Friends with Benefits

by Amy Brent

  I saw guilt riddling Mason’s face.

  “Stop it, Sarah. Please,” Emma said, begging.

  “If you want to get married, go ahead and get married. Good luck to the looney bin woman you chose. But if you want Emma, cut the games. Cut the manipulation. Cut the shit. She’s worth more than the life that flows through your body times ten, and anyone would be lucky to have her at their side.”

  “Sarah, stop!” Emma said, crying.

  “It’s all right, Emma. It’s okay,” Mason said.

  “Now, I’m sure once I hang up this phone, Emma will call you right back. I can’t stop her from that. Just know that I own the best talk show in the state of Texas, and I know your name. That’s a powerful weapon in my world. Best of luck with the marriage.”

  I hung up the phone, and Mason let Emma go. I tossed her phone back to her, watching her as she caught it. She tried to call him back, scrolling through her phone to find the number, but Mason’s hand darted out and slowly encompassed hers.

  His touch ceased all her movements, and I groaned with relief inside.

  “Why did you do that?” she asked, sniffling.

  “Because he keeps hurting you. He’s got you on his leash. In his pool, so to speak.”

  I saw Mason wince at that comment, and I wasn’t sure why. Probably because he’d pulled the same shit with women in the past. Go figure. Maybe this would give him a glimpse into what he actually fucking did to those women.

  “He keeps hurting you like the men in my life kept hurting me. You can’t afford him your power anymore. He only has the power over you that you give him.”

  “She’s right,” Mason said. “Believe me, she’s right.”

  My eyes rose to his, and the moment they connected, I felt my breath rush from my lungs. There were things swimming around in Mason Baker’s eyes I never thought I’d see. Guilt. Hurt. Compassion. Protection. Gone was the playboy with the smirk and the cocky confidence, and in his place was a protective brother who was getting a glimpse of how his life impacted people on the other side.

  He was seeing the repercussions of his actions, and I was watching as his eyes were slowly opened to the reality of his life.

  “I can’t help it. I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Emma said.

  “I know the feeling, trust me. There’s no judgment here. Just don’t talk to him anymore. Block his number if you have to. Start there, and work your way forward.”

  “And know we’ll be here every step of the way,” Mason said.

  “You mean that?” Emma asked as she looked up at him.

  “Every word of it,” he said.

  “Thank you,” she said as she looked back at me. “For being such a good friend. And thank you, Mason, for keeping yourself open to the idea of being my brother.”

  “I don’t think it’s an idea anymore,” he said, grinning.

  The two of them hugged, and I lowered my gaze to the ground. I wanted to give them some privacy, but I also needed to hold back some of my tears. This was all Emma had ever wanted over the years as she pursued Mason, and I couldn’t be happier for her than right now. This night had changed a lot, I could feel it.

  The question was, where did we all go from here?

  Chapter 24

  Mason

  I sat in my home trying to get work done, but all I could think about was Sarah. About how I fucked her in that bathroom and how she just went for it. The way she jumped and wrapped her legs around me threatened to spring my cock to life right there underneath my desk. I had to take a few deep breaths to keep myself steady. Holy fuck, that was one of the hottest things I’d ever done with a woman, and I’d done a great deal of experimenting in my years. How willing she was to give her body over to me. To trust me with it. It was intoxicating. She didn’t try to deny me or stop me. She wanted me as much as I wanted her.

  I liked that adventurous side of her that was willing to try anything once. I started wondering about other places we could fuck. Maybe she would let me fuck her underneath one of the trees on my property, or finger her in a movie theater until she came all over my skin. I could take her on a trip and fuck her in the airport bathroom. I hadn’t done that one in a while, and I bet Sarah would be the kind of woman who would love it. I could rent a truck and put an air mattress in the bed of it. We could fuck on a cliff somewhere underneath the stars. Women liked that romantic shit all the time, and I bet she would eat it up.

  Then, Tony’s voice ripped me from my succulent, precious thoughts.

  “Daydreaming about tits again?”

  “Just one pair,” I said, grinning. “What’s up?” I asked.

  “Just one pair? You serious, man? You’re still going out with that chick?”

  “That chick is Sarah Williams, and yes. It’s just under the radar, and it has been the trip of a lifetime, let me tell you.”

  “She’s got you on her hook, man. You’re getting Mason Bakered,” he said.

  “Maybe so, but I love it. That tight little pussy of hers calls to me.”

  “It’s odd. I’ve never seen you go back twice.”

  “I’ve done it a handful of times,” I said.

  “But never have you made it a regular thing. Never. Even before we got rich and famous with this company of ours, you never stuck around with women. I just shrugged it off as your mommy issues and kept trucking. But this woman’s got her talons in you.”

  “Look, dude. It’s not like that. There’s no feelings or seriousness. She’s fun and laid back. Totally cool about it being a no-strings-attached type of deal.”

  “Wait. She’s actually okay with no strings?” he asked.

  “Oh, yeah. She’s the one who preferred it that way. It’s the perfect fucking deal, man.”

