Chapter 19

Leah

The day drags by like a snail in molasses. The dress I bought is the only thing I found worth spending money on in the ten million gazillion stores I’ve been to. I did finish my audiobook though, so that’s a win. Then my stupid phone died, and I realized I didn’t have my charger with me.

What’s worse? I couldn’t get an Uber without my phone app, so I had to go around asking people if anyone had a charger I could borrow. No luck there. Everyone I asked acted like I was a weirdo with a disease they didn’t want to catch.

After an hour of searching, I finally found a café employee who was nice enough to let me use their charging station.

Not wanting to be a big pain in the butt, I only charged my phone enough to order a ride and thanked them with my last ten dollars, which I put in the tip jar. As bad as I wanted to check all my notifications, I was still in the red for my battery and didn’t want to risk draining it dead again.

Unlocking the suite door, it swings open hard, and I stumble inside, running smack into a big body. I drop my purse and dress on the floor as I scream. “Holy shit, you scared me!” What’s Mason doing back already? “You nearly gave me a heart attack!” Slapping his arm, I clutch my chest. “For real. I think I’m stroking out.”

He doesn’t say a word. Silence stretches between us.

“You didn’t answer any of my calls or texts.”

I don’t want him to think I left him on read – ahem, like he did me —but I also don’t want him to think I’m at his beck and call either. “My cell died.”

His brow pinches together as he stares at me. “I was worried.”

“Sorry.” Wait. Why am I apologizing? “It’s been a sucky day.”

He grabs my hand and leads me into the suite. When he drops into a chair, he pulls me onto his lap. “What made it sucky?”

Shrugging, I feel like a brat for even saying anything. “Meh. I don’t think California is for me.”

He huffs a laugh. “It’s not for me either.” Running his hand in circles on my back, his touch soothes me. “Did you find a dress?”

“Yes. I got the purple one.”

“Mmmm.”

He knows which one I mean because he was online earlier when I was showing off the choices. The instant I saw his profile pop up, I nearly choked on my persona and wished it was just him online with me. “Does it really not bother you?”

“Does what not bother me?”

“The Daisy Ren stuff.”

“Not at all. I like watching. I like knowing others are watching you, too.”

Watch, but not touch . “Are you… I mean, have you ever shared a woman with someone else before?”

“No.”

“Would you?” My heart gallops nervously, waiting for his response.

Mason stops rubbing my back. “No.”

I don’t know what answer I was expecting. “But you’d let them watch me?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Have you ever been watched?”

Our gazes lock when I look over my shoulder. I hold my breath.

“Only by you,” he finally says.

That’s hard to believe. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. I don’t normally put myself out there. But lately, I’ve been wanting to test my limits.”

“With me?”

“Yeah. With you.”

I don’t know how to feel about that. “Explain what you mean, Mason.” I’m all for exploring kinks, but we should at least be on the same page about them first.

“I’ve had to walk the line my whole life, Leah. Do what I’m told. Act like I’m expected. Speak when spoken to. My sex life…” He shakes his head. “It’s been lackluster at best.”

I can’t imagine that. This man fucks like a god.

“My enjoyments always fall flat because they’re considered perversions.”

My thighs clench a little. “What do you like?”

“Voyeurism.” He pulls my collar down and kisses the flesh of my shoulder, where he knows it’ll make me melt. “Exhibitionism too.” He runs his hands over my tits, kneading them. “And I love knowing other people want what I have.”

My breath flutters with my exhale. “Do you mean me?”

“Do I have you, Leah?” Mason pulls my hair to the side and continues licking and nipping my neck, driving me fucking wild. “Because I don’t think I do. Not yet. But I will.” He unbuttons my jeans and tugs them down. “Fuck, I’ve needed you all goddamn day.”

This isn’t the first time he’s said something that sounds loaded with other meanings. I’m probably hearing things, right? Overthinking it? I mean, we just met. We’re having a fun fling. There’s nothing serious between us.

So why does it feel like this is bigger than a luxurious hookup?

Pull yourself together, Leah. You’re being ridiculous .

Mason’s hand sinks between my thighs. It’s the distraction I need.

“At home,” I whisper as he rubs my clit with his finger. “There are a couple of sex clubs. We could…” Fuck that feels good. “Go sometime. Together. If you want.”

