“I love this pool. Don’t you?”
Mason’s gaze shot up to Tessa’s face. “Uh. Um. It’s one of a kind. Who else has a 50-foot guitar-shaped swimming pool with purple lighting?”
She picked up a towel that was folded on the chaise lounge next to her and tied it around her waist. “See ya later.”
Mason watched her walk toward the house. She had a swagger to her gate, and her hips sashayed as she made her way around the perimeter of the pool. When she got to the sliders, she stopped and looked back at him, the corner of her mouth curling into a smile. She pulled the towel from around her waist with one hand, which exposed her bare butt cheeks in the skimpy thong he never expected her to be wearing. He stared at the perfect globes of her ass, firm and tan, with two little dimples sitting at the small of her back. Then she slipped inside and out of view.
Mason ran his hand through his short bristly hair, still shocked at the display he just witnessed. “Christ.”
“I want to do something fun,” Sindy said, putting down the makeup brush on Tessa’s vanity.
Tessa moved behind Sindy and peered at her best friend’s makeup in the mirror. Sindy had given herself a smoky eye, heavy on the smoke. It immediately made Tessa think of Alyssa Diamond. “We could get something pierced.”
Sindy spun around, a devilish glint in her eye. “I love that idea.”
“Really?” Tessa had only said it on a whim, never expecting Sindy to agree. “What do you want to get pierced?”
“Our tongues.”
It didn’t take long for Tessa to agree. “OK.”
“Great. Where should we go?”
There was only one place to go for piercings in this family. “Brooklyn.”
“Why do we have to go all the way to Brooklyn?” Sindy asked. “There are a million tattoo shops with piercers right here.”
“I know. But Alyssa is a piercer by trade. We all go to her.”
Sindy’s brows shot up. “Alyssa? As in Alyssa Diamond? The coolest goth chick on the East Coast is going to pierce our tongues? We’re going to Damien Diamond’s famous loft apartment in Brooklyn to get pierced?”
Tessa nodded, amused that Sindy was still enamored by the members of Immortal Angel and their wives.
Sindy blinked a few times. “Give me a minute. I need a second to get used to the idea that I’m going to be inside Damien Diamond’s loft.”
“There’s nothing to get used to. It’s just Damien and Alyssa. Are you really still star-struck by Immortal Angel?” Tessa asked with surprise. She knew the enormity of Immortal Angel’s fame, but none of them were pretentious rock stars. Even Audra, Mason’s mom and her sister Kira, who were born into a record empire, were chill and organic.
“Of course!” Sindy exclaimed. “Who wouldn’t? I’m just now getting used to being in the same room with all three of your parents at the same time. You have no idea how I used to shake and how my heart would race whenever the entire band was together. It was surreal to sit at a dinner table or stand around in the great room in your parents’ mansion together. Not a big deal for you. Bucket list for me.”
The doors of the modern stainless steel elevator opened into the massive living room in Damien and Alyssa’s trendy loft apartment, where a wall of windows that showcased the city skyline greeted Tessa and Sindy. It was breathtaking. Tessa watched Sindy take in every inch of the ultra-contemporary apartment that had heavy gothic overtones. The entire back wall was painted solid black, while the rest were a dark shade of charcoal, and the furniture was an eclectic mix of one-of-a kind pieces in, naturally, black.
An array of female voices welcomed them, starting with Tessa’s mom. “Hi, girls.” They each received a quick kiss on the cheek. “Come in. We’re making margaritas.”
“I didn’t know everyone was going to be here,” Sindy whispered to Tessa.
“It’s just my mom, Mason’s mom and Alyssa.” Basically, all the women in the family. “Hi, Mom. Did you say margaritas?”
Audra walked in from the other room and greeted Tessa and Sindy with two salt-rimmed glasses. “Enjoy!”
Tessa barely had a sip before Alyssa came over and took the glasses out of their hands. “I don’t pierce anyone who’s been drinking.”
“Lighten up!” Audra joked.
Sindy looked at Tessa, then back and Alyssa. “Are those rats?”
