by Bella Jewel
My blood drains out of my face.
And I reach for her pulse.
It isn’t there.
I don’t realize I’m screaming until Georgiana comes running into the room. I start CPR, but I know, I already know, deep in my fucking chest, my mother is gone.
“No,” Georgiana cries. “No!”
“Call an ambulance!” I scream, pumping my mother’s chest. “Call it.”
Come on, Mom.
Please.
Fucking come on.
Don’t do this to me.
Please.
“Are you okay?” Saskia asks, and I’m jerked from the awful fucking memory of the day I lost my mother.
“Yeah, I just don’t like thinkin’ of it. She was sick for a long time, but I didn’t think it had gotten that bad.”
“It isn’t your fault, Mason.”
My eyes swing to hers and hold them. Nobody has ever said that to me. Not that it fucking matters; I’ll always blame myself for not being there, for not taking that extra step and getting the help she needed, for believing she was okay with me when she was far too gone for me to handle. But hearing it makes something ache inside me.
“Mason?” Saskia says, rolling to her side and staring at me.
“Not much you can say that’ll make me think it ain’t my fault, but thanks.”
She opens her mouth to say something and then shuts it. She’s a smart girl, knows when to push, knows when not to push. A lot of women don’t have that trait, they’ll argue and push until you lose your shit. Saskia is smart. She knows when to be quiet. She’s even fucking smarter when she changes the subject.
“I have to know ...”
I glance at her. “You’re goin’ to ask, so stop hesitatin’.”
“The girl ... you had tied up ...”
“Not my girlfriend.”
She snorts. “Calm down, that wasn’t what I was going to ask.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Get to the point, sweetheart.”
She smiles. “I like it when you’re nice.”
“Saskia,” I warn. “You’re takin’ the train on a whole different route right now.”
She giggles. And I fucking like how it sounds.
“Right,” she says, still smiling. “Is that like a kink of yours? Tying up women? All day?”
I shrug. “She does whatever she thinks will keep me hangin’ around. She’s a wild spark in bed, like’s all that kind of shit, so I go along with it.”
Saskia bites her lip and frowns a little.
“What?” I ask her.
“Nothing.”
I grin, and her eyes drop to my lips. “Wouldn’t be a little jealous, would you?”
She grunts, but her cheeks flush. “Hell no, I’d have to like you to be jealous.”
My grin gets bigger. “Both know you like me.”
“As if,” she huffs. “I like you about as much as I like getting dog poop on my shoe. It’s extremely inconvenient.”
I chuckle, and she can’t help it, she breaks out in a grin.
“Okay,” she says.
“Okay, what?”
“I like you. Just a little.”
I roll over, grabbing her and bringing her down on top of me. When her face is only inches from mine, I say, “Always knew you did.”
She snorts. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
I flip her again, pinning her with my body, giving her a hungry look as my dick hardens between her legs.
“Guess what time it is?”
She blinks, and whimpers when I thrust against her. “What?”
“Time for round two.”
And round two fucking smashes round one outta the park.
Fuck yeah.
~*~*~*~
SASKIA
I only spent one day at my apartment this week, and that was purely because I felt guilty not being there. I started just after ten this morning, because technically I don’t have to be here today except to do a couple of basic things. Still, I needed the distraction. After everything that has been happening, I haven’t been able to think clearly, and being alone doesn’t help that.
Chantelle and I are going out with the biker babe girls tonight for drinks.
I can’t wait for that.
Girl time. Just what I need.
Mason told me they questioned the man from the other night and, apparently, he only came after me because he heard I was Enzo’s girlfriend, but it’s hard to know if he’s telling the truth or not. Malakai says he’s not convinced I’m out of danger, and I need to be a hundred percent diligent on making sure I’m careful about where I go and what I’m doing, and most of the time, I have someone with me. Though, right now, I don’t want someone with me all the time. So, I threw down, just a little, and they agreed so long as I keep the door locked when I’m here, I can be here alone.