He pauses.

“Don’t stop, X.” I wiggle my bottom and can feel his hard dick under me.

“Mason,” he growls in my ear, sending goosebumps down my arms. “Call me Mason, not X.”

That line I tried to draw between us, to keep us a fantasy, vanishes with our next kiss.

This man’s touch is transcendent. My body can’t not respond to it. I grind against his hand as he plays with my pussy. “Did you think about me today, Mason?”

“I’m never not thinking about you.” Before I’m able to ask another question, he lifts me off his lap and carries me to the bedroom. “I can’t get you out of my goddamn head, Princess.”

He might not like being X anymore, but I love being his Princess. “I’m truly sorry that I worried you. I didn’t leave you on read or anything on purpose.” I’m not that spiteful.

“I’m sorry I didn’t answer your text this morning,” he says, surprising me. “Because the answer is yeah, I want to be official. Public. I want the world to know you’re all mine.”

I’m not sure how this is happening so fast, and it’s terrifying. But I don’t want to be alone anymore and putting my heart at risk of getting broken is better than putting it in a jar to keep safe. I’d rather Mason shatter me to pieces than never play with me at all.

Besides, what if this turns out to be the wildest love story of the century?

Okay, I really, really, really need to stop reading so many fast-burn romance novels. It’s giving me way too many ideas.

Mason lifts my chin with his finger. “You have that extra crinkle between your eyes again.”

I rub my forehead. “No, I don’t.”

He kisses me gently, leaning me back on the bed. “I had some really great news today.”

I run my fingers through his hair and wrap my legs around his waist. “Oh yeah? What was it?”

“I sold my company and made a billion.” He kisses my neck and works his way down my throat.

My brain short circuits. “Wait. Did you just say a billion?”

“Mmm hmm.” Like that’s no big fucking deal, he keeps kissing me while sliding his hand up my t-shirt to palm my tits.

“A billion with a b.”

“Mmm hmm.” He sucks one of my nipples into his mouth.

I slap his head. “A billion ?”

He bites my hardened nipple. “With a b. We just established that.”

“Oh my god, Mason!” I squeeze his cheeks and pry him off my boob. “That’s amazing! Congratulations!”

With his face squished until he has fishy lips, he smiles at me. “Thanks.”

I smash my mouth to his.

He laughs and has finally lost that sadness in his eyes. He looks younger, happier, even lighter than he had just moments ago.

“Mason!” I scream at him. “Holy shitballs, we have to celebrate!” I wiggle out from under him and climb off the bed. “What do you want? My treat. This is incredible. I’m so proud of you !”

He sits on the bed, running a hand through his dark hair. “I just made a billion and you want to treat me ?”

“Hells yes, I want to treat you!” I grab his shoulders and shake him. “Oh my god . How are you so calm? I’d be bouncing off the walls if I were you. Shit, I feel like I’m bouncing off the walls for you!”

He laughs again. “How about I treat you instead?”

“Nope. That’s not how this works. You should be celebrated, not me.”

He snags my hand and yanks me against his chest so he can play with my tits again.

“Ugh.” I smack the top of his head. “You’re incorrigible.”

“And you’re all I’ve thought about today.” He runs his hands up and down my back. “You drove me wild in that dressing room earlier. Knowing all those men were fantasizing about being the lucky fuckers to take you out in that new dress, when it’s me who gets the honor.” He unclasps my bra. “I want to fuck you in that dress. On live camera.”

My heart stumbles to a stop. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah.” He yanks my panties down. “May I?”

May he fuck me on camera during a live? I’m not sure about that. “I have to think about it, Mason. That’s a big step.” And I think he’s still flying high on his good news, which is making him not think clearly.

The thrill of doing something so risqué gives me goosebumps. I absolutely love the idea of putting on a show for others to watch. To be the spotlight in the center of this man’s attention and affection? To let others enjoy watching him fuck me until I come, screaming through a wild, vicious, head spinning orgasm?

It sounds amazing, but… “I don’t think we’re there yet.”

I sense Mason closing up. The last thing I want is for him to think I’m kink shaming him. I have a feeling his other women probably have, and I’m not like them.

“I’ve never exposed my whole body on camera before.” I confess. “And I’ve never had sex on camera.”

