Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Elnora’s breath caught in her throat as Mason’s arm slipped around her waist, pulling her against him with a force that made her pulse quicken. Her hands pressed against his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her fingers. Her left leg draped over his thigh, her back arching instinctively as he moved with a fluid, confident grace. When he slid the jacket from her shoulders and tossed it aside, his fingers tracing up the split in her dress, Elnora’s mind flashed back to the moment that tear had happened—how deliberate, how utterly electrifying it had been.

“Are you going to make me talk now?” she whispered against his.

“I’d rather do something else,” he murmured, his voice a low, primal growl that sent shivers down her spine.

His hand slipped under her dress, cradling her ass with a possessive grip that made her insides flutter. He leaned in, nibbling softly at the sensitive skin of her neck, and Elnora couldn’t suppress the moan that escaped her lips. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as his hands moved with a deliberate, expert precision across her body, igniting a fire wherever they touched. His lips trailed down to her cleavage, and with a teasing glance, he used his teeth to pull the bust of her dress aside, taking her nipple into his mouth.

Elnora’s head snapped back, a gasp of pleasure escaping her as his warm tongue worked its magic. It had taken him too long to come this far with her, to indulge like this, and she was hell bent on enjoying this.

“Boss.”

The voice from the other side of the partition shattered the moment, and Elnora cursed under her breath as Mason’s warmth drew away from her. He held her waist as he set her down beside him, then reached over to activate the intercom with a growl.

“It better be life or death, Hector,” he barked.

A nervous laugh came through the speaker. “~Il signor Luca ha detto che tuo fratello è fuori~.”

The words hit Mason like a brick, and Elnora felt the muscles in his arm stiffen. She studied his face, curiosity piqued—so he had a brother? The thought of it intrigued her. Did they share those piercing green eyes, those same ruggedly handsome features? She squinted, trying to picture what his brother might look like.

“Is everything alright?” she asked softly when he didn’t respond right away.

Mason’s intense gaze met hers, a dark hunger still simmering in his eyes, mingling with a flash of anger. “I need to deal with something,” he said, his tone clipped. But before he could move away, Elnora slipped her hands under his Tux collar and pulled him into a kiss.

He smiled against her lips, cupping her face as he kissed her back, hard and hungry, as if trying to make up for the interruption.

“Now who isn’t finishing what they start?” she teased, her voice playful as she pulled back just enough to speak.

His soft chuckle made her heart skip a beat. “Some people are hell-bent on getting on my nerves,” he said, stroking her cheek with a tenderness that really did not match who he was. “I’m all yours once I’m done.”

With that, he stepped out, leaving Elnora leaning against the seat, her fingers running absently through her hair. She could still feel the lingering sensation of his tongue on her breast, his fingers exploring her, and she closed her eyes, relishing the memory as she counted down the minutes until he returned.

Elnora jolted upright at the sound of an angry voice outside the limo. Crawling toward the driver’s compartment, she rapped on the small hatch until it slid open, revealing the driver and one of the Castelli soldiers. The soldier turned to her with a questioning look.

“~Si, Signora~?” he asked, his accent thick.

“What’s going on?” she demanded, peering through the windscreen but unable to see past the hulking armoured vehicles ahead.

The two men exchanged glances before shrugging in unison. Elnora narrowed her eyes at them, her unease growing. Whatever was happening, they weren’t going to tell her.

As the traffic finally cleared, the convoy resumed its slow crawl toward a new compound. Elnora slid back into her seat, rolling down the window as they approached a sprawling mansion. The driveway wound gracefully through manicured gardens, but it was the heated Italian argument she heard as they rounded the corner that made her heart skip a beat. The voice was unmistakable—familiar, yet unwelcome—and it sent goosebumps racing across her skin.

There was an inexplicable pull, a desperate need to track down the source of that voice and confront the unsettling feeling it stirred within her.

