“I like it, and besides, it gives you a chance to sniff my shirt, Beauty.”
I smacked his chest, and he pretended he was going to drop me. I clung to his neck, burying my face against his beard.
“I wouldn’t ever drop you, Annabelle. You should know that by now.”
“I have no idea what you’re capable of.”
The muscles ticked below his strong, angular jaw. “I won’t hurt you. Ever.”
His eyes stayed locked on mine, and it felt like he could see right through me. I nodded before tucking my chin and pressing my cheek back against his chest. I’d never admitted it, but he already had hurt me.
After a meal fit for a king, Mason helped me lug all of the bags up to my room. I spread the scant slivers of fabric across my bed, admiring them proudly. When I turned around, Mason was sitting on the chaise lounge in the corner of the room, a smug look on his face.
“What?”
“Start with that little yellow number.”
“You can’t be serious. I’m not putting that on. You said so yourself; I don’t have it in me.”
“I said you wouldn’t get up on stage in front of a room full of men and take your clothes off. All I’m asking is for you to put some clothes on, so I can admire how pretty you are.”
My cheeks burned at his words, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from letting a smile spread across my face.
“And if I say no?”
A smirk spread across his face. “Try it. See what happens.”
I ducked my head as I blushed. His phone began to ring, and he dug it out of his pocket, shaking his head in frustration. Holding up a finger to me to let me know he’d be a minute, he pushed from the seat and answered the call. I rolled my eyes, assuming it was a woman.
“Hey, what do you need?” He asked as he slipped out into the hallway. I watched him disappear before I picked up the canary yellow bikini-style top and boyshorts.
My eyes went to the closet and back to the clothing. Squeezing my eyes closed, I decided I wasn’t going to overthink it. This is the same type of clothing I would wear to the beach if I ever made it out to the ocean. What was the harm?
I could still hear him chatting with someone on the phone as I slipped into the closet and tugged off my clothing. I quickly tied my top and slipped on the bottoms that scrunched up the back to make my butt look rounder. I tightened the strings on the sides of the bottoms and slipped out of the closet so I could see how I looked in the mirror. It happened to be the same moment Mason was stepping back into the room. His tongue ran out over his lips, and there was hunger in his eyes.
“I’m going to call you back,” He said into the phone, his eyes never breaking from mine as he ended the call and slid it into his pocket.
“What do you think?” I asked, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“Turn around.”
I slowly began to spin, and I could feel his eyes all over my skin, soaking in every inch of my body that was exposed. He swallowed hard, the column in his throat bobbing before he smiled. “You look incredible.”
“You don’t think it’s a little too... bright?”
“You’re perfect.”
My eyes snapped to his.
“It’s perfect,” he corrected.
“Thanks. I think this will look great on Lacey. It will really pop against her skin tone. I was thinking of adding some feathers and make it look like she’s dressed for Carnival.”
“No. Keep that one. We’ll find something else for Lacey. It would be a crime to put that on anyone else but you.”
“I don’t dance, and this had cost a lot of money. You said yourself that the girls normally bring their own outfits.”
“I’ll take you swimming. Hell, I’ll have a pool dug outback. Just keep the damn suit.”
I smiled before nodding once, “Thanks, Mason.”
“I should be thanking you, Beauty.”
I wanted nothing more than to rip that pretty little bikini off of Annabelle’s body and do all of the bad things I’d been dreaming about since I met her, but Devin had called to let me know Hunter had made an appearance at the club. This shit was getting old, and if I didn’t confront him soon, I was going to end up taking my anger out on someone else.
By the time I’d gotten to the club, Hunter was long gone, but he’d put on quite a show, breaking a chair with some guy’s face. I helped get the mess cleaned up and convinced the guy who got his ass kicked that we didn’t need to involve the cops. I was going to handle this shit once and for all.
All I could think about was getting back to ‘Belle. But when I turned off the highway toward Parish, I caught sight of Hunter ’s sixty-seven Chevelle parked outside of Village Pantry.
I pulled up next to his car, throwing mine in park in the middle of the street before grabbing a bat from the back seat and stepping out onto the road.
“You got something to say to me,” my voice echoed down the empty road. “I’m right here, motherfucker.” I brought the bat down across his windshield. It wasn’t his fuckin’ head, but it still felt good. Within seconds, Hunter came out of the front door of the store, rolling up his sleeves as he chuckled.
“You could have just called.” He took a few steps closer, observing the damage to his car.
“If you have something to say to me, Hunter, then fuckin’ say it. But stay away from ‘Belle and stay the fuck away from my club.”
“What’s wrong, Mason? Worried that she will come running to me like Rose?”
I sneered at him. I wasn’t taking the fuckin’ bait. He knew Rose had fucked up my head, but she didn’t rent space in there anymore. “You can’t just come at me like a man? You need to try to get my sloppy seconds?”
He smiled, shaking his head as he put his hands on his hips. “Do you want something?”
“Yeah, your fucking head. Set up the fight.”
NINE
I SPENT THE REMAINDER of the evening stitching together costumes until my hands became cramped. Mason had left hours ago to meet an ‘associate’ for drinks. I planned to wait up for him to show him the progress I’d made, but at some point, I’d dozed off on the piles of fabric, still clad in my teeny, yellow bikini.
