Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Saturday Morning Texts
Mason: My place or yours tonight?
Audrey: Which would be better?
Mason: I have more toys at my place, but I can bring them to yours.
Audrey: Do you live in an apartment?
Mason: No, I’m in a house. On my own. All by myself.
Audrey: Let’s do your place, then, so you don’t get lonely. Plus, then I don’t have to worry about thin walls.
Mason: That’s what gags are for
Audrey: I don’t know if that’s exciting or terrifying.
Mason: It can be both.
Audrey
Saturday was even busier than the weekdays had been.
She wasn’t sure the video of Rebecca was still what was bringing people in.
Before they opened, Ashley had taken a moment to show her several new videos the bakery had been tagged in, all of which featured different views of members of Black Fox Security.
Which would explain the number of young women who were hanging around inside the shop.
When Harris and Grant walked in, there were audible sighs, and Audrey had to press her lips together to keep from cracking up in amusement as their steps faltered.
Clearly, they realized something was going on, but they weren’t sure what.
She wasn’t sure whether she should tell them they were the entertainment.
The fact that a bunch of hot, muscle-y security guys that moved like military—because they were former military—were regulars at the bakery was something she had not considered in her marketing, but clearly it was a selling point.
Good to know. Especially since she didn’t have to do anything about it except hope they didn’t stop coming.
When Harris and Grant swaggered back out of the bakery, she was pretty sure they’d caught on, and neither one of them minded.
Somehow, she got through the day doing a reasonable job of hiding her excitement about meeting up with Mason. Maybe Ashley and Alexis just thought she was excited because of how well the bakery was doing. Which she was…
But she was even more excited about her date with Mason.
Even though it wasn’t really a date. Or a hook-up. Meeting didn’t sound right, either. Audrey didn’t know what to call it.
Thankfully, Yasmine didn’t stop by today, or Audrey might have been overcome with guilt.
It also helped that Ashley told her that Yasmine had enjoyed a very nice evening with Master Cole.
Apparently, Jensen had also eventually shown up, in a bad mood about Dr. Dick, and had spent most of the night brooding and scowling.
That was so unlike him from what Audrey knew that she felt bad for the guy.
Ashley seemed more of the opinion that he was suffering due to his own decisions, and if he hadn’t been moving like a turtle with Jennifer, he wouldn’t be in this situation now. Which was hard to argue.
Finally, the day wrapped up, and Audrey locked the front door with a feeling of satisfaction. No drama. No issues that she needed to be rescued from. Just a good day’s work and lots of customers.
If things kept up like this, she would be able to hire more help soon.
But she also knew that viral videos could be fickle.
She needed to wait and make sure that the foot traffic was going to continue before she jumped to any major decisions.
The idea of having to fire someone was among the worst things she could imagine having to do.
Even someone like Ashley, who didn’t actually need a job and was there more because she wanted to be.
Better to wait it out and be safe instead of sorry.
Audrey’s phone buzzed in her pocket as she was finishing up with the end-of-day duties.
Alexis and Ashley had already both left.
Ashley had offered to drop off the leftovers to the shelter Naomi ran, and Audrey had gratefully accepted.
Glancing at her phone screen, Audrey stifled a groan.
It was the third time her mother had called that day.
If she kept ignoring it, especially now after work hours, there would be hell to pay.
Steeling herself, she swiped to accept the call.
“Hello, Mother.”
“Audrey.” Her mother’s tone was frosty. “How lovely to actually hear your real voice instead of being sent to your voicemail.”
“I’m sorry.” Was she though? She tried to sound sorry, regardless, because her mother wouldn’t accept anything less. “The bakery has been really busy, and I haven’t been able to answer.”
“Really.” It sounded more like a statement of dubiousness than a question. “How busy can a bakery be?”
“Very, especially with only three of us working,” Audrey answered. Despite her mother’s annoyance, she could feel herself getting excited as she explained. “It’s been very busy this week and only got busier today, thanks to a video that went viral.”
“That went what? Never mind, I don’t know what that means, and I don’t want to.
” Even though Audrey couldn’t see her, she knew her mother was waving her hand with that brushing motion she made when she wanted to change the subject.
