Whatever It Takes (19 page)

“I love you too, Mason,” she admitted.

His breath hitched and a relieved smile slowly spread across
his face, and her confidence grew. She took a shaky breath and continued.

“I’ve loved you for a while now.”

“Did you love me
that
day?”

“Before that.”

“Then why did you leave me?” He gently caressed her back
with one hand but kept a firm hold on her with the other to prevent her from
fleeing.

“‘Cause I didn’t know how you felt about me. I mean really,
as far as I knew it was just sex for you. I knew from the first time we met
that you wanted to fuck me. You made that pretty damn clear but I didn’t think
love was on the menu. Then, dumbass that I am, I thought I might have blurted
out that I was in love with you sometime in the night. I was embarrassed and I
didn’t see how things could ever work out with us. I should have stayed and
talked to you but I figured if it wasn’t for the drug, we’d have kept fighting
this attraction and none of it would have ever happened anyway, so I thought I
was doing you a favor and letting you off the hook…”

She stopped talking at the sound of Mason’s laughter.

“Oh, Angel, we’re a pair, you and I. I did want to fuck you
since the day I met you but then you ended up stealing my heart. I was just too
stupid to admit it. When you saved me at the park that day you were so smart
and brave, and I realized I trusted you completely. On the walk back to my
apartment, I thought about every moment I spent with you and how I had changed
since the first day we met. I couldn’t ignore what you meant to me anymore. I
made up my mind I was going to quit screwing around and claim you as my own,
once and for all. If we hadn’t been attacked when we walked into my apartment,
I was going to drag you straight to my bed and keep you there until I could
make you love me back.”

Laurie gave him a look of wonder and wanted to kick her own
ass for not allowing herself to think there could be something more between
them. She could have saved them both a month of misery.

“I’m sorry, Mason.”

She lowered her head, not quite able to meet his eyes, but
he gripped her chin and kissed her gently.

“It was probably for the best. Thinking you didn’t want me
made me determined to be a better man. The way I was living put you in danger
and it was nowhere near what you deserve. That’s why I changed my life, Laurie.
I did it so I would be good enough for you. I have a long way to go, but, baby,
I’m on my way.”

“You did all this for me?” She huffed out a small, surprised
laugh.

Mason nodded.

“I’d do anything for you, Angel, whatever it takes.” Laurie
laid her head on his chest, wanting to believe him more than anything in the
world.

“Now, that being said, if you ever try to get away from me
again, I’ll track you down, drag you back here, tie you to this bed and screw
your brains out until you get it through that pretty head of yours that
you
belong to
me
. Got it?”

She raised an eyebrow, her inner feminist and her inner slut
battling over how to respond to the threat. Unfortunately for the feminist, she
found his description quite enticing and the slut won the wrestling match.

She smiled and nodded against his chest. He grinned and
tangled his hands in her hair. Adjusting her position, she snuggled tightly
against him, unable to remember a time in her life when was so happy. She
closed her eyes and inhaled the comforting scent of the man she loved. Before
she knew it, she fell into a blissful sleep and for the first time in weeks,
she slept through the entire night.

* * * * *

Early the next morning, Laurie woke up alone in Mason’s
giant bed. She slid out of it and began searching for her clothes. Her skirt
was lying at the foot of the bed but she thought her shirt and bra were
downstairs. Hesitantly opening and closing doors, she found the bathroom and
decided to have a shower.

The bathroom had an old claw-footed bathtub and shower. It
took her a few moments to figure out the knobs but once she did, she enjoyed
nice water pressure and liked washing with Mason’s soap. She smiled at the idea
of smelling like him all day. When she was done she found a robe on the
bathroom door and slipped it on. It was huge but it too smelled like Mason did
so she couldn’t complain. Grabbing her skirt, she went downstairs in search of
the rest of her clothes. She had class and she would need to stop by her dorm
room to change so she needed to get going.

Downstairs, Laurie found her shirt and bra in the dining
room and sounds from the kitchen drew her in. She stood in the doorway and
smiled at the sight that greeted her. Mason was at the stove, wearing only
jeans that fit low on his hips, showing off every inch of his impressive torso.
His focus was on whatever he was cooking and he was mumbling to himself. It was
the sexiest sight she had ever seen. He looked up and smiled when she walked
in. He met her halfway across the room and planted a bone-melting kiss on her
before he pointed toward the stove with his spatula.

“Hungry?”

She nodded and he poured her a cup of coffee before
motioning for her to have a seat at the small table while he filled a plate
with food.

