Beyond the Masks (Beyond Love Series Book 1)

by Nicky F. Grant

  “Get up.”

  She folded forward extending her arms, crossing her hands at the wrists. Her forehead met the cold floor.

  “I said, get up.”

  “Please, Sir. Take me. Let me please you again.” The floorboards creaked as he shifted.

  “This is over, Shane.”

  “It’s only the beginning, Sir,” she said against the hardwood, clenching her eyes as the throbbing between her legs engaged.

  “Stop calling me that,” he whispered as though it was an unacceptable title.

  It held power and status, something he knew he hadn’t earned. To call a Dominant Sir, meant she’d yielded trust. She believed he’d underestimated the reason behind the initial deceit.

  “Leave!” He scooped under her arms. She shook loose, her knees hitting the floor, falling back into the offering position.

  “You want this. Take it. It’s yours!” she yelled.

  He knelt. His mouth against her ear, so close, burning with so much anger and hunger, a tidal wave of desire coursed through her. He yanked her to her feet by her hair. A soft yelp escaped her swollen lips. She loved it as wetness flowed from her core. Sweat glistened on his chest. His eyes were almost black as coal as his erection jutted forward from his underwear. She had him. He was there. He wanted it.

  Her hair was in his hands before he could register what had happened. Her swollen lips quivered in anticipation. Dark red with arousal. Mascara streaked down her face, the sight gorgeous and shameful at the same time. Two reactions eliciting the same response. It turned him on. He’d caused her pain. When she cringed in his grasp and a breathy yelp escaped, something broke inside.

  Her immediate submission after he admitted the truth about The Resort confused him. Why would she gift it to him? Why wouldn’t she leave before it was too late?

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “You…”—he grasped her throat, and she gasped—“didn’t want my job, Sir.”

  “Stop fucking calling me that!” She recoiled. Sir. He hadn’t earned the name. Not with what he’d done to her…continued doing to her. But this was the only way. Push her away so he couldn’t bring her deeper into his world.

  “Of course, I wanted your job.”

  “You didn’t. You said it yourself.”

  His fingers constricted on her throat enough to transmit warning. She swallowed, and his dick pulsed. Her body fought for him to continue. Challenging him.

  “You wanted dominance,” she choked out. She inhaled as his fingers loosened. “And when you finally had it, it struck a nerve.”

  He gripped her jaw, drawing her face closer. She’d twisted the truth in her mind. This was about her job. It always had been. Now he had to set her free. “You have no idea what I felt.”

  The dried tears from her mascara-streaked face set a deep desire thrumming through his body. She closed her eyes when he loosened the grip on her hair. Goosebumps appeared along her flesh as the pleasure release hit.

  “My God.”

  She liked this. Her arousal was sharp and aware.

  “It was in your eyes.” Her piercing crystal blue gaze, against the darkness, provided the only light in the room. “They soften with resilient focus right before you hit the precipice of control. You took me there, and we dropped together. I was with you the entire time.”

  What the fuck? How did she read him when she was beyond the clouds when her mask was removed? But she was present. It was her invitation to take them over, together. The moment had changed his trajectory. His dominance over her made the world right.

  He tossed her to the floor. She broke her fall and bounced back to her knees. “Admit it, Gavin. You felt the release. I gave you submission. It was what we were missing. It’s why you pursued me.”

  He pushed her, the tension in his muscles rippling to his feet. She kneeled higher and tugged at the waistband of his boxers. “What are you doing?” he snapped.

  “Take my mouth, Gavin. Take it and see. You need this. We need this.”

  An internal rage brewed at the pain he would continue causing and the pleasure of taking control. He wanted both. Could she be right? Did he find complete peace? Impossible.

  He snatched her hands, and she lunged forward, rubbing her lips on the fabric separating her submission from his truth. A low moan escaped him at the faint touch. He would explode as soon as he forced her mouth. He held her wrists with one hand and drew out his cock with the other. Pre-ejaculate trickled from the opening.