  “So, you two what? Eat dinner, fuck, and leave?”

  “Pretty much. It’s wonderful,” I said, grinning.

  “Why do you always find the good ones?” he asked.

  “Because I’m Mason fucking Baker. Now, why’d you barge into my office and ruin my fun little daydreams?”

  “The interviews in Colorado got canceled.”

  “Both of them?” I asked. “Why?”

  “Apparently there’s been some big thing that’s happened. I don’t know, weather or pot or something. I don’t know. Either way, they called and canceled with us, so I canceled our travel plans.”

  “Who the fuck cancels an interview with me?” I asked.

  “A state who’s no longer concerned with your scandals, and trust me, that’s a good thing. I knew if we gave enough interviews and gave it enough time, this shit would all go away.”

  “I guess that’s a good thing. Did we have any other ones after Colorado?” I asked.

  “Nope. That was it. Dallas and Denver were the last legs of this race. We can hop back to L.A. whenever you’d like.”

  “Question,” I said, “how would you feel about opening our second office in Dallas?”

  “So, you can keep fucking your little chew toy?” he asked, grinning.

  “She’s not a chew toy. She’s a woman with wants and needs and a beautiful pussy she keeps giving up to me. We’re just fucking, no relationship, but she’s not an object.”

  “Wow. I can see her morals have sunken into you too,” he said.

  “Look, I got a little glimpse into what that type of manipulation could do to a woman. I wasn’t a fan of it. So, while Sarah and I are just fucking, you know, only calling one another and shit when we need that type of release, she’s still a woman who needs to be checked in with from time to time.”

  “The fuck happened to you?” he asked.

  “The reason I asked about the Dallas location, besides the fact that they’re practically eating out of our hands, is because I’m sort of getting to know my sister.”

  “Your who?” he asked.

  “That girl who always keeps calling, and I keep blowing off last minute?”

  “Wait, I thought that was some random chick in your pool,” he sai
d.

  “Nope. That’s my sister. When my sorry excuse for a mother left, she created a new family. Had a daughter. She’s been trying to get me to sit down with her for a while now, but every time we talked, she always harassed me about me rekindling things with mother dearest.”

  “No, thanks,” he said. “You don’t talk about the woman much, but she did a number on you. You’re better off.”

  “No joke. But, the last time we made plans, I just blew her off. Didn’t call or anything. I felt like a shithead for it, so I made it up to her by taking her out to dinner Wednesday.”

  “How’d it go, man?” he asked as he sat down beside me.

  “I mean, it went well. There was this instant bond, you know. Like I’ve got with my dad. But there’s this douchebag who keeps manipulating her. Apparently, he’s getting married or some shit, but they went out two weeks ago. Been some on-again, off-again thing. She took his phone call, went downstairs, and was fucking bawling her eyes out in the middle of the sidewalk because of him.”

  “You know who he is? We could track him down. Scare him a bit,” he said.

  “I think I talked some sense into her. A friend of hers was there, too, and she really gave that guy a piece of her mind.”

  “This a hot friend?” Tony asked, smirking.

  “No, not really,” I said. “But it gave me a glimpse into the bullshit women go through when you hook into them like that. It’s one reason why I only do those one-off dates. You know, emotion’s not my thing and shit. But I could see how I might’ve raised that reaction in a woman. You know, being me and all.”

  “You’re such a dick,” he said, chuckling.

  “The point is, that shit was not okay. I was ready to rip that fucker’s throat out for doing to Emma what he was doing.”

  “Emma?”

  “My sister,” I said.

  “She hot?”

  “Don’t you dare,” I said, growling.

  “Whoa, just kidding, Mase. Chill out,” he said, chuckling. “Sounds like Mason Baker got a little more human after that dinner.”

  “A bit. Sarah isn’t a chew toy. A fuck buddy? Yes. But also a person.”

  “Got it, boss. So, the two of you only ever call when you want to fuck, huh?”

  “Yep. Outside of that, she doesn’t really call. Hell, she never calls.”

  “Wait, if she never calls, that means you’re always calling her to fuck,” he said.

  “Yeah, I’ve had to chase her around a bit. The arrangement is pretty new, so I’m sure she’ll be calling me up quite a bit from now on,” I said.

  “That’s so strange. You never call any woman. No wonder you’re chasing her so much.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “She genuinely could take you or leave you, and that’s new for you. You’re trying to figure out why she isn’t falling all over herself for you, aren’t you?”

  “Who the fuck cares if it brings me that beautiful pussy of hers?” I asked.

  “She’s the only woman you’ve fucked who hasn’t gotten attached to you. Face it, you get off on women needing you, but you not needing them. Now, you’re fucking a woman who doesn’t need you. A truly independent woman who wants you only for your cock and your body, and you can’t stand it.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” I asked.

  “Just be careful,” he said as he got up. “We don’t need more scandals. Don’t go getting her pregnant or some shit. And don’t get your heart broken.”

  “We aren’t in a relationship, Tony,” I said. “Nothing about my heart is in this.”