Laurie ate the breakfast Mason served her, enjoying his
company. There was something intimate and sexy about sharing a meal together,
barely dressed. She dreaded having to leave for class but she assumed he had
work to get to that day, as well. When she told him she would have to call a
cab, he shook his head.

“Fuck that—just take my car.”

She was surprised that he would offer and didn’t really feel
comfortable with taking his vehicle. Mason had a nice car and she would feel
horrible if something happened to it. She told him so and he laughed.

“Angel, I’m a mechanic. I’m sure I could fix any damage you
might do to it.”

“But what about my car? I thought you said you could fix it.”

“You’re not driving that piece of shit anymore. Thing’s a
fucking deathtrap; only place it’s headed is the scrapyard.”

His tone let her know he wouldn’t be arguing about it with
her. She raised an eyebrow and grinned at him.

“Well, what if I decide I like your car more than I like you
and just take off with it. What are you going to do then, tough guy?”

“I’ll just call the cops and tell them this hot little piece
of ass seduced me and stole my car. Let’s see how much you like me when you
need someone to bail you out of jail. See…my plan is perfect. You’ll have to
come back here after school or face the consequences. I told you, there’s no
escape this time, Angel.”

She shook her head and laughed as she carried her plate to
the sink.

She was about to wash the dishes she’d used when he came up
behind her and rubbed against her. His arms circled her and he untied the belt
of her robe and then caressed her breasts and belly.

“Have you ever been fucked on a kitchen table?”

He breathed in her ear, sending a tingling sensation
straight to her core. Her mind went over all the times and places she’d had sex
with him and she did not recall a kitchen table. She bit her lip and shook her
head.

She wiggled her ass against him, feeling him harden instantly.
Mason pulled the robe down her arms, placing playful, nipping kisses on her
shoulder. His hands explored her body as he turned her around. He gripped her
hips and backed toward the table, pulling her with him. She worked his fly open
and gripped him as he sat on the table.

Smiling in anticipation, Laurie let her robe fall to the
floor as she climbed onto his lap. He leaned back on his elbows with his legs
dangling off the edge of the table as she lowered herself onto his shaft. He
gripped her hips and pulled her down as he thrust upward. She cried out at the
delicious shock of him invading her body, and she lowered her head to kiss him
as she rocked her hips, enjoying the ride already.

* * * * *

Mason stared up at the ceiling while absently caressing
Laurie’s hair.

“That might not have been the best idea.” He chuckled.

She looked at the broken pieces of the table surrounding
them and grinned. It had split right down the middle just when things had gotten
really intense. He’d held on to her tightly to protect her from the jolt of
hitting the floor and had continued their lovemaking.

“What ever happened to quality craftsmanship?” Laurie
demanded, rising to look in his eyes. “I don’t know where you got this table
but I would demand my money back if I were you.”

“You’re right.” Mason grinned. “People should be ashamed of
themselves, selling tables you can’t even have sex on. It just ain’t right.”

They laughed as they climbed out of the remains of the
kitchen table.

Mason sent Laurie off to get ready for class while he dealt
with the mess they’d made. Upon closer inspection, he concluded there was no
way to salvage the old table. He laughed as he carried the pieces to the back
alley for trash pickup and then came back inside just in time to walk Laurie
out.

He demanded a long, scorching kiss from her in exchange for
his car keys and then he smiled as he watched her get into his car. She took
the time to adjust the seat and make herself comfortable before she started the
engine. He thought she looked good, driving his wheels.

After watching the taillights of his car disappear at the
end of the street, Mason went back through the house and out the back door to
cross the alley to his garage. He couldn’t stop smiling and all the guys who
worked for him noticed his good mood right away.

As the day progressed, his positive attitude continued to
hold out. He cracked jokes and didn’t get the least bit annoyed when one of his
mechanics had trouble with a task Mason considered simple. Instead of blowing
up and questioning their abilities to do any other rudimentary task, such as
dressing themselves, he patiently took the time to show them how to do it and
even handed out a few compliments for jobs well done. After a few hours, it
became clear to him that his constant smile and unshakable good mood made his
employees more uneasy than his usual shitty one. The guys went along with it,
nervously cracking jokes with him, but none was brave enough to question his
change in attitude. No one, that is, except Dewayne, who showed up at lunchtime
with pizza and beer.

“I was worried about you, big guy,” he said slyly as they
all sat in the office having lunch. “I heard a lot of commotion going on
upstairs last night then again this morning. Is everything okay? You didn’t get
attacked by a burglar or anything, did you?”