  “You want to prove something, Shane? You can’t. Now, I’m going to take what I want and dispose of you. Is that what you want?”

  “Yes.” She licked her lips. Her arousal speaking through a raspy voice.

  His internal denial would become her revelation as well as a baptism by fire and desire.

  “This isn’t a scene. This is reality. Open,” he growled, and she complied. She stuck out her tongue and offered her mouth to fuck as he saw fit. Good fucking girl.

  He rubbed the tip around her mouth and hissed. The bead of rich creamy liquid spread above her lip as he marked his area. “Wider.”

  She did oh-so-obediently, and his balls tightened into his body. Jesus. He shoved his cock deep without testing her reflex. She gagged, and he shoved farther until she couldn’t breathe.

  “Eyes.”

  Her eyes opened, pupils dilated. Her hands went limp at her sides as spit flowed from her mouth and onto her chest. Complete submission and it was everything to him.

  The base of his balls throbbed, and his thighs tightened as semen jetted down her throat. Her throat flexed along his length as more filled her mouth, spilling out the sides. “Fucking swallow.”

  She did, like the good girl she was, and went to wipe her lip. “Leave it.” Her hand fell to her knee. No question. No fight. He blinked in surprise. Keep pushing. She needs to go.

  “Get up and bend the fuck over. I’m not done.”

  He said it as though he needed to convince himself, pursuing what she offered without failing. She listened and spread her cheeks.

  “You think this is a game?” Smack! His hand came down so hard on her ass it stung his palm.

  “Sh…Shit.” She exhaled, rising on her tiptoes.

  His fingers tested her cunt. Soaked. “You think you fooled me? You think this is something you can fight?” From the nightstand, he snatched a condom. As the foil packet ripped, she held still as he prepared himself. Smack, smack! “Answer me.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Fuck you, Shane. This is nothing,” he bit out. His emotions crossed from rage into dominant pleasure.

  He gripped her wrists behind her back, tugging hair back with the other hand as he pinned her between the bed and his body. The length of his throbbing cock rested in the crease of her ass.

  “You don’t get me,” he seethed into her ear. “You think you have it all figured out.” He slid his hips back, and the crown of his penis notched her pussy. “But you are nothing but a conquest.”

  “Please,” she cried out. “Please fuck me.”

  He smacked her again, and she grunted. “I say when. But if you need satisfaction, my dominance is what pushed me to pursue your job, so be it.” He pushed in an inch, and a low moan escaped her lips, soft tissues fluttered around him.

  “More, please,” she said breathlessly.

  “This isn’t for you.” He pushed in another inch. “This is for me.” Another. “Your cunt is mine to use and mine to get rid of.”

  “Yes, Sir. My cunt is yours.”

  “Now you’re getting it.” He slammed the last of his thick cock to the hilt. A rough “uh” left her from the impact. He moved in and out, gripping her hair, holding her taut against the bed. Unmovable and his object to claim. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Fuck…you…” she spat.

  He slammed back into her again, all air leaving her body. “Why, Shane?”

  “It doesn’t matter!”

  He slapped her ass, and her core
tightened around him. He was so hard it hurt. He bent forward and yanked her face to meet his.

  “It does!” he boomed, and her face contorted as he slammed into her again and held still. “Is it so you can say you were right? So you can say your pet project was a success?” He didn’t know what he was saying. Any present insecurity gathered around them. A sliver of dominance held on as they fell deeper into their roles.

  “I’m going…to…”

  “No, you don’t. You are not allowed to come.”

  “Please!” Her muscles tightened and sticky breath caught her throat. He wouldn’t last long.

  “Not until you answer.” Thrust, thrust.

  “Fuck,” she growled. “I-I knew it was you!” As the last syllable left her mouth, Shane’s body shook from orgasm so hard he went over with her, filling the condom. Her admission shuddering out of his muscles like an exorcism toward the truth. She knew. She fucking knew.