Hours later, I awoke, my heart pounding and my throat raw as if I’d been struggling to scream but unable to make a sound. I tiptoed down the hallway and knocked lightly on Mason’s door. It pushed open a few inches, and I could see his bed was empty.
Without thinking, I climbed over the blankets and nested in with his pillows. I could smell him on the sheets, and the scent calmed me and made me feel safe.
I’d learned to rely on Mason. He was my protector and made sure that I never had to worry about my past catching up with me.
I pulled his blanket over my body and cocooned myself in the very warmth he relied on at night. It wasn’t as comforting as when his arms were around me, but my heart rate began to slow, and I was able to steady my breathing.
Soon I was off in a dreamland where I wasn’t running for my life. In fact, I wasn’t running from anything, but to something. To someone. I could feel him like he was really there, his strong chest under my fingertips, His hot skin as it pulled and strained, the muscles flexing under my touch. That’s when I saw his face, Mason’s face.
I gasped, my eyes shooting open. Strong arms banded around me and pulled me closer.
“What’s wrong? Another nightmare?” he asked, his voice raw and thick from sleep. I was glad it was dark, and he couldn't see my face flush.
“Yes,” I lied.
He pulled me closer, and my leg rested over him, my inner thigh dangerously close to his waist.
“I didn’t think you’d be home tonight.”
“I always come home to you,” he replied, pressing his lips into my hair.
I shrugged but didn’t respond.
“Belle, I’m not going anywhere. I promise. Do you understand?”
I nodded my head against his chest. His hand slid over my che
ek, and he angled my face up to his. I could feel his warm minty breath fanning across my lips.
“Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I whispered, my tongue running out over my dry lips. I was suddenly hyper-aware of every inch of his body beneath me – The thickness of his thighs and the ropes of muscles in his arms that banded themselves around me.
“Why are you still wearing this bikini?” He asked, his voice even gruffer.
“I thought you liked it.”
“I do... a little too much.” His hand dropped, and he rolled one of the strings from my bottoms between his fingers, tugging slightly. I slid my leg up higher, pressing my thigh against his erection, remembering how it had felt pressed against my bottom when he was getting a lap dance. He hissed, sucking in air between his teeth. His fingers slid over my skin before his palm was on my ass, and he squeezed, pulling me tighter against him. “You wearing this to turn me on, Beauty?” He asked, his voice ragged.
I was dizzy from the contact. My fingers trailed down his chest, my nails pressing against his skin. When I reached the edge of his boxer briefs, his fingers grabbed mine, holding them in place.
“Annabelle,” he whispered, his voice strained. “We can’t.”
“Why not?” I asked, my voice sounding small.
“You’re not the only one here who has a fucked up past,” he admitted. “I don't want things to change between us.”
“Nothing will change,” I tried to reassure him, but he didn’t loosen his grasp.
“I’m not the marrying type, Beauty. I can’t make you happy.”
“I don’t remember asking you to marry me,” I teased, but my stomach was sinking. I was a fool for thinking someone like Mason Locke would want someone like me when he could have any woman he wanted.
I pulled back from him and rolled to my other side. I felt tears prick my eyes, and I struggled not to let a sob break free.
“Annabelle,” he whispered, his hand on my arm as he pressed his lips to my shoulder blade. “Please don’t be mad at me.”
“I’m not mad,” I replied, my voice strained.
“Are you crying?”
“No.”
His hot mouth pressed against my flesh again, causing me to shiver. “I want you, Beauty. But it would be selfish of me to take you when you are still trying to get your life together.”
“My life isn’t your concern.”
He tugged my shoulder toward him, causing me to roll on my back. I stared up at the ceiling as he crawled over me, propped up on his elbows as he settled between my thighs.
“Look at me.”
I closed my eyes before turning my head to the side.
“Look at me, Annabelle.”
I swallowed hard before finally meeting his gaze.
“Don’t do this. Don’t try to shut me out. I just don’t want to hurt you.”
I nodded, but I could feel my tears threatening to fall. “I get it.”
“What? What do you get?”
“I’m not like those women.”
“Beauty,” he said my name like it physically hurt him. My name – I was becoming so consumed by Mason, I was someone new entirely, and I wanted that person to be his. He pressed his heavy palm against my cheek. Slowly, he slid his fingers down over my neck, ghosting along my collarbone. His fingertips slipped under the bikini string, causing me to gasp. “You are one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.”
“You’re lying.”
His hand slid lower, palming my small breast over the thin, yellow material. My nipple pebbled beneath his touch.
“Every part of you is beautiful.”
I turned my head away, unable to look at him while he said these things.
“Annabelle, Look at me. I need to know you understand.”
I turned my head back toward him, and his hand dragged lower, sliding over my belly, down my hip until he reached my thigh.
His fingers looped behind my knee, and he pulled it upward, so every inch of his body was pressed against me. I whimpered, squirming under his weight. His lips were on my cheek, my jaw, trailing down my neck. “I’ve thought about what it would feel like to be inside of you since the moment we met.” His tongue swiped over my neck as his hips rocked forward. I gripped onto his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin as I let my eyes fall closed. His body stilled.
