Moon God Mates

Chapter 17

IRIS' POV:

I can't let him continue. I can't lead him on like this, or perhaps I can't bear to hear what he has to say. Not today; not like this. If Luke's unexpected appearance earlier isn't enough to trigger a spiraling anxiety attack, then this conversation surely is.

"Mason, say something."

He's staring blankly at the ground, and the look on his face sends shocks of pain straight into my heart. It's likely just the stress affecting me, but I feel pins and needles in my heart.

"Mason?" My voice cracks.

"Tell me you're not considering it?" Mason finally turns to meet my eyes. I'm usually able to read what lies behind those bright gray eyes, but as he looks back at me, they appear dull.

I feel closed out, and I don’t like the way it makes me feel. Shivering, I rub my hands up my arms, but it isn’t from the cold. After a moment, I answer truthfully, “I don’t know.” My voice barely rises above a whisper because I'm unsure of what to do from here. I know I don't want to leave with Luke, but I also feel a responsibility to my son to at least hear him out.

"What do you know, Iris?" The hurt in Mason’s voice makes me shiver again, and this time he notices.

He throws his arm around my shoulders, “Look, I’m sorry for getting upset,” Mason says as he pulls me closer, and suddenly I can’t think. His musky scent is consuming me, evoking sensations that feel almost overwhelming.

“But can you blame me? Iris, tell me I’m not the only one who feels what’s between us.” The desperation seeping through his tone throws me off even more.

“Of course, I feel something, I just…” I take a deep breath, “I just don’t know what it is.” That is the truth. I am breathless from his proximity. I stand and run my hands through my hair, needing to distance myself so that I can think straight. Every time I'm close to Mason, all I can think about is being with him in every single way, forever.

“I’m just so confused right now. I've only just met you and I feel a sort of bond or like, attachment if that makes sense?” Mason lets out a chuckle; pulling me out of my rant, making me realize that I just said that out loud.

"I apologize if that sounded weird," I say as I take a seat on the bench beside him. I'm a complete mess around him; dropping my head into my hands, I groan.

It's not fair, the way I feel, because I don't understand it. How can I be so attached to someone I hardly know and feel like I've known him a lifetime? Even if I were able to understand it, how am I supposed to explain it?

“It's comforting knowing you feel the same bond that I do.” Mason rubs my lower back in a comforting motion, and my head shoots back up at his words, or his touch; I’m not sure.

“You feel.. a bond; with me?” There goes his sexy chuckle again; my body purrs inside.

"Why is that so surprising, Iris?" The way he says my name is intimate, and my body burns.

Suddenly, Mason tenses up beside me, looking like he's on high alert. I follow his line of sight but don't see anything. "What is it?" I ask.

A moment later, a figure appears near the tree line, it takes me a minute to discern that it's Luke approaching us.

Luke!

What the hell is he doing here? When I left him in the guest bedroom at the house, I told him I was going out for a walk, and we would talk when I got back. I did not expect him to come looking for me. Was he watching us this whole time? And how did Mason know he was there before I even saw his shadow?

Mason jumps in front of me the second Luke gets close, “Stay back, Iris! He's dangerous!”

I am completely thrown by Mason’s comment; do they know each other? Why is he calling Luke dangerous? I move to stand between the two because Mason honestly looks like he is ready to pounce on Luke.

I place my hand on Mason's chest, intending to offer some comfort, knowing in some way it will give him comfort, and turn my face to address Luke once he's standing just a few feet away. "Why are you here? Did you follow me?"

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay!” Luke spits, glaring past me at Mason.

"Iris, can you fill me in on what's happening here?" Mason appears genuinely puzzled, yet there's a hint of intensity in his expression. How can he be so adorable and alluring at the same time?

Okay, Iris stop; you’re in the middle of a standoff between your baby’s dad and your lover? Boyfriend? Friend? I’ll have to come back to that one.

I gesture towards Luke, "This is Luke, James' father. Remember when I mentioned he's back in town?" A low growl emanates from Mason's throat.

“Luke, this is Mason, my...”

Luke quickly cuts me off, thank God, because I had no idea how to describe my relationship with Mason.

“I know who he is, and I’m not the dangerous one, Iris; HE IS! We have to go; now!”

“Wait, hold on; you guys know each other?” My face twists up in confusion. Well, if I thought I was in a mess before, what the hell am I in now?

“His name isn’t Luke, Iris!” Mason spits back.

"Not to you; it isn't!" Luke or not Luke shouts back at Mason, as I still stand between them, trying to figure out where they would know each other from. Who am I kidding? If they went at it, there was no way in hell that I would be able to stop them.

“Stop!” I shout, cutting them off from their bickering back and forth. I can feel my head pounding; this is too much. If their knowing each other is bad enough, they look like they are about ready to rip each others’ heads off. I am sweating from the heat that is radiating off of both of them.

“Can someone please explain what is going on here? How do you know each other?” I demand.

“He's the reason I couldn’t come back for you!” Luke shouts and throws a finger pointedly at Mason.

I’m taken back by Luke's accusation; it can’t be, I look up into Mason’s eyes,

“Mace, is this true?”