The limo came to a stop, and Benny appeared at the door, his familiar smile in place as he extended a hand to her. She grabbed her jacket from the seat and accepted his help, her mind still spinning as she stepped out. Her gaze drifted toward the front entrance of the mansion, where Antonio stood flanked by two other men she recognized. The sight of him made her stomach churn.

“Where’s Mason?” she asked Benny.

“The boss will be with you soon. Let me show you inside,” Benny replied. He was too sweet to do what he did. She quickly glanced at him, guessing he was a little over 5’11.

Elnora cast an uneasy glance around, realizing with a start that the argument she’d overheard had died down completely, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. Clutching her jacket over the split in her dress, she nodded at Benny, and he led her toward the house.

As they walked, she took in the compound. It wasn’t as large as the last one, but it was bristling with armed men, their presence making her even more uneasy. She understood why Mason had ramped up security, but the sight still set her on edge.

Her mind flashed back to the gruesome image of Anderson’s bloody corpse, mostly because she was surrounded by a ring of guns. She clenched her fist to keep her hands from trembling, willing herself to focus on the present.

“No one in the main house,” Mason ordered, startling her. He appeared out of nowhere in front of the foyer, his tone sharp and commanding.

“Si, M,” Antonio responded, snapping his fingers at the others to send them toward the back of the house.

Elnora watched the group move out, her gaze snapping back to Mason when she felt his fingers curl into hers. His intense green eyes locked onto hers for what felt like an eternity, searching before he led her into the house. They moved through a living room with minimalist decor, its clean lines and muted tones giving nothing away, before heading upstairs to the master suite, which mirrored the understated elegance of the rest of the house.

He shut the door behind her, the heavy click echoing through the quiet room. As he unbuttoned his jacket, his green eyes met hers, a storm of thoughts swirling just beneath the surface. “We’re here until this Joe’s taken care of,” he stated.

Elnora resisted the urge to ask about the heated exchange she’d overheard outside or the identity of that familiar, unsettling voice. Mason seemed tense, and she didn’t want to push him further. Instead, she let her eyes follow his every movement as he shrugged off his tuxedo jacket and draped it carefully over the bench at the foot of the bed. When he began to unfasten his cufflinks, the silver gleam of a pistol holstered across his shoulder caught her attention, a reminder of who he was.

“You’re safe here, with me, El,” he said, his tone softening just a fraction as if to reassure her.

“Will I be free to leave after Joe’s taken care of?” she asked. “I know I owe you twice as much now, but… Naturally, I’ll finish building the network.”

Mason’s gaze flicked to her, a shadow of a smile playing on his lips. “I’m glad you mentioned that.” He removed the holster and set it down on the bureau, the leather creaking softly as it settled.

Elnora watched him, curiosity gnawing at her. Was he planning to stay with her until the danger passed, or was there another reason he was undressing? The thought sent a flicker of excitement through her, one she quickly tried to suppress.

“Why?” she asked, unable to mask her intrigue.

“What were you thinking when you auctioned yourself off at the club?” Mason turned to face her. “And you acted like you didn’t know about it when I mentioned it.”

Her breath caught as her eyes traced the lines of his chest beneath the crisp white shirt, the fabric stretched taut over his sculpted form. She forced herself to focus, pushing aside the wild fantasies that threatened to take over. That damned priest must have filled his head with nonsense.

“I didn’t do that,” she said firmly. “Joe altered the codes to make it look like I did. The priest had his claws in Marcy’s devices, and it was easy for Joe to piggyback on them and run wild. I suppose he’s quite the hacker, too.” She glanced toward the bathroom, longing for the soothing heat of a hot shower. “I would never do something as ludicrous as auctioning myself.”

“So you had no ulterior motives for going to l’Eclipse?” he asked.

“I simply, mistakenly went there on a blind date.” She shrugged, the absurdity of it not lost on her.