“But you did it with me that first night,” he argues, confusion in his tone. “You masturbated with me as X.”

“That was the first time I ever did something like that.”

Mason’s eyes widen. He swipes a hand over his mouth. “You’re serious?”

“As a heart attack.” But I don’t think he believes me.

His dark brow arches in challenge. “Why did you pick that night then?”

“Honestly?” I shrug. “I was hung up on fantasizing about fucking you, Mason. That night I left your condo, you were all I could think about. All I could talk about in the restaurant, too. When X showed up online that night, wearing pants that looked just like yours, and had a nice couch like yours, I totally imagined it was you I was getting off with, not X.”

Why does it feel like I’ve somehow cheated on him? Wow, my braining is complicated.

Standing naked between his legs, I feel like I’m still shrouded in a mask because I’ve had a double life all along. I feel like I’m more Daisy Ren than Leah with Mason. We’re all sex. All fun. All fantasy.

And he’s trying to take that part of me, of us, to the next level.

I’m not sure we’re ready for that.

It’s one thing to do it in a club. There are no recording devices allowed there. We’d have anonymity. But the internet is another monster. It stays forever. It could ruin us both.

No. It could ruin Mason.

One slip, one detail, one wrong move, and his identity could be revealed.

With that in mind, how on earth are we supposed to date at all? How can we make anything official without me losing my job or him being laughed at and looked down on for dating me?

As he sits on the edge of the bed, still in a three-piece suit, I’m suddenly very aware of how different we are.

He just said he made a billion dollars today.

I used my last ten bucks to get my stupid phone to charge.

He’s a somebody.

I’m a nobody.

Yet, I feel this overpowering need to protect him. And when he stares at me like he is right now, like I’m the only person in existence, I forget it isn’t true.

I want this man. For now. For however long I can.

“I’m really proud of you, Mase.” Leaning in, I kiss him with every fiber of my being. From my toes to my roots.

The kiss is long, steady, strong, and possessive.

“Fuck, Leah,” he groans when I finally pull away. His gaze drifts over my face but doesn’t lower to the rest of my body. “Kiss me like that again, Princess.”

I give him what he asks for.

When I pull away again, I’m the one left breathless. “I’ve never kissed anyone like that in my life.” It’s only after his eyes widen and brow furrows when I realize I just said that out loud. Stepping back, I tuck my hair between my ears and clear my throat. “Wow, that was deep.”

Stop talking, Leah, you sound like an idiot .

Mason stands up and slowly closes the space between us. “I hold everything close to my chest.” Sliding his hand under my hair, he grips the nape of my neck. “I took the biggest risk of my life a few months ago and have felt like a ticking time bomb ever since.” He cups my cheek with his other hand. “Today, everything fell into place. My best friends and I just had the biggest payout—better than we’ve ever dreamed of.”

It’s hard to swallow past the lump in my throat.

“And the first thing I wanted to do was share my news with you, Leah.” His eyes get these little crinkles on the side with his tight smile. “I realized today how very alone I’ve been. And when I couldn’t get a hold of you, it was all I could do to not rip the city apart to find you. I’ve been pacing this room for two hours, scared to death that you might not even come back. Then I thought of how crazy it is that we’ve clashed like this since the first moment I saw you.”

My heart spins in circles.

Mason runs his thumb along my cheek, his tone softening. “On a fucking whim, because I craved you so badly, I asked you to come be with me and here you are.”

“Here… I am.” Is it getting hot in here? I think I’m having a hot flash or something.

“I don’t have anyone else in my life to share happy news with.”

My dumb heart grows a fat, pouty bottom lip and tears up.

“You’re happy for me.” His four words land like an anvil. It’s as if the concept is so foreign, he doesn’t know how to process it.

“Of course, I’m happy for you.” I pull his hand off my cheek and kiss it. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He shakes his head with this look of complete confusion on his face. His breaths build in his chest, getting heavier with every exhale. His jaw clenches. His shoulders tense. He looks like he’s going to shatter.

“Mason.” How can having someone be happy for him make Mason this emotional? “Jesus, what the hell happened to you?”

We stare at each other for what feels like an eternity.

“You,” he finally says, brushing the hair from my face. “ You happened to me.”