Chapter Eight #2
I stand up and clear my throat. “I do. I trust you. I’m here, aren’t I?”
Mason’s eyes drift over me, leaving a trail of heat in his wake. “I want to keep that trust because even if you do….the dynamics are different now.”
I blink. “Okay.”
This isn’t how I pictured standing half-naked in Mason’s study.
I’m supposed to be bent over a desk or a chair, all thoughts of being a failure being driven from my head with each thrust, kiss, and touch.
I don’t know why he’s choosing now to be considerate, but I’m still touched.
I know it isn’t easy for Mason to let people in, to relinquish some control, and to see it firsthand makes me fall for him a little more.
I love seeing snippets of the kind and thoughtful man behind the mask, the kind few other people get to see.
Maybe you haven’t screwed up so badly after all.
Mason crosses over to me and stops an inch away. “I’m going to fuck you, London. Make no mistake about that, but when we do, I want you to completely give yourself over to me.”
“I’m doing that now,” I argue, my fingers moving to trace his chest. I stop at the waistband of his pants and look up. “What do you need me to say?”
Mason pulls me against him. “I don’t need you to say anything. You need to know you can say no. You can refuse things.”
I search his face. “You’re serious about this?”
Mason quirks an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
I sigh and link my fingers behind his neck. “Okay, I’ll tell you if there’s something I’m not comfortable doing.”
“And if it’s too much.”
“And it’s too much,” I repeat, pausing to brush my lips against his. “Okay?”
“I want this to be different,” Mason adds, in a lower voice. His eyes are soft now and boring into me with such intensity that it’s making my pulse quicken. “I know you’re used to a different kind of relationship.”
I link my fingers over his neck. “I’m here. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I don’t want anyone else.”
Mason searches my face and cups the back of my neck. “I don’t know how to do the romance, flowers and feelings part of all this.”
One half of my lips turn up into a smile, and butterflies settle in the center of my stomach. “You’re trying though.”
Mason blows out a breath. “I am.”
“I don’t care about the optics, Mason. The fact that you’re trying it’s….everything.”
Mason gives me a half smile that sends a swarm of butterflies straight to my stomach. “Good."
Fuck me.
What is it about this man that makes me want to lose myself in him till nothing else exists?
Even now, with my parents’ words still reverberating inside of my head, all I can think about is him, and how much I want to curl up against him.
I don’t want any space, physical or otherwise, between us.
“This is enough,” I murmur, pausing to use my hand to make a sweeping hand gesture. My chest is tight with emotion as I sort through my next words carefully. “You are enough.”
Mason claims my mouth with his, and the energy between us shifts and crackles.
In one quick move, Mason has me pressed between him and the desk, the smooth wood digging into my back. He draws back to look at me and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m sure you’re going to realize how fucked up this all is….”
“Not a chance.” I breathed. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“In that case…”
Suddenly, his mouth is on mine again, hot and demanding.
He nips my bottom lip, and his tongue darts in, plunging and sweeping. My breath hitches in my throat as he rubs himself against me. Then he uses one arm to pin my arms over my head as the other pinches my nipples. A thick fog of desire settles over me as I squirm against him.
Mason pulls back abruptly. “Take the rest of your clothes off and sit on the desk.”
The blood is roaring in my ears as I do as I’m told.
Mason rummages through a drawer and pulls out a pair of handcuffs and a whip.
He waits until I’m sitting on the desk to cuff me to either side of the desk, leaving me naked and exposed.
I lick my dry lips and watch him through hooded eyes as he circles me, his bare chest glistening underneath fluorescent lights.
Slowly, he circles back to the front and stops in front of me.
Then he runs the whip along the inside of my thighs, causing goosebumps to break out.
“Remember your safe word.” Mason’s voice drops to a husky timbre that gives me chills. “We’ll take it slow.”
I nod, and he moves the whip back. It makes a low cracking sound before it connects with my legs, sending a jolt of pleasure and pain through me. The molten pressure in my belly pools as he strikes again, against my other leg.
“God, you have no idea how fucking sexy you are right now.” Mason’s voice is barely above a whisper.
He crushes his mouth against mine and runs his tongue along my lower lip.
Before I can open my mouth, he undoes my handcuffs, and my hands fall to his shoulders.
I rake my fingers down his back, and he growls, sending another wave of desire through me.
Nothing else matters outside this moment.
We are the only two people who exist.
Mason wrenches his lips away and kisses a path down my neck.
He takes one nipple between his teeth and tugs.
I sink my nails into his hips and throw my head back.
He moves onto the other nipple, and I moan, the sound echoing back to me in the stillness of the room.
Suddenly, Mason hoists me up and spins me around.
He binds my hands and pushes me forward so that I’m bent over the desk.
My pulse skitters and anticipation washes over me.
His breath is hot against my ear. “You will only submit to me, London. No one else can make you feel this way.”
My throat is tight as I nod. “Yes.”
A heartbeat later, I hear a crack, and the whip connects with the bare skin of my behind.
I jerk in surprise and bite back a moan.
Mason growls and uses the whip again, and it sends shock waves through me.
I fix my stare on the cream-colored wall behind his desk and try to remember how to breathe when I feel him licking a path down the curve of my back.
I shiver when a hand darts between my wet folds.
Breathless, I arch my back and grind against him. “That feels amazing.”
Mason tugs on my lobe and exhales. “Enjoy yourself, London. Open yourself to every sensation.”
He pushes another finger and begins to swipe.
I squeeze my eyes shut and marvel at every little nerve end in my body, attuned to him.
His heavy breathing alone is almost enough to make me unravel.
Circling my hips, I grind against his fingers, and he moves them furiously.