“I suppose that means you won’t be coming back here to visit any time soon. ”
“No, mother. I’m too busy here. But as soon as I can, I will come visit.”
Apparently, it needed to be said again. Audrey’s stomach twisted, and her throat felt clogged, but it got a little easier every time she said it. Practice makes perfect. Maybe one day she wouldn’t feel anxiety at all when she had to tell her mother no.
“You know, Cash has been asking after you.”
“Really?” Audrey couldn’t help the sarcasm that bled into her voice. “I doubt he really cares that much, considering he needs to pass messages through my mother.”
“You never take his calls, darling.”
Well, that was true enough, but he also hadn’t tried in weeks. Not that she wanted him to. She didn’t. But she didn’t understand why her mother was persisting in trying to pretend that Cash cared about her.
“Is Dad there?” Audrey asked, hoping to divert her mother. Unfortunately, she hadn’t counted on the reality of their marriage.
“No, he’s on one of his business trips. Because he’s such a hard worker.” The bitterness that infused her mother’s voice made Audrey wince. Her dad must have a new mistress. Now she was sorry she’d brought it up.
“Right well, I’m on my way home,” she said, hoping her mother would pick up the hint.
“Very well, darling. Please do try to make time for your family soon.” The cool tone of her mother’s voice said she was highly displeased, and Audrey winced.
“I will.” She would try. Maybe she could go back for one night, on a weeknight, sometime soon.
Although she had a feeling that the soonest really would be Thanksgiving, which her mom was clearly not going to be happy about.
Audrey’s stomach twisted again. There was nothing she could do about it. “Love you, Mom.”
“Good night, Audrey.”
Her mother hung up the phone, and Audrey sighed with relief. That could have gone much worse.
It could have gone a lot better, too.
Another night, she might have felt more let down after talking with her mother, but tonight…
tonight she was going to Mason’s for the first time.
Excitement hummed inside her as she closed down the computer and headed for the back door.
Shutting and locking it behind her, she practically bounced her way to her car.
An odd sensation tickled the back of her neck, the feeling that someone was watching her… but when she turned to look, no one was there.
Weird.
Mason
Trying to plan out a scene at home was… difficult.
Mason usually kept his kink to the club. Obviously, that wasn’t an option right now. It was giving him a lot more sympathy for Jennifer’s situation. Though at least she still had the house parties. He wasn’t sure Audrey would be comfortable at the house parties.
It was a good thing she had ended up with him.
He didn’t like the idea of her alone at some unknown Dom’s house, experimenting with kink. BDSM could be wonderful, but there were also people who used it as an excuse for abuse. Audrey was sweet. Innocent. Trusting. It would be all too easy for someone to take advantage of that.
If anything, David should be grateful his sister was in the hands of someone who wouldn’t hurt her—other than in the ways she liked.
Yup.
That’s what Mason was going to keep telling himself.
Since she’d responded so delightfully to the spanking yesterday, Mason had laid out a number of impact toys on his dining room table for her to try.
He’d also picked out a few different options of nipple clamps.
His favorite vampire glove. A few vibrators he’d run out to the store for earlier in the day.
He’d also bought two butt plugs. One small and one medium.
They hadn’t discussed anal play, but he liked to be prepared. Like a kinky Boy Scout. Even though he’d never actually done scouts.
He did like to play with rope. Which he also had. And cuffs.
Eyeing all the options, he shook his head.
Looked like a hell of a fun night.
Even without sex.
At some point, he was going to have to send her home to sleep, though.
The doorbell rang, and Mason jumped, even though Audrey had texted him that she was on his way.
Everything is fine. No big deal. It’s good.
He shook off the nerves and headed for the front door to let her in.
The blast of cold air when he opened the door to see her standing there did nothing to cool off the heat that washed over him.
Rosy cheeks over a green coat that matched her eyes, her hair was back in its usual bouncy ponytail, and she was wearing black fuzzy earmuffs that were somehow adorable on her.
Mason didn’t usually approve of earmuffs.
What was the point in covering just your ears? Heat escaped through your entire head.
But on her…
He’d allow it.
“Hi.” He smiled down at her, feeling himself soften as the rest of his nerves fled now that she was standing in front of him.
“Hi.” She lifted the box she was holding in front of her. “Cupcake?”
