by Linzi Basset
“The fucking bastard! If I get my hands on him―”
“I was shocked and cornered my parents about it.” Rachel laughed cynically. “But they played the game well. They told me that they had offered him money to break up with me and he took it. My father even had the audacity to tell me that once again I had proven them right. That I was a failure.”
“You’re not, Rachel. It’s time for you to put all that behind you.”
“But, what if they were right, Lex? What if I fail with Mason? They never loved me. I’ve believed myself to be in love a couple of times and it always faded after a couple of months. And what about the punishments? What if I come to resent and hate him for that, like I did my mother?”
“Rachel, listen to yourself, honey. It’s their words that are coming from your lips.”
She started, realizing the truth in what Alexis was saying. They had belittled and degraded her so often, their words had become ingrained in her mind.
“You’re right. Fuck, I’m such a wuss!”
“No, you’re not. You’re a strong, independent woman, with many emotional scars. Let me ask you this. In comparison to the other times you believed yourself in love, how does Mason rate? Are your feelings the same? Different?”
Rachel’s brow furrowed as she thought it over.
“Different. Stronger. Intense. I need to see him every day, hear his voice and I crave his touch. God, Lex, I desire him all the time. But, it’s so much more than physical need. Just thinking of him brings a smile to my face, my heart beats faster and I feel in love. It’s overwhelming and I have no idea how to deal with it.”
“One thing I do know, Rachel, is that when love consumes your mind and soul, when it feeds your self-confidence, then you’ve found true love.”
“But my self-confidence will always be obscured by the memories of my parents’ abuse. How will I ever overcome that fully to embrace what Mason is offering me?”
“By facing your parents and telling them how you feel. Until you do that, they’ll always be second guessing everything.”
“I know you’re right, Lex, but I don’t have the strength to face them alone.”
“Then don’t.”
“Will you come with me?”
Alexis looked at her with understanding in her eyes. “I would love to, but I think we both know who should be going with you.”
“Mason.”
Alexis hugged her briefly. “One more thing, Rachel. When it comes to Domination and submission, remember that you are the one in control. You give permission. Mason will never cross that line. If you say no, he won’t push you. You’re the one who decides how far you’re prepared to go and if you feel it’s too much then you tell him.”
“But what if he resents my lack of ability to adapt to such a lifestyle?”
“If he loves you, he won’t pressure you. Besides, if he needs to expunge some of his frustrations with a whip in his hand, there’s always me.”
“Yeah, there’s that too.”
“How do you feel about that, Rachel? How do you really feel about the fact that Mason was with us last night?”
“At first, I was angry, but not at you. I can’t explain it but I was mad that he didn’t even ask me if I wanted to join all of you.”
“But you only had a discussion about a future relationship last night, so why would he have?”
“See? I told you it didn’t make sense. I suppose it’s my own possessive nature at work. And then the dratted man punished me to the brink of a climax. But did he stop there? Noooo, he had to eat me like a juicy fig and then poof, he was gone. I’m still battling to overcome the frustration.”
“Yeah, they love to do that. Will you be able to accept it? Me having sex with Mason?”
“Will you be able to accept the opposite, Lex? Me having sex with Noah?”
Alexis smiled gently. “Yes, I believe I will. As long as I’m there when he does. I want to look into his eyes and know even though he’s having sex with you, it’s only me that’s in his heart.”
“It’s kinda how I’ve been feeling about it.”
They hugged each other, relaxed and loving like they always were in each other’s presence.
“You need to go and see them, Rachel. Do it soon. You need to put this behind you.
“Thank you, Lex. You always raise my spirits when I feel down. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you and Shanna in my life.”
“Ditto, girlfriend.”
Chapter Eight
The festival was feathers and sparkles, smiles and laughter. It was the grandest party of the year at Silverstone Resort. Many regular guests planned their trips around this occasion, wanting to join in the fun every year. Outfits varied from OTT costumes; fantastical creatures, faeries, angels or super heroes—all haute couture. Mason watched everyone partake in the gaiety. The overall mood was joyful and up-beat. It was the day when extraordinary was the norm and just being alive was a riot. Tonight, was the formal ball and the final evening of the event. A night where everyone dressed up in their finest gear to impress and outdo each other.
“Smile, Mason. That grumpy look on your face is starting to churn my stomach,” Logan taunted him.
“Fuck off, mate. I’ll be a grouch if I want to,” he responded without smiling. He took a sip of bourbon from his glass. His eyes searched the swirling guests for the umpteenth time.
Still no Rachel.
It’s been three days since she’d paid him a visit in his office. Three days since he’d seen or heard from her. Not that he hadn’t tried. He’d become a regular in the hotel kitchens and must have left ten messages on her phone. Everyone gave him the same response.
“We don’t know where she is, sir. She just phoned in to say she’ll be away for a couple of days.”
“It’s no use glowering at me, Mason. I don’t know where she is either and I’m just as worried,” Alexis said when she caught him looking at her. “I’ve left numerous messages too, but her phone has been off for three days.”
“How is it possible that no one knows where she is? She can’t just up and leave her job without permission,” Mason grunted irritably.