Mason continued eating without responding to Dewayne. Mason
had actually forgotten about his buddy down in the basement. It would have been
awkward if Dewayne had walked in while he and Laurie were giving the kitchen
table an honorable death, and she would have been mortified. He should have
been using his head but when he was around her, his brain quit working and all
he could think about was getting his dick into her.

“So where’s your car, buddy?” Dewayne persisted.

Mason shrugged and continued munching on pizza.

“Hey, remember that time you beat the crap out of that guy
for kicking it?”

Mason raised an eyebrow.

“It seems strange to me that it would be gone from your
driveway and you’re not the least bit concerned. In fact, you’re running around
grinning as if they just invented pussy-flavored ice cream.”

Mason covered a chuckle and took a swig of beer but refused
to respond to Dewayne.

“Hey, Marcus, didn’t you say you saw some pretty lil’ thing
driving a car that looks just like Mace’s over near the college?”

Marcus, an older, barrel-chested man, cleared his throat and
nodded, letting a belly laugh slip out. Mason narrowed his eyes at the man but
couldn’t conceal his amusement.

“Well, hey, man,” Dewayne said, “maybe you should call the
cops. It sounds like one of those thug-ass college girls might have broken in
and stolen your car. It’s okay—you can tell the truth. There’s no shame in
getting your ass whipped by a girl. Hell, just tell them it was a whole cheerleading
squad. I hear some of them are pretty vicious.”

Mason couldn’t help but snicker at that and everyone else
started laughing, as well.

“You’re an asshole, Dewayne,” Mason said.

“Naw, man, I’m happy for you. You finally stopped acting
like a pussy and got your girl. Good for you.”

“Fuck off, Dewayne.”

“Are you going to keep her?”

Dewayne refused to let it drop and Mason sighed, realizing
he wasn’t going to get away this time.

“Fuck yeah, I’m keeping her. I’m going to move her in
tomorrow.”

“Does she know that?” Dewayne shot him a knowing smirk.

“Not yet but she’ll go for it.”

“I just hope you know what you’re doing, big guy. Are you
sure you want a woman in the house? Chicks are great and all, but we all know
they’re nuts. I mean, if you piss them off enough times, you’re liable to wake
up one morning with your bank account empty, your house on fire and your dick
lying on the pillow beside you. I’m just saying, think it through.”

“Dewayne, you’re the one who’s nuts. Where do you come up
with this shit?”

“True crime shows. Believe me, that shit happens. And Lil’ Girl
is going to be a lawyer so she could probably do all that stuff then mount her
own defense and get away with it.”

“She probably could,” Mason agreed. “My girl’s smart as hell
but I’ll take my chances. She’s damn well worth the risk.”

“So you found your happily ever after and everything’s just
going to fall into place. Do you really think it’s going to be that easy?”

Mason laughed a little and shook his head. “Not even for a
second.”

Getting into Mason’s car after her last class, Laurie couldn’t
help but chuckle when the smell of sex hit her. She instantly recalled their
encounter in the car the night before. She had been distracted all day by
thoughts of Mason. It turned out that using his soap wasn’t the best idea she’d
ever had. His scent lingered around her all day and she spent hours feeling so
aroused that she considered skipping a few classes so she could track him down
and drag him back to bed.

Still smiling like an idiot, she started the car and left
the parking lot. She had to work that night but she hoped she would get to see
Mason first, preferably naked. The very idea of it made her wet and she drove a
little faster.

Using Mason’s key, she let herself in the front door of his
house. His scent enveloped her immediately and she smiled, feeling warm and
comforted in his space. When she reached the living room, he stepped out of the
dining room. Without hesitation, he strode toward her, smiling. She knew what was
coming before he reached her. She grinned and launched herself into his arms.
He caught her and clasped a hand on her ass as she wrapped her legs around his
waist. Tangling a hand in her hair, he took her lips in a wild, greedy kiss.
She responded instantly, kissing him back with just as much fervor. She caught
his scent mixed with engine oil and sweat and her senses reeled. She thought
she might explode right then. He carried her to the couch and sat down with her
straddling his lap. He was already hard and straining against his jeans and she
shivered with excitement.

“I missed you today,” he said between kisses.

