Midsummer Masquerade (Mayfair Masquerade Novella #2)

Chapter 1

Tobias

I loosen my tie and undo my top button as I let myself into Ric’s flat.

I’m greeted with a subtle but recognisable scent—strawberry-flavour candy floss—followed by slightly off-key singing coming from the direction of the kitchen.

Quietly, I follow the sound and stare in disbelief.

The last thing I expected to see when I walked into my best friend’s apartment was his half-sister practically naked.

Singing out of tune as she shimmies her body along to whatever she’s listening to via her EarPods.

I wish I could tell you I was a perfect gentleman and that I looked away, but that would be a lie, because fuck, how am I not meant to look?

She’s always been fucking stunning, but seeing her like this at ease and looking like my every fantasy makes it nearly impossible.

And I know if it weren’t for the fact she lived with her mum growing up and not with Ric and their dad, I’d likely have found myself in a precarious position or two, because Rainbow—although her friends call her Rain or Bow—is the equivalent of forbidden fruit, especially since she’s my best friend’s sister.

It’s an unwritten rule. She’s off limits.

There are only a few months between Ric and Bow.

Turns out, their dad was getting cold feet and broke off his engagement to Caroline, Ric’s mum.

He then had a whirlwind fling with Liv, Rainbow’s mum.

When the fling ended, he came back and married Caroline, only to find out Liv was expecting a few months later.

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall when all of that came to light.

Rainbow used to visit during the holidays. I’d always make it my mission to see Ric during those times, which would ultimately allow me to see her. But unsurprisingly, Ric’s always been protective of his sister, even though she’s the one that is older.

I watch Rainbow as she moves onto her tiptoes. The long t-shirt she wears, rising as she reaches into the cupboard. I internally groan and have to quickly adjust myself. I swear it’s impossible not to get hard around this woman.

She turns and startles, the glass in her hand slipping from her grasp. Her bright, shimmering emerald eyes go wide, a squeal escaping her luscious lips, as she finds me standing in the open kitchen.

The shattering of glass at her feet pulls me out of my haze. I rush forward, my shoes crushing over the broken shards as I move to lift her by the hips and out of the way, depositing her onto the kitchen counter.

I crouch down, and a loud gasp escapes her as I take one of her bare feet into my hands to check for injury. Then quickly do the same with the other.

“Tobias,” she says on a breathy exhale, pulling my attention up the length of her bare legs and parted thighs until I meet her gaze. She smiles down at me as she removes her EarPods, her hands trembling slightly.

I gently release her foot and stand to my full height.

“You need to be more careful walking around barefoot,” I say with more force than intended, while also realising that I am now standing between her open legs. I glance down at her thick, luscious thighs on display, and my first thought is, is her cunt bare?

Fuck my life, I am so going to hell.

“Excuse me,” she replies, her smile falling.

Not that I can blame her. “How are my bare feet any of your business?” she asks defensively, crossing her arms, and my eyes track the movement.

I wish they hadn’t because, of course, she’d be braless under that t-shirt, her perk nipples on display, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Fuck me, what I wouldn’t give to swirl my tongue around those stiff peaks.

And here lies the problem: my brain short-circuits whenever she’s around.

She clears her throat, and I palm the back of my neck, my suit jacket stretching uncomfortably across my back. It’s way too hot in here.

I let out a breath. “It’s not, I just didn’t want you to step on the glass and cut yourself.”

Without waiting for her to reply, I walk over to the utility cupboard and pull out the long-handle dustpan and brush.

“Stay there while I sweep this up,” I say, though it comes out more like a demand. Smooth, real fucking smooth.

My senses are on high alert. Out of my peripheral vision, I can see her eyes track my movements. She crosses her ankles and swings her legs back and forth, her fingers holding onto the edge of the counter.

The sound of glass tinkering as I sweep it into the dustpan echoes around the otherwise quiet kitchen.

“How did you even get in here?” she asks, breaking the silence.

I stop what I’m doing and glance over at her pink hair, which reminds me of soft satin candy floss, hanging in loose curls over one shoulder, exposing her neck on the other.

“Ric gave me a key. I was here to check on his plants. I didn’t realise you were here.”

Ric and I have been best friends since attending school together. He’s away on a business trip, but if I had known Rainbow was here, I’d have stayed away. Lies, all lies.

“Yeah, as lovely as Caroline and my dad have been for the last few months, I couldn’t breathe being under their roof. Ric said I could stay here for a while instead.”

That makes sense. Rainbow is a lot like her mum; happy-go-lucky, carefree.

I nod. “So are you staying in London for good?” I ask, some small part of me hoping she says no, however, the rest of me hoping like hell she says yes. It’s a conundrum.

Her smile brightens. And just like that, the tightness in my chest eases, and I can breathe again.

“Yeah, that’s the plan. I’m still on probation for my job, but all being well, it’ll become permanent, and then I’ll finally sort out a flat share or something.”

I already know about her job. I pretend to be nonchalant when Ric talks about his sister, but I’ve made it my business to squirrel away information about her.

My phone vibrates inside my suit jacket, distracting me. I pull it out and see a message notification.

Ric: BTW, Bow is staying at mine, so you don’t need to worry about my plants.

I raise an eyebrow as I type out a quick response.

Me: Yeah, I figured as much when I swung by on my way back from work.

Ric: Yeah, saw a ring cam alert.

I forgot about the door camera.

Me: Yeah, well, I’m here now.

I stuff my phone back into my pocket as Bow hops off the counter. In less than two strides, I’m in front of her. Before I can stop myself, I lift her off her feet, her hands going to my shoulders for support.

“Careful, there might still be some glass on the floor,” I say and start walking away from where she dropped it. My hands instinctively move under her arse to support her weight, and she wraps her legs around my waist as I back her against the wall.

Her eye colour turns more vibrant as her pupils dilate, and I freeze. Holding her like this feels so right, so fucking natural and yet this isn’t me. I don’t go out of my way to manhandle women, especially not my best friend’s sister.

I inhale and internally groan. She always smells so sweet and delicious, like fresh strawberries and candy floss.

Her chest rises and falls with each inhale and exhale, her breasts pressing up against my chest as her eyes remain focused on my mouth.

And I can’t help but stare at her lips in return and wonder what she’d taste like.

Sweat beads her brow. It’s hot as fuck in here with this current heatwave, and it’s only going to get hotter.

But right now, I’m not sure if it’s my clothes that are making me sweat or the fact that I have Bow’s warm cunt pressing against my erection, which is begging to be let out to play.

I sure as hell hope she’s wearing underwear because I am holding on by a damn thread.