Page 11

NYLA

I leaned over Mason’s body as he lay back, his arms stretched behind his head, watching me.

That was the deal we made an hour before.

He hadn’t let me touch him earlier, and now it was my turn.

Midnight eyes glittered as I knelt over him, taking the head of his swollen cock into my mouth and licked the tip.

Breath hissed between his teeth, and the heavy length in my mouth thickened impossibly.

“Fuck, girl. You’re gonna kill a man looking at me like that.” His hands flexed on his elbows where they rested behind his head, but other than that, he made no movement at all .

“Good boy,” I murmured, freeing my mouth up with an audible pop .

Mason groaned, and I watched his hands flex again, the corners of my mouth turning up.

Have a taste of your own medicine, Mister Hale.

I’d more than enjoyed what we did before, but I’d wanted to touch him, feel the warmth of him in my hands.

This way, he got to understand that empty ache while I played as I wanted.

I leaned down, licking the length of him again, letting my fingertips tickle his balls.

“ Fuuuucckk,” he groaned.

His eyes flickered shut before he snapped them open to focus on me.

Another little rule we agreed on earlier.

Smiling, I opened my lips and swallowed his cock as deep as I could, swirling my tongue around the base of his length.

He pulsed in my mouth even as he cursed fluently above me.

Those rugby thighs I loved even more up close, muscle on muscle, tensed as I wiggled my way deeper into my spot, setting a rhythm that earned me enough moans until I struggled to breathe for the thickness of him.

Then I pulled my mouth off his length, licking my lips as I straddled him and leaned my hands over his arms.

“You’re cruel, Nyla,” Mason murmured, though his flashing eyes told me he thought anything but that.

“Mmm, if you say so.” I speared myself with his cock, sinking down onto him until he filled me and my thighs rested on his.

“Oh, wow. You’re so thick.”

“And you’re tight.” He blew out air between his teeth in a quick blast. “Move for me, gorgeous, before I come just from the sensation of your wet pussy gripping my cock.”

I levered myself up, using his arms for purchase, and dropped back down on him, working in a quick rhythm that set my insides ablaze with need.

But even with the thickness of him inside me, I wouldn't be able to come without something a little more at this angle. “Mason—” I whispered as I dropped a hand between us, rubbing my clit.

“That’s it. Show me what you like.” He held himself perfectly still for me. “Show me how that wet pussy of yours creams for me, Nyla.”

I bit my lip, my body overheating under his study. His gaze ate up everything I did so hungrily. I wasn’t used to anyone watching me, or even caring that I took pleasure for myself during sex. But that he did, and from the feeling of how hard he was inside me, got off on it …

I folded forward, crying out as I came. He caught me, wrapping me in a tight embrace.

“That’s it. Come around my cock, gorgeous. Fuck, you feel so good.” Mason held onto me tighter, pushing up gently from below.

I gasped at the sensation that rocketed through me, then vaguely remembered our pact. “The rules! You said you wouldn’t?—”

“Touch you until you took your own pleasure. And that looked like plenty right there. Are you gonna let me make you come hard again now?” He pulled me deep onto him, pushing up until I was impaled on his length and held me there, imprisoned with his hands on my hips. “Nyla?”

I gasped, wiggling my hips, but I could barely speak. Waves of pleasure rippled through me as I struggled to breathe, struggled to move. Every time I shifted, another shot of pure bliss hit me.

Mason’s slow smile was beyond devastating. “Come for me, gorgeous. Just like this. Ride me again, and then I’m going to fuck you deep and fast.”

I nodded, rolling my hips with his encouragement, though he didn't move at all.

I groaned as he pushed me down deeper onto him.

My nails scraped at his shoulders.

I rode him like he demanded, grinding onto him as I panted until the waves broken and I?—

Shattered.

I clung to him, almost sobbing with the overwhelm as he kissed me gently.

Our lips moved sweetly, tongues tangling in a slow dance.

“That was beautiful. Do you remember my promise?”