“Depends on the flavor,” he teased, stepping back so she could come in. He closed the door behind her with one hand, sealing out the icy air, while he took the box from her with the other. “You can put your coat on the hook.”
There was a small row of them beside the door, with a couple of his coats hanging from them, but that left plenty empty.
“Thank you.” She shivered as she took off her coat to reveal a pair of sensible jeans that hugged her curves and a forest green sweater with a cream print running across it. “I swear, it’s colder here than Philly.”
“You’re not imagining it,” he reassured her. “It’s because we’re closer to the mountains.”
“Actually, that does make me feel better. I thought I’d just turned into a wimp.”
Mason chuckled and gestured for her to follow him to the kitchen.
“Would you like some hot chocolate? Hot tea?”
“Hot tea would be perfect,” she said fervently. “Thank you.”
“No problem. It’ll give us some time to talk through things.” He gestured at the kitchen table and the island, where there were stools. “Pick your seat.”
The teapot he kept on the back of the stove already had water in it, so he just had to turn on the burner. Opening the cupboard to the left of the stove, he pulled down the box of options and turned to see where she’d ended up. She’d taken one of the seats at the island, across from him.
Smiling, he placed the box on the counter and slid it in front of her as her eyes widened.
“Wow… that’s a lot of tea.”
“I like tea, and I like options.” He shrugged. “I also have loose leaf, if you prefer.”
“Oh, no, please don’t go to the trouble,” she said, reaching in and plucking one of the small packages. “Orange pekoe is great. It’s one of my favorites.”
“Perfect.” Turning the box back toward himself, Mason picked out a honey vanilla option and set it on the counter before putting the box away. “Sweetener?”
“Sugar or honey.”
“I have both.” He picked up both options and put them on the counter as well. He preferred honey. Grabbing two mugs, he put them down.
Audrey smiled at him, and his chest tightened.
This wasn’t a date.
But it felt… intimate. Maybe even more so than most dates he’d been on.
“How was your day?” she asked.
“Good. We did a lot of team-building exercises. Trust falls and stuff.” Things that he’d suggested to Lincoln that they do.
“Because of everything that’s going on with Zeus?”
“Exactly. According to him, he and Noelle are now broken up, and he wants nothing to do with her. Which is exactly what he would say if he was a mole still trying to maintain his position on the team.”
Audrey eyed him.
“It’s also exactly what he would say if he wasn’t a mole.”
“So, you see our dilemma.” Mason shrugged as the tea kettle started to whistle. Picking it up, he poured the water into both mugs.
“Poor Zeus if he’s not a mole.”
“Well, that’s why we did the team-building exercises.”
“Did it help?” She cocked her head at him, wrapping her hands around the mug to warm them while the tea brewed.
Mason sighed.
“Not really. Zeus refused to do the trust fall.” It was a very middle school exercise, but it was also one of the simplest exercises, and they couldn’t even get him to do that with them.
“Why?”
“He didn’t want to.” No one had wanted to do the exercises; that wasn’t the point. It hadn’t helped things, though.
It was hard to put faith in someone who wouldn’t put at least a little faith in you.
Zeus didn’t believe the team wouldn’t just drop him on the floor, apparently.
What would happen in the field now… well, Lincoln had Zeus focused on tech stuff at the moment.
“We’ll get there. How was today at the bakery? ”
“I think the number of Black Fox team members coming into the bakery is increasing my foot traffic,” she replied, her eyes twinkling. “Apparently, I’m now known as the hot place to be because of all the hot men who regularly appear.”
Mason arched an eyebrow.
“Well… good?”
“It’s definitely good. The hot men might be getting the customers into the bakery, but everyone who comes in seems happy with the food, so hopefully, they’ll be back.”
“And you know we will.” He grinned at her. He was definitely going to have to encourage the others to stop by even more. Maybe they could make a schedule.
“I’m okay with that.” She lifted the mug to her lips, her eyes glowing as she blew across the hot top and then took a delicate sip. The happy sigh that left her lips as she lowered the mug did all sorts of interesting things to his libido.
Mason took a sip of his own tea before clearing his throat. Might as well get straight to it.
“Well. Let’s talk. Is there anything specific you want to try tonight?”
His imagination was already running wild.