Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 71632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
I stare at her, and say, “You told her you’d drop her if she tried to get in?”
“More or less.” Saskia shrugs. “I might be little, but she wasn’t getting past me, and I made sure she knew it.”
I keep staring at her, and then I burst out laughing.
Fuck me.
I’ve met some people in my time, but never anyone like the girl sitting across from me. She’s got a strength and sass that I simply haven’t experienced before, and I fucking like it.
“Mason,” Saskia says when I’ve stopped laughing. “Did you just ... laugh?”
I grunt, still grinning.
“Oh, my lord, he laughed!” she cries. “I’ve finally done it. I’ve finally cracked him.”
Chantelle giggles. “That’s my girl.”
I grunt and sip my beer. “Don’t get too excited. I do still laugh, I am a human.”
“You are?” Saskia gasps. “I wouldn’t have guessed it.”
“Smart ass,” I mutter.
She smiles at me, and it hits me right in the dick. “You’re welcome, friend.”
Fuck me.
She’s growing on me.
She really fucking is.
~*~*~*~
SASKIA
“Tell her she’s insane!” Chantelle cries, throwing her hands up. “Someone needs to get it into her head.”
“You’re fuckin’ insane,” Mason murmurs, kicking back in his chair, big booted feet spread, muscles on display under that dark tee, looking so good I’m having an extremely hard time focusing on anything else.
“I’m not insane,” I protest. “I’m just ...”
“Insane!” Chantelle says again. “He’s a douche. You should never speak to him again.”
“Gotta agree, lady,” Mason adds. “He’s a fuckwit.”
I huff. “I’m fully aware of his fuck-witty-ness. But I can’t help but feel guilty. It doesn’t make sense to you two heartless creatures, but it does to me. When he’s out and everything is good, I’ll be fine, I’ll move on.”
“Unlikely, considering he’s only using you now so you’ll pay off his—”
I shoot a look at Chantelle and she clamps her mouth shut. She didn’t realize I haven’t told Mason that part of the story.
Probably because I’m ashamed of it.
Probably because I’m an idiot for letting it happen.
“What are you payin’ off for him?” Mason asks, eyes pinning me.
“Nothing, just a few bills.”
He narrows his eyes. “Fuckin’ liar.”
“I’m not a liar!” I snap.
“Awkward,” Chantelle murmurs. “Speaking of awkward, I have to get going, I have work early in the morning.”
I look to her, eyes wide. “Don’t go leaving me now, sister. Look at him, he looks like he’s going to attack something. I could be murdered tonight and it’ll be all your fault.”
She laughs. “I hope he attacks you, in the best way, of course. Might knock some sense into you.”
I give her big eyes, and she laughs, standing. “Walk me out.”
I huff and follow her out the door, not looking at Mason. I don’t want to see the kind of look he’s giving me.
He’s probably pissed because he knows I’m lying. But, technically, it isn’t his business. But, also, he did tell me about his sister, which makes me feel kind of bad because he confided in me, and I’m lying to him.
It’s dark out front and a little chilly. I walk Chantelle to her car. She’s only had a couple of drinks, so she’s good to drive. Otherwise, I’d be calling her a cab. Friends don’t let friends drink and drive and all that. She climbs in, and I lean down, staring at her. “He’s going to grill me now, you know that, don’t you?”
She grins. “I hope so. Maybe he’ll knock some serious sense into you.”
“You’re awful.”
“Love you, chicky.”
She shuts the door and pulls away with a big wave. Cheeky bitch. I glance back at the house and exhale. I know I’m going to get questioned when I go back in there. I slowly start walking back in and stop at Mason’s bike, glancing down at it. So fucking beautiful. I run my fingers over the tank, over the seat, and admire the power and strength that radiates off it.
It’s him.
All over.
A hard body comes up behind mine, and for a moment, I startle. I didn’t hear anyone coming. A big hand goes around and grabs hold of the handlebar, effectively trapping me against the bike, but not in an aggressive way. Which tells me right away it’s Mason. My heart starts pounding, because what the hell is he doing? And why don’t I want him to stop? Feeling his hard body pressing against mine makes everything go to jelly. My skin prickles, and my body comes alive.
“You payin’ out some debt for that fucker?” he murmurs into my ear, making my body shiver.
“Yes,” I whisper.
I don’t know what’s happening right now.
Manipulation! He’s manipulating me with his manly powers.
And I like it.
A lot.
“Why?” he growls, hand moving from the handlebar and going to my belly, where he splays it out and presses me back against him.
I can’t breathe.
I want more.
“Because I feel guilty,” I whisper.
“Not good enough.”