Fall in Love

by Anthology

  She was such a laid back girl it barely registered she was a celebrity when I was around her. Now that I was left alone though the feeling of not belonging was returning. I didn’t know anyone so I wasn’t sure what to do. I’d decided to go back to the door in search of Mason when a set of familiar arms came around my waist.

  “You okay?” he asked, nuzzling into my neck.

  I nodded. “Who are all these people?”

  “People from the industry. Friends of friends.” A girl my age who’d clearly had her chest surgically enhanced to epic proportions walked by in a barely there gold dress. “Gold diggers.”

  I chuckled at first because I was sure it was an apt description, then sighed, feeling once again like I didn’t belong.

  Mason seemed to be able to read my mind. “Ellie, you’re more exquisite than any of the women in here. Never doubt that.”

  I turned in his arms. “I’m not, but I appreciate you saying it anyway.” I got up on my tippy toes to give him a peck and he brought his hand to the back of my neck and pulled me in to deepen the kiss. Our tongues tangled and my lips started to tingle.

  “Jeez, you two. Get a room,” Amber shouted as she approached. “I could see your tongue down her throat from the other side of the bar, Mason.” She was carrying a silver tray with an assortment of drinks and shooters on it.

  Panic flared at the realization that we were in public. It wasn’t something I was used to thinking about when I was dating someone.

  Amber must have seen the alarm on my face. “You don’t have to worry about anyone seeing you up here. I know everyone and anyone I thought would try to sell a picture or give a quote to the damn press wouldn’t be up here. Besides, they can’t see you from below unless you go right up to the edge of the railing so you guys are covered.”

  “Thanks, Amber,” I said.

  She turned to set the tray down on a nearby table and plucked a couple of shots off it, handing one to both Mason and me before she grabbed one for herself.

  “Cheers,” she said clinking both our glasses.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  Amber rolled her eyes.

  “Best just do what she wants, El. She can be relentless,” Mason said with a laugh. That was the first time he’d called me El. The only other person who called me that was Skye. I liked hearing him use it.

  I swallowed the shooter, and the liquor burned down into the pit of my belly. Amber and Mason had both taken their shots, too, but apparently I was the only one unaccustomed to liquid fire being poured down my esophagus because they’d had no reaction. Amber grabbed my empty shot glass and set it down on the tray, stifling a laugh.

  She picked up a pair of drinks and handed one to Mason and one to me. “Don’t worry, this won’t burn as much.” She gave me her sweetest smile and batted her eyes at me.

  “You’re trouble,” I teased her.

  “Very perceptive,” Mason added.

  She threw her head back and laughed. “All right, I’m going to go mingle for a while before I go out on stage. I’ll see you two later.”

  “You’re performing tonight?” Mason asked.

  “Yeah, the owner is a friend and he asked, so I said I would.”

  “Good luck,” Mason said as she walked away into the crowd.

  I took a sip of my drink. Mmmm. This one was good.

  “So, do you wanna dance or would you prefer to sit for a bit?” he asked.

  “Let’s sit for a bit.” I still wasn’t overly confident around all these celebrities. I normally really enjoyed dancing, but I’d be needing some liquid courage to get out on the dance floor.

  Mason led me to an unoccupied loveseat in front of a marble table, a matching loveseat directly across from it. The majority of the room was laid out in front of us from where we sat side-by-side.

  We talked and sipped our drinks for a while. I was comfortable when it was only the two of us—when I talked to him I tended to tune out the rest of the room.

  An older gentleman in a pair of dark slacks and a button-up shirt approached and leaned down to say something to Mason. He must have known him because he smiled and said something back. I looked around the room while they talked and spotted Amber talking to Deshawn in the far corner. They seemed like they were having an intense conversation but when I caught her eye she smiled easily and raised her drink to me. I returned the smile.

