Chapter 23
CILLA
Rushing upstairs, I take a long drink of the flavored water then drop my clothes into the laundry basket.
I walk into the bathroom, where the chill on the tiles has me moving quickly to turn the faucet of the shower on.
I allow the water to warm as I grab a towel from the cabinet next to the sink.
I place the towel on top of the toilet lid and step into the shower.
The steam fogs the mirror, and I see myself as a blurred figure, but my eyes flick to the door when Mason steps inside. He gives me a warm, no, I should say provocative smile as he starts to shed his clothes right onto the bathroom floor.
His eyes are softer than I’ve ever seen them, and he asks in a low growly voice, “Mind if I join you?”
I admit my heart flutters and my stomach clenches at the rough, passionate sound of his voice. I give him a nod and step further under the spray of the shower, making room for him.
Our gazes never leave each other, and it’s the most intimate of feelings. As Mason steps into the shower the spray envelopes him, and I watch the beads of water that glisten on his skin.
Mason reaches for me, pulling me against his chest. The warm water runs over both of us. I can feel the tension of the day leaving me, but a different kind of feeling is being created.
Leaning down, Mason kisses my neck with soft, exploring pecks. The tiny kisses send a shiver through me, and I sigh into his mouth as he returns the kisses from my neck to my mouth.
His kisses turn urgent and more possessive, tasting I’m sure of my desire. The shower is sending sensations through me, which are hard to describe. But the drumming of the water, the slick warmth of our bodies pressed together, and the taste of him, all make this a sensational experience.
Mason’s hands are everywhere, exploring and igniting feelings. His hands, oh, his hands! They are a language of love all of their own. He traces the curve of my spine, cups my hips, and with such lovingness that he amazes me. He finds every nerve ending and every secret spot.
Tangling his fingers in my wet hair, he tilts my head to where he needs it then kisses me again.
This time deeper, with his tongue mirroring mine.
We move together, a slow and sensual sway.
The shower walls are forgotten. The way he uses his thumbs, palms, and the backs of his fingers is an art form.
The heat of the water and the intimacy of the enclosed space, the sheer physical pleasure of being so utterly intertwined, are intoxicating.
By the time he has entered my body, I am ready to explode, and that is exactly what I do. I clench down on him so tightly that he is only able to do a few thrusts before he completes too.
When we finally emerge from the shower, we are both looking rosy and recovering our breaths. “That was something else,” I can’t help but tell Mason.
Mason grins, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “For God’s sake, don’t tell the brothers how quick I came. They’d call me the four-thrust wonder for the rest of my life.”
Throwing my head back laughing at his remark, I can imagine the brothers doing that. “I’ll never tell.”
“Okay, we’ll do round two after we eat. Let’s see if I can pass four thrusts the next time.” I can see Mason is enjoying the moment, and I laugh along with him.
“Yeah, we’ll test that out, Mason. Any time!” I respond.
“Any time?” Mason growls, and I finish throwing my clothes on before making a break for the bedroom door. I can’t help but throw over my shoulder, “Any time!”
After we had eaten what turned out to be a great steak, Mason handed me a box.
“This is for you to wear whenever you are out of the house or off the property. At the clubhouse, too. It is to show that you are mine, and I am yours. I’m very proud to give it to you, Cilla, and I hope you’ll be proud to wear it. ”
Opening the box, I quickly realize it is a cut. Taking it out carefully, I smile at the back where the club logo sits and states for all the world to see, ‘Property of Finger’. Turning it to look at the front, I giggle because a small patch states, ‘Seer’. “That’s Tracker’s touch, isn’t it?” I ask.
Looking at Mason, I can see he’s holding back a laugh, but it doesn’t last long. He throws his head back and laughs loudly. “It was, Cilla. It was.”
Heading back inside the house now we have finished eating and clearing away I notice Mason hesitating. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, everything’s fine.”
I know something is going on, and I’m going to find out what it is. “Bono, what is going on here?”
