He dragged her into the room and watched her face light up when she saw an assortment of black and white photos framed in gray brushed metal frames above the bed. Each tastefully depicted the hint of sexy body parts, each she recognized as her own and Mason’s.
“When,”
“You don’t remember?” he asked. “I used to sneak shots of us and you’d get angry and insist I erase them…? Obviously I never did.”
Mikala climbed onto the bed for a closer look. “They really are beautiful, aren’t they?”
“Fucking beautiful,” he said, snuggling into her back. He brushed her hair from the nape of her neck and dotted kisses from the nape of her neck to her ear. “I want to take more…of you naked.”
“If I get to take some of you naked,”
“A few drinks in me and I might agree to anything,” he laughed.
Mikala bounced from the bed and pulled a clean pair of panties from her drawer wiggling into them. “Best be getting downstairs, there’s work to do.”
“So not fair covering up that sweet ass,” he hissed, palming both rounded globes roughly.
“You honestly want me working the bar without underwear?” she asked, as she strolled toward the elevator and stood waiting for him. His perverted little smile was all the answer she required. “I was thinking,” she pushed the ground floor button and leaned against the wall with her ankles crossed and her hand on the brass bar that circled the tiny room. “Now that I don’t need a body guard, I’d like to ask Landon to stay on as security here.”
“Already done,” Mason laughed. “It was part of the agreement when I sent for him, he needed a job and a place to stay, and rather than hiring him for a single part-time position, I offered him full-time plus accommodations. He’s not going anywhere, so you can do whatever you like with him”
“Anything,” she laughed. “He’s been staying in the number six, cave dwellers, we can redecorate it and keep him there.”
Mason flashed his brow. “Can you behave?”
Mikala laughed. “Where’s that key that you mentioned? Better make sure all the locks are working. Poor Landon.”
“Poor Landon?” Mason huffed. “It was my bare ass he saw.”
“Oh yeah,” Mikala snickered. “I take it back…lucky Landon.”
Mason laughed and walked ahead when the door opened. A few customers sat at the side tables with food and cocktails as Mikala approached Landon. She made an awkward face and laughed. “Sorry about earlier.”
“No worries, consider it forgotten… I’m the one that should be sorry.”
“You’re so light on your feet. I think maybe we need to get you a collar with a bell.”
Carl laughed from behind her. “Who are you fitting with a collar?”
“Never mind.” She took the clipboard from his hand. “Uh, this is your night off, why are you still here?”
“Feeling loved,” he grabbed his heart and staggered back. “I’m waiting for Lando here to move his ass.”
Mikala snickered when she heard him use the same nickname she chose instead of incredible hulk, and was pleased Carl and him had made plans, or had they? “What are you boys up to tonight?”
“Poker at Arthur’s place, he needed a sixth, so I invited Lando to join us.” He pretended to cover his mouth and added, “Seems he hasn’t played much in the past, its money making night,” he joked, rubbing his greedy palms together.
“Be nice,” she warned.
“I’m always nice.” He gave a half grin and Landon stood with a shrug and a gleaming smile.
“Ever feel like you’re not in the room?” Landon joked and both he and Carl gave Mikala a simultaneous peck on the cheek, she watched them walk away wishing it had been hand in hand. At least they would be working most nights together, maybe even some days and if she played her cards right, theirs could be a match made in rainbow heaven.
***
Mason bowed out at about eleven thirty, after far too many drinks on an empty stomach he fell into bed fully dressed. Mikala stood at the foot of the bed watching him sleep. Their first night as a real couple and he passed out cold, she had to laugh. She pulled back the covers and untied his Gucci high top sneakers. He was such a diva when it came to shoes, had to have the latest styles, in the hottest colors and they had to remain spotless. She sat them beside the dresser and pulled off his socks. His tan color dress pants took a bit more maneuvering to get off, but she managed, hanging them in his side of the closet. Happy to see his side of the closet filled and the dresser drawers full of his underwear and socks and t-shirts. Unbuttoning his white dress shirt, her brow furrowed at the sight of a lipstick stain outlined on his collar. As dim as the light was in the room, the shape was unmistakable.
