“In the elevator,” he pointed to a spot on the screen.
“Elevator?” she laughed.
“Yeah, private just off the kitchen. At one time there was a small service elevator, it was removed years ago, but the elevator shaft shill exists. It’s easy enough to replace.” He backed up the image to show her. “See? It’ll be fitted with a camera. A sensor in the door will turn the camera on and off each time someone enters or exits.”
“What if six people get on and only two leave?” she asked, turning her head to see him.
“It’ll know how many get on and off. Any motion detected on board will ensure the camera keeps running.”
He couldn’t help but notice how green her eyes were at that moment, he wanted to melt his lips to hers so badly he could taste it. “Besides it’s a four person weight max, sugar.”
The smile she graced him with would have lit up the darkest, coldest nights in December. He smiled back typing on the keyboard knowing that she was pleased he was back to calling her sugar.
“Want to see what I have planned for the private rooms?” he asked, and Mikala nodded. “There won’t be interior cameras because that’s just asking for a law suit, so exterior entry will have to be tight. I figure if we install a camera at each end of the hall that should be good for traffic viewing. Each door will be fitted with a camera that takes a face shot as they open the door. I’m not sure yet how we can disguise it.”
“Sounds like you’re securing Fort Knox for Christ’s sake.”
“No, sugar, this is far more valuable than a vault full of gold,” he said.
“Glad you think my club’s worth all the bother.”
He tipped her back in his arms as he spoke into her face, “You know what I’m saying, sugar.”
“I know and I’m flattered,” she said, squirming from his grip until she was standing. “Drink?” she asked, walking to the kitchen.
“I’ll have a beer,” he said, watching her fill a glass with ice then filling it half full with vodka. “I have a copy of the footage from the club for the past few months and the night of the fire, interested in seeing it?” he asked, holding a few discs in the air.
“Okay, on one condition,” she said, and he raised a brow waiting for the ominous new rule to be announced.
“You share that sandwich with me,” she grinned.
Mason smiled, picking up the pile of discs in one hand and the plate with his partially eaten sandwich in the other. “Grab a bag of potato chips from the cupboard beside the stove and meet me in the living room.” He was beyond happy to spend some time just being with her, with no strings to get tangled in.
Most of the black and white footage consisted of front door shots, people coming and going from the club. It was blurry and dark and from the angle the camera was set at, it picked up a glare from the overhead lighting making it impossible to see faces clearly. Luckily Mikala could help by pointing out people she did recognize and giving most of them names. Mason took a disc from farther into the pile marked apartment and inserted it into the machine hitting play. The apartment’s camera was situated just inside the door giving a view of the kitchenette and entrance areas. Since it ran on a continual circuit most of the footage showed an empty room, Mason chose to view it on fast forward. They ate the sandwich, shared some chips and Mason was happy to see Mikala change over to cola, when he refused another beer asking for a can of ginger ale instead.
Mason hit play when he recognized Mikala stepping into the kitchenette on the hazy screen. She was setting up the coffeemaker for the morning, turning and leaning her hips against the counter staring at the ground. She was wearing one of Mason’s Bulldog t-shirts and a pair of ratty old fuzzy slippers, he felt his cock lengthen at the sight of her.
Mikala could locate her ass directly in front of him all dressed in the most elaborately sexy lingerie that money could buy, but when she wore one of his t-shirts that narrowly veiled her assets, he was at risk of spontaneous-combustion every time.
She plunked herself on the sofa beside him glaring at the screen, handing him a soda can. “I didn’t know there were cameras in my place. When did that happen?”
“Part of the original system I’m guessing. As far as I know this is the only camera. Terrible picture…but a great view,” Mason laughed with a sideways glance.
Fast forwarding on, they watched the footage like an uneventful replay of each day. Mikala would dart through the door, her clothing choices would change and she would set the coffee machine. Each day about noon she woke, drank two coffees, smoked a few cigarettes and left until the wee hours again.
