Much to Mason’s relief, the car slowed and pulled over in front of his building. “Go home, Smith. And thank you.” Mason helped ease Laura out of the car and put his arm around her waist to keep her standing all the way to the elevator, where she collapsed against the wall.
Laura continued to stare off into space. Her eyes had gone glassy with the film of unshed tears. The ominous feeling that Mason was going to die settled on her shoulders. Her admirer had been upsetting to this point, but he had kept his distance. Twice he had been inside her home and this time destroyed it.
She didn’t care about the furniture or the decorations. Every photo of her and Mason had been shattered, stepped on, and torn. The man after her had sent a very clear message that Mason was in the way and would be dealt with.
The tears silently overflowed and soaked her cheeks. She was about to have her happily ever after taken away…again! “Mason, I’m really scared.”
“We’ll figure this out. Don’t worry.” He scanned up and down the corridor with no sign of another person before pulling Laura out towards his door.
“Mason, stop! I think this guy wants to kill you. I’m freaking out!” Laura dug her heels into the carpet and yanked her arm away.
“Then we had better get inside now before he realizes we’re here and not where he thinks you’ll be.” Mason gripped her hand, and without another word, dragged her across the threshold.
In their arguing, neither of them saw the man step into the corridor from the stairwell and slip in behind them.
“Mason, let go of me!” Laura tugged at Mason’s grip and couldn’t beak it. A voice from behind them drew their attention.
“Let her go.” The man tossed his hood back to reveal a full head of dark hair streaked with silver, straight brows, and eyes like ice.
Laura’s jaw dropped. “Frank? What are you doing–” As the words were leaving her mouth, she knew: it was all him.
“I came for you, my love. You deserve so much better than to be a chew toy. I can take you away from all of this and we can be together.” The sincerity in his eyes tugged at Laura’s heart. She had thought their entire relationship was just for fun.
“Frank, I had no idea you felt this way. I thought we were just fuck buddies.” Her eyes widened when she thought of the photos he’d sent her. “You photographed me without my knowing, didn’t you?’
With a sheepish grin, Frank admitted it. “I did. I videotaped you too. The wild abandon in your eyes and body when you rode me…” He shivered with delight. “I watch you over and over. Your body is so beautiful, and you were so good in bed. How can you expect me to just let you go?” Frank took a couple steps forward.
Mason stepped in front of Laura. “That’s enough. You need to get out of my house. Now.” His hands balled into fists at his sides, hanging onto his last remaining shred of composure.
“Not until I get what’s mine, you fucking limey.” Frank returned his attention to Laura. “Come back to me. I did all of this for you. To make you realize how much you truly love me too. I have to be with you, Laura.”
Mason’s mouth set in a hard line, his nostrils flared, and heat crept up his neck. “She is with me now.” He took a step forward. “I am sick and fucking tired of your games, Frank. You’ve pushed way too far. You need to fucking leave.”
In a few quick steps, Frank closed the gap. In a blink he reared his arm back and clocked Mason in the mouth.
The room swam for a brief second. Once the shock of being hit wore off, Mason lunged. The two men traded blows and crashed into walls. Laura pressed herself into a corner, horrified at what was unfolding in front of her. She surveyed the room for any sort of a weapon and settled on the trophy case.
Praying it was unlocked, she yanked on the door, nearly pulling the shelves down on top of her as it opened. She reached inside and grabbed his heaviest looking soccer trophy and clubbed Frank over the head with it.
His body collapsed on top of Mason as several bangs came from the front door. “Police, open up!” Laura dashed to the entrance to let them in while Mason struggled to get out from under a large amount of dead weight.
“Cuff the unconscious guy! Quick, before he wakes up!” Laura pointed at the heap that was her former lover. “He was the guy following me around.” Laura began to shake from the surge of adrenaline. An officer sat her on the floor while his partner went to talk to Mason and take care of Frank.
