Chapter 3
Chapter Three
MASON
C asey was nothing like I remembered her. Stunning was the word that came to mind, and that didn’t seem strong enough for the reaction she evoked in me. Those hazel eyes were mesmerizing, and I found myself lost the moment I gazed into them. The sexy woman standing next to Tyson couldn’t have been the same awkward Casey I remembered from years ago. That middle-school version of her had been unsure of her changing body, unconfident, and awkward. Tyson and I had threatened each of the bullies who had tormented her before she’d moved away with her mother.
But the woman in front of me was confident and stunning. From the auburn curls that framed her round face to the thick lashes that layered her hazel eyes to the curves that lay below her jacket. I could barely breathe before I reminded myself that she was my best friend’s sister and he would kill anyone who so much as touched her, even me. My overprotectiveness for Riley was nothing compared to Tyson’s with Casey. But that hadn’t helped my body’s response to her appearance.
My eyes followed her as she walked away, her curvy ass swishing with each step. All kinds of dirty visions filled my mind, and I wiped my eyes, grabbing my glass and pouring myself another shot of scotch before downing it. Those thoughts would get me in trouble. Tyson came first and no matter how hard hugging his sister had made me, there was no way I was finding satisfaction there. She was only here a few days and then she’d be back in Armina. Tyson had talked her into coming to help Riley, hoping she could bring my sister out of the shell she had closed herself off in.
After a few minutes, Tyson returned.
“Casey’s washing up.” He yawned, and I raised my brow. Tyson was like me, a night owl, and it was rare to see him tired. “I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“No? Why not? I was doing all the work. You were babysitting Riley.”
“I may have had some company.”
“Fuck, Ty. You were supposed to be watching Riley, not wetting your dick. Who did you bring to the house this time?”
Tyson was a playboy. I wasn’t innocent and enjoyed the occasional night of debauchery, but he had a bad habit of it.
“China.”
“The brunette with the big tits?”
“Damn nice tits, and yes.”
“I thought she was too kinky for you?” I joked because I knew Tyson well enough to know he was into things even I wouldn’t touch.
“Eh, I was in a mood.” He rolled his neck. “She was worth the distraction and Riley was fine. It’s not like she even leaves her room.”
“Did you leave the house?” I crossed my arms, feeling the anger build. I’d left him with her to keep an eye on her, not to spend the night at the club.
“No, I texted China and had Leo pick her up.”
“You’re messed up. Don’t pull that shit when I put you on duty. If the guys can’t do that shit, neither can you.”
“Do what?” Casey asked, coming into view.
The air stuck in my chest again. The jeans she wore were snug, highlighting her hips and the shapely legs below them. She wore a short-sleeved shirt that came halfway down her stomach, her tan skin soft and begging to be licked. She’d grown into the breasts that had made her so uncomfortable when she was younger. They were perfect now, full and pert, amply overflowing the black lace bra I could see under her shirt.
“What the fuck, Case?” Tyson yelled. “Is that what you go out in at home? You can see right through that shirt. I’m gonna need to return with you so I can kick every guy’s ass that comes within view of you, aren’t I?”
“Shut up, Ty.”
I wanted to tell him to shut up because she looked hot, but I kept my mouth closed. He was even more protective of Casey than I was of Riley, even if he argued he wasn’t because he’d let her into our world early on and I’d kept Riley sheltered. I swallowed, trying to calm the reaction my body was having to her.
“Don’t tell me to shut up, Casey!” He stood over her, threatening and overbearing. I had the urge to push him away, to defend her, but I kept out of it. To her credit, she didn’t blink. Instead, she stood taller, which still wasn’t very high. She was tiny compared to Tyson’s six four and my six three. Either of us towered over her. Exactly the way I liked my women, small but full of fire, and I could see from the look in her eyes she had fire.
“Fuck off, Ty. I’m twenty-eight years old. I’m not some little kid you can boss around. We go through this every time you see me.”
