Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Elnora picked up her phone the moment Mason left her to go handle something outside and reread Marcy’s message. Taking a deep breath, she dropped back to the couch. She had begun to question if she was in the right place before she got distracted by Mason back at that restaurant.

But it made no sense. The map navigation from the address was accurate, and it led her to that restaurant. Either the establishment changed ownership recently or they were right beside each other.

Of course, there was no way Mason was her blind date. Such a man had no need for such nonsense. She looked around the parlour; this was probably his lair for his conquests. Her heart sank at the thought of being a mere number. But who could resist him? With his perfectly styled tawny hair and chiselled jaw, oh and those eyes?

Elnora bit her lips with a naughty smile. This had all been a terrible misunderstanding, and the sensible thing to do was to call it a night, but she felt reckless tonight. It was the perfect setup—one steamy night with him, then they could go their separate ways.

Screw Marcy.

After typing a quick response to Marcy to calm her down, Elnora rose and stretched. On second thought, it made sense to leave now. She still had her actual blind date to call and apologize. No, she shook her head. She needed to see how this played out.

Her stomach growled, and she massaged it with a groan. She had skipped lunch in anticipation of her dinner date, but that didn’t happen. Mason had offered to grab dinner, why had she turned him down?

Looking around, she decided to check out his castle for herself, and she knew exactly where to start.

She walked through the parlour, passing a well-polished piano, and noticed the colours maintained their monochrome theme. She went up the stairs, cringing against the click of her golden pumps on the steps.

Through all the doors she passed, she poked her head in until she reached the master’s bedroom—the scene of many a conquest. Elnora pushed the door open, gazing in astonishment at the large bedroom; her room would fit in it twice.

In the middle was a king-size bed with a TV mount directly in front of it. To the left was an oriel window running from the roof to the floor, and a little parlour beside it; a contemporary yet classic gray and white decor.

Elnora strolled in, her curiosity piqued. “Well, if this isn’t the quintessential bachelor pad,” she muttered to herself, rolling her eyes. “All it needs is a neon sign that says ‘Welcome to Pleasure Palace.’”

She approached the bed, running her fingers over the soft, luxurious duvet. “Yep, definitely the scene of many a conquest. How many broken hearts, I wonder?” she said facetiously, imagining the countless women who had probably sprawled across these very sheets.

A large walk-in closet caught her eye. She sauntered over and peeked inside, finding an impressive collection of suits, each tailored to perfection. “Of course, Mr. Perfect has a perfect wardrobe to match,” she murmured.

The en-suite bathroom was next, complete with a massive soaking tub and a rainfall shower.

Her phone buzzed again. Marcy’s messages had gone from concerned to downright frantic. Elnora sighed, tapping out another quick response: “I’m fine. Stop freaking out. I’ll call you later.”

He was clearly not the type to settle down, and she was not in the market for a fling—or was she? The idea of spending a night in his arms was more tempting than she cared to admit.

As Elnora re-entered the bedroom, her eyes caught sight of a bookshelf on the other side of the room, lined with an eclectic mix of titles. She walked over, scanning the spines, and pulled out a well-worn copy of The Art of War.

“Enjoying yourself?” a voice drawled.

Elnora turned around with a gasp to see Mason leaning against the doorway, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

“I… My apologies for invading your privacy,” she stuttered, clutching the book. “I only wanted a tour of your place.”

“How long have you been here?” he asked, his brows drawing together in genuine curiosity.

It was the well-made bed with the Egyptian sheets and the pillows that occupied a quarter of it that caught her eye. She wanted to fall into its warm embrace and forget this entire mess. When Mason moved towards her, her glance shifted back to him.

“Elnora, we should talk.”

The way he looked at her made Elnora wonder if he ever had anyone turn him down. She doubted it.

“Why so serious?” Her brow arched with the question, and Mason smiled weakly. But she didn’t want to talk, she’d much rather do something else.

She ran her fingers over his chest, feeling the rock-hard muscles underneath, and felt him catch his breath. She wanted to see him without the fine suit and the perfect hair. He smiled a little, flashing those fine teeth she wanted to nibble on.

“Now is not the time, ~tesoro~.” He caught her wandering hand against his chest.

She leaned in close, brushing her lips across his ear. “Isn’t that what makes it spectacular?”

Mason chuckled, a deep sound that sent a shiver down her spine. “You’re relentless, aren’t you?”

“Just determined,” she replied. “There’s a difference.”

