Words of Love

LAUREN

That night we fell asleep in each other's arms. It was the most peaceful sleep I could ever remember having in my life. Despite everything that happened to us over the last few days, I slept through the night always knowing Mason was by my side.

I woke up to the gentle glow of morning light filtering through the curtains, stretching across the empty space beside me.

Mason wasn’t in bed. A few weeks ago, that would have sent a jolt of panic through me, but now, it felt different.

Last night had changed something, solidified something between us.

Our conversation, the way Mason had been so raw and vulnerable with me, had erased the doubts that had been gnawing at me for so long. I knew he loved me. I could feel it in every word, every touch.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t afraid of losing him.

I stretched lazily, a sense of calm washing over me as I threw on the soft silk robe draped over the chair by the window. I didn’t feel the urgency that had always clung to me like a shadow.

Instead, I moved at my own pace, savoring the quiet of the house, the peace that came with knowing, truly knowing, that Mason wasn’t going anywhere.

Leisurely, I padded down the hall, running my fingers along the familiar walls as I made my way to the kitchen. My body moved automatically, but my mind wandered back to last night, to the kiss that had silenced my fears, to the promise I’d made not just to him, but to myself.

We’d been through so much, and yet, here we were, stronger for it. We had each other, and for the first time in a long time, that felt like enough.

As I entered the living room, I caught a faint smell of coffee. Mason must have brewed himself a cup when he woke up. I felt the echo of his presence still in the room. It comforted me, knowing that he was going about his daily tasks, there was a familiar rhythm to it that felt so calming. It made me feel like I was home.

If he made coffee for himself, that meant he had work he needed to get done this morning. It seemed he never stopped thinking about work, it was a quality I admired about him. His dedication and discipline were a testament to who he was.

I poured myself a cup of coffee and let the warmth from the cup radiate through my body. Then I made my way towards Mason’s office.

I no longer felt any trepidation about entering his space. I didn’t even knock on the door before I entered, I just walked in quietly, bringing the cup to my mouth and savoring the deliciously bitter taste.

I stepped into the office quietly, my bare feet sinking into the plush rug as I approached. The air was warm, the crackling of the fire in the fireplace filling the space with a soft, comforting hum.

Mason stood in front of the fire, his back to me. As I approached him, I could see that he was staring into the flames, the light flickering across his face and casting ever moving shadows. His face was set in a serious expression and I could see that he was holding something in his hands. It looked like papers.

I tried to crane my neck to read what it was, but I couldn’t quite make it out from where I stood. I took a few steps forward to get a closer look.

The papers fluttered slightly in the glow of the flames, and as I got closer, I realized it wasn’t just any paper.

It looked like a contract.

~Our contract.~

"Mason?" My voice came out softly, but it still felt like I was intruding, breaking some fragile moment he was lost in. "What are you doing?"

He didn’t turn around right away. Instead, his head dropped slightly, and I saw the slow rise and fall of his chest as he exhaled. When he finally turned, his expression was serious, almost conflicted.

“I was just thinking,” he said, his voice low. “About us. About this.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the knot in my stomach tighten. The contract had been the foundation of everything between us, at least in the beginning.

One year of marriage. That had been the deal.

But now, staring at the crumpled papers in his hands, I realized it had become so much more than that.

“What about it?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, even though my heart was pounding. “The contract is just a piece of paper, Mason.”

He looked at me, his eyes searching mine, as if trying to gauge what I truly thought.

“I know. But I don’t want you to feel... obligated.”

“Obligated?” I repeated, my brow furrowing. “Mason, what are you talking about?”

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, still holding the contract in his other hand.

“This,” he lifted the papers slightly, “was an agreement. A deal. For one year. And now, I don’t want you to stay with me because of some contract. I don’t want you to feel like you have to be here.”

I stared at him, processing what he was saying. He thought I would stay out of obligation? That I’d somehow feel tied to him because of a stupid piece of paper?

“Mason,” I said softly, stepping closer. “You think I’m still here because of this?”

I motioned toward the contract, my voice almost a whisper.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice heavy with vulnerability. “The contract was supposed to keep you safe, but now it feels like a chain, something that binds you when you should be free to walk away if you want to.”

