Chapter 13

"Hold it."
Katy freezes.
"Spin."
She slowly turns.
"Now spill-"
"I don't know what you mean!"
"Oh no, babe. Don't pull that crap on me. I work in a BDSM club remember. And I have seen plenty of smiles like that."
"Cas..." whines Katy still not able to stop smiling.
"Why don't you go ask your keeper if we can go out for some coffee? And then you can tell me all the juicy details."

{Meanwhile}

"Mr Burns?"
"Sir, the contract is void," excitedly states the lawyer.
"Excuse me?"
"The contract, Sir, it's void. You see, I did some digging and as it happens Mr & Mrs Francis passed away last year in a car accident. It was a drunken lorry driver on the interstate; the man was sentenced to 10 years. Tragic news of course, but fortunately it means that the contract is broken. No money can go to them, which means that-"
"Yes thank you Mr Burns. I believe it's sufficiently clarified now. Have you mentioned the contents of the document to my brother?"
"Um, no, Sir. Would you like me to?"
"No and I'd be grateful if you don't. E-mail me your bank details and I'll transfer your fee to you."
"That's quite all-right Sir. The um, other Mr Carter has already paid me more than necessary."
"Then thank you for your help, Terry."
"No problem Sir."



Mason hangs up the phone, wondering how he can break the news to Katy. How can anyone break such news? Especially when the whole reason she went with him was for her parents? And how she stayed there for 1 year without it being necessary? How he basically forced her to stay?
Just as he wonders about all of it, the woman herself enters the room.

"Mason, can I go with Cas into town? To get some coffee..."


 Her smile's so wide, eyes glistening with happiness that he doesn't have the heart to break it to her yet. She looks a vision in a white sundress; her hair in a braid over one shoulder and feet nestled in sandals.
"Sure. But stay with Cas and stick in crowds, okay?" he hesitates. Truthfully, with Cale having told him that Richard wants Katy back, Mason doesn't want her outside in the open without him next to her. Still he can't keep her captive like he had because that would make him no better. And besides, Katy sounds so happy. He can't deny her happiness.
"I will. Thanks Mason," she chirps kissing his lips quickly before rushing to find Cas.


 **************************

"So? Details," chirps Cas sipping her iced tea.
Katy blushes and raising her own drink to her lips before reciting her first orgasm experience a little nervously.


 ************************

"Wow!...And he actually let you take control like that?" exclaims Cas after.
"I mean yeah...Liz said it would help in keeping me calm and trusting him. And I guess, it worked because I really do trust him now. But I was so nervous to start off with!"
"Liz? As in Dr Liz?"
"Um..I-yeah, she's helping me," confesses Katy.
Apart from Mason and the two doctors, Katy hasn't told anyone else of Richard and is apprehensive to confess it all to Cas, even though Cas knows parts of it anyway.

 "Oh...Pretty isn't she?" grins Cas, causing Katy to break out into a smile.
"Yeah, she is. I have to admit I was a smidge jealous seeing how Mason and her as such good friends," laughs Katy.
"I don't blame you. But anyway, back to what we were talking about! Did you feel his di-"
"Uh, yes! But he had his clothes on and I still had my underwear," clarifies Katy blushing at how blunt Cas was.

 She gazes around the coffee shop to see if anyone is listening in on their lewd conversation. Thankfully, it's just filled with kids on laptops and a few crowds of women gossiping like her and Cas.

 "How big do you think it is? Holly says she heard it's like 12 inches. But I mean, come on, they don't really come that big unless they're pump-"
"I really don't know. I was kind of preoccupied. But big," mutters Katy cutting in again and blushing brighter.

 "Yeah, he is a Carter so I suppose it could be true...His hands are pretty large aren't they?"
"Um...I guess so...." replies Katy confused.
Cas notices her puzzled expression and grins.
"Don't you know what people say about guys with big hands?" asks Cas, grinning and trying to sport an innocent expression.
Katy slowly shakes her head not understanding, but when Cas's smile grows wider she suddenly realises it's probably something sexual.
"Oh God, Cas! You've got such a one track mind," groans Katy before they both burst into giggles.
"Anyway, enough about me, let's talk about you," says Katy as they settle down.