“Okay. Tell me everything that happened, and leave no detail out.” The husky officer sat on the floor in front of her with his notepad and pen at the ready.
Laura told him everything from the relationship she and Frank had to his hostility when he found out about Mason, all the way up to that night. “I have all of the things he sent me, plus the giant death threat scrawled across my living room wall.” She shook her head in exhaustion. “I just want him gone and out of my life.”
The second officer came out of the room, shoving a handcuffed Frank in front of him. Laura could hear him being read his rights as he was guided towards the front door. Frank glanced over at Laura and tried to make eye contact. She saw the pleading look in his eyes and dropped her gaze to the floor. She would feel sorry for him later.
“I’ll have a detective call you two in the morning,” the husky officer instructed as he got to his feet. “We’ll keep Romeo in custody until the trial is over. I suggest taking out a restraining order in the meantime in case someone posts his bail.” The officer tipped his hat to Laura before leaving. “Have a good night, you two.”
Laura collapsed against Mason’s chest. The adrenaline fatigue had set in, but another, more primal, urge for connection rose up right behind it and quickly took over her body.
She pressed herself up against him and pulled his mouth down to hers. Her kiss was hot and demanding, her tongue sweeping over his with the need to claim and be claimed.
Mason gave right back. The last of his simmering anger poured into that kiss. Laura was his and his alone. How dare another man try and come to stake a claim on his relationship. Grabbing her ass, he pushed his erection into her pelvis. He did not intend to be slow or gentle.
Laura could sense she was in for a ride. She snaked her hands under Mason’s t-shirt and raked her fingernails down his torso to his belt buckle, culling a primal growl from his lips. With deft fingers she unclasped the buckle and button and slipped his pants down his hips, freeing his cock. With a firm hand she began to stroke.
Mason moaned into her mouth. She was driving him crazy. He tore at her pants, jerking them down her legs so he could finger her and get her ready. To his surprise, she was already there.
He ripped her underwear off and tossed the scrap of fabric into a corner. In one motion he hoisted her up and pressed her against the wall. Laura let out a groan of surprise as he pushed inside of her and began to thrust.
Laura dug her nails into Mason’s taut shoulders for grip and wrapped her long legs around his waist to allow him to go deeper, slamming into her most delicate parts. The sharp twinges of pain carried over into pleasure. She wanted to hurt. Laura needed the pain as an outlet to release all of the emotional pain and stress.
In a moment of tenderness she pressed her mouth to his ear. “I’m yours. I always will be.” Before she became speechless and was only capable of moaning and sighing.
On the next thrust she pressed her head against the plaster, her cries echoing off the walls as her orgasm consumed her. Fueled by her pleasure, Mason pumped a few more times before joining her with his own.
He buried his face in her neck and silently vowed to protect her with whatever it took, including his own body.
Chapter Forty
Laura Ross stared out her office window at the security detail waiting outside. Her boyfriend, Mason Decker, billionaire, tech wizard, and the love of her life, had hired her a personal bodyguard after her stalker drama the month before.
Her cell phone rang. She glanced at the Caller I.D. to see Mason’s name pop up for the t
hird time that day…and it was only just past noon. With an annoyed groan she sent him to voicemail.
At first the gestures had been sweet. He would call to check up on her, and yes, the bodyguard was nice, but it was now spiraling out of control. One call per day quickly grew to two, then three, and now it was up to five times a day. She was having a hard time coming up with things to talk about when she saw him in person.
Mason rang again. This time she sent him to voicemail and shut the damn thing off. Just in case, she unplugged her landline and set up an away message for her email. She needed to breathe. She rested her head on her arms and counted to ten to regain her composure. She had to remind herself, This is coming from a good place with each breath she took.
“Excuse me. Miss Ross?” Roy MacTavish, her bodyguard, stuck his head in the doorway. Roy was an ex-NFL hopeful who’d destroyed his knee in college. He had the height and build of a Viking, which, coming from a purely Scottish family, wasn’t surprising. After an attempt at professional wrestling didn’t pan out, he’d moved on to personal security.