  He fell over her, trying to find the words through heavy breaths. He whispered in her ear. “What?” Any aggression left at her admission. When had she found out? And why had she stayed?

  “In the club. I figured it out.”

  He separated and lay next to her. Their faces met. “How?”

  “Blair. At the karaoke bar…I confronted her.”

  He blinked. “Shane…I…Why are you still here?”

  “I saw you in the club. I felt you at the concert. You were there. The real you. You deserve someone who can forgive you without reservation.”

  The pain in his heart burned outward to his hands and feet. “Oh, Shane. No, I don’t. You can’t…” He brushed the hair from her face. Confusion and doubt rumbling inside. “Hasn’t what happened been enough for you to stay away? I will hurt you. You need to understand, I’m no good.”

  “No.” She almost smiled. So sure of her answer. “You won’t hurt me.”

  “But I have.”

  “Not anymore.” She cupped his face.

  “How can you know?” It came out as a whisper as he searched her eyes.

  “I just do.”

  She believed it. His hand smoothed down her face and around her neck. He tilted her chin, and his eyes softened.

  “I don’t deserve you.”

  20

  “I don’t care what you have to do, Kev,” Jacob boomed into the Bluetooth headset as he rolled his sleeves. He turned to see the city sprawl from his office windows. “Our whole year is riding on this album and I don’t care what the band did. If the they ask you to suck their dicks, you fucking do it.”

  Kevin, the A&R Director of AMG, droned on regarding the current rock project with Icarus Descending.

  The office door opened in the reflection. Liza peered around the doors while she gripped the handle. He motioned with his chin for her to speak.

  “The fabulous Mr. David is here to see you.” Shrugging her thin arms in the air, she gritted her teeth, spreading her normally plump lips taut.

  He smiled wide and nodded. “Kev, don’t call me again unless it’s to tell me Michael Blaya is finishing this record.” Killing the call, he tossed the headset on the desk. David skipped cheerfully into his office.

  “Jakey!”

  “The fabulous Mr. David?” He laughed again, grabbing David’s hand and bringing him in for a hug. “Good to see you, man. Please, sit.” He grabbed two waters from the mini fridge, tossing one to him.

  David whistled as he gaped over the space. The modern design encompassed dark wood features accentuated with silver and green palettes throughout the room.

  “Shane would be jealous; you scored the bigger office.”

  He propped his feet on the coffee table. “Yeah, she would. So, what’s up? Looking to get out?”

  “She’d have your balls on a platter. Again, might I remind you.” He waved him off like a prima donna.

  He loosened his tie. “Don’t remind me. How is she?”

  David’s lips thinned. Jacob’s chest brewed a possessive fire at whomever would be the cause of her having difficulty.

  “Ah, the question of the year. Shane is”—he tilted his face to the side and narrowed his eyes—“good.”

  “You sure?” He leaned forward, setting the water on the table.

  “How do I say this without breaking the girl code?”

  He snickered, missing the witty banter David offered. Rising from his chair, he gazed out into the city. “I know she’s seeing someone.”

  “Yeeeaah, she did mention you knew.” He had a pained expression as his chest rose and fell through his fashion t-shirt and sport coat.

  Something was wrong. “Talk,” Jacob demanded, maybe a little too eager.

  “She is…well, she’s confused.”

  “Is that a question? Give it to me straight.”

  “Do you still love her?” he asked hesitantly.

  “What does it matter?”

  “Because it does. She would kill me if she knew I was here. I’m literally risking my life.” David motioned across his neck with his finger.

  Snorting out of his nose, Jacob’s eyes remained fixed on the towering sky-rise outside the office window. “Yes. I still love her.”

  “Then fight for her!” he cried out, making Jacob jump.

  “Whoa, David. Calm down. What’s this all about?”

  “I can’t say. But know if you care for my doll, you need to be the carnal man you are and fight for her!” His voice could break glass.

  Jacob exhaled and sat. There was nothing more in the world he would rather do. But Shane had made her choice, and he’d promised to leave her alone once she did.

  “This someone else…is she interested in him?”