When I blinked my eyes back open, he smiled. “Look at me, ‘Belle.” His hips rocked forward again, and my body reacted, matching his movement and sending a thrill of pleasure through my core. His hand slid up my thigh, grasping and kneading my flesh before slipping under the fabric and gripping my ass, pulling me hard against him as his hips rolled forward.
“A girl like you shouldn’t be fucked. You should be worshipped.” His lips sucked and nipped at my throat. I threw my head back as our bodies began to move harder and faster together. I could only imagine what it must feel like to have someone like Mason inside of you. He was thick and long and nothing but man. He treated me as if I was a delicate flower, and I could feel my petals opening for him. He made me feel alive.
I gasped, my body trembling beneath him, but he held me firmly in his arms, his pace slow and methodical.
“Mason,” I moaned as his lips pressed against the corner of my mouth. I wanted him to kiss me; to devour my mouth, but he was careful not to let this become more intimate than it already had. “I’m close.”
“I know, Beauty,” his mouth was at my ear now, the heavy panting of his breathing turning me on even more. I liked knowing that I was giving him pleasure as well, even though I knew this was only intended to please me.
I cried out, my body shaking as euphoria washed over me in waves.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he rasped as I tumbled over the edge.
What in the fuck was I doing? Belle was passed out, her hair splayed across my pillow, her head resting on my arm. I could smell her excitement in the air. My cock ached, and I palmed the bulge over my boxer briefs. I couldn’t lay here like this. It was pure fucking torture. My body was wound so damn tight, if I ever did give in and fuck her, I don’t know if I’d be able to be the gentle lover that she needed, nor did I want to be. I wanted to take her rough. I wanted to make her cry out for me to stop and beg for me to never let her go. She wanted it too; she just didn’t have any idea what she was asking for.
My hand moved over my bulge, desperate for relief. She stirred, her mouth letting out a little purr as she bowed her back. She dragged her thigh over mine, her hot still damp center pressed against the outside of my leg.
Fuck.
I shoved down my underwear, gripping my thick cock in my palm, squeezing myself to offer some relief. I heard her sharp intake of breath, but she didn’t move. I slid my hand up my length, sliding over the bead of pre-cum and dragging it down my length. I repeated the action, over and over, wishing it was her hand, her warm mouth, her tight little cunt. But I’d have to settle for her curled against my side, pretending to sleep as she watched me stroke myself.
My stomach muscles tensed, my eyes locked on the top of her head, that was angled down toward my crotch. I couldn’t see her eyes, but I felt her body stiffen, her breathing shallow. The sound of my panting filled the room.
I pictured her straddling me, untying the strings of her too-small bikini and lowering her wet pussy down over my cock, her tightness strangling me. I squeezed my fist tighter, slowing my strokes, picturing her pained face as I stretched her, made her body fit mine like a glove. I imagined her riding me, her little perky tits bouncing as she fucked me, milking my cock and begging me to fill her with my seed. But that was the fantasy of it all. She was inexperienced and couldn’t be soiled by someone like me. It’s also what made me want her more. I loved that forbidden element. Taking her innocence and teaching her how to please me.
My strokes became sloppy, my balls tightening. I felt her stir again as I tensed, my body coiled tight and begging for release. I wasn’t used to having to jerk off this
much. She was going to kill me. But the women I usually fucked were nothing like her. They weren’t what I wanted. I came with a groan, warm cum streaking across my stomach. My first thought was of her licking it off of me, and my cock twitched. It was going to be a long night.
TEN
I AWOKE, TANGLED IN blankets with the sun streaming across my face from the sliver of light between the curtain panels. I stretched, before remembering what had happened last night with Mason. Mason. He wasn’t in bed with me.
I pushed from the bed and hurried down the hallway to my bedroom. I grabbed a change of clothing and slipped into my shower, hoping to make myself look a little more presentable before heading downstairs. I had no idea what I was going to say to him.
I could still feel the weight of his body, the tender caress of his fingers, the roughness of his length pressing against me. My body began to tingle just from the memory of it all.
I rushed through cleaning myself and pulled on one of Mason’s t-shirts and a pair of tiny shorts I’d purchased to run in.
I took the steps two at a time, inhaling the scent of coffee that lingered in the air. But as I pressed against the kitchen door, my heart sank. It was empty, and there was a note propped up against the coffee maker.
You looked so peaceful; I wanted to let you sleep. I had to take care of something at the club. - Mason
I tried not to read too much into his words. He was a busy man, and I couldn’t expect him to upend his life for me more than he already had. My phone rang, jolting me from my thoughts.
“Hello?”
“You didn’t forget about the dinner today, did you?” Cadence asked, annoyance clear in her voice.
“No, of course not.” My eyes went to the clock on the microwave. I still had a few hours before I had to be at the restaurant. “I’ll be there. Is everything okay?”
She sighed loudly in my ear. “This wedding thing is so stressful.”
“That’s what I’m here for, Cady. Just let me know what I can do to make it easier on you.”
Breaking Beauty (Twisted Tales, #1) Page 7