“What is it, Roy?” she snapped without raising her head. She could feel a twinge beginning behind her left eye.
“Mr. Decker just called and asked me to check on you. Says your phones are off.”
Laura lifted her head and waved Roy into her office. His broad body slipped inside, shutting the door behind him. “Ma’am?”
Laura thought very carefully about what she would say next. Roy was Mason’s employee, not hers, and she knew she had no clout with him, but if she could send him away for five minutes she would be so happy. “Yes, Roy. I shut the phones off. I just needed some quiet time. My head is pounding.” That was mostly the truth. “I’m getting ready to go to lunch. Is there anywhere you’re in the mood for?” She figured if she couldn’t lose him, she could at least have some company.
“Oh, um…” He had been caught off guard. No directive had ever been considerate of his needs before. “Can we just hit the deli across the street? They make a bitchin’ cup of coffee.”
Laura nodded. She hadn’t felt much like walking, so the location was perfect. “Go on out. I’m just going to gather my things. Tell Mr. Decker – Mason – I’m fine. Hale and hearty.” And extremely annoyed.
With a nod, Roy took his leave. Laura dug around her junk drawer for the bottle of
Excedrin she had to keep stocked as of late. After popping two of the little white pills, she grabbed her purse to meet Roy.
She turned after shutting the door to see Tammy, the young, flame-haired receptionist, chatting up the big Scot, and smiled. She lingered back to watch the hapless flirting the co-ed was attempting and which was somehow working. Roy blushed and handed her his phone. Laura watched with amused surprise as Tammy programmed her number in.
The exchange instantly lifted her mood. Tammy was her favorite person at the office, so she loved seeing the girl smile.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I do believe this fella is escorting me to lunch.” Laura leaned over the reception counter to make a knowing face at Tammy. The girl blushed in response. Roy’s complexion matched his name as well.
“I, uh, yeah. Sorry, Laura.” Tammy looked anywhere but at Laura’s face. “It was nice to see you, Roy. Enjoy your lunch.”
Laura started to follow Roy out to the lobby, but stopped herself. She turned back to Tammy and gave her a hug instead. Something maternal drove her to do it. “He’s a good one. Get him, girl.” With a wink Laura turned to follow her bodyguard out, leaving Tammy grinning like an idiot in her wake.
“So, Roy. You and Tammy, huh?” Laura teased.
The big man blushed up from his neck to the roots of his dark blond hair. “Yeah. I think she’s really pretty.”
“Tammy’s a good girl. Ask her out to dinner. I’ll be at Mason’s all weekend, so take advantage of the time off,” Laura suggested.
“Do you think she’d say yes?” Roy asked. They both jogged across the street as the light turned.
“I really do. She’s sweet on you.” Laura waited as Roy opened the door to the diner. Mason was already waiting at a table in the back corner. With a sigh, Laura crossed the busy floor and sat down. “I wasn’t expecting to have lunch with you today.”
“MacTavish told me you two were coming here. Since you didn’t answer my calls, I thought I’d join you. Sit.” With a glance back at her bodyguard, who seated himself near the door, she resigned herself to her situation.
“I can tell you’re annoyed with me, but please be assured, I’m doing this because I love you. I want to see that you’re safe.” Mason rested his hand over Laura’s on the worn Formica.
“I know, Mason. It’s just a lot. I’m not used to this level of involvement with someone. Do you think you’ll let up with this at all?” Like, yesterday!
“Yes, soon, I hope. Frank is being put on trial next week. After he’s locked up things can go back to normal.”
The countdown was on in Laura’s mind. She couldn’t wait to be able to go home again and live in her own apartment and have nights alone with bad reality television. Or maybe she could go out with her friends unsupervised. She’d cancelled the plans she had made with Jill from before Christmas because she was embarrassed to be seen with her security detail. The thought of Roy looming over her friends all night made Laura uncomfortable; she could only imagine how her friends would feel.