  “Sure, but she doesn’t love him.” David’s eyes rolled as he confirmed his darkest fear to be untrue. His heart leapt. Did he still have a chance?

  “How does she feel about me? She moved on. And she proved it by being with me the other night. Which I’m sure you know about too.”

  David winced. “Yeah, she feels real bad about that. But I can’t say any more. I’m tied to her.” He crossed his fingers. “But you need to find out on your own.”

  Jacob rubbed his face, smoothing his fingers through his hair. David wouldn’t come here and tell him idle gossip unless there was major concern. Even though Shane wasn’t upfront about being with the other guy, Jacob had his own secret. A secret, waiting for the hatchet to chop any chance of being together in half.

  “I will see what I can do.” David’s grin widened. “I’m not promising anything. And I hope you’ll keep this conversation between us. I don’t need to complicate things for her any more than they already appear to be. Got it?”

  “You’re the best.” He rested his hands on Jacob’s shoulders when they stood, eyes sincere. “You have my word.”

  With David on his way back to Shane, Jacob sank into the leather desk chair. The pit of his stomach churned.

  Sliding open the drawer of his desk, he removed a ring box. Dust floated to the floor like the past remnants of their relationship. He snatched it in his fist, infuriated by where life had taken them. Aggression burned deep. Who the fuck was she confused over? He texted her.

  J: I need to see you.

  He waited for a response as the velvet tickled his thumb with each pass.

  S: OK

  J: My place?

  S: Yes

  J: 1 hour

  S: C u soon :)

  The chair rolled away as he shot up. “What the hell…?” She wanted to see him. Smiley face.

  Tucking the ring box back into its drawer, he grabbed his coat, leaving the office in a rush. Perhaps he would get his second chance.

  The keys clanked in the glass bowl on the foyer table as Jacob tossed them with a renewed sense of vigor. He would fight for Shane even if it meant telling her the truth. It wasn’t a mistake they’d rekindled their passion, and he would do it with a clean slate.

  The elevator pinged. Time’s up. The doors opened as he set glasses and wine on the kitc
hen island. Desire surged within as her flared skirt swayed around her long legs. Her form-fitted blouse hugged her luscious breasts, wakening his insides. She was sexy as hell.

  “Shane…” He drank in the sight of her like a weary desert traveler seeing water for the first time.

  She fell into his arms, her purse and coat thudding on the floor. He held her, inhaling the crown of her hair. Flowers. Her body shook as the unmistakable sound of sobs flowed.

  “Are you okay?” he asked softly.

  “Yes. I’m overwhelmed.”

  “Come here; talk to me.” He put his arm around her, leading them to the sofa in the living area. She sat next to him. “What is it?”

  A restless laugh escaped her. “I’m sorry. It’s silly. I tried to hold it in, but when I saw you…it came flooding out.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m relieved you texted.” Her hands twisted in her lap. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  He stroked her cheek with a thumb. He’d lost the ability to be angry with her. Especially given the things he had to tell her.

  “It’s okay.”

  “Really?” Her brow creased, and her pale blue eyes questioned him.

  “I can’t say it didn’t hurt, but I get it.” He dropped his hand. “I wish you would’ve told me you were with someone else.”

  She nodded slowly, glancing back at her hands. “I’m sorry. I would’ve wanted the same thing.”

  He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Honesty. Here he was requesting it as his guilt sat like a rock in his gut.

  “Come here.” He hugged her against his chest. She sniffled as her body tensed. “Relax, Lovely.”

  “Why are you so good to me?”

  “Because I—” He swallowed. The word love lodged in his throat. “I care about you.” It required all he had not to tell her everything. Take her on the couch and make her remember how good they were together. Could still be together.

  She backed away, searching his eyes, no doubt reading him. They were always in sync, having never lost the ability to communicate without words. But she said nothing, only smiled. Plump, pink lips shone behind her gloss. Blood plummeted to his stomach. He could kiss her and make it right. Just one kiss…