I blinked up at him, my heart starting to slow as I leaned against him in a pool of sweat, every limb languid.

“No?”

He laughed and tucked me against him, folding my hands behind his neck.

“Hold on to me, okay?”

“Okay—” That one single word became a scream I couldn't control as he slammed into me from below, over and over and over. I guessed I was about to find out how sound proofed—or not—my walls were because the man beneath me was beyond relentless. I clung to him, my nails digging into his skin as he railed me, fucking me hard and fast without ever shifting his position from where he sat beneath me.

I buried my face in his neck, breathing him in as I panted and muffled my cries against his skin, but he wound his hand in my hair, and pulled.

“I want to hear you scream for me, Nyla. Know you’re mine tonight,” he grated, never stopping, his fingers digging into my hip like he branded me with his touch.

And so I screamed for him, coming again like I couldn't stop.

My thighs clamped around his hips, locking me in place.

I thought I’d never stop shivering, my entire body trembling by the time he slammed hilt deep and roared my name above me.

The hand tangled in my hair clasped my head to his chest. His heart pounded rapidly against my cheek as I lapped salt from his skin.

Mason collapsed backward bringing me with him.

“Damn girl. I think I’m in love with you.”

“Mmmmm.” I made a long, contented sound, because nothing else wanted to come out right then.

He laughed, holding me to him as something vibrated on the floor.

“Ah, they can go to hell. Probably Hansen telling me to get on with it.”

“Mmm. Or reminding me to move my car.” I yawned and snuggled into his chest.

How good could a man possibly feel?

I’d never had the luxury of sleeping with a man before in my life.

Stuart refused flat out, sleeping on his side of the bed and never touched me after our brief rounds of one-sided sex that left me more than wanting.

He proposed to me straight out of high school and we divorced shortly after having Brady because family life wasn't what his mother sold to him. Funny, that. A pity that his toxic traits drove mine away…not that this moment was the time to reflect on my shitty past.

I yawned again, sinking into Mason’s embrace. The vibrating stopped and started again a moment later.

“Fuck. Off,” Mason enunciated clearly for a man who should be exhausted. I frowned and shifted in his arms, straining for the edge of the bed. “Ignore them, gorgeous. The boys get rowdy on a Saturday night. Prank calls are the name of the game.” He stroked my hair back from my face in a tender motion I wanted to savour forever.

But that vibration twigged something low in my stomach. “Not if it’s not yours ringing.” I elbowed him not so lightly in the stomach. He grunted and let me go. The cool spots where he had held me a moment before sank in as I scampered over him, naked, to get to my phone. I reached my purse and fumbled a hand inside in the darkness just as it stopped vibrating.

Finally I found the device and stared at the number that I missed twice, my stomach sinking. Lisa. Times two at one a.m. plus change. Brady’s babysitter who my sister-in-law insisted we still use so she could go to bed whenever she wanted for the night.

My thumb hit the call button without thinking. “Lisa?” I thumbed the speaker button and went searching for my panties then realised they got destroyed earlier and hunted for a fresh pair.

“He’s not here, Nyla. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to do. I looked everywhere!” Lisa’s hysterical sobbing left me colder than the wet spot I tried to avoid on the other side of the mattress earlier.

I grabbed for my clothes, shoving them on in the darkness. Something tore. I threw the black skirt aside, reaching for my trusty jeans. “It’s okay, Lisa,” I lied. “I'm sure he’s somewhere about.” At two in the morning? “Is Claire there?”

“I’m here.” My sister in law’s cold voice closed over the hysterical babysitter’s. Good to know someone keeps their head in an emergency. “What the hell sort of bullshit did you bring to my house? You’re lucky he’s my brother’s child,” she snarled.

I closed my eyes. Or not. Family sucks. Mason’s arm wrapped around my chest from behind, pulling me into a tight embrace. I squeezed his shoulder and gently disentangled myself, but kept a hold of his hand, grateful for his support as my panic skyrocketed. He frowned at me, flicking a bedside table lamp on.