“You son-of-a-bitch,” she said, as she stormed from the room.
She was sound asleep in their chair when Mason nudged her from her sleep, he lifted her into his arms and she wiggled free storming to the bathroom and locking the door.
“Did I do something, sugar?” he called out.
“Who was she, asshole?”
“That’s Mr. Asshole, and what the fuck are you talking about?”
“The lipstick on your collar…asshole,” she threw in the best word she could think of again, in case he missed it the first time.
He scrubbed his fingers on top of his head, too tired to try and figure it out. “Can we do this in the morning, sugar? It’s like three, I’m half wasted and this conversation is fucked.”
“I’m not sleeping with you, go sleep with the slut you were fucking around with.”
Exasperated and too tired to give a rat’s ass at three in the morning, he strolled back to the bedroom noticing his socks and shirt lying on the floor. He bent over and picked them up and full belly laughed when he realized her problem.
“For Christ’s sake, get your ass in here woman. You can’t tell me you didn’t see that when I put it on?”
Now she was confused opening the door a crack. “What?” she snapped.
“This.” He held out the collar so she could see it.
“The slut’s lipstick,”
“It’s a silk screened logo, check out the label.” He poked the shirt through the gap in the door and waited. When she remained silent he said, “That’s right, Lipstick Wishes, a new designer label. It’s a friend’s wife’s label. I bought that, a polo shirt and a pair of boxers from her. You know your acting crazy?”
Opening the door, her eyes glued to the floor as she stepped out into his open arms. Embarrassed didn’t begin describing how she felt. Just as she lifted her knee onto the mattress, ready to climb into bed, Mason spun her to face him and clamped her chin in his hand. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Of course I trust you,” she assured him. “I’m sorry.”
“And I’m drunk, can we just drop this?” he asked, she nodded and he shoved her face first into the mattress, pushing her onto her own side. “Make room for me, wench.”
“Wench?” she asked, yanking at the sheets he tangled around himself, cuddling her body against his back.
The next morning Mason sat at the bedside with his coffee, watching his woman sleep and trying to make sense of Mikala’s three am ranting. She had never in all the time he knew her, showed any signs of the old green eyed monster. Jealousy was one of the uglier sides of a relationship he was glad to never have experienced. Why now? he wondered.
Mikala played the part of the possessive bitch when he paid Eden too much attention, but that was all in fun, what happened in the wee hours of the morning, that was plain ridiculous. Then he started speculating his drunken behavior. Not one for letting loose too often, he could count on one hand the times he had over indulged, he wondered if he did something inappropriate while intoxicated. The thing was, he could account for every moment, he was not drunk enough not to remember. So what was Mikala’s problem?
Her fiery red hair lay strewn over her pillow with a single strand draped over her chin, laying gently on her breast, he was tempted to b
rush it away but he didn’t dare disturb her. Mikala moaned, slightly stirring and from the way her closed eyes fluttered under her lids, Mason could tell she was dreaming. With his legs outstretched on the beds edge, he crossed one ankle over the other and sat back, watching her, absorbed. An array of facial gestures and the odd moan and groan from Mikala had Mason fully entertained until his phone vibrated in his pocket and he was forced to leave the room or risk waking Mikala.
“Hey,” Mason said quietly into the phone, leaving the door open a crack.
“Hey, I called Mik’s phone but didn’t get an answer. I take it princess is still in bed?” Landon asked, with a wave of urgency in his voice.
“Yeah, why what’s up? Anything I can help with?”
“Yeah…no…I need to talk to Mik.”
“Sounds important, I can wake her.”
“No, let her sleep but ask her to call me when she gets up.”
“Will do.”
