Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Mason
One week after his engagement had ended, he was back at the Outlands.
He had not planned on coming back so soon after the breakup, but he was here tonight thanks to Claudia, who told him that both Yasmine and Audrey were coming.
He told himself that he was here for Yasmine, to make sure none of the Doms were going to be worried about scening with her so soon after their arrangement ended.
He wanted her to be able to scene with whoever she wanted.
Which meant he would be here tonight regardless of whether or not Audrey was going.
But yes, that was a factor, too; he couldn’t deny that.
Those protective feelings he was having for her, because of everything going on at the bakery, obviously extended outside of the bakery as well.
He got there early to make sure that he was there for when Yasmine came in. She tended to be an early arrival, because she didn’t like to stay out too late, so she could get her beauty sleep—as she said.
Mason took a perch in the bar on the main floor, so he could see people coming in.
He was only having one beer tonight. Not because he intended to play—there was a two-drink maximum—but because he wanted to stay sharp.
After this, he planned to swing by Cupcakes and Crumbs for a bit, just to keep an eye on things.
He liked to think that he had chased the culprit away, never to return again, but he wasn’t taking the chance he was wrong. Not yet. It had been a few days, so if something more was going to happen, he guessed it would happen soon. He’d keep watching for a while longer.
Just in case.
As he sat, he watched the various people coming through the door, meeting in the bar, or heading downstairs. He always enjoyed being in the club, watching the members interact. Everyone was so different, yet so many things remained the same.
The respect. The warmth. The camaraderie. People coming together in a community, embracing each other for their differences, and including everyone who was willing to be a part of that.
It was nice.
He wasn’t surprised when Yasmine arrived about half an hour after he got there, the first of their group.
She was dressed to scene—unlike him since he was still wearing the same clothes he’d worn to work—in a black leather corset and a short skirt that hugged her body.
The high heels and high ponytail were a nice touch.
It was so strange how he could objectively notice what an attractive woman she was without feeling the attraction necessary to make a relationship between them work.
When she came in, she looked around, a determined expression on her face and did a doubletake as her gaze passed over him. Frowning, she strode over to the table where he was sitting. He got to his feet, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek, then sitting back down.
For anyone who was watching—and a few people were—it was a very public manner of demonstrating that they were friendly but that she didn’t belong to him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips, a touch of anxiety in her voice.
Mason met her gaze blandly.
“Making sure that everyone knows we’re not together, and I have no claim on you.” He raised his eyebrow at her. “Unless you have a problem with that.”
Her snapping at him with her hands on her hips was going to go a long way toward confirming the impression he’d just given with his greeting. It wasn’t like he could take out a billboard or anything, but this was as close as he could get.
“Oh.” Yasmine tilted her head, obviously thinking about it for a moment. “That’s nice of you. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. What did you think I was here for?”
“Well…”
Giving her a firm look, he put his beer down on the coaster in front of him.
“I’m not going to be doing any scening tonight,” he stated. The only woman he wanted to scene with was off limits, anyway. And not just because Yasmine had requested a month before she had to see him with someone else.
“I want you to be happy. I just want a bit of time before I have to watch you be happy.”
“There’s no one I’m interested in ‘being happy’ with.”
Now it was her turn to give him a look. “Uh huh.”
Mason scowled, but the server had arrived to ask if Yasmine wanted anything to drink, and by the time she’d finished giving them her order, Claudia had walked into the club and made a beeline for them.
Her expression was intrigued, but she fell into easy conversation with Yasmine, while Mason sat back in his chair and sipped his beer, listening with only half an ear.
“I’m going to do a walkaround,” Yasmine said, with a little twirl of her finger. “Maybe go take a peek at what’s happening downstairs.”
“Have fun.” Mason spoke loudly, just in case anyone was listening. He was pretty sure Master Cole, who was sitting at the bar not far away, had been listening to their entire conversation with one eye on Yasmine.
Mason knew Master Cole had scened with Yasmine in the past, but then he’d scened with most of the submissives in the club.