“I don’t suppose she did, mate,” Noah drawled. “Have you thought of asking Felicity where she is? She would’ve had to apply for personal days in advance for approval.”
Mason gave himself a mental slap for not thinking of same. Rachel reported to the F&B Director, Bill Delaware, who was currently on a trip, visiting their organic produce suppliers.
“Speak of the devil.” Logan smiled as a woman dressed as a regal queen approached their table.
“Why do I get the feeling I’ve been under discussion?” Felicity asked with raised eyebrows.
“Do you know where Rachel Cooper is, Felicity? We’ve been trying to get hold of her for three days,” Mason prodded immediately.
“We? Or you?” Felicity asked with a teasing glint in her eyes. The kitchen chase had set the tongues wagging but it didn’t seem to bother Mason.
“Felicity,” Mason growled. He was highly annoyed and didn’t appreciate another person taunting him about his infatuation with the petite chef.
“I would’ve thought she’d tell you, especially as it was arranged prior to her appointment.” Felicity shrugged. “Maybe her mind has been pre-occupied with other, more important . . . er, interventions.” She laughingly held up her hands in surrender when Mason glared at her. “She was invited as one of the top-ten Michelin chefs to cook at a food festival, A Night with Celebrities, in Hollywood. It’s an annual event and only the best chefs are invited to participate.”
“Now I remember!” Alexis lilted. “I can’t believe I forgot about that, or that she didn’t remind me before leaving.” She frowned. “Maybe she was more upset than I realized.”
“If you’ll excuse me. I have a husband to go and save. Before that princess over there smooches him to death,” Felicity smiled as she walked away.
“Upset about what?” Ma
son asked.
“Just a conversation we had a couple of days ago,” Alexis said pensively.
“Alexis, if something is bothering her, I want to know what it is.” Mason sat forward. The piercing glare pinned her in the chair.
“Don’t go all Dom on me, Mr. Walker. I’ll never break Rachel’s confidence. She’ll tell you when she’s ready.”
Mason didn’t know if he should be relieved or angry with Rachel. At least he knew where she’d disappeared to but it bothered him more than he cared to admit that she left without telling him. He realized that their relationship was at nascent stage but it was exactly why communication was important.
It was past midnight when he said his goodbyes.
“Aren’t you joining us, mate?” Noah asked.
“Not tonight,” he declined the invitation to join the other three for a tryst at Noah’s lodge. His mind was too preoccupied with Rachel.
Mason did his best to avoid numerous invitations to join other couples for drinks on his way out. Eventually he gave up. He skirted around Felicity and her husband to slip into the hallway that lead to the restaurant kitchen.
His brow furrowed when he noticed light shining through the window in the kitchen door. The buffet for the party was being serviced from the industrial sized kitchen they used for big events. The restaurant kitchen was supposed to be closed for the night.
He recognized the soothing tunes of Kenny G playing in the background when he pushed through the door. He stopped in his tracks.
She was back. In all her glory. An avalanche of liquid gold hair tumbled from the ponytail to her mid-back. His palms itched to bury themselves into their luxurious silkiness.
Mason couldn’t take his eyes off her hips that were swaying gently in tune with the music while she added ingredients to a bowl.
“Ok, let’s see if this is going to work,” she said and began to beat the batter with a wire whisk. Slips of paper were scattered on the counter, indicating that she was in the process of developing a new recipe.
He glanced at his watch. Twelve fifteen in the morning and she was working on a new recipe?
“I don’t suppose you thought of greeting me first?”
His deep guttural voice startled her and she spun around in fright with the mixing bowl in her hand. She watched in horror as the cake batter splattered all over Mason. The pale-yellow splashes of the sticky mixture crisscrossed over his chest. His impeccable tux was ruined, well and good.
Then the laughter erupted. She laughed so hard, she doubled over. Her eyes lifted to his and when she noticed the annoyed expression on his face, she tumbled onto her buttocks on the floor and peeled with laughter, the bowl of batter still clasped in her hands.
“You look like . . . hahaha.”
Her breath came in quick gasps between unstoppable giggles. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away and held on to her tummy which had started to hurt.
“Oh, what are you doing?”
She shrieked in alarm but was too weak to stop him as he pulled her to her feet and yanked the bowl from her hands. She watched it spin like a top when he threw it on the counter. Her eyes moved back to him and another infectious giggle exploded from her lips.
“You find this funny?” Mason growled. He did his best to suppress his own laughter.
“No! Mason, stop, you can’t do this,” Rachel shrieked but was helpless to stop him.
Within seconds, she stood in front of him in only a pair of black lace panties. He yanked her against his chest and moved her around until her breasts and stomach were sticky with the sweet batter.
“It’s no use glaring at me, sweetie. You started this,” he growled as he lifted her on top of the counter. He glanced around until he found a dishcloth, which he used to deftly tie her hands behind her back.
“Untie me! We’re in the hotel kitchen for goodness sake. Anyone can walk in here,” she wailed. She peeked over his shoulder. The dining room was completely dark.