  There were a couple of girls dressed scantily not too far from our table. They were obviously checking Mason out; whispering and giggling to each other. The dark-haired girl looked amused but the blonde had predatory eyes on Mason. She flicked her gaze to me and smirked, raising an eyebrow. What the hell was that about? As I studied the rest of the room it was apparent to me just how much female attention Mason commanded. Even women there with a partner would let their gazes wander over to him from time to time, if only to admire the view. Mason seemed oblivious, continuing his conversation with the older gentleman. I did my best to do the same but I imagined the room full of people wondering why Mason was here with me and not some Hollywood starlet.

  I sipped my drink and flagged a server down, signaling that I’d like another. The man Mason had been talking to left without being introduced. My insecurities didn’t get to run too wild with that one before Mason leaned over to speak into my ear.

  “Sorry for not introducing you. That guy drives me crazy but he’s from my label so I have to talk to him. If I’d introduced you he would have parked himself here for the night…which would have been a shame because then I couldn’t do this.”

  He brushed my hair behind my shoulder and ran his tongue lightly along my collarbone. I closed my eyes basking in the sensation. Placing his hand on my cheek he turned my head and kissed me. His lips barely touched mine at first, their smooth surface grazing softly over my own. I wanted more though so I moved to deepen the kiss when I sensed a presence to my left. I opened my eyes while still kissing Mason to find Deshawn sitting on the table in front of us grinning wide. I pulled back from Mason and giggled. Thank God it was dark in the club, maybe my embarrassment wasn’t too obvious.

  “Don’t let me stop you,” Deshawn yelled over the music with a smirk.

  “Hey, man,” Mason said and leaned forward and did that thing guys do that’s sort-of a hand shake and a hug in one.

  “You guys having a good time?” Deshawn asked.

  “We were before you interrupted,” Mason said.

  “Ignore him,” I said, gripping Mason’s biceps and pushing him sideways playfully.

  “That’s what I usually do,” Deshawn said in return. The server came by and dropped my drink off at which point Deshawn grabbed it out of my hand, placed it on the table and replaced it with a shooter he’d brought over. What was it with these people and shooters?

  Mason got one next and finally Deshawn picked up his and raised it to make a toast over the loud music. “To getting what we want.” It seemed an odd toast and I looked over to Mason, unsure what to make of it. Apparently what he wanted was some lovin’ because his eyes were heated under half-drawn lids. I gave him a small smile and clinked my shot glass with Deshawn’s and then Mason’s. I swallowed the liquid; thankfully this shot hadn’t been as bad as Amber’s pick.

  I was feeling good when I decided to take a trip to the ladies room. “I’ll be right back,” I told the guys.

  I wandered off in search of the restroom and found it at the back of the balcony. A pair of girls were giggling as I entered. The room was floor to ceiling marble with wood vanities and granite counters. When I looked at the girls and saw them bent over the counter I stopped short.

  They each had rolled bills in their hands and were taking turns snorting white powder off the counter. The bathroom attendant was quite literally looking the other way. I wasn’t a complete angel; I’d been to lots of college parties where people had smoked pot, although I’d never partaken myself, but I’d never seen what I assumed to be cocaine before.

  I was shocked that these girl
s were doing it so openly. Weren’t they worried about being caught? I backed up to leave when one of the girls noticed me and held the rolled bill out to me. “You want to join us?”

  “Uh, no thanks.” She shrugged and I bolted. My bathroom trip would have to wait. I hurriedly made my way back to the couch where I’d left Deshawn and Mason. Deshawn still sat on the coffee table. Mason however was engaged in conversation with the blond I’d noticed earlier. She was facing him, draped across the arm of the couch and leaning in toward him.

  I checked my irritation. I’m sure this kind of thing happened frequently. I just happened to have a front row seat this time. I stopped my approach a few feet from the couch to see how Mason planned to deal with the situation. I was unable to hear their conversation but when she placed her hand behind his head and began running her fingers along the base of his skull he firmly grabbed her hand and removed it. She was clearly put out by whatever he said after that and I took it as my cue to rejoin the group.

