mason thames imagines

tension.

I lay curled up in Maddy's warm room, my mind still tangled from the breakup just two days ago. It was that awkward kind of end, one of those "situation-ships" where you're almost something but never really are. It had only been two days, but somehow it already felt like a long, unsteady pause . i mean, i didn't really like him or anything, i talked to him mostly to distract my heart from my best -friend, and i know thats shitty to do, but i need to forget mason and move on. plus, he was really possessive and toxic, i needed to end it.

It was nearly midnight when Jordan and Mason  sneaked in, each with a smile that was half mischief, half excitement. Maddy whispered;

 "you guys need to be out by 6am, before my parents wake up."

 So we settled into a heap of blankets and pillows, debating on which movie to watch, and  Jordan and Maddy went to the kitchen to bring snacks.

Just as we were about to start the movie, I realized I hadn't sent my Snap streaks. I pulled out my phone and held it up for a quick snap. Mason was right beside me, his shoulder barely touching mine under the same blanket, so I took the picture with a half-smile, capturing just enough of him .

I hit send and tucked my phone away, letting it fade from my mind. But only five minutes later, my phone buzzed.  Brady . I glanced down, and his name on the screen was like a spark, a sudden reminder of him that sent a shiver through me. I opened the message, and there it was, my breath caught.

 "Oh, I guess this means we're never talking again. You made your choice." he typed.

His words were clipped, seething, like he'd been holding back too much for too long. I felt the sharp pang of guilt mixed with the tiniest hint of satisfaction. It was the reaction I'd thought he wouldn't care enough to give, and now, here he was, snapping back as if he had any right to be angry.

Before I could even think of a response, Mason leaned over, his eyes catching the message on my screen. 

"Everything okay?" he murmured, his voice low and a little smug, as if he could sense the tension spilling over from my phone. I could feel the heat of him next to me, the closeness that had been comforting a minute ago now almost daring.

I let out a half-laugh,"Oh, it's nothing," I muttered, shoving my phone under the pillow. But Mason gave me this knowing look, one that made my cheeks flush.

" Brady right?" he guessed, his tone almost too casual, as if he was amused by the whole situation.

I nodded, and he smirked, clearly entertained. "Let him be mad," Mason whispered, moving just a little closer. He stretched out under the blanket, his hand almost grazing mine, his voice laced with a hint of mockery. "He had his chance, didn't he?"

I hesitated, fingers hovering over my phone, staring at Brady's angry words as more messages came in: "Can't believe you'd move on like this," "Guess I was just wasting my time with you," and, "Did I mean nothing to you?" Each one stung, but not as much as it should have; instead, it gave me the push I needed.I  stared at  him spamming my phone, feeling a mix of déjà vu and dread. This was why I'd ended things, his anger, his need to control everything. "You made your choice," he'd typed, as if I wasn't allowed to decide for myself. And now, here he was again, lashing out because of a single picture, like he couldn't stand the idea of me being happy without him.I let out a soft sigh, knowing it was enough to get Mason's attention. He nudged me gently. 

  his jaw tightened, and a flicker of protectiveness crossed his face. " what does he want? he's only ruining your mood." 

I nodded, forcing a sigh that came out heavier than I meant. " he's just... he's mad. I mean, we're not even together anymore, but he acts like he owns me." I shook my head, feeling the weight of it all building up. "I broke things off because he was just... he couldn't handle his anger. Everything felt like it was about him."

Mason's face darkened slightly, a spark of protectiveness flickering in his eyes. He leaned in, his voice fierce.

 "He doesn't deserve you. Seriously. You gave him everything, and he couldn't even be real with you?" His words were steady, filled with this warmth that felt like a shield between me and everything he had made me feel. "You're way out of his league anyway." 

His tone was softer than usual, with a trace of concern. I turned to look at him, and in the dim light, the glow from Maddy's bedside lamp cast a warm halo over his face, highlighting his cheekbones and the softness in his eyes. He was close enough that I could feel his warmth, the faintest scent of his cologne.

I looked up at Mason, feeling a mix of gratitude and something warmer, something that started as a light flicker but quickly turned into a slow burn as his gaze held mine. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering just a little too long. 

"If he was lucky enough to call you his, and he still blew it, that's on him. Trust me, he's not worth a second thought."

He reached out, his hand finding mine, his fingers curling around mine with a gentle but certain pressure. His thumb brushed the back of my hand in a way that made my heart skip. His eyes held mine, deep and steady, and he tilted his head just slightly, like he was seeing a part of me I'd forgotten. "You deserve someone who actually cares about you. Someone who makes you feel safe."

i chuckled, I felt my breath hitch, my heart quickening. His hand shifted, tracing a light path up my arm until it rested on my cheek, his fingers brushing lightly along my jaw. The warmth of his hand, the way his thumb swept gently against my cheek—it was so different from the way Brady would grab, pull, hold on too tight. Mason's touch was soft, inviting, like he was giving me a choice. 

The low, warm light danced along Mason's face, catching the slight curve of his lips as he moved closer. His hand slid from my cheek down to the curve of my jaw, fingers tracing a slow, deliberate path until they rested at the back of my neck, pulling me gently toward him. The air between us felt heavy, thick with a magnetic pull that I couldn't resist.

His lips hovered just inches from mine, the closeness making my pulse quicken, each beat like a drum in my chest. When he finally leaned in, his mouth brushed against mine, a feather-light, teasing touch that made my breath hitch. His lips barely touched, just enough for me to feel the warmth radiating from him, a touch that left me breathless, aching for more.

I closed the distance, pressing my lips more firmly to his, feeling the subtle shift in his breathing as his free hand found my waist, fingers spreading out to anchor me there. His touch was firmer now, almost possessive, pulling me close like he couldn't bear an inch between us. My hand slipped up to his chest, fingers curling into his shirt, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my fingertips.

Our kiss deepened, growing more insistent, charged with a hunger neither of us held back. Mason's hand traveled from my waist, skimming up my back until it settled at the nape of my neck, his fingers threading through my hair, sending a shiver down my spine. His breathing grew heavier, and I could feel the warmth radiating from his skin, the tension in his frame, the way he seemed to be holding himself back even as he pulled me closer.

He pulled back just slightly, his forehead resting against mine, his chest rising and falling with each breath, as if he was catching himself, resisting an urge for more. His eyes met mine, and they were dark, intense, filled with a need that felt almost palpable. His fingers lingered on my neck, his thumb grazing my skin in a way that made my heart stutter. He looked at me, his gaze raw, his lips parted like he was on the edge of saying something or maybe just on the edge of pulling me back in.

But in that moment, words felt unnecessary. He looked at me with a need that felt physical, something we both felt but couldn't quite name.