighs. She kissed him, gently at first and then harder. She was hungry for him. He sacrificed his entire life for her. “Oh Mason, I need you,” she whispered between fevered kisses.

  She got up from him and held out her hand. He took it and she began to lead him toward her bedroom.

  “Tori, wait. There is something I need to do first.”

  “What?” she asked as she looked at him questioningly.

  Mason got down on one knee, still holding her hand. He reached into the pocket of the black suit he was wearing pulled out a small box.

  “Victoria Clover, I am in love with you. I need you in my life forever. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” she said completely in shock.

  Mason slid the rather large diamond ring on her finger, and then he stood. Before Tori could say anything more, Mason stood and scooped her up in his arms. He carried her to the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed. He climbed on top of her, kissing her, making everything else go fuzzy. Her senses heightened and she enjoyed each time their lips met. She was turned on beyond all sense and reason.

  Tori awoke the next morning but she didn’t open her eyes. Maybe last night was some crazy dream and if it was she didn’t want to wake up and see that her bed was empty. She had experienced true bliss last night. What she had felt with Mason was so much more than she could have ever imagined. If that was a crazy hallucination, to hell with sanity she thought. Slowly she opened her eyes and there he was lying beside her in her bed.

  Mason was lying on his side. His head propped up on his hand with those amazing blue eyes watching her intently. The sheets were well below his waist and she saw that curve that started at his hip and led below. Her thoughts immediately turned to where that curve led and the night they had just shared and she felt her checks redden and her pulse quicken.

  “Good morning, beautiful,” he said.

  “Good morning, how long have you been up?”

  “A little while,” Mason said as he brushed a piece of hair out of her face. He smiled at her like he was the happiest man in the world and she felt the same. Tori wished she could wake up every day next to this man.

  Eventually Tori had to get out of bed to freshen up a bit. She was never a morning person and she didn’t really want to scare Mason off with a serious case of morning breath. She went and brushed her teeth, used mouthwash, did all the things that made her feel human. When she returned Mason went to the living room and got his bag to do the same. She put on her short robe and went to make coffee.

  Mason came into the living room and she offered him a cup which he took smiling. He had put on his pants but left the shirt off and she still couldn’t take her eyes off him. They sat on the couch facing each other and Tori still couldn’t believe Mason was here.

  “You are really here to stay?” she asked looking at him.

  “Yes, as far as I know it is a one way trip.”

  “What about your granny?”

  Mason laughed, “She and Earl hit it off. So they are spending some time together getting to know each other better. Grandpa had been dead a long time and I’m thrilled to see her so happy. She said after a while she might even make the trip. Granny is always up for an adventure, so I wouldn’t put it past her.”

  “She is an amazing woman.”

  “That she is, and so are you.” He kissed her again. Tori felt like she would never tire of his kisses. Each time felt like the first time.

  She offered to make him some breakfast and he insisted that help. They had fun, teasing each other as they cooked. “So my future wife can cook,” he teased as he chopped some green peppers.

  “Well it’s good to know my future husband is handy in the kitchen too. I just want to make sure you keep up your strength.”

  “After last night I am quite famished.” He said smiling at her.

  “You should be.”

  Between the teasing and the kissing, breakfast got cooked and they sat down and ate their omelets, biscuits, and hash browns. They spent the rest of the day and night in bed and on the couch. They took a shower together and went back to bed. Tori had never been so happy in all her life.

  The next morning while Mason was in the shower, there was a knock at the door and Tori knew it must be her sister. She threw on jeans and a t-shirt and opened the door.

  “Are you ready to go for a walk?” Kathy asked.

  “Not this morning. I have company.”

  “Is it Justin?” Kathy asked excitedly.

  “Shhh, no it’s Mason.”

  “Mason? The one you were so hung up on? How?”

  “He came over for me. Listen if you would leave before he gets out of the shower I’d appreciate it.”

  “I want to meet him. Any man that could get you so hung up is a sight to be seen.”

  “Not today,” Tori said.

  Then Mason walked into the living room with a towel around his waist. His dark hair was still wet with little droplets of water hanging off the ends. He was a sight to behold.

  Kathy pushed her way past Tori and held out her hand to Mason. “Hi, I’m Kathy Tori’s sister.”

  Mason took her hand and shook it. “I’m Mason, nice to meet you. Tori has told me so much about you.”

  “Likewise,” Kathy said. Tori could see her sister blushing.

  “Okay, now that you have met, I’m sure you have some things to do Kathy,” Tori said trying to get her sister to leave.

  “Not really,” Kathy replied. She took a seat at the kitchen table.

  “I’m going to go get dressed,” Mason said. “I look forward to speaking with you, Kathy.” Mason walked into the bedroom and Kathy watched him go.

  “Tori, he is gorgeous,” Kathy said fanning herself for effect.

  “I know.”

  “When did he show up?”

  “After the wedding, right after I got off the phone with you,” Tori replied.

  “And you….”

  “Yes.”

  Kathy punched her sister in the arm. “And he is from that world you say you went to?”

