Cassie
I slipped out of the brothel as Mason continued to talk to Khloe. I didn’t want to interrupt, but I also didn’t know what to do or where to go. I’d been hoping I could see Mason and get an idea of what he had in store for the evening. As it looked, though, he planned on spending the night at the brothel. I could only imagine what was going on in there, between him and the ladies, and surprisingly it made me jealous.
I headed off to one of the rooms, just to wait things out, as I didn’t want to spend any more time in that drab bedroom. I don’t know how long I’d been sitting there, when I heard the door of the room open and hit up against the wall. I quickly stood up, startled to see Mason there.
“Oh, hey…” I said.
I was confused by the way my heartbeat quickened as he stood there
“Hey…” he mumbled.
He stepped further into the room and I noticed, from the way his eyes grazed over me, that there had been a definite shift in how we usually were around one another. He pointed back to the couch.
“Don’t stand on my account,” he said.
His voice was firm and direct, and I slowly sat back down. He took a seat in a chair facing me. My eyes never left him. I was confused and wondering if he was going to start yelling at me or something.
Yet, when he met my gaze, my anxiety faded. I felt at ease. It was an unusual feeling to have, given the circumstances I found myself in.
“Why’d you come to Eden?” he blurted out.
I wasn’t sure if I felt comfortable about sharing my personal history with him, but the look that he gave me, the arch of his brow, told me that I really didn’t have the right not to tell him.
“Failed engagement,” I quietly said.
He leaned back in his chair.
“Speak up. I didn’t understand you,” he said.
I sat up straighter in the couch.
“I was going to get married and suddenly things happened, causing my engagement to be called off.”
He tilted his head.
“Things? Like what?” he asked.
“I mean no disrespect, but that’s really none of your business,” I snapped.
My eyes widened. I couldn’t believe I’d spoken to him like that. He also looked surprised.
“Is that right? You think I don’t deserve to know.”
He looked angry and I cowered back slightly and then his face softened.
“Listen… you’re wrong. I’m asking you a simple question. What happened?”
I gawked at him, my knees trembling slightly. But it wasn’t because I was afraid of him. It was quite the opposite, in fact. I was intrigued by his sudden harsh attitude again. There was something about him that made me quiver with need.
“He cheated on me,” I said. I kept my voice in check, so I wouldn’t start crying. “He had sex with my sister and I walked in on them.”
I shrugged, playing it off as it was no big deal.
“And you’re alright with that?” he asked.
Hell no, I’m not alright with that, I thought. But, really, there was nothing I could do about it.
“Does it suck? Yes. Can I do anything about that? No. I just have to deal with it. The image is something I could do without.”
And that’s when I replace the images with you in my head.
I coughed as the thought echoed through my mind, making me blush right after.
“Maybe you weren’t woman enough to hold onto him?” he said.
My jaw dropped and I couldn’t work out if he was purposely trying to piss me off or if he was just stupid.
“It wasn’t about me,” I said. “He just couldn’t keep his pants zipped.”
Mason’s eyes grew wide and then he eventually laughed.
“Well, then, there you have it,” he snickered. “I’m guessing the pain is still pretty raw. I mean, it just happened.”
“Yeah, you could say that,” I mumbled.
I looked away from him but his words drew me back.
“Wish you could go back?” he asked.
I glanced at him. “You ask a hell of a lot of questions, you know that?”
“So do you, and it doesn’t hurt anyone to be inquisitive,” he said. “So… do you?”
“I wish I could go back and not have to watch my sister and fiancé screwing one another,” I replied. “Of course, I wish that. But our relationship was over the minute it happened. So, do I wish I could go back and salvage that? Not a chance!”
I paused and watched him for a moment, my heart aching for him. Whether it was because the conversation we were having had already grown so intense, or because I couldn’t stop thinking of his body melting against mine, I felt confident and compelled to leave nothing unsaid.
“If I’d still been longing for my fiancé, do you think I’d have been fantasizing about fucking you from the moment we met?”
His eyes widened. Shock took over his features and I could feel my face turning different shades of red. I couldn’t believe I’d actually said that to him. And what was even worse was the look of disgust that seemed to cross his eyes.
This wasn’t how I’d normally have handled things. The obvious change in my character made me feel totally helpless.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed.”
I stood up, barely able make eye contact with him, and turned to the door. I had just reached the door and was about to leave, when I heard him call out my name.
“Cassie!”
His voice was strong and powerful, and I swallowed the lump that had risen in my throat, fearful of even looking his way.
I turned around and saw he was now only inches from me. Hunger was evident in his eyes as he grabbed my arm and forcefully pulled me to him. His lips smothered mine, and we kissed with so much passion that I felt dizzy as his lips blazed against mine.
We pulled back. My eyes latched onto his and, for a moment, neither one of us could say a word. My body tingled with desire as I stared at him and feelings of perplexity hit me. I wanted the moment to continue and go on forever. There could be little doubt what that kiss meant to me. An electrifying current coursed through me and love wasn’t far behind.
Yet, for Mason… He simply said, “Goodnight!” then pushed past me, leaving me bewildered and alone.
All rational thought left me as I tried to focus on what the kiss could mean. In my mind I told myself that, if it never happened again, I would be alright with that.
However, my heart told a different story.