Happy Birthday Bonnie - Part Three - I and Love and You

Bonnie's heart skipped a beat when she felt the warmth of Mason's mouth against her skin. Her internal smile matched the external version plastered across her face. Absence had made the heart grow fonder; even if she had fallen asleep in his arms while they watched Center Stage for the thousandth time the night before during their standard Friday night date. She'd missed him in the hours that had passed. There was something about his presence; it ignited very basic needs in her – the desire for comfort, intimacy, and love. She needed him. More importantly she felt those sentiments echoed his touch.

"Happy Birthday," his lips formed the words against her skin and she giggled, forcing the lump in her throat down and waiting for the unruly butterflies in her stomach to subside.

With little effort he turned her body in his arms and finally she looked up at him; gorgeous blue eyes with stunning accents of gold and gray. She'd never tire of the sight.

"Hey stranger," Bonnie managed a lop - sided grin in spite of the excessive saliva playing around in her mouth. She was drooling, literally salivating with anticipation of what was to come later that evening.

"Get a room!" Damon slurred from the high – top table in the darkened corner of the bar where he'd taken residence.

Mason tensed with the rebuke and Bonnie tugged at his hand, "He's joking."

"He's an asshole that's drunk and in need of a makeover that only my fist can deliver."

Bonnie was amazed at the intensity of Mason's impromptu speech; she thought they had reached an agreement about the vampire. Yes Damon cared about Bonnie, more than he should have, but he respected her choice, Mason.

Roughly she grabbed his face and pulled him closer, "What the hell is your problem, I'm with you, not Damon."

Mason dropped his forehead to hers, "Sorry – just feeling a little weird."

She went to him easily, folding her body into his, enjoying the sensations the strength of his arms created. He smelled like berries, oranges, and a hint of wood. He was wearing the cologne she'd dropped in his bag the last time he slept over. His shirt was gray and tucked neatly into his flat front black pants. He'd even given up his trademark boots for a perfectly polished pair of black loafers. She could get use to the dapper and debonair version of Mason Lockwood.

"No apology necessary, enjoy the evening, only one man gets to take me home at the end of the night."

He growled as soon as the last syllable dripped from her lips.

"Mine."

The simple declaration transported her back to where it all began – their uncanny meeting in the store – the pornographic Monday in his bedroom – her first night really seeing him under the light of the full moon. She shivered with the thought. This wasn't the crush she had on Tyler when they were younger, the sex dream she'd enjoyed nightly that centered around Stefan after his first week of enrollment at the school, or the one boyfriend she let touch and tease between her legs with his fingers.

Mason's touch snatched her from her memories. His hands traced the curve of her spine before they slipped beneath the swell of her bottom and gripped. A very observant and worried Alaric quickly came and interrupted the scene, directing Mason towards the bar while Jenna circled an arm around Bonnie's waist, "Walk with me."

Unsure of exactly what had happened, she nodded. Bonnie settled next to Jenna in an empty booth.

"You're so pretty Bon." Jenna lifted a stray curl from her face, "So much like your mommy."

The hollow feeling returned to her chest and she felt Jenna's hand cover hers, "Shhh…don't do that…I'm sorry."

The woman echoed the soothing sentiments before her tears could come to fruition. Bonnie's eyes closed with the long forgotten memory of the mother who used to be her everything.

"You know she was my babysitter. Your dad always showed up during the Friday and Saturday nights she spent with me above the pharmacy. He loved her. Stared at her the same way Mason can't take his eyes off you."

Bonnie looked up, locking gazes with Jenna.

"No one thought it was real. She was so damned pretty, every guy followed her around like a lost puppy – John," Jenna rolled her eyes before picking up her glass and taking a sip, "Richard Lockwood, but your dad beat them all. Shit, I'm rambling. I said that to say this. I know Mason. I know the two of you took a lot of crap off of friends and those who thought they knew better, sometimes you just have to say, fuck you."

If Bonnie didn't know it before, she was sure now that Jenna was completely wasted. Still, she appreciated what her friend's aunt tried to do and it meant more to her than Jenna would ever know. She mouthed a quick thank you to the woman when Alaric and Mason returned to the table. Bonnie eased from the seat accepting the hand her boyfriend offered and followed him to the dance floor.

Jason Reeves voice filtered through the speakers as the lights grew dimmer. The couple danced twice to the song, Entwined, their unofficial theme song and a third and final time to no music at all. The party was officially over, once the cake was cut and the standard off key rendition of Stevie Wonder's birthday song was rendered in her honor.

They said their goodbyes. Drunk and utterly intoxicated Jenna hugged her for an excessive period of time, Caroline gave her thumbs up, Elena dug around the bottom of her bag for what Bonnie was sure was lube or a condom – she ran in the opposite direction.