Being tailed by somebody all the time made Laura feel completely isolated from the rest of the world. After the first week, she would chat and exchange niceties with Roy, but when other people saw him with her they often ran across the street.
“Good. I can’t wait. So, what are we having for lunch?” Laura stood her menu up in front of her face, blocking Mason out of her line of vision. Just that gesture helped her breathe a little easier.
“I can’t stay, darling. I just wanted to check in on you. Order what you like. On me.” Mason tipped the menu away from Laura’s face to look at her. He could read the worry and the strain on her face. The guilt of forcing her to do this weighed heavy on him, but he couldn’t risk having another incident. Mason was also afraid she would try to hide from him if something new did come up, and he couldn’t have that.
“Oh. Okay. I’ll see you tonight then.” Laura couldn’t keep the irritation out of her voice.
“Tonight, darling. And I’m sorry.” Mason kissed Laura’s forehead before taking off.
Laura was left with an acute feeling of emptiness. Emotionally, she had been all over the place. She was up one minute, down the next. She spent a good portion of her time pissed at Mason’s clinginess, but when he left her she felt bare and exposed without him. “Love sucks,” she muttered to herself as she looked over her menu.
“Can I join you?”
Laura glanced up and motioned to the chair vacated by Mason. Roy sat in front of her and waved for the server.
“Thanks for coming to join me, Roy. Mason left rather abruptly.” Or at least it felt that way.
“No problem, Ms. Ross. I can keep a better eye on things from back here anyway.” He sat with his back to the wall and faced the front door. From where they were seated he did have a pretty good view of the place.
“Are you expecting someone to come in and carry me out of here?” Laura joked.
“Not really, but if someone wants to try and rob the place or something I’ll see them coming before anyone else does.”
The server stepped up to the edge of the table to take their order.
“Latté for me and a turkey sandwich.” Laura glanced down at her watch, “Better make that to go.”
“Black coffee, leave room for milk, please,” Roy asked. He handed the menus off and relaxed. Or at least his posture was relaxed; his eyes were still sharp.
The pair sat in silence until their order arrived. Laura checked her email and replied to one from her attorney about Frank’s trial. She made a mental note to call her back when she got to the office.
Laura and Roy co
llected their food and left. Laura was in no particular hurry to get back to work, but sitting idle was making her twitch. Lately, she felt like if she sat still too long she would crawl right out of her skin.
Her phone’s text alert chimed. When she entered the office she checked. A message from Mason popped up. For a moment she contemplated ignoring it, but didn’t want the scene if he decided to show up at her office.
I love you. I’ll lighten up. I promise. Come over tonight so I can make it up to you.
That made Laura smile. She had worn her skimpiest lingerie under her work clothes just in case. She texted him back,
You had better. ;)
The idea to snap him a naughty photo crossed her mind, but lately all eyes were on her, so she quickly vetoed that choice. Instead she settled in at her desk and spread her lunch in front of her. With a crunch of her pickle, she started back on her article for that month’s issue.
In the minutes, even hours, after sex, Laura was content. She lay curled up with her head on Mason’s chest fully relaxed and sated. In that time she wasn’t mad at him and their relationship felt the most normal since her stalker ordeal.
Chapter Forty One
The bedroom was the only place she was comfortable letting Mason take control of her. There she slipped into her role as submissive and followed his orders without question or hesitation. It always surprised her how willing she was to emotionally let Mason in when they were physical, when she would naturally want to push against that any other time.
***
Mason hugged Laura closer. He savored these moments. Lately their relationship had been too tense; they fought too often and loved too little. He found it difficult to give Laura her autonomy back. He knew it was the right thing to do, but the worry that something worse would happen was too strong, too fresh. Every day he was on the phone with his attorneys, pushing to make sure Frank was locked away where he could never get out and terrorize her again.
KILLIAN: A Mafia Romance (The Callahans Book 2) Page 103