“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving this morning?” Mason asked Kiera as he grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured himself a cup of coffee. “We could have ridden over here together.”
“I left your house since before six a.m.,” she answered. “I’ve already put in two and a half hours at my kitchen this morning. I need to head back there in a little bit.”
“Not until you’ve eaten breakfast,” his mother said, carrying a platter piled high with pancakes and sausage to the table.
As they dug into their breakfast, their mother regaled them with the bargains she found at the outlet mall. She pointed at the circular Kiera held. “Cut out that coupon for two dollars off on diapers.”
Mason rolled his eyes. “You do realize that if you’re buying stuff you don’t even need, it’s not really saving you money, right?”
“I’m stocking up for when I finally have grandkids.” She shot Mason a pointed look.
“Hey, why’re you looking at me? You have a daughter right there who is more than capable of giving you grandkids.”
“You’re the oldest,” Kiera said. “You’re responsible for the grandchildren.”
“I agree,” his mother said.
“That’s the most unfair thing I’ve heard today,” he said. He gestured to Kiera. “FYI, that party you had last night won’t help in the baby-making department.” He looked over at his mother, his eyes creasing with mischief at the corners. “Do you want to know what kind of party your daughter had last night?”
“Oh, yes, the party! How did it go?” His mother asked. “I still need to put in my order.”
Mason choked on the coffee he’d just sipped, and his mother and Kiera burst out laughing.
“Don’t ever say that again,” he warned.
“Mom’s only teasing,” Kiera said. “She put her order in since last week.”
Mason dropped his fork and shoved his plate away. Who in the hell could still have an appetite after hearing that?
His mother and Kiera both laughed until they had tears rolling down their faces.
“I’d love to continue the torture,” Kiera said, “But I need to get back to my kitchen.”
She rose, kissed their mother’s cheek, and carried her plate to the sink.
“Mason, the party I’m catering doesn’t end until one a.m., which means I probably won’t get in until close to three.”
“Be safe, baby,” her mother called.
Mason waited until he heard Kiera’s car pull out of the driveway before he looked over at his mother and said, “Something’s going on with her. She’s been acting strange since she came to stay at my house.”
“I think she’s just stressed over everything happening with her condo. She also has some pretty big catering jobs coming up, and did she tell you that she may have a food booth at Jazz Fest? That’s big time.”
“It’s more than that,” Mason said. He hesitated a moment before he asked, “Has she mentioned anything to you about needing a loan?”
“A loan?” His mother’s forehead furrowed. “Why would Kiera need a loan?”
He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “That’s what I want to know. A loan company called my house asking to speak to her. When I ask her what’s going on she tells me that everything is fine, but it’s obvious that something’s up.”
“You don’t think she’s in any kind of trouble, do you?”
Mason saw the brief flash of fear in his mother’s eyes and his gut twisted. “It’s probably nothing,” he said, not wanting her to worry. “But just to make sure, I’m going to find out.”
He started to rise, but his mother grabbed his arm. “Mason, don’t go butting into your sister’s business. You know what that will lead to.”
Yes, he did. The last time he called himself helping Kiera, it did not end well. A rival catering company had put out false information about Catering by Kiera in an attempt to win a contract with a local film company. Mason had threatened to file a slander lawsuit, going so far as to have papers written up.
Kiera was furious. She accused him of treating her like a child and insisted he let her fight her own battles.
Since that incident Mason had done his best to maintain his distance when it came to Kiera’s affairs, but dammit, he’d been stepping in to fight her battles ever since Buster Robinson tried to steal her snack money back when she was in the third grade. He was bound to slip up every now and then.
Something told Mason that whatever was happening with his sister right now was way worse than anything Buster had put her through.
He’d promised his dad that he would take care of both his mother and sister. It was a promise he’d kept for twenty years, and he wasn’t about to go back on it now.
Kiera may not tell him what’s going on, but he knew one person who likely knew the real story behind his sister’s suspicious behavior.
The only question was, would he be able to convince her to tell him?
Chapter Seven
Jada tilted her head back and let the warm spray wash over her. She grabbed the shampoo from the shower caddy and worked up a lather, groaning with pleasure as she massaged her scalp.
She’d stayed at Mason’s until midnight helping Kiera clean up after the party. She refused to acknowledge that she had, at any time last night, stared toward his front door in hopes that he’d walk through it. In the same way she refused to acknowledge that she felt anything whatsoever when he hadn’t made it back home by the time she left.
“Stop this,” Jada warned herself.
Why should it matter to her whether or not Mason stayed out on a Friday night? Just because they’d shared two rock-her-world kisses, it didn’t mean she had any say in what he did with his free time.
She blamed Eric for this. She had never been this insecure until she found out that bastard had cheated on her. Now she was feeling insecure about a man that wasn’t even hers.
Jada rinsed out the shampoo. As she reached for the conditioner, the stream of water coming from the shower turned from warm to ice cold. She yelped, jumping away from the spray. She got out of the shower and reached back in to turn the water off.
