shook his head at Mason's expression. Ruth began to wake up. `See you around seven.'
`I won't forget,' Mason said. He squatted down beside Ruth, touching her with great care. Wilson watched for a second, his father's simple actions saying more than any words could. He left with his mind on Sally.
Ruth took a deep breath, eyes closed, and stretched, listening to Wilson's footsteps fade away. Dappled sunlight warmed her. Hands, strong but loving, touched her face and trailed down her body. Checking for injuries, she thought, until they stopped at her hips.
`Hey you,' Ruth said, opening her eyes as Mason leant in. `I feel great. And damn you smell delicious.' She pulled him in and kissed him hard. Scents and flavours burst through her. Strong thumbs rolled the string of her bikini against her skin. Blood rushed through her and the fabric of her top felt delicious against her hardening nipples.
`Now you know what it's like for me,' Mason whispered. `You have always smelt divine but now it's stronger. It's so very strong.'
His fingers trailed up the inside of her thigh and she shuddered as he leant in and whispered in her ear. `It's like we're discovering each other all over again.' He kissed her neck, then her covered breast as he moved down. His thumbs rolled the top of her bikini bottom.
She gasped at the touch of cool air against her sex and arched, wanting him.
`Um.'
Ruth looked up. Nikki stood beside them, eyes fixed on what Mason had revealed.
Mason growled, snapping her bikini bottom back in place. `Christ, I forgot about you. What's wrong with me?'
`Mason?' Ruth grabbed his arm, watching his face crease, the moment lost. Everything cooled in her as he glared at Nikki. She stood up, pulling herself up on Mason's arm, inhaling Nikki's scent.
`Ah,' Nikki looked at her, a blush highlighting the vee in her neck.
Another scent touched Ruth. `Relax. Everything's fine.' She squeezed Mason's arm and he glanced at her.
`Uh-huh, so what's next then, Ruth?' He let her go, and moved away looking tense. `We invite the girls for wine and nibbles back at the villa with a good old chat about life?'
She ignored his sarcasm. `Good idea.' Ruth glanced at Nikki and Renee watching her, agog at the suggestion. `It would be the civil thing to do, Mason, since we're not going to fight any longer.' The control she had felt good. Mason stared at her, jaw clenched, but she wasn't going to back down. They needed to get to know the girls.
`Whatever,' he snapped, but she caught the flicker of his eyes as he assessed the sisters. Colour touched his ears and uncertainty clouded his face for a second. The sisters made him nervous.
`Look, this is odd, I know. But you have to trust me, Mason. Please.'
`Okay.' He glared at her. `I'll get some more bloody glasses out then.' He turned and headed down the slope towards the villa, stopping to scoop up the pistol Ruth had dropped earlier.
`You don't have to do this. We can just leave,' Nikki said, standing close as they watched Mason walk down the slope. `I'm not sure a chat would be a good idea. It may aggravate him more.'
Ruth let a smile creep out. `He's nervous, not angry.'
`What? Butcher gets nervous?' Renee drawled from behind them.
Ruth turned, her new energy buzzing in her ears. `He's not Butcher! He's Mason.' The air hummed around her. Renee stepped back, sarcasm gone from her face. Fear replaced it. Good, Ruth thought.
`She's sorry.' Nikki stepped between her and Renee, touching Ruth's arm. `My sister speaks before thinking — a lot. Fighting is more her style. Not the conversational type.'
Ruth liked the feel of Nikki's hand on her arm. `I can relate to that, but Mason is not that thing you call Butcher. Understand?' She looked at Renee still standing behind her sister with wide green eyes.
`Okay.'
She held Renee's eyes until the redhead looked away. `Good. Right,' Ruth said ignoring the odd little tingle she felt at Nikki's touch. `Try and be civil to Mason and you might be surprised.'
`That would be…different.' Nikki didn't let her arm go.
`Yes, it would be. This family's known nothing but bloodshed since we discovered the existence of Unnaturals. Follow me.'
Ruth turned and Nikki's hand fell, brushing down her arm and, at the last moment, gripped her hand.
Ruth looked down at Nikki's smaller hand in hers.
`I'm sorry,' Nikki swallowed, but she continued to hold hands. `I didn't mean to do that.'
`Don't be sorry. If I didn't like it, do you think you would still be standing?'
A blush touched the witch's cheeks.
`Oh great, you're flirting with the Butch— Mason's wife.' Renee's arms were crossed, green eyes flashing. `What is it with you, sis? It's been ages since you've shown an interest in anyone and then you...' Lost for words, Renee waved her hands in Ruth's direction.
`Drama queen, isn't she?' Ruth grinned and pulled Nikki with her, heading down towards the villa, thinking that this new thing with scents was going to be interesting.
Nikki hurried to keep up, but she didn't let go. `You're not worried about Mason?'
Ruth slowed a little, glanced at Nikki, and down. Fine dark nipples moved under the witch's top.
`Yes and no,' Ruth replied at last. `He's understandably suspicious of anyone who seems a threat.'
Nikki slowed. `We don't even know each other and Mason already considers us a threat. What about,' she raised their linked hands, `this?'
Ruth used her momentum to pull Nikki against her. `It's simple, I like you. If it goes any further then that's fine. Mason has always accepted my sexuality. Gaia just made it very clear we're all to get along. You obviously like me the same way I like you. Make no mistake, though, I love Mason and Wilson. And I would not have hesitated to kill you earlier.'
She brushed a strand of long dark hair off Nikki's face. `But if things lead us down another path, then so be it.'
`We are so screwed,' Renee muttered, walking past them. `If you're going to make eyes at each other after he's tried to kill us, then I might as well go and try biting Mason like a Bloodells and get it over with.'
It was as if she hadn't spoken.
`You're very forward.' Nikki pushed Ruth away but didn't let go of her hand.
`Yep. That's how I work and that's how Mason works. Otherwise we would not have made it as a family so long. We've never been like everybody else.'
`Huh.' Renee snorted from halfway down the slope. Ruth glanced at her and couldn't help admiring her long muscular legs. The short shorts she wore didn't help.
`She's like her father,' Nikki said, catching her stare. `The red hair, height, and legs to die for, come from his side of the family. The temper is legendary.'
`What