*We were only messing with him, and you know we’ve all been practicing being poltergeists*
“No, you didn’t. Tell me now you didn’t mess with Mason.”
*Umm, well, you see*
“You did, didn’t you? You played some kind of trick on him. Well, I’m telling you to stop that shit right now,” I snarl because I don’t like what I am hearing. They can mess with each other, but they leave my man alone.
*We were only playing with him* This time it is Tank that comments and he’s doing his best to look meek. As if I believe that!
“If you don’t stop, I’m going to get Pyro to light up your asses and then I’ll block Pyro so he’s all alone. Now get gone and see what other nasty things could happen to your club brothers.” They both disappear like a puff of smoke, and I clap my hands together like a job well done type of thing.
“What are you doing, Cilla?” Mason asks from the back door.
“Oh, I was talking to Bono and Tank. They’ll not bother you anymore, so let’s go to bed.”
Mason smirks. “Nearly the best offer I’ve had all day.” The look he gives me reminds me of the shower.
The next morning, I am back at work, and thankfully Jayne’s mother is going to be fine. They removed her appendix, and she is recovering with no known complications. Her coming back to work today means I can leave at my normal time.
I very much enjoy working here at the diner. Shelby is a great boss, and my co-workers work as hard as I do. Today I am working alongside Maisy, and Tracy is the cook of the day. Shelby has had to go to the bank, so we are covering for her behind the counter until she returns.
“I’ll stay out here serving, Maisy, and you stay behind the counter. We can work easily that way.”
“If you are sure, Cilla, because I do not mind serving.” Maisy looks at me earnestly, and I know she would happily serve if I wanted to be behind the counter.
I enjoy moving and I enjoy talking with the customers, particularly the regulars I’ve gotten to know. “Nope, I’m fine.”
The morning quickly moves along, and Shelby doesn’t return from the bank, which worries all of us.
I take my phone out from under the counter and make a call to Mason.
“I think something is wrong, Mason. Shelby went to the bank and hasn’t returned.
It’s not like her to just disappear. Would one of the prospects check the bank and Shelby’s house if needed? ”
Mason tells me not to panic as he’ll look into it. I relay that to Maisy and Tracy, and we carry on working until we hear from Mason again. I couldn’t even ask my boys to check if it was possible, as they were nowhere in sight this morning.
Twenty minutes later Shelby walks into the diner large as life, with no sign of distress or anything!
“Where the hell have you been?” Maisy snaps, which brings Shelby’s steps to a grinding halt.
“You’ve been missing for over two hours.
We have people looking for you. Where have you been?
You said you would only be forty minutes. ”
I side-eye Maisy, who is red in the face with anger. Shelby looks shell-shocked, then a guilty look crosses her face. “I’m sorry. I came out of the bank, and it was such a pleasant morning I wandered down Main Street and did some window shopping.”
“Window shopping? Freaking window shopping?” Oh, yeah, Maisy is losing it. I remain quiet because basically I’m the new girl and don’t want to get thrown under the bus for any reason.
“It’s no big deal, Maisy. I just needed a moment. You know, to ground myself again.” Shelby is speaking so calmly that I think that is winding Maisy up into a killing mode.
Maisy storms from behind the counter and stops in front of Shelby, near enough nose-to-nose with her, and her jaw is so tight that you can see a muscle jumping.
“Next time you want to go for a wander down freaking Main Street, let someone know. I’m done for the day.
I’m going home. Cilla, get your jacket. You can go home too and let Miss Roamaround do the rest of the shift. ”
Maisy grabs her purse from under the counter and storms out the front door of the diner. The few diners have watched all this go down with their mouths gaping open. Shelby still looks lost as to what has all gone on. Me? I’m minding my own beeswax and get back to work.
Shelby is behind the counter, and I am serving diners. The lunchtime crowd is coming in, and it keeps me busy. Bono is pestering me and I’m blocking him out the best I can. He’s becoming very annoying. “Bono, tell me after my shift. I can’t do anything at the moment, anyway. Just buzz off.”