“As fun as this is, I haven’t been sleeping great lately I think I’m going to go to bed,” she said standing. She planted a chaste kiss on top of his head. “Have fun.”
“If you need anything, you know where to find me,” he said, with his eyes fixed to the screen. Mikala laughed and went to bed.
As Mason was about to change discs, tiring of the monotonous routine, a mystery man walked through the door. Dressed all in black wearing a hoodie to shield his identity, the man proceeded to rifle through her kitchen drawers and mail on the island counter. Mason sat forward, concentrating on the screen.
“What the hell?” Mason said, looking to see that Mikala was in bed. Happy that she was, he returned his sights to the video.
Mason sat silently as he sped thru the remainder of the footage on the disc swiftly changing to the next in the sequence. He was fixed to the screen when another shot of the intruder going through the mail appeared again, but instead of leaving he darted off the screen in the direction of her room. As Mason waited to see the man reappear, Mikala walked through the door tossing her keys onto the counter, adding new mail to the pile and slipping her blouse over her head followed by her shoes and jeans. She disappeared from the screen in the same direction the man had gone. To his horror, he realized that this creep had probably seen her naked, his stomach heaved with anger as he thought of what the man could have done to her, it was bad enough that the asshole saw what was his, what was meant for his eyes only. Mason was also positive that the guy had enjoyed the view, probably jacked off while he watched her shower. This had to remain a secret from Mikala, she couldn’t know, not yet anyway.
“Perverted bastard,” he said, aloud.
As the words left his lips, the man came back into view again, rifled through the mail, but added an envelope from his pocket before darting out the door. He had delivered his own mail. That was one of the threatening letters, he’d bet on it.
Pointing the remote at the TV, Mason stilled the image of the hooded man on the screen and studied it closely, as he invaded Mikala’s privacy rifling through her private things. To top it all off, he was there when she was none the wiser. The idea was terrifying.
A sparkle of light caught Mason’s eye. The shot wasn’t clear but he was sure it was a Hublot Big Bang watch, and he estimated it to be close to twenty thousand dollars. This asshole either had big bucks, or he was a thief.
Mason’s thoughts revolved in his head. If the intruder’s intention was to kill her, he would have done it long ago he wouldn’t be working so hard to shut her down. He was clearly trying to put her out of business, not into a grave. And he wasn’t interested in anything sexual, since he had plenty of opportunity to rape her and didn’t. Convinced he must be looking for something, Mason wondered what? What didn’t burn up in the fire was worth nothing. She didn’t own expensive jewelry or anything of value for that matter, which made him draw the conclusion that what he wanted wasn’t material at all. Crazy as the idea was, Mason was convinced that this was revenge, this thing was either retaliation or payback of some kind.
Deciding he had far too much to think about as it was, he tucked the discs away in his desk drawer and cleaned up their mess. He quickly showered and organized the mess she had left on the bathroom counter, placing her things neatly to one side and shaking his head, thinking how nice it was to pick up after her again.
/> When he opened the bathroom door, Mikala was standing in the doorway to his room.
“You need something?” he asked, but when she didn’t move. He dropped his head down to meet her eyes. “Is something wrong?”
“Can I lay with you for a while?” she asked.
Mason’s brow furrowed as he lifted her chin with his finger, “You frightened, sugar?”
“No,” she huffed out a puff of air and tittered, not at all convincingly. She could see by the smile forming at the corners of his mouth that Mason was not believing a word of it.
“Meet you there in five.” Mason said, heading to the kitchen for a bottle of water.
Mason lay staring at the steel beams in the ceiling, enjoying the way Mikala’s body was beautifully wrapped around his. She was warm and smelled of lime and pears and the heat from her breath each time she exhaled across his chest was doing all kinds of good things for his libido.
She had fallen asleep shortly after he came to bed and Mason decided not to disturb her by carrying her up to the hideaway. He was glad he did since her sleep was restless and caused her to cling to him incessantly.