Laurie purred and then yanked off his shirt. She lowered her
mouth to his chest and gave his nipple a bite. He gasped and rocked his hips,
grinding himself against her and teasing her clit through the fabric of her
jeans. He deftly unbuttoned her shirt and showered kisses across her chest,
before moving back to her lips. With a quick tug, he unbuttoned her pants and
laid her back on the couch. His hands shook as he urgently yanked down her
jeans and panties. He couldn’t pull them off because of her shoes so he settled
for pulling them to her knees. He rolled her over so she was on her hands and
knees and knelt on the couch behind her. She whimpered and pushed back against
him, frantic to feel him inside her. He opened his jeans and eased the tip of
his cock into her eager pussy. She tried to push herself against him but he
gripped her hips and held her in place. He continued to move at a painstakingly
slow pace as he slid into her. Her muscles clamped down on him like a vise and
she ground out his name. Her frustration seemed to turn him on even more. He
laughed wickedly and continued the slow, sensual torture. She tightened her
inner muscles, squeezing him even tighter, and he gasped.

“Damn it, Angel, that feels amazing.”

She clenched again and he groaned and gave her back a quick
nibble. She reflexively tensed her muscles one more time and his resolve
crumbled. A low growl escaped him and he slammed into her the way she wanted.
She released a happy little yelp as his hard, hot cock filled her.

Gripping her hips, he drove into her as she thrust back to
him, their bodies making a slapping sound as they slammed into each other.
Mason slid his hand around to her clit and caressed it in time with his
thrusts. With his calloused fingers expertly stroking her most sensitive spot,
it only took a moment for Laurie to near her peak. Tension coiled low and
hummed through her. Desperate for release, she reached behind her and gripped
Mason’s thigh. Understanding her need, he thrust hard and fast and she came in
a burst of pleasure so intense, she cried out and her whole body shook as the
orgasm overtook her. Her arms gave out but he held her by the hips, keeping her
aligned with him and shuddering as he exploded inside her.

A moment later, he pulled out of her and adjusted their
bodies so he was lying on his back and she was on his chest. He stroked her
back while they tried to slow their breathing.

“I’ve needed that all day, Angel,” he breathed.

“Same here, babe. It was all I could think about today.” She
smiled and pressed a kiss to his chest.

He chuckled and gave her a quick squeeze before he resumed
caressing her back.

Listening to the sound of Mason’s steady heartbeat, she
decided to close her eyes for just a minute, before she got up and started
getting ready for work. Sighing happily, she told herself she had plenty of
time. A few minutes wouldn’t hurt.

* * * * *

“Shit.” Laurie came awake and saw that it was dark. It felt as
if she’d only closed her eyes for a second. She struggled against Mason’s
embrace but he held her fast.

“Where are you going?” he asked in a sleepy voice.

“We fell asleep.” She grunted, still trying to get up. “I’m
going to be late for work.”

“So what? I don’t want you to go to work.” He complained
like a petulant child.

Laurie laughed, before elbowing him in the ribs. He chuckled
and loosened his grip, giving her a chance for escape. She jumped up and
started across the room but forgot that her jeans were around her knees and
fell over with a loud thud. Mason was on his feet in an instant. He yanked up
his pants and reached for her.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Laurie insisted.

She struggled to her knees, a task made harder by Mason
attempting to help, mostly by groping her bare ass and trying to urge her to
roll onto her back.

“Where did you hit? Come here, let me kiss it.”

Laurie giggled and batted him away. “No way. If you start
kissing anything, we’ll be here all night and I’ll never get to work.”

Mason chuckled but didn’t deny her statement. She made it to
her feet and he dropped to his knees in front of her, gently pulling up her
panties and taking time to position them just right. Next, he slowly pulled up
her jeans. She opened her mouth to protest but the look on his face told her he
was enjoying the task, so she remained silent and allowed him to tend to her.
He pulled up her zipper and closed the button then moved on to her shirt.

As she watched his strong, calloused fingers slowly
fastening the delicate buttons on her top, she became aroused again. She worked
hard to keep her breathing steady as he finished the task and rose to his feet.
He flashed that sexy smile then leaned forward and gently kissed her on the
forehead.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” he told her. “I was planning
on making us supper. You should eat something before you go.”

Laurie stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’ll
grab something later. Could I please get a ride to work?”

“I guess so.” Mason sighed, not sounding happy at all.

Laurie couldn’t help but laugh. He actually pouted. She had
not thought him capable of the expression and she wasn’t prepared for how cute
he would look doing it.

* * * * *

Laurie kissed Mason and slid out of the car, heading for the
darkened office building. He watched her, feeling uneasy with the situation. He
was surprised to see she had to walk the length of about half a football field
through the darkness to get from the parking lot to the building.