  “Yes.”

  Mason came back into the room with his black pants on and a white button down shirt. He had combed his hair and pulled it back at the nape of his neck. He took a seat at the table beside Tori.

  “Hey ladies,” he said.

  “Mason I want you to come with Tori for Christmas Eve at my house.”

  “I’d be delighted,” Mason replied.

  “Good. Well, I better be going. I look forward to seeing you again, Mason,” Kathy got up and walked out the door. Tori could tell Kathy was still blushing and uncomfortable. Kathy was almost never uncomfortable and Tori couldn’t help but giggle a little to herself.

  “So that was your sister?” Mason asked.

  “Yep,” Tori replied.

  “She seems very nice.”

  “She is. Are you sure you don’t mind doing Christmas Eve with my family?”

  “Mind? I look forward to it. We are getting married after all and soon they will be my family too.”

  They had spent the last few days in bed, stopping only to eat and shower and Tori thought it might be time to leave the apartment. She could spend forever in this apartment with Mason, but if he was going to stay here he needed some more modern clothes and things. She also needed to get gifts for her sister, brother-in-law and nephews.

  “Do you want to go shopping?”

  “With you I want to do everything and anythi
ng,” Mason said pulling her to him and kissing her gently. “While we are out, I wonder if you know a place I can exchange some gold for your currency. I need to buy a few things.”

  “Sure let me just hop on the internet and find out.” Tori said as she got her lap top and started searching.

  Mason looked at the machine in awe as Tori deftly typed in the search terms and came back with the results. “And you told me there was no magic here,” Mason said with a tone of pure amusement. Tori hadn’t thought about how amazing technology would seem to someone who had never seen it but only read about it. She guessed it would kind of seem like magic.

  “Maybe we’ll catch a movie later. I think you might love that or we could just watch television. I’ll show you how to use the internet too, if you like.”

  “I want to learn everything and see everything. I plan on making my home here. I was also thinking about starting a couple of taverns here like I have in Nathis and Red Rock back on Three Suns. I intend to give you a wonderful life, Tori.” Tori didn’t know what to say. Was he for real? Instead of trying to say anything she just printed out the list of places that bought gold.

  “I got the list printed,” Tori said as she retrieved the paper from the printer across the room. She noticed Mason’s intense study as he looked from her lap top to the printer and smiled. “Ready to go?”

  “Yes,” Mason said as he reached down and picked up one of the large black duffle bags he had brought with him. It looked heavy even for Mason.

  “What’s in the bag?”

  “The gold,” he said sitting it on the table and unzipping it.

  The large bag was filled with gold coins. Tori had also looked up the current price of gold and she knew there was a small fortune in the bag. “Um, I think you are only going to need to exchange a couple of those coins for now Mason. And maybe we should hide the rest in my closet.”

  “This is a lot?”

  “Um, yeah. The price of gold is way up right now. You have enough to live off for decades if you wanted to.”

  “Come on, I’ll show you where you can put it, and maybe later you will want to put it in a bank.”

  Tori dug out a nice hiding place in the back of her closet and then buried the bag in shoes. She knew he had some money in Black Rock, but she had no idea he brought this much here. Mason put two of the gold coins in his pocket and they were off to go shopping.

  Chapter Twenty

  Shopping with Mason was an adventure. He had ridden in the limo before because he came over at the same spot Tori, Thomas and Justin had before and happened upon Thomas’s home. Thomas was still dancing with his “new” wife but was happy to see Mason and directed Alex to drive him over to Tori’s apartment. She wondered if he had freaked out this much in the limo. She was just driving to Carson to go shopping and he just kept cringing every time he thought she needed to stop.

  When they finally made it to the pawn shop in Carson he was white as a sheet and this was the first time she had ever seen him disturbed by anything. And damn it all it just made him sexier. He stepped out and laid his hands on the hood and took a couple deep breaths.

  “Tori you are a very brave woman,” Mason said as he smiled at her. He stepped around the car and kissed her again. Tori noted that brought a bit of his color back. They walked into the pawn shop and Tori was delighted as she watched him negotiate the price of the gold. She had told him the going rate only a half an hour ago and he talked about it like he traded gold for a living.

  Fortunately, the mall was close and this time the drive didn’t seem to bother him quite as much. The first order of the day was getting him some clothes that didn’t make him look like he was from a different time. They shopped at the department stores and she enjoyed watching Mason try on clothes. He drew a lot more attention from the female sales clerks than she would have liked and while he was friendly and courteous, he made sure to always introduce Tori as his fiancé. Tori appreciated that immensely.

  When the shopping was done they went back to Tori’s apartment and settled on the couch. Mason was most amazed by the television and Tori enjoyed explaining how it worked. Three Suns wasn’t really so different from Earth. They had running water and gas, but no electricity, so their technology was rudimentary. She showed him how to use the remote control and he settled on a country music station.