“And every time I see you, I make you cover your ass up. What happened to the clothes I bought you last time?”
She laughed, a sound that reverberated against my skin. “You mean those matronly things I gave to charity?”
The vein on his forehead popped.
“Calm down, Ty. She’s right. She’s old enough to dress herself. And if I remember correctly, what China wore the last time she was going down on you makes Casey look like she’s in a nunnery.”
Tyson threw me a look.
“China?” Casey asked, her brow arching. Her smile was devious, making her even more attractive.
“Thanks, Mace.”
“Who’s China and why was your dick in her mouth?” Casey walked around the bar and my eyes followed her, spying the tattoo on her back that peeked above her jeans as she reached for a shot glass. My hands wanted to push her pants down and follow the design’s path with my tongue. I looked away quickly, hoping Tyson hadn’t noticed.
“None of your business.” He punched me in the arm, and I glared at him.
She dropped the glass next to mine and motioned for me to pour. She was so close to me, the smell of her perfume tickled my nose, making it difficult to concentrate. I didn’t understand why I was so enamored with this woman or why she was having this effect on me. The feeling left me out of control and I hated it.
I poured her a shot, saying, “She’s a stripper at the club, one your brother enjoys playing with when he’s bored.”
“Seriously? Don’t you guys own that club? That’s completely inappropriate.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “So the fact that she works there bothers you and not that she was giving him a blow job?”
She shrugged, her eyes sparkling with an amber hue. “If that’s what she’s into, but it’s still completely inappropriate.”
“It’s only once in a while,” he groused.
“It’s my club, anyway,” I said. “Besides, she’s kinky, and your brother likes kinky.”
Casey didn’t bat an eye. “And what do you like?”
I almost spit out the sip I’d taken, choking on it instead.
“Yeah, Mace. Tell her what you like,” Tyson urged, completely missing the seduction in her voice and how it reached in and gripped my balls.
“Just a good hard fuck,” I answered, gaining my composure.
“Hard?” she asked with the lift of her eye. “You strike me as the controlling type.”
Good god, she was sending my desire into a frenzy. I took another sip and calmly put my drink down. I wanted to thread my fingers through her hair and jerk her against me before I wrapped my hand around her neck.
“Controlling is a good word for it,” Tyson teased.
“I’m not a dom, fucker,” I growled. Although I had some tendencies that leaned that way.
“Keep telling yourself that, buddy.”
Casey’s mouth had parted, and she seemed flushed. The conversation had gotten both of us hot and all the while Tyson remained oblivious. She took another sip of her scotch, gulping the rest down before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
“That’s enough talk for me. I’m beat,” Tyson said. “I’d text China to come back tonight, but she was getting clingy and that’s definitely not something I’m into.”
“No, you just want to tie her up and use her,” I said, flicking my eyes to his.
He gave me a wicked smile. “Damn right I do. I’m turning in. Don’t let my sister drink too much. She might end up with another of those tramp stamps on her ass. You show up with another of those and I’ll burn it off you.”
“I’d like to see you try. I guess I shouldn’t mention the one on my tit?”
Oh, she had a mouth on her, and I was loving it. I wanted to answer that I wouldn’t mind seeing that tattoo, but again, I kept my thought to myself. Tyson would tear me up if he had any inkling of how turned on she was getting me. It would be a bloody fight because we were both strong, but in this case, I didn’t doubt he’d have me black and blue.
“I’m gonna move you home. And you wait until my next meeting with Donelli. What the fuck is he thinking, letting you do that shit? He’s supposed to be watching you.”
“Eh, I went with his daughter for the last one. She got one right here.” She rubbed her finger along her pelvis just before it would have dipped between her legs and my eyes followed, longing to see that finger travel further.
“Bad influence. I’ll be having a talk with him and with her. She’s a piece of work, spoiled brat,” he mumbled as he walked away, leaving me alone with Casey.
