by JC Hawke
I duck down and step into the car, the door slamming shut as I turn to look at Vinny in the driver’s seat. Whipping my head around, I see Mason striding back across the street and towards the café.
Shit! I go to open the door, and the lock clicks.
“Vinny! No! You didn’t see him in there. He is fucking wild,” I cry, adrenaline making my hand tremble on the handle.
“Mason is only acting out of concern for you, and keeping you out of harm’s way. You need to trust him,” Vinny replies flatly.
I widen my eyes at him. He has gone mad. “Vinny, Please. You go, and I will wait here.” I try to reason with him. “But please do something. One of them is going to get hurt.”
He doesn’t budge, doesn’t answer me, doesn’t even acknowledge I’m in the car. I sit staring in the direction Mase went, waiting for him to reappear.
It’s only a few minutes later that he emerges from the café, his face like stone and muscles taut as he strides towards me, looking every bit of the god that he is. I scoot across the seat as he yanks open the door and squeeze’s in next to me.
He doesn’t say a word, his knee brushing mine as he widens his legs, sinking deeper into the leather. His tongue runs across the front of his teeth, and he sits, staring straight ahead.
“What the fuck was that!” I yell as Vinny pulls out into traffic.
“Don’t.” Mason raises his finger in the air, nodding towards Vinny.
“Vinny doesn’t give a shit! He clearly knows what a headcase you are!” I proclaim, my anger getting the better of me.
His nostrils flare as he continues to try and calm himself. I don’t think I’m helping the situation, but I’m not about to roll over and take his bullshit. He runs his hand back and forth across his mouth, his silence only heightening my annoyance.
“I only met up with him to apologise and make sure he was okay. Why did you have to make such a big deal about it, and why do you even care?” I ask.
His glare turns on me. “You went to apologise? For what?”
“Everything that happened on Friday night. Your friend Elliot made a fool of him at the bar, and then you ended up choking him and—”
“He almost hit you! You…” His hands ball into fists as he pauses, shaking his head. “You don’t know him, Nina. You need to be more careful.”
“I don’t fucking know you, Mason! But you seem to think I should obey your every word.”
“You’re right. You don’t know me,” he scoffs. “You’ve just confirmed my point exactly.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I squint at him.
“Well, it didn’t take a lot to get you to go home with me, did it?”
Did he just say that?
I hear Vinny tut in the front seat, obviously a lot fucking smarter than his boss. “Vinny, take me back to the studio, please.”
Mason’s head snaps between us. “What now?”
I stare out the window, not wanting to speak or look at him when he can so easily cut me with his words. He came to me last Friday at the club, not the other way around. He came to me at the studio this week, and he came to the café today. For him to sit and judge me on my actions is infuriating.
Wait.
I whip my head around to face him. “How did you know where I was?”
He averts his eyes to the front of the car, it’s quick, but I don’t miss it. I look to Vinny, but his eyes are focused on the road.
“You followed me?” I shout.
“Vinny was in the area and saw you, then notified me,” Mason says dismissively as if it isn’t weird.
“Why? Why would he do that?” I frown.
Mason sighs, running his hand through his hair. “Because I asked him to,” he mutters, his head dropping back against the seat.
“Unbelievable! Do you have any idea how fucked up this is?”
“Watch your language,” he scolds me.
“Fuck yo—”
Before I can finish, he unbuckles my seat belt and tugs me across the seat to straddle him. One hand finds my hip while the other glides up my neck.
“I do what I do so that I know you are safe. I have an overwhelming need to protect you, Nina, and I won’t apologise for it,” he whispers, quiet enough that Vinny can’t hear. His eyes skim every inch of my face as if he can’t pick a feature to settle on.
“I want to take you out.” His features soften, his thumb stretching up to brush across my cheek. “Please, don’t fight me on this. This isn’t me.” He shakes his head, his eyes resolute. “You make me fucking crazy.” The feel of his fingers flexing against my hips makes me shudder. “Give me a chance to show you.” He licks at his bottom lip, his mouth so close I can almost taste him. “One more night. If you still hate me after that, then I’ll leave you alone.”
