Chapter 16: A Night Out

JAMIE

Paintball.

This was Ryan’s surprise for me.

And I was off-the-wall excited.

I just hadn’t thought he was that wild. I’d been paintballing once before and seemed to have retained some of my beginner’s luck.

After an eventful hour and a half of shooting people and getting shot at, Ryan and I sat down to a simple pizza dinner.

He was absolutely coated in paint; he kept streaking it across his face with the back of his hand.

Honestly, it was the perfect date.

“So, how did you find it?”

I grinned. “That was the best, Ryan. I’m really happy you brought me here. A bit surprised too, if I’m being honest.”

“I know. I was trying to think outside the box. I didn’t want you getting bored doing just dinner all the time.”

“Oh, stop it. I like dinner with you. This was great, though. Can I plan something for next time? You always take me out, I think you should let me spoil you.”

He blushed a bit.

“All right, you can plan the next one since you’re so eager. How about you come back and stay the night at mine after our next date, then?”

“Sure.” I smiled, more softly. “I’d like that.”

I still wasn’t ready to sleep with him, and I’d no idea why.

I’d so easily slept with Mason in Seattle, knowing it wasn’t going to be more than a casual fling.

So why couldn’t I give myself to Ryan, who I knew could be a real future sort of person for me?

“Ready to go?” Ryan set his paper napkin on the table after cleaning pizza grease off his hands.

“Ready.” I stood from our small circular table and we headed out for the car.

I was still in the comfort of the trainers he had got me. After wearing heels all day I was definitely grateful for them.

Ryan held open the car door but stopped me before I got in. He lifted his thumb to rub my cheek.

“You’ve got paint on you.”

I grinned. “Thank you.”

Then he kissed me, slow and soft, a slight touch of tongue, his hand gentle at the back of my head.

Everything my kiss with Mason Knight wasn’t.

MASON

I took Brent up on his offer and decided to go to the club.

So far I wasn’t regretting it.

I had a cute girl in front of me at the bar, kissing my neck, totally keen to come home with me.

I gave Jamie a choice! Go out with Mr. Nice Guy or spend a night in my bed.

It was an offer I’d never given to anyone else, and she chose to go out with him.

“Didn’t I tell you that you would find someone to take your mind off the brunette?” Brent shouted over the music, clapping me on the shoulder before walking away.

“Who’s this brunette?” the girl asked playfully as she placed her arms around my neck.

“Just a girl I know. It doesn’t matter.”

I moved my hands around and cupped her ass, pulling her body closer. I had some sexual frustration that I needed to get rid of.

“I’ve heard some things about you.”

I chuckled. “Is that so?”

She nodded while moving her hand down toward my crotch. She gripped my bulge.

“So far what I’ve heard is true—you’re quite the size. Will you live up to everything I’ve heard in the sack?”

“I guess there’s only one way to find out, hm? Let’s go to mine.”

She got her bag and coat and followed me out of the crowded club.

I hadn’t even been in there that long. When it comes to getting a woman home and into bed, it’s usually a piece of cake anyway.

Except for Jamie…

I’d forgotten this girl’s name, and I didn’t want her to bitch out, so I didn’t ask her. Instead I called her Babe.

I don’t need to know her name. She’s the one that’s going to be screaming mine, after all.

We slipped out of the car outside my building, and I placed my arm around her shoulder as we walked to the door.

That’s when I saw her standing there, her dark hair messy, her black glasses on, and her plump pink bottom lip pulled between her teeth.

Jamie didn’t see us yet, didn’t see that I was here with another woman hours after inviting her into my bed.

I’m guessing she’s changed her mind about my offer.

She’s going to change it right back when she sees me with Babe here.

I thought about shoving Babe into a car to get her out of sight, but she was a mouthy one. I doubted she’d go so easily.

Fuck! Jamie looked in our direction.

“Jamie…” I walked closer to her.

“Mr. Knight. I, uh—I tried to call you but didn’t get an answer…”

She looked over at Babe and then back at me.

“And clearly you’re preoccupied. I’ll go.”

She walked past us.

“Jamie!”

“Is that the brunette you were talking about?” Babe asked. “I’d be interested in a three-way, if you both were?”

I sighed as I watched Jamie get into her car and pull away from the curb. “Actually, I think you should go.”

“You can’t be serious.” Her eyes narrowed in hurt and anger. “You dragged me across town for nothing?”

I pulled out my wallet and handed her some cash. “Get a cab back, there’s one just up there.” I pointed.

“You absolute prick. I’m not a prostitute!”

“I don’t care,” I shouted as I walked away.

JAMIE

“Ugh.”

I paced the floor of my bedroom.

I was still wearing my trainers from paintballing with Ryan, and still cold from standing outside Mason Knight’s building for thirty minutes because security wouldn’t let me in.

And all for nothing!

I can’t believe I was so stupid to even show up there, stupid enough to think he wouldn’t have taken the opportunity to sleep with someone else.

It’s not something that I could be angry with him about either, since I was on a date with Ryan.

But I was angry with myself for showing up and looking like an idiot.

“Jamie,” Carmen shouted.

“What’s up?” I shouted back.

She knows I’m in a mood, usually she wouldn’t disturb me.

“There’s a very hot man here looking for you! I think you should come out here—he said he’ll fire you if you don’t!”

Fire me?

Fuck. It’s him.

At my apartment.

What the hell is he doing here?

I opened the door and rushed down the hallway.

Carmen was standing at the front door getting a good look at Mason Knight, who stood in a black shirt and skinny jeans.

“Mason.”

I think it’s the first time I’ve actually called him Mason since I got in trouble over it.

“Jamie. Can we talk?”

Carmen looked between us. “I’ll give you two some privacy, then.” She passed me and whispered, “Good going, love, so proud of you.”

I folded my arms. “Is your other girl waiting by the elevator while you have a quick chat?”

He rolled his eyes. “I told her to leave and then came straight here. She wasn’t happy about it.”

“You shouldn’t have done that to her because of me. You wanted her, that’s why you brought her home. If I hadn’t shown up at your apartment you would be sleeping with her right now.”

He shrugged, stepping into my space.

“But you are the one that I wanted in my bed tonight. No one else. I was settling because you turned me down for Mr. Nice Guy.”

“Well, I was surprised. Your offer caught me off guard—and at very short notice, might I add.”

“Are you sleeping with him, Jamie?”

His dark eyes were fixed on me.

“I want to know if you’ve felt pleasure since we’ve come back from Seattle.”

“You’re still not counting my vibrator?” I deadpanned.

“Oh, please. I can pleasure you so much more than that vibrator of yours. This time I want to make it count. I want to savor you all night long.”

“One more time?”

His lips were on my neck. He pressed me against the door, soft and sweet as he moved toward my ear.

He pulled my lobe between his teeth, causing me pleasure and pain at the same time.

“One more time. Just for the exception to my rule.”