London didn’t know how or when, but she had a sinking feeling that she knew who.
*
Mason sat listening as Malik Lewis, co-owner of Supreme Security Agency out of Chicago, explained his idea of how he, Mason, and Wiz could move forward with a partnership. Supreme provided personal security, as well as building security. The plan was to expand the agency to Atlanta, in which Mason would oversee the business and become part owner.
At about 6’8” and a retired Navy SEAL, Malik was a force to be reckoned with whether in the jungles of Iran or in the business world. He and Malik had met a few years back when they sat on a covert military joint task force. The group was comprised of retired and active duty military personnel. Becoming friends, they discussed one day going into business together. Malik started the security agency, but Mason had reenlisted, putting his security business plan on hold.
Mason toyed with the empty water bottle in his hand. The dream of owning a security firm was coming to fruition. Granted, he would have partners, but he couldn’t think of a better group of men to work with.
Malik leaned on the back of a guest chair in Cameron’s office. “So what do you think?” They had started out in the club’s security office where Malik had wanted to check on the installation his guys had done on the new security equipment.
Mason stood and stretched out his hand for a handshake. “Where do I sign?” He felt good about this decision. He would still oversee the security at Club Masquerade, while he continued to build upon the agency Malik and Wiz had already started.
“All right then. I’ll finish drawing up the paperwork. I liked your idea of pulling from Atlanta’s police department. We have former police officers on staff, but the majority of our security specialists have military backgrounds. I’ll be sending Travis and Stan to Atlanta at the end of the year. They’ll get your guys acclimated.”
“That sounds good. I know it’s going to take some time to get everything in order, and I welcome all the help I can get.”
They headed down the stairs.
“You and your family have a real nice set up here. We might have to look into creating a night club similar to this in Chi-Town.”
“Man, please. You have a one-year-old and another on the way. I doubt Natasha is going to go for you being pulled in yet another direction while she raises your kids.”
Malik chuckled. “Good point. I already had to agree to no overnight trips unless she and my daughter come along. So having another one will definitely limit some of my travels. Even more reason why I’m glad you’re onboard.”
Listening to the loving way Malik talked about his family had Mason thinking about London. Malik, who was just as overprotective of his family as Mason was of his, had been happily married for three years. Though Mason couldn’t see himself in the husband role, he respected any man who could make that type of commitment. Mason had met Natasha. As chief of staff of one of the largest hospitals in Chicago, she didn’t take mess from no one, especially Malik.
“Well, man, I’d better get going if I want to make my flight,” Malik said as they headed to the door that led to the employee parking lot. “But what about you? What’s going on with London? Wiz mentioned how riled up you’ve been lately. She must be pretty special.”
“Very special.”
“Does that mean that you’re ready to join the happily-married-husband club?”
Mason laughed, not answering the question. “I still can’t believe you’re married, and married to someone who could get you to stop cursing. Having a conversation with you that doesn’t include a swear word every other sentence is nothing short of a miracle.”
Back in the day, Malik was not only well known for his fight first and ask questions later mentality, but no one could string curse words together the way he could.
“What can I say? I married an angel. Not to say a curse word doesn’t slip out on occasion. When our daughter dropped the ‘F’ bomb last week while playing with her toys, Tasha went off on me. I thought for sure she was going to leave my ass. Heck, she was so pissed, I may never use the ‘F’ word again.”
Malik told a few more stories, clearly enthralled with his wife despite some of their misunderstandings. He and Wiz made marriage look easy, but Mason knew it wasn’t. He had always tried to keep drama out of his personal life by never getting too serious with a woman. But now that London was in his life, he was starting to rethink a lot of things that he was once against.
Mason glanced at his watch, noting that London would be getting off of work soon. He still had time to call and make reservations at one of their favorite restaurants to surprise her with a romantic dinner.
He and Malik said their good-byes, promising to touch bases in a few weeks about next steps. This is really going to happen. All of his goals and desires were manifesting and Mason felt as if his life was really coming together.
He trotted back up the stairs and grabbed his suit jacket just as his cell phone vibrated. Glancing at the screen he smiled when he saw London’s name.
“Hey, there. I was thinking about you. Wait. Shouldn’t you be on the air?”
“Mase.”
Mason stopped in the doorway of the security room. Worry rioted within him putting him on full alert at that one word. The shakiness in her voice had him holding his cell phone tighter.
“What’s wrong?”
“Someone … someone slashed my tires. All of them,” she sobbed, and Mason’s heart clenched. “I think he’s here.”
Mason knew immediately who she was referring to and flew back down the stairs. It was time to put a stop to this nonsense with Cory. “Where are you?”
“I’m still at work. I came outside to leave, but—”
“You’re still outside?” he yelled. “Baby, please tell me you’re inside of the building.”
“I am. I didn’t know what to do. One of my co-workers called the police and they’re on their way.”
“Good. Stay right there. I’m on my way.”