“Say hello to Ozzy and Flea.” Alyssa smiled, still holding a margarita in each hand, and nuzzled her pets who were sitting one on each shoulder. This woman was cooler than cool with her long black hair, heavy black eyeliner and black lips, covered in tattoos, standing there with a white rat on each shoulder.
Alyssa set down the glasses, picked up Ozzy and Flea, gave them each a kiss on the nose and put both rats back inside their elaborate enclosure. “Enough playtime. Let’s get down to business.”
They followed Alyssa to a room in the back of the apartment where she kept all of her piercing supplies.
“I feel like I’m at the dentist’s office,” Sindy whispered.
Alyssa heard and cackled. “Don’t worry. It doesn’t hurt.”
“I’ll go first,” Tessa offered.
Alyssa left the room to scrub her hands and returned wearing latex gloves. In seconds, the piercing was done. It really didn’t hurt, just as Alyssa had said, but Tessa’s tongue felt two sizes too big for her mouth. “Is thith normal?” Her hand flew to her lips, surprised at the lisp in her speech.
“You’ll be fine in a few days.” Alyssa handed her a mirror. “Take a look.”
Tessa opened her mouth and admired her new jewelry. She imagined showing it to Mason and the expression on his face, and, hopefully, some erotic images it may conjure up in his head.
Next was Sindy’s turn, which turned out to be a little more dramatic, but she got through it. They sat side by side on the small couch and took a selfie of their matching piercings.
Tessa’s mom and Audra entered the room to inspect their new jewelry and Tessa and Sindy both opened their mouths.
“Very nice.” Tessa’s mom stuck out her tongue to show off the same silver ball sitting in the center of her tongue. Then Audra did the same thing, and, lastly, Alyssa.
Tessa and Sindy looked at each other and laughed, but their laughter was overshadowed by loud voices and heavy footsteps from inside the apartment, and everyone turned toward the doorway.
“They’re all here?” Alyssa asked. “I swear those guys are lost without us.”
Tessa heard discernable voices. Damien and Jimmy. Her dad and Papi. Was that Lucas? Oh God, it was, which meant Mason was here too. She wasn’t ready to see him so soon after her piercing. She had a pronounced lisp and her tongue felt as if it didn’t fit inside her mouth.
“Where are you?” Damien called, looking for his wife.
Alyssa rolled her eyes. “In here.”
A blue Mohawk poked through the doorway. “What’s going on?” He looked at everyone and displayed an evil grin. “Who got pierced? And where?”
“The girls got their tongues pierced,” Tessa’s mom boasted.
“What?” Tessa’s dad pushed past Damien and into the room. “Alyssa, you pierced my daughter’s tongue?”
“Relax, baby,” Tessa’s mom put her arm around her dad’s shoulders. “It’s not a big deal.” We all have our tongues pierced. It seems to be a rite of passage for the women in this family.”
Jimmy suddenly invaded the room and looked around with a wide dimpled smile. “I’m having such a flashback right now.” He put his hand to his temple and closed his eyes. “Tour bus. Audra’s first go round as Immortal Angel’s tour manager. The back bedroom.”
Audra’s hand flew to her cheek and the rest of them laughed.
“What’s he talking about?” Tessa asked. She’d heard a million stories from when Immortal Angel had toured the world, but didn’t know this one.
“I pierced Audra’s nipples,” Alyssa said. “It was before the two of them were a couple. We were in the back bedro
om. Me, Audra and your mom. As usual, the guys couldn’t be away from us for five minutes, and they all barged into the bedroom. Just like now. Poor Audra was wearing a big oversized white T-shirt, braless, trying to cover her boobs with her arms without irritating the new piercings, and Jimmy couldn’t take his eyes off her chest. He knew exactly what was going on.”
“I was so embarrassed!” Audra let out a lighthearted laugh.
“Where did everyone go?” Papi’s voice came from outside the room.
“What’s everyone laughing about?” Now Lucas. If Mason joined them Tessa was running out of the room and out the front door. This wasn’t how she planned on showing him her piercing.
Relief flooded her when she realized Mason wasn’t with them, so she slipped out of the room and left everyone behind. Before she found Mason, she went to the fridge and filled a glass with crushed ice. As she took a big mouthful in order to soothe her raw tongue, she heard Mason come up behind her.