 *************************************

When Katy finishes her shift for the night and goes to meet Mason for dinner, she finds him still hunched over the laptop.
"Hi," she whispers worriedly gazing at the bags at his eyes and the tiredness showing through his deep blue orbs.
"Hey baby," he greets, giving her a lopsided smile, the other corner of his lips almost too weary to rise.
"Mason, you look tired. Maybe you should stop for the night," suggests Katy gently pressing her fingers against the laptop screen to close it.
"In a bit, I need to get this stock ordered and then adjust the budgets...Ugh, and there's the payrolls to overlook-"
"Mason, please..."

She steps behind him, resting her hands on his shoulders and finding great knots of tense muscle. Applying just the right amount of pressure, she circles her fingers around them, easing and relaxing them. His shoulders slump as he feels the soft pressure relieving the stress at his shoulders. A small guttural groan of appreciation whispers into Katy's ears, encouraging her further to keep working at the knots. Pretty soon, all the muscles on his shoulders were relaxed. Her hands were like magic.

 "Where did you learn to do that?" breathes Mason with satisfaction.
Feeling Katy's hands hesitate on his skin, he suddenly realises what he'd said. Whatever memories he has associated with massages are obviously not ones that are happy.
"Dammit, I didn't mean that. I'm sorry," he apologises, curling his hand over hers and bringing her around to sit in his lap.
"It's okay, you don't have to apologise," she smiles caressing his cheek.
His lips curl into a small grin; one that paired with his sparkling navy eyes sent her heart into overdrive.
"You have to stop treating me so well Little Doe. I might get too used to it," he mumbles pressing his lips against hers.
Katy giggles lightly when they part and replies in the same hushed tone as his, "I hope so."

***********************************

"Mmfh. But Katy, it's a Sunday," groans Mason, pulling her waist back and snuggling her into him.
Sundays are the one of the two days a week where the club doesn't open its doors for business. Cas had told Katy that many just used it as a day to rest and relax, including Mason it seems.
"But we need to get up. We need more groceries," she points out. How the man has survived this long without the proper vitamins, non-processed meat and fresh vegetables, she will never know.
"10 more minutes, come on, just lie with me," he urges in a soft luring voice that she simply can't refuse.
She curls into him, letting him spoon her body. Groaning she lets her hand glide over the one at her waist and relaxes her back against his torso.
"Okay," she sighs, lying there in silence and relishing in the feel of him.
Even though they're doing nothing, it somehow feels good. To just be embraced. No conditions, no ulterior motives, just...comfort.

"Mason?" she asks, receiving a small grunt in response.
"Did you manage to get my contract, the one you were after?"
"Yeah...It's void..." he cautiously replies.
Katy's breath catches, could it really mean what she dares hopes it means?
"I'm...not 'married' to him anymore?" she breathes hesitantly.
"Exactly."

A wide grin splits across her face and her heart feels like it's fluttering with so much joy. To her it's like the best moment of her life so far.
"Really? You really mean that?"
"Absolutely," he confirms, lips pressing at her neck.
"But...I...how?" she gasps the shock still not having worn off.
At least, she doesn't have to fear that Richard would demand her back with the threat of a stupid contract.

 "Don't worry about that. I just talked to some lawyers who found a loophole," he explains not going into great detail.
His mate's happy and he doesn't want to destroy that happiness at least not until she's gotten to experience it for a while. It's inevitable that he has to but...not right now.
"Katy, sweetheart?" he whispers when he hears no reaction from her.
Is she onto him, already?

She shuffles around and kisses Mason fully on the lips, coaxing her tongue into him and for something deeper. That eases his worries for now and he wraps his arms around her and continues.
"Thank you, so much. You've done so much for me," she whispers, tears of overwhelming joy springing to her eyes.
"Hey, don't cry. I don't like seeing you cry." He wipes the tears that slip down, causing her to smile before sighing.
"I think 10 minutes are nearly up," she breathes.
"Then, 10 more?"
"I don't think so," laughs Katy peeling herself off him.