He turned to see the time, reaching for the remote on his nightstand and hitting the button to open the blinds. The room slowly lit from nearly complete darkness to a sunshine streaked brightness, as the blinds opened without a sound folding into a valance and disappearing from sight.
As the room lit, Mikala leisurely stirred. Her eyes opened and were met by a sparkling blue gaze. Mason smiled and Mikala stretched her arms over her head caressing her hand over his cheek when she brought them down again. Mason rolled her onto her back and half covered her body with his. Picturing his lips closing over hers, he slid his hand under her t-shirt and gently kneaded her breast, when she grinned that was all the encouragement he needed to continue his unhurried quest.
His hand glided over the graceful curve of her hip dipping into her panties. Mikala was wet and ready and he beamed into her face pulling at her panties and she lifted her hips to assist in their removal.
Boldly he moved his body on top of hers resting his weight on his elbows, not wanting to cause Mikala any discomfort, although she loved the feel of his full weight pushing her into the mattress. She reached between them stroking his cock until it was rock hard like granite and he moaned his enjoyment. Aiming his cock where she wanted it, she angled her hips so the tip sat at her opening then latched her hands on his ass cheeks shoving up to him. Mason smiled sliding into her with a loud respired moan. She was warm and slick and he was suddenly lost in her spell of lust, rocking with a rhythm to match the beat of their hearts.
Absorbed by the sexy sounds Mikala was making and the sweet friction of her tight sex wrapped around his cock like a silky glove, he groaned and grunted with each pump of his hips. Not wanting to say a word for fear of ruining the moment, he lost himself inside his head with all the things he wanted so badly to say.
Sadly this was just sex for her, but it was so much more for him. This was the connection that he had been searching for, the connection he had lost all those months ago and desired more than breathing air into his lungs each day. Mikala was the one and only part of him that he had lost and needed back desperately, and if he could stop fucking up long enough to convince her he was what she needed, their lives could be complete.
Mikala’s cries as her orgasm drew her over the edge and her muscles tightened and pulsed around his cock, woke him from his thoughts. With only a few more strokes into her sweet wetness, he reached his max, pulled free and stroked his hand over his cock spilling his seed over her stomach and breasts.
Mikala stared at the glistening streak of semen puddled on her stomach and Mason shrugged when their eyes met. “No condom, sorry,” he apologized, watching as she stirred her finger in the warm creamy liquid and smiled. He was taken aback by her reaction but chose to say nothing. Slipping his boxers back over his hips, he jumped from the bed to get a wet facecloth and cleaned her up. Helping her to her feet, he watched her t-shirt drop over her beautiful curves, disguising the body he craved to spend the rest of the day worshipping, and let out a heavy sigh. She giggled slapping her hand to his shoulder playfully. “Breakfast, Champ?” she teased.
“Sure.” he said.
“You go ahead and shower. What do you want to eat?”
“Surprise me.”
Mason stood under the spray of the shower with a smile spread across his face, replaying the waking events in his mind. It felt good to wake up beside Mikala. He wasn’t about to get too used to it though, he knew that things could and probably would sour, just as quickly.
***
Mikala’s eyes trailed Mason’s form as he set up his laptop in the corner of the dance club, away from the construction. She watched as he thumbed through some notes, scribbled something and then arranged the security discs into assorted piles.
Mason was hiding something, she wasn’t sure what, but he was most definitely hiding something. His entire demeanor had changed overnight. Mason’s demanding tone at breakfast as he warned her to consider him a permanent fixture, that she had better give up the fight now before it started, because this was one battle she wasn’t going to win by a long shot, made her laugh. And now as she watched him hard at work, she felt a tug of contentment in her heart. She wasn’t about to declare it, but she was happy to be kept by him again. It felt right and familiar and his need to protect her put her at ease. Always a commanding and imposing force, he had directed her to his will with a touch to her arm or a sweep of his thumb across her cheek. She thrilled at the idea of his potency.
