Lounging in the living room, reading one of Mady's magazines, since she kicked me out of the kitchen for my severe lack of cooking skills. Not that I minded at all, cooking was right up there with pulling out my own teeth.

Hearing the doorbell chime, I jumped up a little too quickly. Was I bored? "Mady I got it!" Through the glass door, I saw the very stunning Mason, with his jovial smile, loose fitted black tank top with a beige pair of walking shorts. Sun rays shining on his strawberry blonde hair gave him a halo effect, he looked like an angel. That was until you saw that glint of mischief in his eyes, then it was all sin. It was warm for the start of June. Give me my jeans any day, like today and added a long sleeve tee. That would be the regular trend as long as it didn't get to hot.

Opening the door I greeted him with a smile of my own. "Hey Mason. Nate's not home, he had to step out or did you want Mady?"

"Actually, I came by to hang out with the hottest ladies in town," he said seductively, leaning against the doorframe with his hands shoved in his pocket.

Before I could get a remark out, Mady shouted from the kitchen, "You're wasting your time on her Mason with all the sweet talk."

"Sheesh that girl has some ears on her. I have to remember never to have sex in the same house as her." I said looking towards the kitchen in a normal voice. Mady just laughed as a reply. Looking back at Mason, "I thought your eyes were grey but their not. Their beautiful and very different." A very beautiful soft violet, they were mesmerizing and I was having a hard time focusing. I forced myself to turn away.

Deciding it would better for my health and Mason's, I dragged him outside in the back to soak up the sun. The kitchen was her domain and we were the intruders.

Lounging by the pool enjoying the soft blowing breeze, the heat coming from the sun and the fresh clean air, I found myself relaxed and completely oblivious to the surroundings. Drifting off into my own little world. Why did it feel so...right here? Why did it feel like home more than any other place? Why did these strangers in this little town feel like... The way their presences made me feel was completely ridiculous, unsettling. Red flags started to pop up so fast in my head but my body tried to shut it up and convince it to just learn to enjoy the moment. Not something that I was used too. Mind winning at the moment the past couple of days raced back. Right then I realized that besides a couple uncomfortable moments this was truly, where I wanted to be. If I really wanted to think about it, which I absolutely did not, this was not the first time I felt like this. Not even the second. But this felt different. More somehow.

"What are you smiling about? No don't tell me let me guess," Mason said, bringing me back to the real world. Trying to keep the smirk off his face, he pretended to put some serious thought into an answer, snapping his fingers. "You're thinking about how I would look naked!"

Choking on my drink. "Don't say shit like that when I am trying to drink." Coughing as well as laughing, raising an eyebrow, I couldn't stop myself from slowly lowering my gaze down his sleek body and back up. "I may be a little curious, you're hot and young, but that was so-o-o not what I was thinking." One of these days I would really learn to think before I speak.

A huge smile spread across his face with a sparkle in his eye. "Curious, huh?"

Reading his mind, or more like the his eyes. "Keep your clothes on Mason, if I wanted to see naked men I would go to a strip club." That did not come out as forceful as it should of. What am I thinking? It has been way too long since I have seen a hot naked guy...huh. NO. NO. NO!

"Fine," Mason let out an exaggerated sigh, "So what were you smiling about, since it wasn't me?"

Back to relaxing in the lounge chair, eyes closed. Hoping this subject would drop. "Nothing."

"See I know your lying. So I figure you can tell me or I will start removing a piece of clothing until you do." Mason sounded like he was just teasing, but the look in his eye said he wasn't.

Looking at him I wondered if it would better to see him naked or making a complete ass out of myself by spilling what I feeling. Hell I didn't even know myself. Oh sure I was very outspoken and truthful to almost a fault but when it came to anything close to how I felt I stayed pretty tight lipped. Mason decided I took too long to answer and started to remove his shirt. Watching the hem of his shirt slowly rise to show a hint of hair that traveled down past under his waistband, I sat there stunned. The man's abs alone were to drool over, every stomach muscle lined in detail, reaching his pecks, my mouth dropped to the ground and had to force it shut. Luckily, I was able to pull myself together before he had his shirt over his head and was extremely grateful that the drool was not visible. I could picture myself looking at him like a horny teenager. Starting to unbutton his shorts brought me right back to the now.

"WHOA, whoa, whoa, what the hell are you doing?" My voice started off squeaky but was back to normal by the third "whoa."

"You didn't answer fast enough, so..." Mason answered, with a cheeky grin. After a pause, he started for his zipper when I didn't say anything else.

"Ok, Ok. Keep your pants on, I'll tell you!" I wasn't sure which part of my brain I should have listened too but it was the right thing to do. Or was it? It didn't matter, what mattered was it was a whole harder to argue with a man while standing there in their underwear. If he was even wearing any. Ok that so did not help my thinking process. Neither did admiring the amazing golden tan chest standing just a few feet away. This was a lose lose situation. "Ah...it's just...this is going to sound stupid." Looking at Mason, hoping he would give me an a reprieve. Wishful thinking. "It's hard to explain, hell I'm not sure I understand it myself."