*****************************

"Mason," hisses Katy, "people are staring. Please place the artichoke down."
"A what?"
"Artichoke. Come on, please, let's go."
Mason looks up to see her blushing and shuffling nervously; women around him were openly staring and some giggling. Oops. He doesn't tend to do grocery shopping all that often and when he does it's usually straight to the frozen aisle or picking at vegetables he actually recognises.
"Sorry, Little Doe, I didn't realise I was embarrassing you," he apologises placing the fruit or vegetable, or whatever it is back and wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Oh no, no, you weren't. It's just....why are they all staring?" she mumbles feeling hundreds of pairs of eyes on them; though in reality that's probably not true. But the sensation is unnerving.
"They have nothing better to do," Mason chuckles and steers her towards the meat aisle, whilst dumping pounds of red meat in the basket.


 Katy pulls some of it out and places it back on the shelf causing him to look at her with a begging glint in his eyes that only she seems to be able to recognise.
"Too much red meat can increase your cholesterol," she explains, hesitantly looking back up.
After all the power he's allowed her, she feels weary to take advantage of it. She still has to remain cautious, know her place. And because of that she's increasingly aware of every 'no' she gives him and every time she counteracts him.

 "Fine. But I hope you can make those vegetables taste as good," he sighs causing her to giggle.
After years of eating so healthy and mainly vegetarian, Katy's picked up many recipes to make vegetables and fruit taste just, if not better, than meat.
"Promise-"

"Mason?! Oh my God, Mason Carter?" squeals a voice.

They both turn at the same time, watching as a woman from the far end of the aisle struts over. Her brunette hair's cut short and fans in loose waves, with hazel highlights glowing under the hideous fluorescence of the store lights. She's tall and slim, with the most amazing cheekbones Katy has seen. Although her eyes are small, she has the sleek model look to her and from the way she's beaming, Katy has her suspicions this woman being more than just friends with Mason.

"Rachel, hi," greets Mason casually.
"It's been so long! What? Like a year? How are you?" she questions.
"Yeah, I'm good thanks, well, great now that I've found my mate. Rachel, this is Katy, my mate."
Katy doesn't fail to notice the way Rachel's smile slips slightly before she forces it back into place. So this woman must also be a werewolf. As if she needs any more points for being attractive to him.
"Oh. Your mate? How...wonderful. So nice to meet you Katy."
"Hi," responds Katy shaking the woman's hand.
She's well aware that Rachel's just feigning niceness but Katy doesn't care. She isn't about to start a fight with a woman over a man she's already got. Besides, it isn't in her to bitch back. She's never done it and never will.


 "Aren't you just...adorable-"
"Er, so you're back in town Rachel? May I ask what brought this on?" interrupts Mason, pulling Katy closer to him with a hand at her waist.
Just because he's male doesn't mean he doesn't sometimes know of the mind games people play- men and women. Rachel will always be his friend but never again will they be anything more. He's learnt his lesson from that already. After a few rounds of mutual pleasure she'd wanted to get serious despite him stating at the start that he wouldn't be in a committed, serious relationship with anyone other than his soul-mate. Nonetheless, they remain sporadically in contact but since her transfer out of town last month, he's not had a chance to catch up with her.


 "Steve's getting married!" she squeals, her arm brushing with his forearm and squeezing a little to convey her excitement.
"Please, send him my congratulations-"
"Why not do it yourself? I'm not in town long and I thought maybe we could catch up. Come with me to the wedding. It'll be much better if you're there. You know mom and dad love you."
Her parents liking him isn't a hard concept to grasp. Of course they do. He is a Carter and he's been nothing but friendly to both of their children. In all honesty, with them being one of the other few werewolf families in town, a friendship was bound to blossom.


 Katy gazes up at Mason waiting for his response. His voice falters a little before he clears his throat and answers.
"Right now, I'm a little busy and frankly, I don't think that's the best idea Rachel. I'm really sorry. I'm sure it will be lovely. Anyway, we better go. It was nice meeting you though."
"Really? Aw, well, I suppose you always were a busy man. Here! It's my new number, call me sometime," she chirps giving a wink to him before placing a kiss at his cheek and gliding away.
Mason gazes down at it stunned. His eyes then dart to his mate, who under his hold has grown as stiff as a statue.
"Katy-"
"Are you going to call her?" cuts in Katy, her tone emotionless.