Dull illumination from solar lights in the hedges barely lit
the building. The security light was dark. Laurie would be entering the dark
building alone in order to set up for the rest of the cleaning crew. He noted
that all the buildings on the street were dark. There was not another car or
person in sight. Which meant anything could happen there and no one would hear
a thing.

“Fuck.” He threw open his door and slid out of the car,
deciding to walk Laurie to the door. He caught up to her quickly and draped an
arm around her shoulders. “Hey, is there a nice sturdy desk in there that could
hold both of our weight?”

Laurie laughed and rolled her eyes but he could tell by the
tension coming off her that she was considering his question.

Still inexplicably tense as they approached the front of the
building, he was only mildly surprised when a figure jumped out at them.
Instinctively, he threw a punch, knocking the man onto the sidewalk. The guy
wore black from head to toe, like a cat burglar from a movie, and a knife fell
out of his hand and clattered onto the concrete walkway as he landed.

Mason pushed Laurie out of the way as the man lunged at
them. At first, he’d only been surprised when the man had jumped out but then
the reality of the situation hit him. The son of a bitch had been lying in wait
for Laurie. Anger mixed with fear rose up in his chest as he grabbed the
smaller man. Images of what could have happened to his Angel swirled through Mason’s
mind as he smashed his fist into the man’s face again and again. He thought of
the knife the man had and how the son of a bitch had probably intended to use
it on her and punched him again.

By the fourth blow, there was no more struggle but Mason
wasn’t done. He would have landed another blow but Laurie grabbed his arm, pleading
with him to stop. Coming out of the haze of his rage, he focused on her
startled face. He dropped the man and pulled her to him and held her tight. He
noticed an older woman running toward them, talking into a cell phone.

“I’ve already called the police,” she yelled, glaring at
Mason accusingly. She came to a stop and pointed her phone at him as if it was
a weapon. “Now you let her go.”

Laurie pulled away to look at the woman. “No, Nina, he didn’t
do anything wrong; he was just walking me to the door. That man attacked us.
Mason was just protecting me.”

Nina looked back and forth from Laurie to Mason skeptically,
as if she couldn’t quite understand the situation. Finally, she seemed to
accept Laurie’s explanation and nodded.

Within minutes, the police showed up. They leaped from their
patrol cars, shouting, their guns drawn. Laurie tried to explain what was
happening but they still ordered Mason to get on his knees and put his hands on
his head. He complied without argument, trying to be as cooperative as
possible. The last thing he wanted was to get Tased.

An ambulance came for Laurie’s would-be attacker while the
police talked to everyone involved, trying to get the story. Laurie calmly
explained everything that happened and assured the officers that Mason had done
nothing wrong, and they allowed him to get up. He gave his statement to one of
the officers while the other continued to talk to Laurie and Nina.

They were just wrapping up when Gregory, Laurie’s boss at
the cleaning service, showed up. He looked more annoyed than concerned.

“Laurie, I guess if it’s absolutely necessary, you can take
tonight off, but I’ll need you on time tomorrow. It sounds as if you were a
little late to begin with tonight.”

Mason’s jaw twitched and, before Laurie could respond, he
snapped at Gregory.

“She won’t be here tomorrow or any other night. She quits.”

Laurie opened her mouth to protest but Gregory turned to
glare at her.

“Without notice, Laurie? I thought you had more integrity
than that.”

“Integrity?” It was all Mason could do not to punch the man.
“Where the fuck’s your integrity, you asshole? You’re endangering these women
and they should all refuse to work here until you come up with some kind of
security. What are you thinking, sending women alone into an empty building on
a dark street, after hours? This could have turned out really bad and I’m
surprised this is the first incident. Fuck this job; she ain’t coming back.”

Gregory’s face paled and he swallowed hard, obviously intimidated
by Mason’s anger. The police officers stayed close, listening to the exchange.
Mason expected them to order him to back off but instead they seemed to nod in
agreement.

He glanced at Laurie and knew she wasn’t happy about him
speaking for her but he couldn’t stop himself. The thought of what could have
happened to her shook him to the core and he would take any steps necessary to
protect her, even if it pissed her off. He felt her tension as she stood beside
him but she’d kept quiet while he ranted.

He reckoned she’d take a nice big bite out of him later and
he’d be man enough to take it. At that moment, however, he was overriding her
choice in the matter. Even if he had to punch her pompous ass of a boss in the
face and set the goddamn building on fire, she wasn’t going back to that job.
He put an arm around her shoulders and led her toward his car.