  When night fell, Tori ordered a pizza and suggested they put up the Christmas tree. It was just a three foot one, but Tori thought it worked nicely in her small apartment. When she plugged in the twinkling multi colored lights Mason cautiously touched one, as if he expected it to burn him. When it didn’t he carefully inspected each one declaring that it was simply amazing. He explained to here that Christmas was also celebrated on Black Rock. They didn’t have trees, but lit many candles and it was a time for families to come together with a feast.

  The next day was Christmas Eve so they made their way to Kathy’s house, with the wrapped presents Tori had ordered off the internet months before because she always forgot. When they walked in the door Kathy gave her sister a huge hug. “I’m so happy to see you!” Then she hugged Mason, “and you too! You can just put those presents under the tree.”

  Mason was wearing blue jeans and a green sweater that made him look absolutely delectable. Tori was convinced she could poke a hole in a garbage bag, pull it over his head and he would make it look like an Armani suit.

  Randy and his two older boys were sitting on the couch playing a war game on Xbox, when there was a pause in the game, Randy walked over to Mason and extended his hand. “Hey Mason, I’ve heard all about you. I’m Kathy’s husband. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Mason took his extended hand. “Nice to meet you too,” Mason said as he shook his hand.

  “Do you want to get in on the next game?” Randy asked.

  Kathy broke into their conversation. “No, don’t let him. Not if you ever want to see him without a controller in his hand.”

  “Ah, come on Kathy it’s not that bad. We need to do a little male bonding.”

  “Yeah, I need to steal a few minutes with my sister. I was just kidding anyway. You boys have fun.”

  Mason gave Tori a quick kiss before setting down on the couch with Randy and the boys. Kathy led Tori into the kitchen on the pretense of getting her to help with the food. Of course the food was already prepared and her sister just wanted a little girl talk time. Kathy handed her a cup of punch and when Tori took it, Kathy’s eyes lit up in amazement.

  “What is that on your hand?”

  “It’s a ring,” Tori said smiling.

  “Is it an engagement ring?” Kathy questioned looking pointedly at her sister.

  Tori hadn’t really wanted to tell Kathy yet because she knew the moment she did she would want them to set a date that she could start planning it. Weddings were definitely Kathy’s thing. Then she would start talking colors and caterers and cakes every chance she got. Reluctantly Tori said, “Yes.”

  Kathy immediately grabbed her hand to look at the large diamond ring. She dropped the hand and drew her sister into a deep hug. “I am so thrilled for you!” Then she released her and grabbed her hand again. “This ring is gorgeous! I have never seen a design like that. It is so dazzling.”

  “It was his grandmother’s ring.”

  “Oh that is so sweet! You are so lucky!”

  “So are you.”

  “I know,” Tori smiled and she knew she was thinking about Randy. After twelve years of marriage, she still looked like that every time she thought about her husband.

  “So have you set a date?”

  “Not yet, but we have plenty time. Right now I am just enjoying being with him and I’m not ready to get into planning a wedding.”

  “I understand,” Kathy said and Tori was simply in shock that her sister let that answer stand. “Let’s go get the boys and start the dinner.”

  When they went back into the living room Mason and Randy were sitting on the couch chatting while they boys p
layed the war game.

  “You didn’t manage to turn him into a gamer?” Kathy asked her husband.

  Ricky answered for him. “He got killed like a dozen times mom.”

  Mason jokingly defended himself. “It’s not my fault you’re so good at it.”

  “Okay everyone into the dining room it’s time to eat!”

  “Ah, mom,” the boys said still firing away at the soldiers on the television.

  “You get to open one present after dinner,” she said.

  The saved their game and ran into the dining room. They sat around the table and Kathy kept smiling as she looked between Tori and Mason.

  Kathy cleared her throat, “Before we say grace, I believe my sister would like to announce something.”

  Tori blushed, it was just her family here, but it still embarrassed her a little. What if Mason didn’t want her to share this news yet? Tori didn’t stand up. She just sat there for a moment looking at Mason and when he gave her hand a little squeeze and a reassuring smile she decided he didn’t mind. “Thanks, Kathy. Mason and I are engaged.”

  Randy looked at her, “Congratulations, little sis!” Then to Mason, “I’ll warn you these Clover women can be a handful, but they are worth it.” He gave Kathy a quick kiss on the cheek.

  Kathy was already running around the table to hug and congratulate Mason. “I look forward to having you in the family. Now you just make sure she sets a date soon.”

  “I’ll try,” Mason said hugging back his soon to be sister-in-law. Kathy took her seat and gave Randy a nod indicating it was time to say grace.

  Everyone took hands and Randy led them in a beautiful prayer ending with, “and thanks be to God that I will no longer be the only adult male in this family. Amen.”

  The meal was great as Kathy was an excellent cook. They made small talk and Tori enjoyed the way Mason interacted with her family with ease. When the meal was over and the presents had been opened, Mason and Randy were playing some card game with the children. Tori and Kathy were sitting on the sofa drinking some white wine. Tori was watching Mason interact with her nephews out of the corner of her eye. The way he was kind and joking with them made her smile. She just knew that he would be a great father someday and this made her fall even more in love with him.