*I will be back*
Geez, does he think he’s the Terminator now!
Scalpel walks into the diner, and I’m surprised to see he has Coin with him. Once they have taken a seat, I wander over with the coffee and fill them a cup each. “What can I get for you two today?”
“I’ll have today's special, Cilla. Thank you.” Coin gives me a smile, and I return it brightly. I like Coin as he is a sweetheart and I’m more than happy to see him out of his office.
Scalpel gives me an assessing look. I lift an eyebrow at him and stand quietly, waiting for his order. Coin slaps Scalpel’s shoulder, bringing him back from wherever his mind has wandered. “Sorry, Cilla. I’ll have the same, thank you.”
“Okay, I’ll be back shortly.”
I clear two tables, then grab the meals for Scalpel and Coin.
Placing them on the table, I quickly turn and leave them to eat in peace.
Time passes quickly when you are working through the lunchtime crowd, and as it thins out, I take a deep breath and think thankfully it will be time to leave soon.
Maisy going has left me working twice as hard, but I don’t hold it against her.
She was spitting mad, and I think underneath that feeling she had been more than a little worried.
Looking up when I hear the familiar high-pitched nasal sound, I don’t turn around because I know it is Lulu who has walked into the diner. Shelby looks at me and rolls her eyes, but we both turn sharply when we hear her snarl at Coin.
“Why have you not been back to purchase my building? You're telling me it’s not good enough for biker scum?”
Oh, no, that is not on. That is already making my blood start to simmer. I frown, turn, and walk over to Lulu. “Lulu, be quiet. Do not make yourself look disgusting by calling people names like you are on a school playground.”
“Shut your mouth and mind your business,” Lulu snaps while throwing her hands onto her hips.
“It is my business when you walk into this diner. I am a server here, and it is part of my job to make sure our diners are comfortable and unbothered…” Of course I am interrupted.
“Your job! It’s your job to serve, so go somewhere else and serve,” Lulu looks over my shoulder where I am sure Shelby is stepping over.
“I’ve told you before about coming in here and airing grievances against people that don’t want to play your games, Lulu.
This time I’m done with it. You are banned from the diner.
Go eat somewhere else from now on. And leave my diners and servers alone.
” Turning to walk away Shelby must think of something else she wants to say as she turns and continues, “You're calling them names, but hey, Lulu, let's be honest here. You are a nasty ass woman who just needs to get laid to loosen up…”
The diners burst into laughter when they hear Shelby’s comment.
Lulu blushes to her hair roots, and a diner behind me somewhere states loud enough for all to hear, “Nobody wants to get involved with Lulu. She’s not worth the trouble.
It’s why her husband up and left her during the night. He sneaked out and divorced her ass.”
Another diner adds, “Yeah, she’s selling up because she is an embarrassment to herself. Her mother, God rest her soul, was a fantastic and righteous woman. She would be ashamed of you, Lulu. You have shown the town how terrible you are.”
Lulu scoots out of the diner, and I turn to look at Coin who is grinning like a fool. Scalpel rests his chin in his hand with his elbow on the table. Neither is looking at all worried about the fracas that has just happened.
“Have the meal on me,” Shelby states as she walks away mumbling about Lulu being a pain in the town’s ass and she hopes she leaves town soon.
Arriving home, I make a drink of iced tea before kicking off my shoes and sitting at the kitchen table. I take a few sips, then drop the mental block. Immediately Bono slams into my mind.
*You have to tell Tracker that the supplier is in Bayswater Town. He is the one selling to the dealer here in town*
“Bono, I need to know more than that. You know Bayswater is twice the size of here, so you need to get me specifics. Street where he lives. His name. Things that Tracker can actually use to find him.” I sigh and take another sip of my drink.
Tank appears and shoves Bono out of the way, all the while giving me a huge smile as he does so. *We will get more information, Cilla*
“Thank you, Tank. Over and out,” I say the last tongue in cheek, and hope they get the message to leave me alone for a while. I don’t even know if that is the correct term to use, but I don’t care either.