“What’s going on back there?”
She swallowed the ice, turned toward him and smiled with her mouth closed. She stuck her tongue out, briefly, and clamped her mouth shut while Mason still had his eyes locked on the jewelry.
His gaze shot up to her eyes. “Let me see that again.”
She tried to tone down her smile and opened her mouth again for a few seconds while he leaned in to inspect it.
“You got your tongue pierced.”
It wasn’t a question, just an observation, and Tessa couldn’t tell if he was intrigued or surprised. Not wanting to sound silly in case she lisped, she simply nodded.
“Does it hurt?” Mason asked.
“No.” It sounded more like she said “dough”, and she immediately thought of Homer Simpson and his comical catchphrase.
“Open your mouth again.”
This time, he held her chin in his hand when she stuck her tongue out. His gaze went from her mouth to her eyes and stopped there. She closed her mouth as a shiver ran down her back. His hand dropped from her chin abruptly and his cheeks turned bright red.
She swallowed and waited.
He took a step back. “It looks good.” Then he practically ran from the kitchen.
It wasn’t exactly the reaction she anticipated, but something obviously stirred inside him. And that was the reaction she had hoped for.
There was an old saying that went, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Tessa slipped her feet into a pair of five-inch heels and updated the adage to, “The way to rile up a man’s hormones is with a pair of hot stilettos.” She admired her reflection in the full-length mirror. Her jeans were tight, but not obnoxiously so, and the studded tank top was snug but not revealing. She wanted to look sexy, but classy. Tonight she was cooking dinner for Mason. Technically, for Mason, Lucas and Sindy, but the menu consisted of all of Mason’s favorite dishes. She had wanted to prepare this special dinner over a week ago, but the impromptu tongue piercing needed to heal first.
She went to the kitchen and pulled her new apron out of the drawer, slipped it over her head and tied it around her waist. She read the words written across the front out loud, while she strutted to the oven with an exaggerated sway of her hips. “Hot stuff comin’ through!” A covered platter with smoke spiraling upwards accompanied the script text across her chest, giving the phrase a comical double meaning. She loved her novelty aprons.
She had a pitcher of mojitos chilling in the fridge alongside some fresh sprigs of mint that she picked up from the local farmer’s market. The drinks were a nice touch, but Mason and Lucas preferred beer. She and Sindy would enjoy the mojitos. The table was set perfectly, but modestly. She thought about using the fine china and crystal, but it said too much. Subtlety was better.
The buzzer sounded right on time and she pushed the button on the intercom. “Yes, Jonathan?”
“Your brother, his girlfriend and Mason Wilder are here to see you Miss Garcia.”
“Thanks, but there’s no need to announce them. You can always send them right up.”
“I’ll make a note of it, ma’am.”
The three of them, especially Sindy, were over so often that Tessa felt bad inconveniencing the doorman. Plus, that damn buzzer was grating sometimes. She must have told the doorman a dozen times to send Lucas, Sindy and Mason up to her apartment unannounced, but he still buzzed her half the time.
She cracked the door open and headed back to the kitchen, but slowed her pace when she realized that Mason stopped at Lucas’ first, instead of coming straight to her apartment. He’d never done that before. He obviously didn’t want to be alone with her, and she reflected on possible reasons why.
“We’re here and we’re hungry,” Lucas called as he pushed the door open so Sindy could enter first. He had manners, Tessa had to give him that.
“Bienvenido,” she welcomed them, placing the appetizers on the table. She lifted her eyes to look at Mason, but his back was to her as he closed the apartment door, and she wondered if he was purposely avoiding her gaze.
“I wanted to bring something,” Sindy said. “But your brother wouldn’t let me.”
“Thanks, but you don’t ever need to bring anything. I know most people think it impolite to come empty handed, but I’m the hostess. I provide everything for my guests.”
Lucas let out a small laugh and poked Sindy in the ribs. “Told you.”
“Sit down and help yourself.” Tessa motioned everyone toward the table which had tidbits for everyone to nibble on, as well as a bucket of beers on ice for the guys. “I’ll get the drinks.”