It’s something, I guess.
I start my usual morning clean. Mason isn’t here, and by the looks, hasn’t been all night. I can’t help that my mind wanders to where he might have gone. I know he spends a lot of time at the club, but is that purely just to party and sleep with those girls they call club whores? Or is it because he just doesn’t like being here alone? I shrug it off, either way, and get to work.
I go straight up to the bedrooms. I’ll wash the sheets today. The weather is fine, so they’ll dry quickly outside. I go to Mason’s room first and open the door. It’s unlocked, so I’m completely shocked and taken back when I step in and see the same girl who was tied up on the bed in there again. Only she’s not tied up. She’s wearing lingerie and is sprawled across his bed, looking so fucking perfect it hurts my eyes to stare at her.
I don’t even know her fucking name.
“What the hell?” she snaps. “He told me today was a free day!”
He told her that?
Something strange clenches my chest, something unfamiliar, something I haven’t felt before. I rub my chest, confused. Why do I care if she’s here for Mason? I’m not even fully over Enzo, so why the hell do I feel like she just slapped me? Am I ... jealous? No. I can’t be. We’re just having fun. That’s all. Nothing more. Nothing less. I don’t care about him. Right?
No.
I pull myself together.
“Sorry to burst your bubble, sweetheart, but I’m here every day. And, last time I checked, he’s not here. I guess he didn’t get the memo.”
She scowls at me. “He’s aware I’m coming, it’s just you weren’t meant to be here.”
Did he say that?
God dammit, why is my body tingling and my chest clenching?
Stupid, stupid body.
Snap out of it.
“Well, I am here. And I have work to do.”
“Do it elsewhere,” she spits at me.
Damn. I hate this woman. Really, really dislike her and her perfect ass and tits.
Fuck her.
“I would do it elsewhere, only you’ve planted your plastic ass on the sheets I need to wash.”
“Wash them another day!” she barks.
I shrug. “If you want to be fucked in the same sheets he fucked me in only two nights ago, by all means, I won’t stop you.”
Her mouth drops open. And for a moment, she just stares at me. “He wouldn’t fuck you. Look at you, you’re like a pretty boy.”
Well, I’ve been called worse things in my life.
Pretty boy isn’t so bad.
I cross my arms. “Ask him, I’m sure he’ll tell you. After all, you’re not his girlfriend, you’re just a woman he fucks because you can’t take a hint.”
Her nose scrunches up. “I can guarantee I fuck him a thousand times better than you ever could, little girl.”
“I prefer pretty boy, and I’m sure you do. Didn’t stop him riding me in that bed, over and over ...”
“Get out!” she screeches.
“Gladly, but make sure you keep the comforter on when you have sex with him. We exchanged a lot of bodily fluids.” I scrunch my nose up
. “You know what I mean? The man is insatiable.”
Her face goes red, and she shakes a little. It makes me feel a whole lot better about myself. For a second, anyway.
“I don’t believe you. Last time we were together, he told me he couldn’t stand you, that you were, and I quote, ‘annoyin’ as fuck and he wouldn’t have you here if you didn’t do such a good job’. His words, not mine.”
Asshole.
He probably did say that, too.
Hell, he’s probably fucking us both for fun.
Seems like his style. Still, I’m not letting this bitch get to me.
Hell no.
I stare at her, and she grins, like she’s won.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, “was that supposed to upset me?”
She scowls.
“Enjoy those crusty old sheets ... Wait, what’s your name? He’s never mentioned it.”
She huffs, and I turn and walk out.
I move down to my room and step inside, closing the door for a moment. God damn. That hurt in a really strange way. I’ve never felt that feeling before. I’ve felt outrage, and raw hurt, and anger, especially when I found Enzo in bed with my sister, but I’ve never actually felt jealousy. I’ve never had a reason to be jealous. I was with Enzo for so long, and until he became a giant dick, he never gave me any reason to be jealous.