I couldn’t help it, I stepped closer, until I was right in front of him.

“Mason, I’m not here because of that contract. I’m here because I want to be.”

He looked down at me, his expression softening just a little.

“You say that now, but what happens when you wake up one morning and realize you’re free to leave? That you’re not bound by anything anymore? That you’re not bound to me anymore?”

I reached up, gently placing my hand over the papers.

“I don’t need a contract to keep me here. You should know that by now.”

His hand, still holding the contract, trembled slightly.

“I just... I wanted to give you an out, Lauren. I don’t want you to feel trapped.”

I smiled softly, taking the papers from his hand.

“I’m not trapped, Mason. I’m right where I want to be.”

I glanced at the contract one last time before stepping closer to the fire. Without hesitation, I tossed it into the flames, watching as the paper curled and blackened, turning to ash in seconds.

“There,” I said, turning back to him. “It’s gone. No more contracts. No more deals. Just us.”

Mason watched the fire for a moment, its flickering light casting shadows across his face. His usual stoic mask softened, but beneath that calm exterior, I could see something new, something raw. His jaw clenched, then released, like he was trying to keep himself together.

When his eyes met mine, there was a flash of something I’d never seen before. Fear.

Not the kind of fear you feel in the middle of a firefight or when you’re staring down danger. This was deeper. More vulnerable.

His gaze lingered, almost as if he were bracing himself for something, waiting for me to say I couldn’t handle this, that I couldn’t handle him. That I would walk away.

For a long, breathless second, he just stood there, shoulders tense like he was preparing for the worst. His eyes searched mine, looking for an answer I didn’t even know I had to give. The silence stretched between us, filled with unspoken questions and the weight of everything we'd been through.

And then, slowly, he exhaled. His shoulders sagged, the tension melting away as his breath left him. His relief was almost palpable, like he’d been carrying the fear of losing me with him this whole time.

I stepped closer, placing my hand on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart beneath my palm.

“I’m not going anywhere, Mason,” I said softly. “Not now. Not ever.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, Mason relaxed completely. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me in close, and he pressed his forehead against mine.

“I was so afraid you’d walk away,” he admitted quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “That after everything, I’d lose you.”

I tightened my grip on him, letting him know without words that I wasn’t going anywhere. That despite everything, his past, his secrets, his sacrifices, we were in this together.

“Just us,” he repeated quietly, before stepping forward and pulling me into his arms.

As I rested my head against his chest, the warmth of the fire and the steady beat of his heart reassured me that this was exactly where I wanted to be.

No contracts, no obligations, just love.

As I stood in Mason’s embrace, the crackling of the fire fading into the background, I pulled back just enough to look up at him.

“Was that the last thing you had to do?” I asked, teasingly.

A slow smile spread across his face, one of those smiles that told me he was up to something.

“Actually,” he said, his voice low and full of warmth, “there’s one more thing on my To-Do List.”

Before I could respond, he reached into his pocket. My heart skipped a beat as I saw him pull out a small velvet box, a deep crimson, so rich in color it seemed to glow in the firelight.

Mason got down on one knee, and my breath hitched.

“Lauren,” he said, looking up at me with a mixture of love and seriousness in his eyes. “We’ve been through so much together. From the beginning, it was never easy. But through it all, you’ve become the most important person in my life. You’re my strength, my peace, my everything.”

My heart raced, and I could feel tears welling in my eyes. Mason opened the box, revealing a stunning ring, a simple yet breathtaking band with a single diamond that sparkled brilliantly, catching the firelight.

“I don’t need a contract to bind us,” he said softly, “but I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. All I could hear was the beating of my own heart, and the sight of Mason, down on one knee, offering me not just a ring, but a life together. My lips trembled as I tried to find the words, overwhelmed by the depth of the moment.

“Yes,” I whispered, tears spilling over as I nodded. “Yes, Mason. I’ll marry you.”

Mason stood and slipped the ring onto my finger, then pulled me into his arms, holding me like he never wanted to let go. The fire roared beside us, but all I could feel was the warmth of Mason’s love, wrapping around me like a promise for the future.