He was part of a polycule that was completely open when it came to kink, which might be exactly what Yasmine needed tonight.
Someone who she could relax with and not have to think about her curse, but still get her needs met.
He smirked into his beer when, about five seconds after Yasmine left the table, Master Cole got up from his seat. The big blond caught Mason’s eye for just a moment, and Mason gave him a nod. The other man grinned and ambled in the same direction Yasmine had gone.
“So.” Claudia slid onto the seat next to Mason, setting her water down on the table. “That’s done. Are you planning on scening tonight?”
“No. Considering Yasmine and I just ended things, I don’t want any submissives getting any ideas or expectations.”
Claudia snorted.
“That’s one complication I hadn’t thought of,” she admitted. “Anyone you scene with is going to have certain expectations.” She smirked in pure amusement.
“Not if I scene with two different people. I could go from person to person in one night and just keep them all platonic.”
“And that’s how you end up in polycule.” Claudia grinned. “You and Cole.”
That made Mason laugh. He was pretty sure poly wasn’t for him. The idea of making one person happy in a relationship was stressful enough; more sounded nerve-wracking. He didn’t know how Cole and his partners did it.
But he also didn’t need to since he planned to be monogamous.
Movement caught his eye, and he glanced over at the entrance, as he had all night, every time someone came in. Red hair caught his attention, though it wasn’t the redhead he was anticipating seeing—it was her brother. Which still made his senses heighten because if David was there…
Yup. Right behind David was Cassidy, then Audrey.
She looked stunning in a pin-up style dress that showed off her shoulders.
It had a corset top, but it was a dress with a skirt that flared out from her hips and swished around her legs as she walked.
The fabric was black and covered in cherries, and she had a matching scarf tied around her head like a headband, holding her hair back from her face.
Just looking at her made Mason’s entire body come alive, anticipation humming along his veins.
David had the same slightly pinched expression on his face he’d had the last time his sister had come to the club. He was trying to be cool with it, but it was obviously a struggle.
Mason wondered what David would do if someone asked Audrey to scene.
The very idea sent a wave of jealousy through him.
Because he wasn’t scening with anyone tonight. Which meant someone else would be the one scening with her.
And he didn’t like that thought at all.
Even though he had no idea what to do about it.
“I know,” Claudia murmured, jerking Mason out of his silent admiration. His brain floundered, trying to figure out what she meant.
He hadn’t said that out loud, had he?
The panicked looked he gave her made her grin, and she winked.
“I know about the notes that were left at the bakery,” she clarified.
Mason felt his whole body sag in relief. He had not admitted his attraction out loud. Thankfully.
“I told Audrey I’d help. David still doesn’t know. But if you need anything…”
“Not at the moment, but thank you.” He smiled as the other three approached, effectively ending the conversation since David didn’t know.
Audrey must have said something at game night, which meant Cassidy knew, too. Dammit, how many of the other women knew?
Mason knew he couldn’t keep it a secret from David forever, but he was hoping to present David with the culprit when he told him.
Hey, your sister was being harassed at her bakery, but I caught the guy who was doing it. It would be cool if I date her now, right?
He nearly choked on air as the thought ran through his head. Where the hell had that come from?
“Hey, you two,” Cassidy said, stepping forward and opening her arms. Mason got to his feet to give her a hug before passing her off to Claudia, doing his best to keep his expression neutral despite the unhinged thoughts that had invaded his head.
David nodded at Mason, who nodded back. Since Cassidy was between them, it wasn’t awkward to sit back down without hugging Audrey, which was good, because he wasn’t sure he’d be able to hide his reaction to her if he did. It was already a close-run thing.
“Where’s Yasmine? I thought she’d be here already,” Cassidy said, looking around.
“She is. She went to look at the view… and yup, Master Cole is there now talking to her.” Claudia smirked. “So, I’m sure they’ll be headed downstairs soon.”
Eyeing Mason, David frowned as he slid onto a chair. Already seated beside him, Audrey was staring at a random spot on the table.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” David asked Mason.