There were a few moments of silence where our eyes locked, and the sound of Tyson’s footfalls faded as he made his way to his end of the house.
“You’ve changed, Mason,” Casey said, her smooth voice breaking the silence.
“That happens after so many years. I could say the same about you, Casey. Without the braces and pre-teen awkwardness, you’re…” I wanted to tell her how sexy she was, but I knew it wouldn’t be appropriate. No matter how attracted I was to her, she was Tyson’s sister and that crossed a line.
“What?” she asked, tipping her chin up and waiting for me to finish.
“Different.”
Her brow lifted with a beautiful arch. “Huh.”
“Huh? What does that mean?” I scratched my neck, forcing my eyes from her and looking back at my glass.
“I thought you’d say something more definitive.”
“It’s no different from what you said,” I countered, daring to look back at her.
Humor lit her eyes, and she rested her back on the bar as she perused my body slowly, her tongue coming out to lick her lower lip. Her confidence was a turn on that I didn’t need, especially now that we were alone.
“Well then, you’re…larger than I remember, definitely sexier.” Shit, this was not a conversation I wanted. I needed to take control before she rattled me more and worked her way into my bed. Crossing my arms, I hardened my look, but she only inhaled in a way that sank into my body. “And that right there, along with those tattoos, is enough to break any girl.”
I cleared my throat, desperate to get away. There had never been a woman who worked me the way Casey did in just the short time she’d been here. “That’s probably not the best response,” I said, hating that I sounded like a scolding parent, or worse, like her brother.
“Why not? Afraid Tyson will hear you tell me how you can’t keep your eyes from lingering on my body?” She stepped closer, but I stood my ground, not moving back like I wanted to. “That I’m not the little girl who left all those years ago?”
“No, you’re not.” I looked down at her as she pressed her breasts against my arms. It was taking all my strength not to grab a fistful of her hair and smash my lips into hers. Although another part of me wanted to yank her head back and admonish her for her brazenness. “But you are Tyson’s little sister,” I said, releasing my arms, intent on taking her by the shoulders and pushing her back. My move caused her to lean further and left her chest resting against mine. Those hazel eyes shimmered with desire as they looked up at me. “And you’re entirely too easy, Casey. You don’t do this in Armina, do you?”
The thought caused a strange streak of jealousy to run through me. One I didn’t like.
Her lips pursed, and she stepped back. “I’m not easy, Mason. I just know what I like, and I don’t hesitate to stake my claim on it when I find it.”
That was it. I needed my control back and to remember who I was. She’d left me rattled, and that was a weakness. I grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back, hearing her sexy exhale. “I’m not one to be claimed, little girl. And you’re not one I can take, even if I want to.” Her eyes were sparkling with excitement, which wasn’t making this any easier.
“And what would you do to me if you could take me?”
Fuck, she was killing me. I jerked her forward, her body slamming into mine. “Things that would make even you blush. And things I know your brother wouldn’t want anyone doing to you.”
“What if I want you to do those things?”
I clenched my jaw, lowering my face to hers. Her lips parted, a sigh escaping. I could feel a slight tremble run through her and it left me wondering how she liked it.
“That’s a shame because I won’t. Now, I’m going to pretend you didn’t throw yourself at your brother’s best friend and expect me to stab him in the back like that. And I’m going to assume this is some sort of test of my strength. But if it isn’t, you’re playing with fire, Casey, and I guarantee the heat will be too hot, even for your sun-kissed skin.”
I shoved her away and turned away from her. “Go to bed, Casey.”
“Good night, Mason. Will you be thinking of me when you’re jerking off?”
I halted my steps. Damn, she’d gotten the last play, and I hated that she’d beaten me. I glanced over my shoulder at her and slowly surveyed her body once more. There were so many things I wanted to say back, dirty things I’d regret in the morning. Keeping my mouth shut, I returned to walking away, leaving her there and wishing I could get her out of my head just as easily.