Chapter Eleven
Two hours later, Mason pulled London into his arms and kissed the top of her head. He never again wanted to feel the gut-twisting ache that stabbed his heart when she first called. The fear in her voice shook him to his core. Worrying about his siblings and parents was one thing, but his concern for her… Mason couldn’t even finish the thought. If anything ever happened to her, he would lose his shit.
He shook his head, willing the thought out of his mind. It had already taken him forever to admit his feelings, and he had no intentions of losing her.
After watching the security tapes at the television station, they were ninety-nine percent sure the person near her car, wearing a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, was Cory. Now all they had to do was find him.
“You need to eat.” Mason nudged London, prepared to force feed her if necessary. The little she’d told him that she had eaten for lunch wouldn’t be enough to feed a fly. He was glad she wasn’t still coughing, but he still heard a little wheeze rattle through her lungs whenever she spoke.
“I’m not hungry.” She shifted against him on the sofa, placing her feet on the floor. After they left the station, she agreed to return to his loft with him. “I can’t believe Cory did this to me. I just don’t understand. He’s never done anything like this before. Why trash my car now?”
Guilt stabbed Mason in the chest. He had no doubt that threatening Cory had prompted him to act out. Telling London about his encounter with her ex wasn’t going to be easy.
“Even when I saw him, he didn’t do anything. He only—”
“Whoa. Hold up. You saw him? Recently?” Unease crept through Mason. “When and where did you see him?”
Sighing, London leaned forward, her hands over her face and her elbows on her thighs. “I was leaving the gym in Brookhaven, the day before the pizza party. Cory was in the parking lot, saying that he was in town on business.”
“Dammit, London! And you didn’t think you should tell me?
The guy has been basically stalking you and—”
“And I haven’t seen him in months, Mason. Even when I saw him then, he didn’t do anything. He was as surprised to see me as I was to see him.” She dropped back on the sofa and folded her arms across her chest.
“And you believe that?” When she didn’t respond, all Mason could do was stare at her. He checked his temper, trying to understand. “After what this guy put you through, you honestly believe that he was in town on business? That he happened to be at the same gym at the same time as you? And this is all a coincidence?”
When she still didn’t reply, Mason stood, tension now turning to full-blown fury. When he arrived at the television station, she couldn’t stop shivering. Mason had feared she was going into shock. She was so shaken and withdrawn. Right now he didn’t want to say or do anything that would upset her more. But a war raged within him that she hadn’t thought it important to tell him about the encounter.
He moved to the floor to ceiling windows, his mind taking him back to that day. He remembered her sounding weird on the telephone, but thought it had something to do with her asthma. That had been the same day he blurted out ‘love you’.
He ran his hand over his mouth and down his chin. He couldn’t be mad at her for not saying anything since he hadn’t told her about his confrontation with Cory.
Mason turned from the window. Instead of reclaiming his seat, he sat on the coffee table in front of the sofa, facing her.
“It’s my fault,” she started. “I should have talked to him, asked why he’s been harassing me. I should have—”
“I saw Cory at Club Masquerade a few days ago. He was sitting at the bar staring at you and some of your co-workers.” Mason considered not telling her the rest, but he had to. “And I might have threatened to hurt him if he came anywhere near you.”
London slowly unfolded her arms and leaned forward, their faces only inches apart. Mason swallowed. If looks could kill, he would have shriveled into a mound of ashes right then and there. He had only seen her angry a few times, but not like this. Not when he could feel the fury bouncing off of her.
“Might have? You might have threatened him? You saw him and you didn’t think it important to tell me?” Realization showed in her eyes. “Is that why you’ve been acting so weird? Did you know he was going to come after me?”
Mason narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean come after you? Are we talking about more than the tires here? Did you see him today?” He gripped the edge of the table. “Please don’t lie to me, London.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I would never lie to you, Mase. Never!”
He almost said omission was the same as lying, but kept his mouth shut. He hadn’t been any better.
“And no, I haven’t seen Cory since that day in the gym’s parking lot.” She wrapped her arms around her midsection. “What if … what if he would have done something to me while I was in the car? You should have warned me that you and he had words. I know it was naïve, but I wanted to believe he was only in town on business.”
“I know.” Mason rubbed his hands down her bare arms.
“I’m scared, Mason. If Cory could slash all of my tires, who knows what he could do to me.” Her voice waivered.
“Aw, baby.” Mason joined her on the sofa and pulled her close. He had wondered when she was going to finally break down. She’d been barely responsive at the television station, only responding with one word answers. He had expected to find her in tears when he arrived, but instead she was jumpy and quiet.
Mason pulled her onto his lap. “I will break every bone in Cory’s body if he ever puts his hands on you. I will never let him hurt you. Never.”
“But what are we going to do now?”
“We’re going to find him.”
“Let’s let the police handle him. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you or you ended up in trouble trying to help me with this Cory situation.”
Mason cupped her face. “Listen. Nothing’s going to happen to me. But I have no respect or tolerance for men who bully women. Cory is twice your size. I can’t even wrap my brain around how he can live with himself knowing that he’s terrorizing you.”
“I know you, Mase. Promise me you’ll let the cops handle this. Cory’s not worth it.”