Mason slipped his phone into his pocket and walked into the kitchenette to pour another coffee. Mikala let out a blood curdling scream and Mason’s mug crashed to the floor as he darted in the direction of the bedroom. Mikala was sitting up with her face in her hands shaking.
“Sugar?” he asked, climbing onto the bed and Mikala crawled into his lap. “Bad dream, baby?”
“Fucked up dream, is more like it.”
“Want to share?” he whispered into her ear.
“The whole thing was bits and pieces from the past, crazy images and dark shadow type shit. You disappeared and then there was blood, it was raining blood and then the sun came out and I was standing all alone in the middle of nowhere, and a voice was calling but I couldn’t speak and I panicked and tried to scream but I couldn’t even do that and that’s when I woke up.”
“Oh, you screamed alright,” Mason said, brushing her hair back from her face as Landon burst through the doorway.
“You okay, Mik?” Landon asked, breathless from running up three flights of stairs.
“Crazy dream,” she peeked over Mason’s shoulder at Landon and started to laugh. “Was I that loud?”
“Fucking right you were, I thought Mason was trying to kill you.”
“Something like that,” she joked. Mason palmed her face, growling as he forcefully kissed her.
“If you’re okay,” Mason licked across her lips and she climbed from his lap. “I need to go clean up the mess I made in the kitchen while you and Landon talk.”
“Landon?” she queried, as the big guy stood with his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “What’s wrong?”
Mikala pulled back the blanket patting the mattress and pushed a pillow against the headboard. “No thanks, Mason wouldn’t like it,” Landon said.
“You want to talk, get in because I’m not getting up yet.” she raised her brow, “In case you have somehow forgotten, you’re gay and I don’t think either one of us poses a threat to the other.”
Landon smiled as he slipped off his shoes and jumped in. “Thanks, princess.”
“So…talk to me.” She encouraged him.
Landon tucked the blanket on either side of his thighs and blew out a deep breath through puckered lips. Mikala could tell he was uncomfortable and placed her tiny hand on the back of his and stroked her fingers over his battered, callused knuckles waiting patiently for him to start.
“I’m pretty sure I fucked up any chance with Carl last night.”
“What?” Mikala sat up straighter, scooting her back side closer, intrigued by his confession.
“This is fucked, never mind.” Landon sat forward ready to take off, but Mikala grabbed the back of his shirt, stopping him. “Seriously Mik, I’m just going to come off sounding all girly and shit. I’ll see you later.”
“No, Landon, talk to me.” She tugged at his shirt and he sat back. She rearranged the blankets as he had them and rested her chin on his shoulder. “Whatever you say to me stays with me, I wouldn’t break a confidence between us, I promise. This thing is obviously bothering you, let me try and help.”
He placed his chin on the top of her head. “I kissed him.”
“You what? When? Where?” She sat up, smiling into his sad eyes, he looked gutted and she couldn’t help but feel for him. He had the hots for a guy that didn’t feel the same, it had to be tough.
“I don’t know...signals got crossed I suppose. We were having a great time, I thought.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “Carl was acting all attentive. He was…fussing over me.”
“Fussing? What do you mean fussing?”
“You know, like guys do when they like you.” He had an awkward look on his face as he waited for her to get a clue. “He laughed at all my jokes and he sat so close our legs were touching and a few times he even touched me. How fucking stupid am I?”
“Landon, you’re not stupid.” She tightened her grip on his hand. “So, when did this kiss happen and what makes you think he didn’t like it?”
“We were waiting at the end of the driveway for our taxi and he was teasing me for losing all my money, he kept nudging me and the more he did, the more I wanted to…I pulled him into me and kissed him.”
“Oh boy, he didn’t hit you did he?”
Landon shook his head as he chewed the inside of his cheek. “Just a love tap and then he took off and headed for the hills, he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”
“Know what I think?” Mikala asked. “You need to talk to him.”
“You’re out of your mind.”
“Want me to talk to him?”