I sit back on his lap. “Like a date?”
“You can call it whatever you want.”
I bite my lip to hide my smile. “I don’t hate you, Mason.”
He smirks, all cocky, and although I love the way he is looking at me, the way he feels beneath me, I know I need to make this harder for him.
“Say please,” I taunt softly into his ear.
“Baby,” he rasps, making my stomach bottom out. “You know what will happen if you demand my manners.”
I ground down on him, brazenly rolling my hips over his cock as if I have every right in the world to do it. As if he is mine. “Say. Please.”
He tips his chin up at me, dropping his dark eyes to my lips. “Please.”
Leaning in, I brush my mouth over his. “I’ll think about it, Bossman.” I smile, climbing from his lap and back to my seat.
He shakes his head at me as he rearranges himself in his trousers. “Fuck,” he mutters under his breath.
Glancing out the window, I notice we are nearly at the studio, and then realisation sinks in. I look to Vinny, feeling mortified that I allowed the sex maniac beside me to corrupt me. My cheeks heat.
Sensing Mason’s eyes on me, I look at him.
“Vinny, give us a minute, please,” he asks.
Vinny exits the car and stands at the entrance of the studio.
I should be mad at Mason. He completely violated my privacy by having me followed and then made a show of himself and me in the café. But something bigger, more powerful than my anger, wins out.
Sat twisted in my seat, I chew on my bottom lip as a smile slowly forces its way onto my face. His large hand grasps me at the back of the neck, pulling me forward onto his waiting mouth—and I let him.
His forehead creases as our lips touch, a deep sigh leaving him as if the kiss is as necessary as the air he breathes. His tongue swipes through my mouth, seeking mine out and deepening the kiss. My body goes lax as I melt into him, my hand smoothing through his hair.
We kiss for what feels like hours, neither one of us able to pull ourselves away, and it’s not until my fingers inch up his thigh, reaching for him, that he finally releases my lips.
A whimper leaves me.
He drops his forehead to mine, his lips wet and swollen from our kiss, and he looks at me with so much desire in his eyes it has me paralysed in my seat.
Not being able to help himself, he gives me one more soft kiss before letting me go.
“I will pick you up at seven thirty tomorrow evening,” he tells me.
I nod, too overwhelmed by the man in front of me to speak.
My eyes rake over my reflection in the free-standing mirror as I stand trying to convince myself I’m not my mother. It’s hard when we look so similar. I’m wearing one of Megan’s dresses, and it’s slightly on the risqué side. The white material plasters itself to my every curve.
Lucy has styled my hair in soft waves that fall to my waist. My makeup is heavier than usual, with smoky eyes and bloodred lips. I should have saved all this effort for my date with Mase.
Shit. My date with Mase.
I haven’t told the girls yet, and I’m slightly nervous. No doubt they will be over the top about it,
and I don’t want to make the evening all about me.
I join them in the kitchen for a glass of wine.
“Ugh, I can’t get an Uber for an hour. My rating is shit. Megan, it’s your fault you miss them all the time!” Lucy complains.
“Oh, shush. Nina, you do it,” Megan suggests.
I check my phone, my rating just as bad. Crap! I think about booking a taxi, but then Vinny comes to mind. No. I can’t, can I? I go to my bag, searching for the card he gave me.
I stare at it for the longest time, contemplating calling the number but feeling bad, especially after this afternoon. Actually, no. He owes me after following me.
I dial the number, and he answers on the first ring.
“Nina, is everything alright?” he says, worried, making me feel bad.
“Hi! Sorry for calling so late. I was hoping I could get a lift. I can’t get a Uber, and I just thought I would call you, but I can—”
“Nina, it’s fine. Where are you?”
“I’m at my apartment. I’m with my friends.”
“I will leave now,” he says before hanging up.