  Deshawn saw me approach first and smirked. I took my seat beside Mason and he immediately placed a hand on my thigh.

  She huffed and glared at Mason. “I see how it is.”

  “Yeah, exactly how I’ve been telling you it is for the past five minutes. Now take the hint.”

  She turned to me. “Enjoy it while it lasts,” she said and stormed off into the crowd.

  L.A. was beginning to feel like a viper’s nest.

  “Sorry, Ellie. I tried to get her to back off.” He squeezed my leg.

  “I could see she was persistent.”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  The three of us sat for a while longer, but I decided it was time to hit the dance floor when one of my favourite Rhianna songs came blaring through the speakers. I turned to Mason. “Would you mind if we danced? I love this song.”

  He gave me an indulgent smile. “Of course. Come on.” He stood up and put his hand out for me to take. I did and we made our way slowly through the crush of the crowd to the dance floor. We made a little spot for ourselves near the edge.

  I began dancing and Mason came up behind me with his hands on my waist. Deshawn had joined us and as Amber flitted by the dance floor he grabbed her by the waist and forced her in front of him in a similar position to what Mason and I were in. She looked startled at first, but then relaxed into Deshawn, seemingly having as much fun as I was.

  As the Rhianna song ended another one took its place. This one had a slightly slower beat and more sensual feel. Mason’s heat penetrated through the thin fabric at my back. His hand moved from my hip to wrap around me and he palmed my waist and pushed me harder into him. I felt the evidence of his arousal on my lower back and it served to feed my own fire.

  I leaned back into him and moved an arm up to wrap around his neck and pulled his head down. His heated breath was warm on the side of my face. His teeth lightly bit down on my earlobe and I groaned and closed my eyes, concentrating only on the sensation. I had no idea if he could hear me or not over the music. Probably not, but he seemed to be able to tell how he affected me because he did it again.

  Our hips swiveled back and forth to the music coursing around us and I became less and less aware of our surroundings. People were all around us but I couldn’t have cared less. It might as well have been only the two of us alone in an empty club. Mason kissed my neck slowly. Small kisses at first that deepened to swipes of his tongue and gentle bites. I groaned and ground myself against him. His hands moved along the sides of my body and across my rib cage, brushing the undersides of my breasts to continue down the centre of my stomach.

  My breathing was fast and shallow; my body was humming and Mason was the maestro. I turned in his arms and our lips met with fire and passion. He devoured me right there on the dance floor for all to see. It might have been the alcohol, but more likely it was just the effect being in Mason’s presence had on me because my self-consciousness had disappeared.

  I was feeling like a temptress for the first time in my life. It was powerful knowing the effect I had on Mason. It felt like forever since Mason and I had first been together in Virginia and I was ready for it to happen again. I wanted to be the aggressor tonight. I had my opportunity moments later when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

  It was Amber. “I’m headed downstairs to perform. By the looks of you two I’m not sure how long you’ll be sticking around so I wanted to say goodbye.”

  She leaned in and gave me a hug, which I warmly reciprocated. She’d been nothing like I’d thought she’d be. I’d pictured a pampered prima donna but I couldn’t have met anyone sweeter or more down-to-earth.

  “Thanks for everything, Amber.”

  “Don’t mention it.” She looked from me to Mason. “You take care of this one. I’m pretty sure they don’t come around too often. Especially in our line of work.”

  Mason smiled and winked at her before she flitted off toward the stairs.

  I looked around and Deshawn was nowhere in sight so I turned back to face Mason and pressed my body to his, wrapping my arms around his neck. “So, what do you think? You ready to head back to the hotel?” I said into his ear and flicked it with my tongue for good measure.

  He gave me a quick deep kiss and then pulled back. “Don’t have to ask me twice.”

  I took his hand and led him to where I remembered the stairs to be. As I walked in front of him I may have sashayed my hips a little more than normal because of the sexual abandon I was feeling, but who’s to say?