Landon slapped his hand to his forehead and tilted his head back. “Hell no, that’s the last thing I need you to do.” He pulled her into a hug. “Leave it, honestly. The guy needs room to think and I gotta give him that. I just needed a sounding board.”
“Alright, but if you change your mind, I’ll talk to him. We go way back, I’ve known him for years,” she faded off and sat back glaring. “Do you know for a fact that he’s gay? Because I asked him, and he got real pissed when I did.”
“Not a hundred percent, but there are signs and they all point in that direction.”
“Then don’t give up on him, promise me?”
He took her hand and held it over his heart. “I promise. My Dad used to say nothing worth having comes easily. When I set my sights on what I want, I don’t give up until I have it in my greedy little hands. My sights are set on Carl.”
She wanted to ask if he was a greedy or generous lover, but held back her interest. He didn’t need her nosing around that deeply into his personal life. Mikala’s grin was evil as she realized she had the capability to place a certain two men that worked for her, into compromising positions.
“What are you thinking, princess?”
“Nothing,”
“I call bullshit,” he smirked. “Stay out of it. I’ll keep you in the loop, but you have to promise not to interfere.” He jumped from the bed.
Crossing her heart with the fingers of her right hand and smiling, she held her left hand behind her back and crossed her fingers as she feigned innocence.
***
Mumbled conversation from the bedroom assured him that Mikala and Landon were discussing something of a personal nature, and quite frankly Mason didn’t want to know what it was, he had other far more important fish to fry, the most important one, fessing up to Mikala.
Managing in his mind the right moment to tell her about Ross Stiles seemed crazy, there was no right moment. And as easy as it would be to just simply sweep it under the rug and never speak of it again, he didn’t want hidden lies and caustic secrets between them. No good came of lies. Mason wanted a clean slate, an untainted start to the last relationship he would ever know. Mikala would be his final relationship, the one that started with I do and ended with, till death us do part.
Twenty Three
“You’re acting weird.” Mikala grimaced as Mason turned in her direction, with a look of guilt written all over his face. “I’m detecting a confessi
on or some kind of bad news coming on and I’m not going to be any too thrilled, am I?”
“Probably not.”
“Is this going to ruin my day? This is going to ruin my day isn’t it?” She pouted and sat.
The moment he reached out and took her hand in his, she felt like throwing up, her stomach churned and that uneasy feeling of doom hung over her. She was finished with drama, had put drama behind her when Ross Stiles had been locked up and looked forward to a life filled with boring trash and simplicity.
Unlike the reality TV shows that cluttered the airways with drama, she wanted nothing more than complete unadulterated bullshit, packed with impracticality, romanticism and a large dash of rubbish tossed on top.
From the first day of kindergarten, when little Ricky Spears called her pumpkin head while he pulled her hair and told her she was ugly, drama had a way of following her. Each foster home, after her parent’s death came with less than loving atmospheres and a torment of disruption and cruel reality that haunted her soul to this very day. Groping men who told her to call them daddy and the foster mothers who looked the other way, and horny teenage boys that shared the foster system with Mikala, all gave her that take no shit attitude that she was strangely thankful for. Children had a knack for cruelty, but adults had a strategy of fucking with you that seeped into your very being and soldered itself in the recesses of one’s subconscious, making a home there. Nearly impossible to shake abuse once locked into place, Mikala forced herself to commit to a goal, to place it foremost and strive towards it while pounding any obstacles out of her way. Her life saving goal was Pulse, and as she stood and walked over to the bar, she reminded herself that no matter what he said, she would always have her ‘Passion & Pulse’.
Offering up a beer and grabbing herself bottled water, Mikala motioned Mason to follow her into the office where they could speak privately, and she could openly rant if need be.
“Should you be opening that mouth of yours to tell me your leaving, don’t bother, just take your ass and haul it. Better yet, stay right there and I’ll have Landon come in here and break your fucking legs, better still, I’ll have him teach me how and I’ll break them.”
Mikala's Passion (Pulse Series Book 2) Page 26
