Claimed by the Alien Bodyguard - Tiffany Roberts Page 0,53
I never would’ve come up with on my own.”
He was speaking slowly, his unplaceable accent thicker and more pronounced, and he seemed to be pausing often to consider his choice of words. Gabriela knew that he hadn’t lied—he had no one to talk to, and he wasn’t used to speaking about these things. But he was trying, and that only endeared him to her even more.
She knew also that he was purposely omitting the details. With the way he’d so effortlessly and without any hesitation grabbed Allen Jensen and lifted him into the air, she’d guessed there’d been violence or danger in his past, and his story was only confirming that.
Yet she couldn’t ignore the sorrow underlying his voice. It was subtle, and he didn’t betray much of it, but he didn’t have to.
“What happened?” she asked gently.
Mason’s fingers curled against her middle, and she once again felt the strange, sharp prick of his nails. “He was from a very powerful family, and he wanted to change the way they conducted their business. When he took over, there were people who didn’t like it. Didn’t like him. And I…I failed to do my job.”
Mason didn’t have to say what had happened. Gabriela knew he’d lost the only person he’d called a friend, that he likely still carried guilt over it. Her heart hurt for him. How long? How long ago had this been?
She slipped her arm beneath the covers and rested her hand over his. “I’m sorry, Mason.”
He raised his thumb, brushing it along the side of her hand. “Don’t be. I couldn’t do it anymore once everything was over. Couldn’t continue that life. I was…well compensated from my work, had more money than I knew what to do with, so I just left, went as far away as I could. Moved around a few times. Didn’t feel right anywhere. And eventually I…I found myself here. Never lived anywhere like this, and I didn’t know if it’d work out, but I saw you and…I knew that I’d find a way. That I had to.”
Gabriela turned her head toward him, catching sight of a flicker of violet in the darkness, but that light vanished in an instant. “I’m glad you did. And that you finally got the courage to ask me out.”
“Me too.”
She laid her head down on the pillow but kept her eyes open. “There’s just one thing bothering me, Mason…”
“What’s that?”
God, she loved how his voice rumbled into her when they were lying together like this.
“You never told me. Chocolate or vanilla Oreos?”
He laughed. “Prefer the peanut butter ones.”
Gabriela chuckled. “Okay. That’s acceptable.”
“You asked about my favorite food, too?”
She closed her eyes, simply taking comfort in his embrace, in his voice, in the rhythmic beating of his heart against her back. “Mmhmm.”
“As of today, sudado de pollo.”
Gabriela couldn’t hold back a grin. “Guess some of your relationship advice books have helped, huh?”
Mason grunted. “You saw those?”
“Mmm… And the romance books.”
“Ah, female”—his hand finally slid down, and his finger brushed along the waistband of her pants—“now those have taught me some things that will make you very happy.”
Her breath hitched as that ache reignited within her core.
So much for the distraction.
“Sleep well, Gabriela,” he purred; she could hear the smirk in his voice. He knew exactly what he was doing to her.
Her one consolation was that he wasn’t unaffected. He’d be suffering right along with her if that giant rod throbbing against her backside was any indication. She gave her ass a little wiggle, making him groan.
“Good night, Mason.”
Thirteen
Awareness slowly returned to Broxen as the fog of sleep dissipated. He was first caressed by a sense of contentment like he’d never felt, a sense of fullness that hummed in his chest and coursed through his languid limbs. Next, he felt the mattress under his back, cradling him with just the right blend of softness and support, and the blanket draped over his body to cocoon him in warmth.
But there was another source of warmth here that was far more satisfying—the female tucked against his side. One of his arms was curled around Gabriela, keeping her firmly in place against him, and one of hers lay on his chest. Her head was resting upon his shoulder, her breath was fanning across his skin, and she had one leg hiked up atop his.
Broxen inhaled, filling his lungs with air perfumed by Gabriela’s sweet scent, and groaned. His tail, still stuck in his pants, twisted against his leg. He loved her scent, loved