Though he groaned, his face remained unreadable. His control fascinated her, and she desperately wanted to see him savor her slowly, like he’d promised.

“I’m sure you know this whole night was a misunderstanding. I am not your blind date.” He stared at her quietly, his eyes searching hers.

Elnora just shrugged. “But still, you owe me something. Do I need to remind you?”

For a moment, they simply smiled at each other, his gaze intense, and Elnora barely able to breathe. Until now, she had never seduced anyone. She wasn’t that brave, and she had chosen a tough one to begin with.

Just as she was wondering whether Mason would turn her down, he moved, his strong hand propping her chin up. Slowly, he lowered his lips to hers, holding her gaze. The pounding in her chest spread to the rest of her body in unbridled anticipation.

“And what exactly do I owe you, Elnora?” he whispered.

She could barely muster the words, her voice a whisper, “You owe me a night I’ll never forget.”

His lips devoured hers, spreading a fire that ignited her longing for meticulous ravishing. As he pulled her in, his hands on her waist, and with a kiss that was gentle and thorough, Elnora buckled.

One, two steps, and she was up against the wall beside his closet. For a moment, Mason pulled away to look at her, then reclaimed her lips in a possessive, soul-numbing kiss.

Elnora writhed against him as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. Next, her hands slipped under his shirt, roaming restlessly against his firm muscles. Mason nibbled on her bottom lip, garnering a moan from her as his hand cupped her face.

He groaned against her lips as she stroked her fingers along the line of his hard-on trapped in his pants. She smiled against his mouth, feeling the impressive length and girth beneath her touch.

He broke away from the kiss and eyed her dress, a glance that told her what he was about to do. Slipping his hands under the fabric, Mason ripped a split that ran up to her waist, revealing her red panties. A wide-eyed Elnora gasped at him, and he grinned back.

“That’s better.” He took her lips in a fierce kiss.

“You owe me a dress,” she said softly.

He pulled back again to look at her, his gaze intense and appreciative. Her breath hitched at his scrutiny, and a shiver ran down her spine when he leaned in and kissed her cheek, tracing his lips slowly down her neck. In the warmth of his touch, Elnora sighed, closing her eyes against the pleasure of his lips gently caressing her skin.

When his fingers slipped up her thigh and into her panties, her eyes flew open. Her legs quivered, and she gripped his shoulders as his fingers stroked the softness between her legs. Mason teased her with gentle nibbles on her neck that overwhelmed her.

“~Ti senti come la seta~,” he moaned against her skin.

Elnora heated up, translating his words. “You feel like silk.” She grinned, her fingers tangling in his hair as his fingers gained momentum. As a quiet ecstatic moan escaped her throat, his green orbs flashed a devilish glint at her. As his fingers moved faster and faster, her breath quickened. With a soft moan, her hips arched to meet his touch. Again, he recaptured her lips, his kiss deep and demanding, sending waves of desire through her.

The doorbell blared down the hallway, followed by the sound of footsteps hurrying up the stairs.

“Boss,” a voice called, drawing closer—the door was wide open.

Looking over his shoulder at the door, Mason said, “I’ll meet you downstairs, Benny.”

“Sì, boss.” The footsteps stopped and backed away, returning to the stairs.

He turned his attention back to her, his eyes locking onto hers for an endless second before he slipped his fingers from between her legs. She inhaled a sharp breath, her body shuddering involuntarily, frustration and longing now overshadowing the sweetness of his touch. She bit her lip, trying to steady her breathing, her eyes never leaving his.

“I’ll hurry back, ~tesoro~.” His lips curled in a smile as he straightened his jacket and shut the door behind him on his way out.

He was Italian. He could have fooled her without a trace of an accent. Elnora slumped into the soft bed, pulling the duvet over herself against the heavy thumping in her chest. A beaming smile spread across her face, and she ran her fingers through her hair, eagerly waiting for Mason’s return.

She rolled over on the bed, letting out a sigh. “Hurry back, Mason. I’m not done with you yet.”

So he was a boss? But he wouldn’t tell her what he did or why he required armed guards or owned a castle like this. Elnora couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the absurdity of it all.

She got up and walked to the window, adjusting her ruined dress as she looked out at the view. The sprawling grounds were impressive, to say the least, but it was the driveway that caught her attention.

Several men were stepping out of black Escalades with weapons. Dread pumped through her veins.

What the hell was Mason into?