  “Uh-huh. Watch your back. She’s comin’ for you, whether you realize it or not.”

  “Tony, shut the fuck up.”

  “Your defensiveness is very entertaining. And very telling.”

  “Get the hell out of my house,” I said.

  “It’s a nice house, by the way. Didn’t know you had one in town. We’ll discuss planting a location in Dallas later, but I like the idea.”

  “Goodbye, Tony.”

  “Sayonara, lover boy.”

  I clenched my teeth as the door slammed behind him. I didn’t give a shit about Sarah. Not unless she was willing to bring that beautiful body to me, so I could fuck it senseless. She was just a woman. A prominent woman in her community who wielded influence and the most beautiful pair of thick thighs I’d ever seen. I wasn’t getting soft. I was merely educating myself on the shit things men can do to women. I saw my sister being toyed with, and I didn’t like it. What was so wrong with that?

  I sank into the couch and closed my eyes. Sarah’s smile appeared in my mind, along with her naked body as my hand reached out for her. I pulled her close to me, smiling as my lips descended to the crook of her neck. I could hear her giggling. I could feel the warmth of her skin on my lips.

  But then she whispered something in my ear. Something that startled me to my core.

  “I think I like you, Mason,” she said.

  The electricity that ran through my body was unmistakable, and I started rubbing my arms to get the goosebumps to go away.

  What the fuck was happening to me?

  Chapter 25

  Sarah

  Ah, Friday morning. My favorite mornings. It ushered in the last round of interviews before I ushered in the weekend, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with mine. I wanted to call Mason up right after this interview, have him pick me up somewhere secretive, and go fuck in the back of his convertible somewhere. I wanted to paint my life with him as he slammed that cock into my body, and then I wanted to go home, call up Emma, and have some girl time.

  I shivered at the thought of it all as I threw open the studio doors.

  “Hey there, lover girl,” the security guard said.

  “He-hi?” I asked.

  “Way to go, Sarah!” someone called out.

  “Thanks?”

  “Here comes the hottie train, pulling into the station!”

  I looked down at my clothes and wondered what the fuck was going on. Everyone in the studio was giving me these looks. Raking their eyes up and down my body while some people slapped me with high fives. I wasn’t wearing anything outstanding. If anything, I’d slept in too late and had to bring my outfit with me. I put my sunglasses on top of my head and walked around, seeing everyone eyeing me and gossiping with other people.

  Maybe someone had taken pictures of the three of us out Wednesday night.

  I didn’t know how that would spark some of the comments being thrown my way, but it was the only thing I could think of.

  I walked into my dressing room and dumped everything onto the couch. I tossed my sunglasses down onto the coffee table before I took a good look at myself in the mirror. I looked refreshed, especially after the wonderful fuck I had a couple days ago. I planned on having many more this weekend before I came back to work on Monday.

  It seemed that Mason Baker was good for my skin.

  A rapid-fire knock came at the door, and I opened it up. My boss was smiling at me, his cheeks reddened from the exertion as he leaned up against my door.

  “Took my advice, I see,” he said.

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  “The advice about Mason. That’s why your dressing room smelled the way it did after the two of you left here last week, wasn’t it?”

  I felt myself grow weak in my knees. My eyes rose to a bunch of people huddled around a computer, and I ran toward all of them. I pushed them out of the way, earning comments and grumbles as I pushed some of them to the floor. Then, as my eyes settled on the screen, my heart fell to my toes.

  There was that damn picture of Mason and I almost kissing at his fucking car after lunch that day.

  “How the hell did that man still have that picture?” I asked breathlessly.

  “Way to go, Sarah. You snagged a good one. People are going to be tuning in for fucking weeks,” my boss said.

  “Get it, Sarah. Only you could snag that type of playboy and p
ut him in his place,” someone said.

  “No, no, no, no. You don’t get it. This is bad. Very, very bad,” I said.

  “Probably not the best publicity, no. People on Twitter are already ripping you to shreds, calling you a hypocrite and mess. But, you’ve grown your followers by five-hundred thousand since this picture landed this morning.”

  “This morning?” I asked.

  “I can’t wait to see the ratings after this interview today,” my boss said.

  “Do you care about anything else?” I asked. “I worked my ass off to gain the reputation I had, and now it’s all been shot to shit, and all you care about is how many people tune in?”

  “Sarah, people tuning in is why you have a job. Scandal always draws in more viewers. If you want, you can make a formal statement, get all over your social media and spin it the way you spun your ex-boyfriend shit a month ago. It’ll be fine. You’ll bounce back. You always do,” my boss said.

  I had no idea what to do. If this picture dropped this morning, Emma had already seen it. She may not tune into the show, but she was a pop culture junkie. This was going to be everywhere, and it was going to anger her in ways I’d never seen before.

  Holy fuck, I was going to kill Mason.

  “Hey, listen. I gotta get back to my office,” my boss said. “The media frenzy is stifling. Prepare a formal statement if you want to, but start getting ready for your interview. I have a feeling the person’s gonna want to interview early and get out of here. Paparazzi and news stations are gathering outside.”