Before him, I don’t know, I guess I was always just confident and didn’t care.
So, why the fuck do I care now?
I decide fuck Mason, I’ll clean his house tomorrow.
I’m having a day off. He won’t fire me. I do too good of a job, remember?
I pull out a bathing suit, text Chantelle, and tell her we’re going to the lake before going out tonight, and then I gather some sexy as hell clothes to go out in and turn, strutting down the stairs and to the front door.
As I open it, Mason is just pulling his keys out. We come face to face, and his eyes drop to my clothes and he frowns. “Where are you goin’?”
“I’m having a day off. If you fire me, so be it. You’ll regret it, and we both know it. I need a break.”
I go to step past him, but his hand curls around my upper arm. “Not a good idea goin’ out alone.”
“I won’t be alone, I’ll be with Chantelle, at the lake, with a shit load of hot men and this gorgeous red bikini I’ve been dying to wear out.”
Mason’s eyes flash and he leans down. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Mason?”
We both turn and see skanky Barbie standing at the top of the stairs, looking so hot even I want to lick her, and I can’t stand the stupid cow. Mason’s eyes widen, and that feeling slams into my chest again. Fuck. Fuck this. “Petra?”
Ugh. Even her name is sexy.
“Oh, I forgot, your little girlfriend is here for you. I wasn’t supposed to be here, so she informed me. So, I’m going to go out and let you enjoy that.”
I snatch my arm out of his and walk out.
Not looking back.
Dammit.
Fuck.
~13~
SASKIA
Chantelle giggles, and I glare at her.
“Why the actual fuck are you giggling at me?”
“You’re jealous. I can’t believe it. I’ve seen every emotion from you, but never jealousy. It’s adorable.”
“I’m not jealous!” I snap.
Oh. But I am. So jealous. Insanely jealous. Fuck.
“Oh, honey, you are. You really are. Nothing to be ashamed of, I get jealous all the time.”
“How?” I mutter. “With knockers like those, you have nothing to be jealous about in other women.”
She looks down and wiggles her boobs. “True. But still, we’re women, it happens. It’s a good thing, though.”
“How?” I cross my arms across my far flatter chest than hers.
“It means you’re getting over Enzo. If you were still fully in love with him, you wouldn’t care about what Mason thinks. You certainly wouldn’t have slept with him, which by the way, you still owe me details on.”
I roll my eyes. But I think she makes a point, about the Enzo bit, anyway. My feelings in regard to that are all over the place. I’m still really hurt, but at the same time, cutting him off and stepping away has helped, but it’s also coming to the realization that he’s a dick and, because of that, I don’t want anything to do with him. The images still haunt me, though, and hurt far more than I’d like.
But Mason sure helps.
“He’s a rebound,” I point out.
That’s logical, right?
Mason is a rebound, probably why I’m jealous. They say you get attached to rebounds for a little bit before moving on.
Chantelle shrugs. “Maybe, but what a gorgeous rebound to have. You should be having fun with it.”
“How can I when he’s probably at home right now tying Petra up and fucking her hard?”
Chantelle giggles again. “Gosh, you really do have it bad.”
I huff and throw my hands up. “How do I make it stop? It sucks ass, Chan. I don’t like it, not one bit.”
“You can’t make it stop. That’s the joy of feelings, they do whatever they want. What you can do, though, is give him something in return to be a little envious about.”
“Like what? He can have whoever he wants. I highly doubt he’d be envious over anything to do with me.”
Chantelle raises her brows. “Men always want what they can’t have. Those women are easy to him. When we’re out tonight, and we know they’re all going to be there, act like you don’t know him. Have fun. Be wild. Laugh out loud. And most importantly, flirt your head off with other men. I promise you, by the end of the night, he’ll be all ‘Petra who?’”
“That seems childish,” I point out.
She grins and nods. “Oh, it absolutely is, but it’ll work. I promise he’ll have you over his shoulder and strutting out with you by the end of the night. Then he’ll probably fuck your brains out. I want those details, too.”