Damon blocked their exit, a sadistic smirk on his lips as he sized up the werewolf. His eyes fell on the disapproving look that lingered on Bonnie's face before he stepped aside and watched them walk to the limo waiting just beyond the door. She glanced over her shoulder, staring at the empty eyes of the vampire, and her heart ached for him. She smiled and twisted Emily's wedding band on her right middle finger.

Bonnie wasn't sure what she expected from her first night with Mason. She'd alternated between daydreams and fantasies that filled her head while she slept; candles, rose petals, or maybe a tub filled with bubbles. Who was she kidding, he'd done all of that and then some in the evenings he spent trying to steer her attention from night terrors and supernatural beings both seen and unseen.

Her heart rate increased and she shirked from his touch when he reached for her sweat drenched palms. She knew that it took three right turns and four lefts, followed by a five minute drive down the lane to reach the Lockwood estate. She was surprised when the driver took a fourth right and the car ventured onto a rocky lane. The road grew darker and the trees became thicker. They were deep into the forest. Still close to the city and the friends she loved but there was seclusion to the area that excited her.

Mason stepped from the car and offered his hand to Bonnie. When she emerged, the first thing she noticed was the intoxicating scent of Casa Blanca Lilies hanging in the night air.

"I planted a few around the perimeter of the house."

She took in the sight of the stalks lining the stairs and the full white blooms. They were lovely and she knew that he knew they were her favorites. The jiggling sound a single key against brushed and polished silver grabbed her attention. On a Tiffany key ring hung the spare key to his front door.

"I have free access to your house it's only right that you have the same."

Her heart leapt with the meaning behind what he was saying. There would be no return trip to Florida. Still she had to clarify.

"You…" Bonnie paused searching for coherent words from the English language, "This is your…"

Mason answered her ramblings, "I closed last week."

Awe continued as they crossed the threshold of the home, Mason carrying Bonnie in his arms. She kicked and screamed, playfully begging to be returned to a standing position. He obliged, full toothed grin lighting his features.

The same scent of lilies arrested her senses. The dim glow of candles and radiating heat from the fire pulled her into the all white living room. Bonnie's stomach grumbled, in all the excitement she'd managed a sliver of cake and two pieces of pineapple before they disappeared from her party.

Anticipating her needs, Mason led Bonnie to the blanket in front of the fireplace. He fed her, filling her with fruit, veggies, cheese, and cradling her back against his chest as she ate. When she tried to hurry, he reassured her with one phrase, "We have all night."

Later Mason bathed Bonnie, careful not to excite himself or her anymore than they already were. He dried her body, massaging any residual tension from her skin. It was better than what she'd enjoyed earlier at the spa. She drifted into a sound sleep as she listened to the water beat against the stone tiles of the shower.

When Bonnie woke, Mason was there, watching quietly.

"You talk in your sleep."

She covered her face with a pillow and groaned, "What did I say?"

His tone was low and even, "That you love me."

She sat up, face still shielded, heart pounding against her ribs. I and love and you were the hardest three words to expel. She'd known since the talk with Tyler how she felt about Mason. She didn't fight when he removed the pillow from her hands.

"I love you too."

His hands slipped beneath her and lifted her to his lap. The infamous blue box was waiting there.

"It's beautiful." She whispered, studying the petal that hung from the gold chain.

She kissed him as a thank you that quickly became more. She loved the feel of his chest and the broadness of his shoulders. Her fingers traced an outline that her lips followed. Mason melted into the mattress the sound his moaning encouraging her to continue her well placed affection. She drifted lower, tugging at his left nipple and then his right before showering kisses along the trail of fine hair that led to the tent in his boxers. She smiled ready to tease before she buckled under his strength and found her body under his.

He growled again, closing his mouth around her shoulder and brushing his tongue across the crescent scar that served as a reminder of his marking from the weeks before. His hands separated the material covering her skin; the buttons of shirt popping and littering the sheets around them.

He said those words, "I love you."

It was quiet and she would have missed it, if everything around them had not been so still.

He repeated it again, louder, "I love you."

His lips met hers and legs wrapped around his waist as her hands drifted lower.

When their eyes met, she echoed his sentiments, "I love you."

A question remained between them and she nodded, responding to the doubts he still held. Nimble fingers pushed his boxers below his hips and in one simple, slow, and seductive move he filled her.

"Mine."

His infamous declaration filled her ears as began to move.

"Yours."

She answered, lifting her hips from the mattress to meet the first thrust.

"Forever."

His body shook with the syllables.

"Always."

Bonnie's lids lowered and she relinquished control of her body, mind, soul, and most importantly her heart. Everything belonged to Mason.