At least this time she was able to rinse out the shampoo. The last time this happened she had to finish rinsing out her hair in the kitchen sink. She pulled a bath towel from the shelf above the toilet, but before she could dry herself, furious pounding on her front door had her jumping out of her skin for the second time in less than two minutes.
Jada dropped the towel and grabbed her bathrobe from the hook. She pictured her neighbor on the other side of her front door, preparing to tell her that this dump of an apartment building was on fire.
She raced through her tiny living room and yanked open her front door, taking a step back when she discovered who was waiting on the other side.
“Mason,” she said breathlessly. Whether it was due to her mad dash from the bathroom or just the sight of him, she didn’t know. “What are you doing here?”
He just stared at her, his eyes traveling from her wet hair to her bare feet. Goose bumps instantly pebbled along her skin.
“I, uh, I came to ask you about Kiera,” he said.
Jada’s stomach bottomed out. “What about Kiera? Is something wrong?”
“That’s what I want to know,” Mason said, walking past her and into the apartment.
Jada closed the door and turned to him. He stood in the small space between her coffee table and TV stand, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes re-embarked on that journey they’d taken just a moment ago, once again traveling the length of her body. His nostrils flared as he stared at her. He shucked out a weary breath and ran both palms down his face.
“God, you’re naked under there, aren’t you?” he said in a tortured voice.
Jada pulled the robe more securely around her neck. “I was getting out of the shower when I heard you knock,” she said. “What is it you want to know about Kiera?”
“It can wait,” he said, stal
king toward her.
“Mason.” She’d meant to say his name in a warning tone, but it came out more like a plea.
He stopped a hairsbreadth from her and brought his hand up to caress her cheek. The feel of his fingers on her bare skin sent a streak of desire shooting down her spine. How did he do that with just a simple touch?
Mason traced a finger along her jaw line. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kiss you right now,” he murmured. “And don’t say it’s because we hate each other, because we both know that’s not true.”
Jada pushed out a ragged breath. “Damn. That’s all I had.”
A quick grin traced across his lips as he leaned over and connected them to hers. Jada released a soft whimper at that first contact. The minute his lips touched hers, she knew exactly what it meant for the rest of her day.
This time things were going much farther than just a kiss.
Mason shoved his hands in her hair, holding her head in place while his mouth plundered hers. In and out his tongue moved, invading her mouth, taking complete control of it.
Jada sensed when his left hand moved from her hair and traveled down her side. Then it moved to the front. He flattened his palm against her stomach before tugging on the sash at her waist. Seconds later, her robe fell open.
A moan climbed up her throat as Mason’s palm snaked up her midriff to her breasts. He pinched and plucked and massaged her nipples, causing them to ache with a hunger Jada wasn’t sure could be slaked. When had she ever felt a hunger like the one he was stirring within her?
“God, Mason,” Jada groaned, her head falling back as his parted lips made their way up her neck.
She closed her eyes and focused on the incredible sensation of his warm, wet mouth against her skin. Each gentle bite, sexy tug, and indulgent lick set off a cataclysmic reaction within her. She felt his kiss all the way down to her toes. It made her belly quake and caused the spot between her legs to grow damp with want.
Their mouths never leaving each other, Mason shoved both hands inside her robe and clutched her ass, pulling her against him. He picked her up and Jada wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her those few precious steps into her bedroom. For the first time, she was happy her apartment was so tiny. She couldn’t survive a long trek to the bed.
Mason’s lips traveled down her body as he laid her upon the bed.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured against her stomach.
His thumbs swept back and forth over her nipples as he continued moving down her torso. Once he reached the aching spot between her legs, he wasted no time, using his fingers to spread her open and going straight for her clitoris. He sucked the throbbing nerves into his mouth, and Jada’s back bowed off the bed, the motion pushing her further into Mason’s face. He took full advantage, seizing her at the waist and holding her body still while his tongue lashed her with stroke after decadent stroke.
Her legs began to shake. Jada wasn’t sure how much longer she could last before her entire being burst into flames.
It happened even quicker than she anticipated.
Mason drilled his tongue inside of her, and her body lit up, her release echoing throughout every corner of her body. She slowly opened her eyes to find Mason kneeling on the bed between her legs, yanking his shirt over his head. Jada made a feeble attempt to help him undress, but she was too weak to move.
He pushed his shorts and underwear down his hips, then grabbed his wallet and took out a condom. He ripped the package open and quickly rolled on the latex.
Jada pitched her head back and groaned toward the ceiling. “Oh, my God. I cannot believe we’re doing this.”
She felt Mason stiffen above her. She looked up at him.
“This isn’t going to be one-sided, Jada. Do you want to do this or not?”
“I want it,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’ll miss our legendary arguments, but I have a feeling you’re about to make up for it.”
Grinning, he said, “I’ll figure out a way to occasionally piss you off if you want me to.”