“This time of night? I doubt it, luv.” His breath teased the tendrils of hair at her temples when he growled in her ear, “Now, let’s see how amusing you find this, you little witch.” His head lowered. He began to lick and suck the batter from her stomach, her chest and finally, the slope of her breasts.
It didn’t take long for Rachel’s protests to turn to moans of pleasure. Mason’s tongue took her on a voyage of euphoric bliss. Every slow swish awakened her nerves, sending her senses into overdrive. With every flick of the tongue, she squeezed her pussy muscles, trying to contain the constant throbbing in her clitoris.
“Lord, that feels soooo good,” she wailed when he sucked hard on her nipples.
Mason’s cock responded to her husky whimpers, rising to arousal with every sweep of his tongue over her satiny skin. He loved how her body reacted to his ministrations. Every time he touched her, she melted for him, almost like she had no control over the sensations.
“Ah, sweetie, you smell like heaven,” he said, drawing in the heady scent of her arousal to tease his nostrils.
“All for you, honey,” she groaned when his tongue twirled leisurely around her belly button. “I hope you’ll give me what I need from you this time,” she continued in a quivering voice but couldn’t keep the petulance from her tone. Her thighs trembled from arousal that throbbed inside her loins. Like it had, since the night he’d pussy-whipped her and left her high and dry. She’d not masturbated since then, although there’d been numerous times she’d been tempted, but his warning had always stopped her.
Well, it is high time he took what’s freely on offer. He’s not leaving me unsatisfied again!
His soft chuckle vibrated against the soft skin of her stomach, sounding suspiciously wicked. Rachel was swept away on a wave of bliss. His lips traced the lines of her thighs to nibble at the juncture between them, causing a fresh wave of heated exuberance to sweep through her body.
Mason lifted his head.
“You’re so fucking hot, Rachel, do you know that? Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
Rachel stared at him through slumberous eyes, spellbound by the sudden gruffness in his voice and the ensorcelled look on his face. His lean, muscled frame was taut with arousal. She pressed her thighs together in a desperate attempt to keep her sexual feverishness contained. The instantaneous chemical attraction and reckless impulsiveness she experienced, every time she was in Mason’s arms, was foreign. It scared the hell out of her, but at the same time it left her begging for more.
His head dipped again for a quick lick and suck of her nipples before he straightened. He ran his palm over her breasts and drew slow circles around her stomach.
“There, now. All clean and sizzling with heat,” he praised as he patted her pussy. He smiled at her wet panties. “Pack up, luv and go to bed. It’s way too late to be testing new recipes.”
He was almost at the door before Rachel realized that he was leaving her aroused and unfulfilled.
Again.
“Oh, fuck no, you don’t,” she growled and jumped down from the counter to charge after him. She skirted around him and squeezed between him and the door. Her eyes narrowed but she couldn’t hide the shimmer of lust in their depths.
“It’s late, sweetie. You need to—”
Mason swallowed his words as he watched her wiggle her hips with sensual intent. She pulled her panties down and kicked them away.
“The only thing I need to do right at this minute is standing in front of me,” she said in a husky tone.
“Rachel, we’re not—”
“Oh, hell yes, we are. You’re not leaving me high and dry again. I’ve suffered enough, old-timer. It’s time to pay up.”
Her arms crawled up his chest to clasp around his neck. She lifted her legs to lock her ankles around his waist. His zipper was no challenge. Her seeking hand wrapped around his hard length—already fully aroused. Her carnal growl sounded through the kitchen.
“This is what I need now, Mason Walker.
Your cock, fucking my pussy; hard and savage, until we’re both completely sated.”
She positioned the spongy head of his cock against her slit and lowered her body. Her moan of ecstasy echoed through the silence. Mason couldn’t take his gaze off her. Her head was thrown back; her mouth gaped open with bliss as her eyelids fluttered closed.
“Look at me, luv. I want to see your eyes when I fuck you. The time of hiding from me is over, Rachel,” he demanded.
Rachel didn’t think to deny his order. Their gazes locked at the same moment he began to rock into her. Slow and gentle.
“No, not like that. I need more, Mason. Please, give me what I want!” Rachel trembled, feeling his power inside her. She wanted to him claim her with everything he possessed. She needed to feel his strength as he stamped himself all over her body.
Mason loosened her hands from behind his neck and clamped them in his fist above her head. He pressed her against the wall.
“Don’t pull the tiger’s tail, Rachel. You have no idea what you’ll unleash,” he grunted. He clenched his teeth, doing his best to remain in control, but the desire to pound into her threatened to unravel the last of his control.
“I’m not teasing, Mason. I need this as much as you do. Fuck me! Damn you, do it. Now! Fuck me,” she demanded. Her hips danced against his. Her pussy clenched and released around his shaft.
It was the final straw.
“Jesus, you’re a temptress. I hope you can handle this, luv, because once I start, it’s going to be a fucking wild ride,” he warned in a deep growl.
“Stop talking. Just do it!”
Rachel should’ve known better than to make such a demand from a Dom. His eyes darkened but his lips curved slightly.
“Say please.”
She was on the verge of exploding. There was only one response to give.