  We were halfway down the staircase when I was blinded by the flashbulbs.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  It was like rapid fire lightning with no break in between. I stumbled on the stair a bit when I brought my hands up to cover my eyes from the assault. Mason grabbed my upper arm from behind and steadied me.

  “For fuck’s sake. Where are the security guards?” He kept his hand wrapped around my arm and led me the rest of the way down the stairs. He must have spotted our car; when we got off the stairs he headed right for it at as fast a pace we could muster with a crowd of paparazzi swarming us like piranhas feasting on prey.

  The photographers all shouted out at the same time. It was difficult to hear exactly what they were saying but I was able to make out a few “is this your new girlfriend?” and “how long do you think she’ll stick around?” directed at Mason.

  “Just ignore the leeches,” Mason said into my ear. “You’re doing great.”

  Thank God he was taller than most of them; I hadn’t the faintest idea of where we needed to go. Finally they parted in front of us and we came to the black limo. Mason reached in front of me and opened the door, helping me quickly inside. He followed me in and slammed the door shut just as one of the photographers attempted to put his camera in through the door to snap a shot off.

  “Get us out of here,” Mason yelled up to the driver. He closed the privacy wall then angled his body to face mine.

  “Are you okay?” There was deep concern etched over all his features. His eyebrows were drawn, his normally bright and sparkling eyes were clouded.

  I looked at him unable to speak. Was I okay? I’d gone from a sexual high to complete shock in a matter of seconds. It was overwhelming to have a mass of people converge on you out of nowhere, but right then all I wanted was to continue the amazing night I was having with him—not worry what might have been and what was to come. Especially since I had no control over either.

  “I’m sorry, Ellie. I don’t know where the bouncer—”

  I pressed my lips to his to cut him off. It was avoidance, and I was normally a person that liked to deal with things head on but at that moment it suited me fine.

  Mason followed my lead, placing both hands on either side of my face as our tongues tangled. I let out a small moan as the adrenaline in my system dissipated in favor of lust. My skin tingled, hungry for the feel of Mason’s touch all over my body.

  He moved a hand to my lower back and pushed against me to get me to lie down on the
seat but I still wanted control. I wanted to do what I’d been I’d aching for since the night we’d gotten back from Texas—make him lose his mind the way he made me lose mine on the edge of the pool. I wanted no barriers between us. No celebrity and average girl. No rich and middle class. No man and woman. Just two bodies, two souls delighting in each other above all else.

  I pulled my lips away from his and pushed his shoulders back against the seat while I slipped down on to my knees in front of him. Desire-laden green eyes stared down at me while I loosened his belt and pulled the zipper down.

  He scrubbed his face with his hands and reached up to press a button beside the window.

  A voice came through the speaker. “Yes, sir.”

  “Keep driving until I tell you to head back to the hotel.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Mason brought his hand to my cheek and stroked it, saying nothing.

  I reached my hand in through the hole in his boxers to release him. His shaft was rigid in my hand and sprang out of his pants at the first opportunity. That thing knew how to make an entrance. I licked my lips and began stroking up and down his length slowly. I planned to draw this out.

  “Jesus,” he said on a large exhale of breath and closed his eyes.

  I leaned down and put him in my mouth, running my tongue in slow circles around the tip of him, then sucked him further in. He placed one hand on top of my head and gripped my hair, the other gripped the edge of the black leather seat.

  I moved my mouth back up the length of him sucking in still and circled his tip again when I reached the top. I repeated this process over and over, sucking him fully into me until he breached the back of my throat and then up again, hollowing my cheeks and sucking in. His hand on my head began guiding my ministrations exerting slight pressure. I increased my pace until I was wildly bobbing up and down on his shaft. Mason’s panting was shallow. He moaned and cursed under his breath.

  I felt his cock twitch in my mouth and harden further, which I hadn’t thought was possible. I groaned myself when he was at the back of my throat, knowing the vibrations might send him over the edge when suddenly his hands were latched around my arms pulling me up from his lap.