“Got a lift, girls.” I smile sheepishly over at them.
“Good! Now come help finish this bottle before it’s time to go.” Megan smiles, holding up the bottle.
We are in a fit of giggles as we slide into the back of the Audi, choosing to squeeze in together rather than sit separately. We polished off two bottles of wine whilst getting ready, and now my body is buzzing with adrenaline.
“Good evening, ladies.” Vinny smiles.
“Hello, Vinny,” Lucy coos. “I’ve heard lots about you!”
“God, you’re alright for an older bloke,” Megan exclaims.
I elbow her in the ribs, the three of us chuckling together.
“Where are we off to tonight?”
“The Pearl, please,” I say, sitting forward in my seat. “Did you drop Mase home this evening?” I ask.
“I did. I just dropped him off, actually.”
“He’s working late again? Is everything okay?” I ask.
He smiles. “No, not at home, and everything is fine. He is out with friends this evening.”
“Oh, where did he go? Where did you drop him?” Lucy asks, poking her head forward.
“Sorry girls, it’s not worth the headache,” he chuckles.
“It’s fine, Vinny. It’s girls’ night anyway,” I say, sitting back in the seat.
“Screw girls’ night! I want to meet the famous Mr Lowell,” Megan whines.
Lizzo starts playing on the radio, and the girls start singing along, thankfully forgetting about Mason.
“Vinny, can you turn it up, please?” Luce sings.
Fifteen minutes later, we are pulling up at the curb. I glance out the window noticing we’re not at The Pearl.
“Where are we?” I question.
“Melders. You girls have a good night.” Vinny smirks, looking straight ahead.
“Yes! Thank you, Vinny!” Megan cheers, ruffling his short hair before climbing out of the car.
“Vinny!” I jokingly scold as Lucy slides from the car excitedly, joining Megan on the pavement.
Vinny’s eyes find mine in the rearview mirror. “You didn’t see me, okay?” He winks.
7
Nina
We shuffle forward in the line, huddled together as we try to keep warm. Melders Bar is overflowing at the seams tonight. Bodies spill out onto the street as the queue wraps around the side of the building. Thankfully, it’s moving quickly, and we are nearly at the entrance.
“He better be as hot as I remember, Nina. It’s flipping freezing out here tonight,” Lucy complains.
“Umm, I didn’t want to come here tonight. This is all on you, girls. I was happy going to The Pearl.”
A large group of men step from the club, and relief fills me when the bouncer allows us and the couple in front to step inside. The warmth of the club blankets me the moment we cross the threshold, instantly calming my body.
“Drinks first,” Lucy says. “And keep an eye out for Mase! We need to find him first.”
I link arms with my two best friends, rolling my eyes. “Screw him. Let’s have some fun instead!”
We haven’t been to Melders Bar before, always being put off by the wait even to contemplate entertaining the fifty-pound admission charge. It’s one of the hottest places in the city to party—but it’s just a club, and I will now be living off of noodles for the remainder of the week.
“So this is where all the classy girls go,” Megan says with a smirk, well aware that we aren’t that.
The bar is set out on two levels, and we have entered the club from the top one. A bar runs around the room in a U shape, with plush velvet seats and tables scattered throughout the area. There is a large opening at the centre, and we walk over to the railings, looking down at the crowd of people dancing below.
“This place is incredible. Let’s get a drink and hit the dance floor,” Lucy shouts over the music.
My gaze involuntarily scans the entire top floor, trying to seek out Mason, but it’s such an immense space, and I doubt I could find him amongst all these people. We see a spot at the bar and slide in, ordering nine shots and a vodka cranberry chaser to take with us.
“Cheers, bitches,” Megan smiles.
We down our shots one after another, all of us struggling by the third. Tiesto - “Wasted” starts to blare through the speakers, and the girls squeal as they slam down their shot glasses. I grab their hands, pulling them to the top of the steps that lead to the dance floor.