“He’s screwing with your head. As long as he’s out there, showing up unexpectedly, you’ll never have peace. And you’re too important to me for me to let this continue.” Mason kissed the tip of her nose and ran his fingers through her short hair.
“He hasn’t hurt me.”
“And I want to keep it that way. When someone hurts you, they hurt me, and he’ll pay with his life if he ever hurts you.”
“Hearing you say stuff like that scares me more than Cory ever could.”
Okay, he wouldn’t say it again, but Mase meant every word. Cory was a dead man if he ever put his hands on her.
*
London woke the next morning, cocooned within Mason’s strong arms, his steady snore interrupting the otherwise quiet room. Face-to-face with his smooth, muscular chest, she wanted to reach out and touch him, but refrained. Just because she was awake, didn’t mean that he had to be.
She readjusted her head on his arm, but wasn’t able to move the rest of her upper body thanks to his tight hold. She wasn’t going to complain. Last night she appreciated him and his strength more than she cared to admit. For years she had taken care of herself, but having someone to lean on for a change was nice. Real nice.
She glanced up, using the moment to admire Mason’s strong features. Her gaze flowed over his smooth, dark skin stretched over his broad nose and the ridge of his cheekbones. She went lower to his full, yummy lips. Lips that had explored her entire body, awarding her with a type of pleasure that every woman should experience at least once in their life.
The thought brought heat to London’s cheeks. Their sex life had exceeded her expectations and she had experienced positions with Mason that she never thought to try with another man. Not that she had been with many men.
She continued her perusal of him. Though handsome in a nondescript way, he embodied everything male. Big, strong, and protective, the same qualities he possessed when they were younger. Asleep he seemed so harmless, but she knew better. Not only did he have the power to break her heart, but he had the power to demolish Cory.
Early in her adult life, London rarely let a man get close, choosing to date sporadically. As she got older, she felt more alone in the world, wanting … no, needing to have someone to come home to. London wanted someone to call her own and then she met Cory.
Disgust settled in her mouth at the thought of him. How had she chosen so wrong? She’d be lying to herself if she said that she hadn’t noticed early signs of his controlling nature as well as the way he sometimes disrespected her. But she still couldn’t believe he hated her enough to slash her tires.
“Hey, beautiful,” Mason said, his voice raspy from sleep as he stared down at her.
“Hi.” She gazed into his eyes and lifted her palm to his cheek, his day-old scruff tickling her hand. All the love she felt for him was suddenly overwhelming. This sweet, thoughtful, generous man had been by her side since she returned to Atlanta. Between him and his siblings, she felt so loved. For the first time in a long time, London felt like she was finally a part of a family.
Mason touched an area above her right eye. “What are you thinking so hard about? You have creases in your forehead.”
“I’m thinking about how much I love you. I’m also thinking about how much I love Harp and Cam. You guys have pulled me into your circle and—”
“You have always been a part of our circle. And before you hit me, I’m not going to say you’re like a little sister. Because if you were my sister, I wouldn’t be able to touch you like this.”
His large hand slid slowly down the front of her body, cupping one of her breasts. Outlining the tip of her nipple with his thumb caused it to bud immediatel
y.
London sucked in a breath and gripped his bicep when he increased the pressure. Her sex suddenly throbbed with need. After a few minutes of getting her worked up, his hand seared a path down her abdomen and went lower.
“I also wouldn’t be able to touch you like this.” He slipped a finger inside of her and then another.
A wave of heat shot through London’s body and she whimpered, gripping his arm tighter as she arched her back.
“Mase.” Her heart pounded against her ribcage while his masterful fingers glided in and out of her. She rode his hand, rocking with each stroke as his touch sent jolts of pleasure shooting through her body. “Mason,” she whimpered.
“I’m right here, baby.” He rolled her onto her back, not breaking contact. His fingers worked feverishly as he captured her mouth in a hungry kiss. Lips so soft and coaxing, lust shot through her like a speeding bullet, hitting her right in the core. She wanted this to last longer, but her self-control was no match against the power of his teasing touch.
Waves of ecstasy throbbed through her body as he brushed a kiss along her cheek, her neck, and then down to her shoulder. He moved back up and nibbled on her neck. Pleasure, pure and explosive swirled within her and she couldn’t hold on as his fingers continued pleasuring her.
Involuntary tremors began and an orgasm ripped through her like a Tsunami crashing against the shore, washing out everything in its way. Gulping for air, she loosened her hands from Mason’s huge biceps and dropped her arms to the bed, trying to catch her breath.
He nipped at her top lip and then her bottom one, not caring that he had just pulled every bit of energy out of her. Not giving her a chance to form her next thought, he positioned himself between her thighs and inched into her moist heat. She moaned as he filled her completely.
Mason started moving in and out of her as he captured her mouth in the sweetest kiss. London placed her hand behind his head and pulled him closer, passion engulfing her as they moved in perfect harmony. Their moans mingled, filling the quietness in the room. God, she loved this man and the pleasure he always gave her.
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