“Mohitos?” Sindy asked, picking up one of the salt-rimmed glasses as soon as Tessa set the tray on the table.
“Beer?” Lucas countered, and Sindy bumped him with her shoulder.
“Thanks for being prompt. You guys are right on time,” Tessa said. Thank God, otherwise her main course might end up overcooked. It was a risk, but the flame was low. She returned to the kitchen and checked the porterhouse steaks. They only needed a few more minutes before they were ready.
“Whoa,” she heard the smile in Mason’s voice and turned away from the oven. With the open floor plan, she could see the entire apartment from the kitchen, with the exception of the bedrooms.
“It smells like you’re cooking some top choice steaks in there,” Mason called from the dining table.
“They are,” Tessa bragged. “Only the best for the people I care about. How’s the frituras de calabaza?”
“The what?” Sindy laughed. “I swear I need a Spanish lesson when I sit down to eat with you and your family.”
Lucas pushed the plate toward Sindy. “Frituras de calabaza. It’s a pumpkin fritter.” He took a bite out of one and then held it up as if he was making a toast. “A mi hermana la cocinera.”
Sindy snapped her head in Lucas’ direction. “Did you just speak Spanish?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you say?”
“I said, to my sister the chef.”
“Say it again.”
Lucas gave her a quizzical smile. “To my sister the chef.”
A laugh burst from Sindy’s lips. “In Spanish.”
Lucas repeated the sentence, this time in Spanish.
“Since when do you speak Spanish?” Sindy asked, her face filled with animation.
“I’m bilingual. Like Tessa.”
She blinked a few times. “You’re shitting me?”
Mason let out a hearty laugh at Sindy’s choice of words, and he finally made eye contact with Tessa. It was a carefree and unencumbered gaze shared between two friends that spread warmth through Tessa’s chest, and the appearance of Mason’s dimples made her smile spread up to her eyes.
“I need one of those fritters,” Mason said, still looking at Tessa. Then he made grabby hands at Lucas to pass the plate. “I love these things!” He stuffed one into his mouth and chomped on it while he rolled his eyes to indicate how delicious they were.
A feeling of intense satisfaction an
d reward filled Tessa. She loved that Mason was enjoying the little appetizer. She knew that those small bites, filled with seasoned pumpkin and goat cheese mousse, were a favorite of his. She hadn’t made them in a long time so decided to put them on the menu tonight, for his benefit.
“Do you speak Spanish, too?” Sindy asked Mason.
“Um. A little.”
“Say something.”
“Gracias.” Mason flashed a sheepish smile at his rudimentary Spanish, evoking a small rumble of laughter from everyone.
The timer went off, indicating the steaks were done, and Tessa pulled them from the oven. She inhaled the savory coating. They were perfect.
“I’m helping you,” Sindy said, now standing next to the oven.
Tessa conceded and let Sindy put the sofrito rice and black beans on the table. But she was bringing the potato dish. After all, Mason was a steak-and-potatoes kinda guy. “Papas asadas!” she announced, carrying the platter into the dining room.
Sindy peered into the plate as Tessa set it on the table. “They look like potatoes to me.”
“Papas asadas?” Mason’s smile almost blinded Tessa. “You gotta try these, Sindy.” Mason placed a scoop in her dish, then two big spoonfuls in his own plate. He speared three slices of potatoes on his fork and quickly ate them. “Mmm. So good.”
Tessa beamed at Mason, her chest filling with pride. “Thank you.” She loved the way he enjoyed her food, and she was reminded of the adage about the way to a man’s heart. She felt the weight of Sindy’s stare, and shifted her eyes to her best friend.
Sindy glanced at Mason, then back at Tessa, a questioning crease in her brow.
Embarrassed that Sindy caught her gawking at Mason, Tessa retreated to the kitchen and plated the steaks. She turned and Sindy was standing in front of her again.”
“You’re acting strange.” Sindy took the two plates from Tessa’s hands and returned to the table. Tessa followed with the other two steaks and set them on the table. As she took off her apron she heard Lucas’ voice.
MASON WILDER: Radical Rock Stars Next Generation Duet Book 2 Page 8