He’s looking for you? Mason wrote on the screen of his phone, showing me the illuminated display.

I shrugged. That had been my thought too, but I didn’t think he’d climb out of bed in the middle of the night for that. Brady knew I was out with Mason, and he loved his coach, supported my relationship with him. At least, I thought he did.

“Did you hear him leave?” I asked the phone to a general silence, willing myself to remain calm despite my own raging panic as I shoved my legs into my oldest jeans and gratefully grabbed the t-shirt that Mason tossed my way.

The only response for the first few seconds was Lisa’s muted sobs and Claire's hushed snarls. Mason’s arm wrapped tight around me as he battled his own clothes one handed. He tipped my head back and kissed me hard, still not speaking but the message passed between us with clarity as he tucked me tight into his side and finished dressing.

We’ll find him. You’re not alone.

Never in my life had I been so relieved to have someone on my team. Someone like Mason.

“No,” came Claire’s clipped answer.

Short and sweet, and utterly useless .

I swallowed a dollop of pure fear. “Thank you. Have you called the police?”

“What for?”

I closed my eyes and blew out a breath. “Because a child in your care has gone missing, Claire. He’s either walked away, or—” My eyes flew open and met Mason's narrowed gaze head on.

“Or someone took him.” Mason finished the sentence for me.

“Who is that? Who are you talking to?” Claire snapped.

We both ignored her.

Mason’s mouth set in a hard line, the lights from the city outside leaving his face in harsh relief.

He placed the keys to his truck in my hand.

“Where would he take Brady, Nyla?”

Stuart.

Clarity slapped me with a side dish of revenge that only an ex could manage.

Oh, my God. This is payback for me walking out on him last week.

He’s taken my son.

Our son, who can’t stand to be in the same room as his father because he was scared of him.

I should have listened better.

I shook my head. “I– I have no idea. I don’t know anything about his life anymore.” I looked at him helplessly.

“I tried my best to stay away.” Because I thought it best to keep my distance.

And now that choice was biting my ass in spectacular fashion.

“Who are you talking about?” Claire demanded.

I sighed. “I’m sorry we bothered you, Claire,” I said softly.

“Go back to sleep. I’ll call the police and handle it.”

“As you should.” Her voice remained cold, and I expected the line to go dead.

Instead, Lisa’s sobs grew louder.

“Stuart took him, didn't he?” she whispered, her voice ragged.

I froze. “What do you know, Lisa?” My heart pounded in my chest as Mason shoved mismatched socks on my feet, one feeling thicker than the other, and stuffed them into old shoes I hadn’t worn in years, but I didn't care. “What happened?

”

“He– he called me. Yesterday. Told me to make sure I was with Brady last night. I didn’t want to take your money, Nyla. I knew you didn’t have a job right now,” she wailed.

My blood solidified in my veins.

“Lisa,” I said carefully, plating my ass on my bed as gravity took a dive, and took me with it.

“Can you please tell me where you think Brady and St– his dad are right now? ”

Anything.

Give me any information you have.

Please. Tell me he’s safe.

“The restaurant. He’s— He was so angry with you,” she hiccupped.

“I’m so sorry.”

The call went dead in my hand.

One moment I was holding a phone and keys, the next I sat in Mason’s truck, and he was strapping me into the passenger seat, talking on his phone in a low, urgent voice.

“Yeah, that themed restaurant we were at for the team Christmas dinner. Anyone you can. Police, whoever you can get. Thanks, man. I owe you what, ten now?” he laughed and there was no humour in it as I stared at him.

“Mason?”

He leaned in and kissed me as he hung up.

“We’re gonna get him back, gorgeous. I promise.”

I nodded as he headed around the front of the truck.

The engine roared to life in the silent suburb.

Streets and lights melded into a blur as we headed across the city, toward the restaurant I thought I had left for the last time.

I knew long before we got there how this would end, because that was the thing about promises.

You should never make a vow you couldn’t keep.