Spots dance in my vision as my release washes over me. I’m still shaking and gasping for air when Mason spins me around. When I realize he’s naked, I let my eyes sweep over him, taking in every inch of taut and smooth skin. He runs the whip down the slope of my chest and pauses at my belly.
After securing the handcuffs again, he retrieves a pair of ties and binds my feet.
His eyes don’t leave my face as he lowers himself in front of me, so he’s eye level with my center. Mason wastes no time in letting his tongue dart out to lick my wet folds. I gasp and writhe, but something about being tied down and at his every whim is intoxicating.
I like knowing he holds the key to my pleasure.
Mason replaces his mouth with his fingers and rises to his feet.
He waits until I’m looking at him, panting and covered in sweat, before he thrusts into me.
I buck against him and whimper. Mason eases out and thrusts back into me, harder this time, and I think I’m about to erupt into a million pieces at his feet.
Then, he places his arms on either side of me and begins to move in slow, practiced strokes.
I meet each thrust with one of my own until the desk creaks beneath the weight.
Mason’s moans intermingle with mine.
He alternates between kissing my neck and tugging on my nipples until they’re as hard as pebbles.
I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on the pressure building within me, rising to a powerful wave threatening to consume both of us.
Another wave of pleasure rips through me, and I cry out, my body spasming for so long that it feels like I am looking down on myself.
As my vision clears, I realize Mason has released my binds and laid me on the carpet in front of the fireplace.
He hovers over me, a soft gleam in his eyes as I look at him.
Slowly, he kisses every inch of my glistening skin until he reaches my lips.
Tears well up behind my eyes at the tenderness of his touch, and the softness of his gaze.
I spread my legs and link them around his hips. Mason shudders against me.
We move slower now like we’re discovering each other for the first time.
I want to stay like this forever.
Mason frames my face in his hands.
Something low and pleasant unfurls in the center of my stomach, and I hold onto it as we move against each other.
He buries his face in my neck, and the smell of his soap and expensive cologne settles around me.
I run my fingers down his back and offer his ass a firm squeeze.
He says something unintelligible, and his rhythm changes, turning frantic.
A few moments later, he throws his head back and shouts, his release tearing through him.
I hold him against me and study the smooth lines of his face as his mask slips, allowing me a rare view of the man underneath.
All too soon, Mason stops shaking and holds himself still.
With an exhale, he rolls off me and collapses onto the carpet next to me.
I tuck myself into his side as he drapes an arm over my shoulders.
His breathing quiets as we lie there for a long moment, neither of us saying anything.
Slowly, I prop myself up on my elbows. “I asked Katia to get someone to train me in the gym downstairs.”
Mason smiles lazily. “I know.”
“I know you know, but let’s just pretend for a minute that we’re a normal couple, and I’m telling you about my day.”
Mason pauses and nods. “Do me a favor and kick their asses.”
I laugh and rise to my feet. “I’ll try, but I’m still learning.”
Mason twists his head to look at me, and the half-smile on his lips makes my stomach do odd little somersaults. “Don’t underestimate yourself. You’re a lot stronger and more resourceful than you give yourself credit for.”
“Am I?”
Mason’s expression turns serious. “Absolutely.”
I sigh. “Tell that to my parents. They definitely don’t seem to share your feelings. In fact, I’m pretty sure they think I’m the biggest screw up in the world.”
Mason frowns. “Screw them.”
An involuntary laugh falls from my lips. “I know I should think that. I know I did what I could with the hand I was dealt, but I just…”
Mason laces his fingers through mine and squeezes.
I exhale. “There’s a part of me that’s always going to want their approval, you know. Even now when they’re being unfair.”
“I understand. I’ve been chasing my father’s approval my whole life.”
I hold my breath as I cock my head to the side and study him. “How’s that going for you?”
Mason offers me another rueful smile. “Could be better.”
I release another shaky breath and press my forehead to Mason’s. “He doesn’t deserve you.”
Mason uses his other hand to cup the back of my neck, sending a shiver up my spine. “They don’t deserve you either.”
For a long moment, neither of us says anything.
I close my eyes and listen to the sound of his quiet breathing, and a strange sense of calm settles over me.
Then, slowly, Mason draws back and brushes his lips against mine.
I melt against him as I frame his face in my hands.
When he pulls away again, I reach for his hand and bring my head to rest against the crook of his neck.
“I don’t want to go.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
Mason clears his throat and stands, and I get a brief view of him in all his naked glory before he turns his back on me. “Katia’s friend isn’t going to take it easy on you.”
“I’m counting on it.”
Mason bends down to reach for his boxers and snaps them on. “Am I going to regret this?”
I hug him from behind and kiss his shoulders. “Probably. So maybe you should come watch.”
“As tempting as that is, I have work to finish,” Mason replies, a laugh in his voice. “Maybe when I’m done.”
He kisses me before moving to retrieve my clothes from the floor.
Before I finish getting dressed, Carlisle knocks on the door.
Mason adjusts the last of his buttons and unlocks the door, flashing me a heated look before throwing the door open. I wait a while longer and then head to the basement, where bright sunlight filters in through the open windows, and Katia is standing on a mat with her hands on her hips.
“You’re late.”
I stop at the foot of the stairs. “Only a minute.”
“Our enemies won’t wait for you to be ready,” Katia warns. “Do you want my help or not?”
I move toward her. “I do.”
I know I’m outmatched by years of experience and training, but I’ll be damned if I ever feel helpless again.
Katia steps to the side, revealing a tall and dark-haired woman with bright eyes and a scowl. I hold out my hand, and she tugs me forward and slams me against the mat hard enough to knock the wind from me. When my breath returns, I find them both staring down at me.
Suddenly, I’m wondering if I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.