Mason looked up and winked once he noticed her stare, her heart skipped a beat the minute she realized she was falling for him all over again. Mikala wasn’t sure if she should let her guard down and enjoy the moment, or add another layer of bricks and mortar to her carefully erected wall.
Mikala quickly left the room and Mason’s gaze followed her until she was out of sight. Wondering what she had been thinking, which usually ended with dangerous results, he brushed the thought off to the side and went back to viewing the discs.
He had discovered, after searching through more discs, that there were more cameras in the apartment than he had anticipated and that the creeper was far more dangerous than he had discovered the night before. Disturbing images of the man standing at her bedside while she slept had Mason wishing to meet up with him in a dark alley and beat the lord living snot out of him. He was shaking with anger and took several deep breaths to settle his thoughts.
Glad to see Chase walking his way, he cricked his neck from side to side and rubbed his eyes. After viewing so much footage, he was seeing double.
“What brings you here this morning?” Mason asked.
“I have samples for Mik to look at and a surprise upstairs, I figured it would take her mind off the creep for a while.” Chase said, sitting.
“Mik’s in the kitchen I think…speaking of the creep…take a look at this footage I put together.” Mason turned the laptop so that they could both view the screen, and then played a collage of Mikala in multiple stages throughout the night, on different nights and in different areas of the dance and private clubs.
“See this guy here?” Mason pointed to a dark figure standing by Mikala, “He’s tucked back behind her shoulder just far enough to be discretely concealed in the crowd, but at a distance he could hear her conversations and be part of everything she did.”
“Got a better shot of his mug?” Chase asked.
“No, it’s almost as if he knows the cameras are on him, he positions himself perfectly so you know it’s him but can’t identify him.” Mason pointed out. “What do think, five six? Maybe a hundred and eighty pounds, fucking black and white, can’t tell if he’s got brown, black or red hair.”
“Smart dresser, same suit most of the time,” Chase remarked. “He seems to really go for the whole dark knight thing, lurking in the shadows.”
“Another thing I spotted,” Mason said,
“he doesn’t drink. Not once does he order anything from the bar, even when Mik’s serving. Not so much as a glass of water.”
“I don’t get the significance. Should that mean something?”
“It could, it could also mean he’s a cheap fuck. He’s willing to pay the cover at the door but won’t pay for drinks. Dresses to the nines and wears an expensive ass watch. It’s strange that’s all.”
“Has Mik seen this?” Chase asked, watching as the kitchen door opened, “because she’s about to, here she comes.”
Mikala placed a coffee in front of each of them with a smile as she peeked at the computers screen. “You boys are busy I’ll leave you to it.”
She turned away as Mason grabbed hold of her wrist. “I need you to tell me if you recognize this guy.”
She leaned in for a closer look. “Nope, should I?”
“Not necessarily, he’s just a person of interest. You go ahead and do what you have to,” Mason said, with a smile watching as she disappeared behind the bar.
“Chase, he’s been in her apartment, going through her stuff and leaving her letters on the counter.” Mason recalled, fast forwarding to the pre-fire scene. “Watch this.”
They watched as the creeper came into the apartment, placed a vase with a sunflower in it onto the counter, and then disappeared from view, only to return a few moments later with something tucked under his sweatshirt, leaving.
“He clearly took something. Forty minutes later, the fires out of control,” Mason announced.
“Wait a minute,” Chase put his hand out and leaned closer to the screen. “The asshole was in her apartment?”
“Not only was he in it, he was there when she was. Each night for two weeks before the fire started, he gave her a visit. Don’t say a fucking word to her about this, not one word.” Mason warned. “She’d be horrified knowing this asshole was watching her most private moments.”
“How is it possible, when?” Chase asked.
Mikala's Passion (Pulse Series Book 2) Page 11