I’m about to take the first step when my eyes lift, locking on Charlie’s. He stands at the opposite side of the opening—close to where we stood at the bar moments ago. His forearms rest against the railings with his glass hung leisurely from the tips of his fingers.
Holy shit. I forgot how hot they all are.
Mason and Elliot stand off to the side, engaged in a conversation with a man I haven’t seen before. I quickly lift my finger to my lips and plead with my eyes at Charlie.
He shakes his head, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Please,” I mouth.
He dips his head in the direction the girls went, silently telling me to go. I hurry down the stairs and onto the dance floor, wondering how long it will be before he finds me.
Mase
We ended up at Melders tonight—not that it was our intention. Elliot had a phone call from Cece that had him sending Vinny here. Cece is a model who Elliot met a few years back and now meets up with whenever she’s in London.
The lack of privacy at Melders is one reason I hate it so much. Too many people know me here. When I finish work for the week, I want to shut off from it, not come somewhere like this, where people only want to talk to you because of the size of your wallet.
“Lowell,” Charlie says with a nod, summoning me. I walk to the railing and stand beside him. He smiles, then looks down at the dance floor.
I go to ask what, but the moment I glance at the dance floor, I see her.
In a sea of people that I can barely make out, she shines like a light. Does she have this pull on everyone, or is it just me? I frown as I watch her. She is breathtaking to watch. I know she is a dancer, but this is different. She is so immersed with the song, her body so in tune with the music she seems at one with it.
Lance and Elliot step up beside us to see what’s caught our attention.
Elliot elbows me. “Hey, isn’t that Pixie?”
“Where? Which one?” Sullivan asks.
“Brunette, tight white dress. Fuck, Mase, please tell me you are on that!” Elliot says, not taking his eyes off her.
“Another money-hungry bitch attaching herself for your money?” Lance pops a brow in question and laughs, taking a swig of beer.
“Shut the fuck up,” I deadpan. If he wasn’t my best friend, I wouldn’t be tolerating his shit.
Charlie stands looking out at the girls, not saying a word, already in
protective mode. Poor fucker is warped. “I’m going to take a piss,” I say, walking in the direction of the dance floor.
“Good luck, mate. Hey, if she won’t hold your cock I’m sure Lancey will,” Elliot says, clasping Lance on the shoulder with all the force I’d put behind the punch.
I stand off to the side of the dance floor, unable to take my eyes off her. Her delicate hands glide over her body, moving from her thighs to her hips and then to her perfectly round tits. Men and women stop to watch her—it’s not just me. She has us all captivated.
She steals a moment lifting a drink to her lips, and it has my body moving forward on impulse. I slide up behind her, my hand smoothing across her stomach and sprawling out over her ribs, pulling her flush against me. My face instantly goes to her neck, which is blanketed in her thick hair. I inhale deeply as my other hand takes hold of the drink at her lips.
She doesn’t flinch. She knew I was watching her, and she wanted me to see.
“I promised you when you were sober,” I whisper into her ear, taking the lobe between my teeth.
She shivers, sighing heavily as her body relaxes into mine. She lets me take her drink, her head falling to my chest as she looks up over her shoulder at me. Our noses touch, our mouths only an inch apart. “I don’t know how much I will be able to tolerate tonight, Nina.”
“Tolerate what, Mase?” she hums, bringing her lips even closer.
“This,” I say, running my hands up her waist. I bend my knees, grinding her ass onto my dick.
“Then don’t.” She starts to move her body to the music, my control slipping further from my grasp with every roll of her hips.
I pass her drink off to some random girl who is standing staring at us, and she takes it without question. Fucking weirdo. Nina notices and goes to step away from me, but I grasp her before she is out of reach, pulling her back to me; she throws her head back over my shoulder, laughing. I bet the boys are fucking loving this. “I’m here with the girls, but if you’re a good boy, I will let you take me home later,” she promises.
“How about I take you home right now?” I lean in, sucking on the underside of her jaw, my arms wrapped tightly around her waist.