"Sam, it's OK. I am a pretty understanding kinda guy," Mason coaxed.

"Fine! It's just that this place...feels like home and the people...the people I have meet feel familiar. Not like I have met them before, just...I don't know, just right." It sounded even more ridiculous out loud. This was pushing anyone's understanding.

With that sweet smile, he nodded and said, "I do understand. It's like when you met someone for the first time but it feels like you known them forever."

Sitting up, in complete relief for his understanding and not looking like a loon, "Exactly!" Feeling better, I was able to relax again, lying back down and closed my eyes. The calm I felt was short lived as soon as the sound of a zipper ripple through the quiet. Jumping straight out of the lawn chair like I was on fire. "What the hell are you doing?" I demanded.

He continued to pull down his shorts, with not even a look in my direction. "Going swimming." At that moment, I noticed he had swim shorts on as well.

Getting up, a little annoyed, walking past him to head back to the house for a fresh drink. "You jerk," I laughed, right after pushing him into the pool with his shorts around his ankles before running inside.

Back on the lounge chair relaxing, occasionally looking up, keeping Mason in sight, and of course admiring the view. After I pushed him in the pool, I didn't trust what he may do in retaliation. The man was made for the water, cutting through it with ease and silence. Coming over to the side closer then I felt comfortable with his arms crossed resting on the side and stared at me with that mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Whatever you are thinking, don't," I informed him. With a short laugh he swam to the other side. This however did not give me reason to let my guard down. I kept my eye on him as he continued to the far end of the pool. Watching him doing continuous laps I started to relax, a bit. Closing my eyes using my hearing to let me know when he came close.

My ears failed me. One second I was lying there peacefully and the next I was in his arms and heading for the pool. He was so fast I barely got out a sound before we hit the water. Trying to push him away while coughing and spitting the unwelcome water that entered my lungs as we resurfaced was all but impossible, his strong hold gripped around my waist and his laughter rang through the air. Once the air was freely able to enter and leave my lungs properly, he let go then disappeared back under the water. Treading water, looking around frantically to see what the best direction to leave was bet he seemed to disappear. Where, the hell did he go? The slightest ripple was the only indication I got before those vice grips of arms of his had me around the waist, placing a kiss on my cheek right before spinning me around like a rag doll.

Whispering in my ear, "Hmm, that's better," as he looked down the front of my shirt.

Remembering that I had changed into a white t-shirt with a lace bra, I quickly crossed my arms over my ample breasts. More embarrassed at the sight of erect nipples clearly showing through the shirt, I wiggled away and swam to the shallow end of the pool still keeping the water at chin level.

"You little shit!" Hissing while narrowing my eyes.

With innocent wide eyes, he asked. "What?" The smirk on his face completely refutes the innocence's in his voice.

"Drowned Rat, it's a good look for you Sam," Mady said, sounding very amused, from the door.

Refusing to take my eyes of the very mischievous Mason, I answered Mady. "Yeah, it's a new look that I don't really care for. Mady can you please get me a towel?"

"I already did it's on the chair," Mady said, heading back into the house.

"Thanks."

Before turning my back on Mason, I gave him a pointed look that clearly said 'stay there', and then headed for the pool stairs. Walking up the stairs, squeezing out my clothes before grabbing one of the towels. Hearing Mason climbing out the pool I looked over my shoulder to see how far he was. Needing to keep the distance from him I headed further into the yard. Not wanting to drip all over the house deciding now was the perfect time for a little payback. My back to Mason, I pull my drenched white shirt off then draped the towel over my shoulders. Trying to keep the smirk off my face when I heard his breath catch as the shirt hit the ground with a loud plop. I followed with the removal of my bra than quickly wrapped the towel around my body. Completely covered with the oversized bath towel I wiggled out of my drenched shorts and panties. The towel covered more than the shorts did. What the hell was wrong with me? I would have never done this before, not in my adult years, and definitely not without the help of a few to many beers.

Hearing what sounded in between a gasp and a grunt when my shorts hit the ground then making sure the towel was secure again I turned and noticed I had a bigger audience than just Mason. He was still standing by the pool with a stunned look. There was also Dmitri and Braydon that stood froze in mid step with mouths dropped open and with what might be anger from Dmitri.

My little pay back for the stunt with Mason turned into an outright embarrassment. Since sarcasm was always better than showing weakness, I straightened out my shoulders, looked at all of them in the eye, and said. "What you never seen a women in a towel before?" Ok not one of my best by far but it broke the ice.

Dmitri, the first to get back in control, snapped his mouth shut, and then glared daggers at the all amused Mason. "What the hell is going on?" he said between clenched teeth.

Sensing the air getting tense, I answered before Mason could say some smart-ass comment, "Mason just thought I wanted to go swimming in my clothes. He was just paying me back for when I pushed him in the pool earlier. No harm no foul." Walking past Mason, I lowered my voice enough just for his ears, "Paybacks a bitch, Doll." Raising her voice in a normal tone, I added for the audience, "He's going to make it up to me though, aren't you Mason? It's nice that you volunteered yourself to be my guide in the woods for our hike." Not waiting for a response, I headed inside to take a shower.