Her life had been turned upside down because of something as trivial as a date. She massaged her temple, frustration bubbling up as she looked back at Mason, who had stepped closer to take the coat from her.

“You didn’t seem surprised when I told you I bought you at an auction that day,” he reminded her, his eyes searching hers.

“I thought you were full of it until you mentioned the underground. Then I connected the dots and figured you had no reason to lie to me.” She offered him a small, rueful smile. “You must have realized by now that I rarely wear my emotions on my sleeve. I was truly alarmed, terrified even… for a moment.”

The truth was, her thoughts had been consumed by something else entirely—namely, the idea of being his, of giving in to the slow burn of attraction that had simmered between them since they first met.

“Hmm,” Mason murmured as he moved toward the small parlour area to the left of the room. He lowered himself into a light blush chaise lounge, the fabric a delicate contrast to his commanding presence. He set her jacket aside and looked at her, a question in his eyes as she stared at him.

“Are we roommates?” she asked, trying to keep her tone light, though the prospect thrilled her more than she wanted to admit.

He crossed his legs, his gaze never leaving hers. “I don’t intend to let you out of my sight. We still have a lot to discuss, but before we get started, I want you to rest, see a doctor, and eat something.”

“What about the sleeping arrangements?” she inquired, a playful glint in her eye.

Mason pulled out his phone, studying her for a long moment. “Not much to worry about,” he replied, his attention shifting to the messages pinging on his screen. His brow furrowed as he typed a response, his focus momentarily pulled away.

He was definitely acting weird, must be something to do with that heated conversation outside. Was that his brother? But she agreed with his logic. It would be better if they rested, ate something, and refuelled before having the important conversation.

“Do you need anything?” Mason’s voice cut through Elnora’s thoughts, pulling her back from the edge of her daydream. She blinked, focusing on him, realizing he was watching her. When she shook her head, he nodded slightly and turned away, stepping into the bathroom and closing the door behind him.

Elnora remained where she was, her mind racing. What had soured his mood so suddenly? He’d been so close, so intense, and now there was a distance between them that she didn’t understand.

Driven by an impulse she couldn’t resist, she moved toward the bathroom, her fingers brushing the cool metal of the doorknob before she pushed it open just enough to slip inside. The sound of running water greeted her, along with the faint scent of his cologne, now mingled with the steam that clouded the air.

Her eyes roamed over the room, taking in the neatness of his discarded clothes, the polished brown shoes placed meticulously beside the laundry basket. But it was the figure behind the frosted glass of the shower that held her attention.

Mason stood with his back to her, his broad shoulders and strong arms braced against the black tiles, the water cascading over him in a relentless stream. The steam blurred the edges of his form, turning him into a shadowy presence.

She inched closer, her breath catching as she noticed the scars that marred his back—long, jagged lines, some deep and others barely visible. Each one a story she was desperate to know. Her fingers itched to trace those scars, to feel the rough texture of his skin beneath her touch.

She placed her hand against the cool glass, tilting her head as she took in the sight of him. Mason was a work of art, scarred and beautiful in a way that made her heart race and her pulse quicken. He was dangerous, but that only made him more alluring.

Then he turned, as if sensing her presence. The water streamed down his face, and he swiped a hand over his eyes, blinking through the droplets. Their gazes locked, and for a moment, the world outside the shower ceased to exist. Her eyes travelled down his chest, noting the continuation of those scars, slicing through the smooth planes of muscle. She frowned slightly, realizing she hadn’t felt them when she touched him earlier. Her gaze continued downward, tracing the lines of his body until it settled on his abs, his Adonis belt, and finally, lower.

A small, mischievous smile tugged at the corner of her lips. He was exquisite, every inch of him a beacon to strength.

“Sneaky, aren’t we?” His voice, rough and edged with that dangerous rasp, sent a shiver down her spine.

He stepped forward, and the shower door swung open. The heat and steam billowed out, wrapping around her as if welcoming her in.