Page 54 of House of Payne

“Outing the business? I wasn’t…” I trail off, and it feels like a bucket of ice-cold water has been thrown over me. “They have no idea, do they? The people who work in the mansion, I mean.”

Mason’s eyes sweep over me. “I knew there was a brain in there somewhere. In the future, you’d well remember to keep your mouth shut, or I’ll fuck your throat.”

His words send an unexpected bolt of desire through me.

“I… you…” I stutter, thinking past the roaring in my ears. “I didn’t.”

Mason covers the distance between us and places his hands on my shoulders. Then his fingers are around my throat, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. The smell of his cologne, something earthy and spicy, washes over me, and excitement courses through me.

What is wrong with me?

I shouldn’t be responding to him like this.

But there’s something about being near Mason that makes me ache in places I shouldn’t.

It almost makes me wish I was someone else.

The kind who would hike up her skirt and let him take her against the elevator walls.

Mason grins, and I stiffen. “When I do fuck you, London—and I will—you will be begging for it.”

I tilt my head back to look up at him. “Never.”

The look in Mason’s eyes is molten. “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into. It’s only a matter of time.”

His fingers press deeper into my skin, and I swallow hard.

Mason brushes his fingers against my throat before drawing back. “You will beg me, and you’re going to enjoy every second.”

I open my mouth to protest, but nothing comes out.

I want to tell him off.

I also want to race out of the elevator and into the safety and familiarity of Noah’s arms.

I square my shoulders and clasp my fingers behind my back. “I’m just here to pay off my father’s debt.”

Mason reaches into his pocket and pulls out a card. “You’ll need this for the elevator.”

I take it from him, careful not to let our fingers touch. “Thank you.”

Mason gives me one more heated look before he steps away. “Miss Deveroux is the head of housekeeping. She’ll show you the ropes and make sure you have whatever you need.”

The doors slide open, and Mason steps out without a backward glance.

After a brief hesitation, I hurry after him, but I lose him in the crowd of people. The smells of sex, sweat, and alcohol linger as I weave through the crowd, scanning it for a familiar face. When I emerge on the other side of the room, my eyes land on a woman with streaks of silver in her hair, a red button-down blouse tucked into a dark skirt, and three-inch heels.

She makes a beeline for me, and I freeze. “You must be London.”

“Miss Deveroux?”

She gestures to me, and I fall into step beside her as she pushes through the crowd. “Don’t dawdle. It draws too much attention.”

I nearly lose my footing and catch myself at the last second. “I’m sorry. Ma… Mr. Payne didn’t tell me what you looked like or where to find you.”

“Mr. Payne expects discretion and initiative from his employees,” Miss Deveroux replies without looking at me. Using her ID, she pries a door open that leads into a back room with lockers on either side and two bathroom stalls.

“You can change here in the future,” Miss Deveroux says, pausing to throw her arms out to either side. “Don’t walk around with that uniform. Draws too much attention.”