 Maybe he's changed his mind about the closed nature of the relationship. Perhaps seeing the beautiful Rachel has made him reconsider. He has options after all. Options which offer far more in terms of a relationship than she can.
"I-no."
"Please don't lie to me," she whispers, tugging out of his grip and loading the groceries on the checkout counter.
Mason sighs paying for it and helping take it to the car.

***********************


 Katy remains motionless in the car even when Mason doesn't start the engine.
"Katy can we please talk about this?" he groans turning to face her.
"If you'd like to," she mumbles keeping, gaze shooting straight ahead.
Her eyes start stinging with disappointment but she blinks those hot tears back scolding herself to stop. It's ridiculous. She cannot cry at such a stupid thing! So what if he wants to rekindle whatever he has with perfect Miss Rachel, it's not her place to question it! He's already done so much for her. She should be grateful to him, not some possessive hormonal bitch.

"Despite what it seems she's a good friend-"
"Just a friend?" snaps Katy.
Her eyes go wide as she slaps a hand over her mouth in shock. Where the hell did that come from?

"Oh God, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said that. You're free to do what you want."
"She's just a friend. We did...have a loose relationship but that was before she left. I haven't spoken to her after she left, that is until now. Despite what you may think, I'm not unfaithful Katy....Please say something."
"Mason...you know of my past relationship, but we've never talked about yours," she hints.
Mason nods in thought before answering, "fair enough. Let's get lunch and I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

*******************************

"So what do you want to know?"

Katy toys around with the chicken piece in her salad, pushing it through the lettuce leaves before looking up to him. They're sat in a small bistro style restaurant, the place's buzzing with all sorts of people. There are even some school kids drifting in and out picking up food to go for lunch. Other than that it's quiet and cosy enough for this sort of conversation.


"How many girlfriends have you had?" she finally asks.
"One."
The fork hesitates at her lips.
"One?" she reiterates in disbelief.
"Yeah, I'm not sure if she counts but I always thought she does. She was my first. I was fourteen and she was sixteen. I met here on summer vacation in Hawaii," recounts Mason.
"Oh. What was her name?" she asks with a coy smile, which widens at noticing him squirm a little.
"Er...um...I think it was Georgie-Georgia-I'm not exactly sure," he admits causing Katy to giggle.

"Okay, so how many girls have you been with?"
"Well...I was with a lot during high school but after that only about 6 or 7."
"Do you remember their names?"
"Is that a test?" he smirks.
"Will you pass?" she retorts.

"Isla and Irena were these two Finnish girls, Rachel as you know, Carina, Stacy, Kaylee..and um, Serena, I think.
Katy gives him a wide grin and laughs whilst shaking her head.

"Well done. If it were a test, I guess you would have passed...So, you never got serious with any of them?"
"No. Katy, my parents have always told me that my mate would be the only woman in my life when I find her. I have always believed anything I feel for any other woman but my mate would be like...root beer for an alcoholic, it would pale in comparison. Now I know it's true. But even back then I had faith in that, which is why I never wanted to get serious with any other women but you."

Katy can't speak for a moment; her heart's beating too fast.
"Never?" she breathes.
"Never."
"But...if...if you weren't a werewolf and if I wasn't your mate but just another...regular girl, would you...would you have given me a second look?" she murmurs watching intently for his reaction.

His eyes flicker down her chest and arms before he blinks at her face.
"If you were an average woman and I was an average man, and I met you one night in a club or wherever...to put it bluntly, by the end of the night, you would have ended up in my bed to be completely ravished," he whispers huskily.

A shudder shoots down Katy's spine before she breathes back to him, "and if Richard had never been part of my life? Would still ravish me so quickly?"
Mason's eyes flash to her amused ones and he gave her a small smirk.
"Little Doe, from the first meeting, I would have hoisted you to my bedroom, tied you to that damn bed and explored every delicious inch of you. Sweetheart, you would be in constant heaven. I would make sure you came again and again and again. More times that you thought possible. More times than anyone before me would have made you. You would have no doubt in your mind that you are