I lean back on my elbows, staring at a group of hot men diving into the lake.
“I don’t know if I have it in me to play games. I’m a realist. Down to earth ...”
Chantelle punches me in the arm. “Ow!” I cry. “What was that for?”
“We’re women, we were born to play games. Trust me, just this once. I promise you, you won’t regret it.”
I rub my arm and glare at her. “Fine, but if it backfires, you better find me some really really hot men to get over it with.”
“Done! And speaking of really, really hot men. Any of those bikers still single?”
“Boston, I think.”
“Mmmm,” she murmurs, rubbing her chin. “Boston and Chantelle. I like it. Introduce me.”
I grunt. “You’ve been introduced, you ho, and Boston is a nice guy. Silent and deadly. Not really your type. You’re far too loud.”
She grins. “Challenge accepted.”
“Oh, lord. This is going to be an interesting night.”
“I can knock the socks off any man, you just watch. Boston and I will be having a wild night tonight.”
“He might not like big titties.”
She giggles and wiggles her boobs again, catching the attention of every man in a twenty-yard vicinity. “Isn’t that right, boys?”
A few grin.
Good lord.
The girl is completely unstoppable.
Tonight should be ... interesting.
~*~*~*~
SASKIA
“Girlllll,” Scarlett says, launching out of her chair and rushing over to me. “You look so freakin’ hot. Where did you get that dress?”
I glance down at the very tight, very clingy, very short black dress Chantelle told me I had to wear. Apparently, my sexy hot dress was absolutely not sexy and hot and she threatened to murder me if I even attempted to walk out the door in it. She then insisted on doing my hair, and make up, and now I look like a Barbie doll.
Only a s
hort one.
“Chantelle forced it upon me.” I grin, sitting down at the table and waving to the other girls.
“I didn’t force her,” Chantelle says, sitting down. “Hello, ladies, I’m Chantelle. You three are freaking gorgeous and I’m in love with you.”
The three girls laugh.
“Amalie,” Amalie says, smiling.
“Charlie.” Charlie grins.
“Scarlett.”
Chantelle’s eyes light up. “I know who you are! Eeek! I have tickets to your show in December. I can’t freaking wait. I am such a huge fan. Lord, you have no idea. Are you excited about going on tour again?”
Scarlett frowns. “No. Not really. I’m sure the press will have another field day with me.”
“Lifestyles of the rich and famous,” I point out.
“Gosh, if I stare at you all night, don’t be alarmed,” Chantelle gushes. “Can I get your signature?”
Scarlett laughs. “Sure.”
Chantelle hands her the very expensive purse she’s holding, after then pulls out a sharpie. Scarlett laughs. “You come prepared.”
“I’ve been waiting to meet you, you have no idea! This is amazing. I can’t believe nobody is over here swarming your table.”
“She’s already been swarmed three times since we’ve been in here.” Amalie laughs softly. “Hence why we’re hiding in this booth.”
Scarlett rolls her eyes.
I glance over quickly at the group of bikers sitting at the table not far from us. They’re all chatting, but Mason’s eyes are on me, lingering. Yeah. He noticed the dress. He also noticed I have yet to acknowledge him. Childish? Perhaps. Fun? Oh, yes.
“Mason looks like he wants to eat you alive, girl.” Charlie laughs. “Check out that stare.”
“We’re not interacting with Mason tonight,” Chantelle says, pinching my arm so I look away.
Scarlett claps. “Ohhh, do share.”
Chantelle leans in, and even though I shove her, she doesn’t stop telling the story. She has no shame. Zero. “Our girl here has a case of the green-eyed monster.”
“I do not!” I snap.
Scarlett grins, and Charlie laughs. Amalie is the only one who looks slightly sympathetic to my cause.
“You like Mason?” Charlie wiggles her brows. “Can’t say I blame you.”