He scooped one arm underneath her hips and lifted her bottom off the bed as he entered her. Jada’s entire being shivered with pleasure as he sank inch by gradual, delicious inch.
Gone was the serious lawyer. He obliterated every misconception she had as he took her body on the most sinfully erotic ride she’d ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Bracing himself above her with his hands on either side of her head, Mason slowly worshipped her body, gliding in and out with easy strokes, taking his time, trying different angles.
Jada squeezed her inner muscles, clutching his erection.
Mason gasped, his entire body stiffening.
“Do that again,” he begged.
She obliged. With every forward thrust, she constricted her inner walls, clasping his thickness, holding it inside of her. Mason steadily increased his pace, his hips pistoning back and forth, propelling her to a place she wasn’t sure she’d ever been before.
With one final thrust, Jada’s entire world exploded. She locked her legs around Mason and held on while her body seemed to burst into a million pieces.
She had no sense of time passing as she lay in her bed, her limbs too weak to even conjure the thought of moving. She concentrated on pulling in deep breaths, the need to replenish her oxygen level on the same scale as when she exercised for a solid hour without stopping.
When Jada finally regained enough strength to open her eyes, she discovered Mason looking down at her, a sexy smile tilting up his lips.
“What?” she asked, covering her eyes with her forearm.
“You really are adorable.”
She peeked at him. “I’m still not used to you calling me that.”
“Okay, I’ll stop.”
“No!” she said quickly, drawing a laugh from him. Her lips hitched up in a lazy smile. “I said I’m not used to it. Not that I didn’t like it.”
“In that case,” he said, lowering his head to her neck and giving her a gentle love bite. “I’ll call you that from now on.”
“Only when we’re alone,” she mandated.
He lifted his head. His brow peaked in quizzical inquiry, he asked, “What exactly does that mean?”
Jada covered her eyes again. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s stupid, but for some reason it feels as if being with you is some kind of offense against Kiera.”
“That doesn’t make any sense, Jada.”
“Hence my use of the word ‘stupid’.” She let out a weary breath. “It’s just that Kiera and I have been best friends for so long, and we tell each other everything. When I didn’t tell her about what happened the night I ran out of gas, it was as if I faced a fork in the road and decided to take the path of deception.”
“Are you always this deep after sex?”
“Shut up, Mason.” She laughed.
He dipped his head low and captured her lips in another kiss before propping himself up on his elbow and resting his head on his balled fist.
“If you don’t want Kiera to know that you’re shagging her brother, that’s fine with me. But if I have to keep this a secret, you’ll need to make it worth my while.”
Excited tremors fluttered around her stomach at the wickedly sexy glint in his eyes.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Jada asked.
“Where do you keep that hot pink polka dot bag?”
The tremors in her stomach increased. So did Mason’s grin.
“The front closet,” she answered.
Placing a swift kiss on her lips, he pushed himself off the bed, and without a hint of modesty, walked his firm, naked ass out of her bedroom.
“Goodness,” Jada whispered, covering her eyes again. “Who in the hell would have thought?”
***
Mason grabbed the innocent looking bag from the front closet’s top shelf and carried it back to Jada’s room. He found her sitting up in the bed, her naked body completely exposed.
>
How could she look so much better than she’d ever looked in his fantasies?
“Bring that here,” she said, patting the bed.
His eyes widened. “A bit eager, aren’t we?”
“Just earning your silence,” she said.
He set the bag on the bed and Jada unzipped it.
“Hmm, where should we start?” Mason asked. “You’re the expert here, I think you should decide.”
The smile she sent his way was pure sin, and Mason got the distinct impression that this would go down in history as the best Saturday afternoon of his life.
“You know these are only supposed to be for selling purposes, right?” Jada asked. “If we use any of this, I’m going to have to buy another set to display when I do a party.”
“I’ll pay for everything in that damn bag,” Mason said.
Her head flew back with her laugh. He tried to tear his eyes away from her breasts, but they were so perfect in every way imaginable, he just could not look away. But then Jada slipped a red, velvet bag from the travel case, and his eyes found something else to focus on.
The pouch had The Masquerade Collection embroidered across it in black script. Jada untied the drawstring, reached in, and pulled out several black sashes. She took one of the silken yards of material and stretched it across her breasts, dragging it back and forth across her nipples.
His knees damn near buckled.
“Do you trust me?” Jada asked.
Mason licked his lips and swallowed deep. “Depends on what you’re planning to do.”
“I promise I won’t hurt you.”
“I didn’t say you couldn’t hurt me.”
She let out a playful, exaggeratedly shocked gasp. “Mason Coleman! Who in the hell knew?”
Mason climbed onto the bed. He twisted around and scooted back until his shoulder blades met the headboard. His breathing escalated as Jada pressed down on his shoulders, urging him to lie back on the mattress. She slipped a pillow underneath his head and tied the silken sash she’d been rubbing across her breasts over his eyes.
Mason swallowed a moan.
A Little Bit Naughty (Moments in Maplesville) Page 9
