Page 35 of Risk

His eyes blow wide with shock as he stumbles backwards, gawking at me. “You really know nothing about baseball?”

“There’s a stick, a ball, and some bases.” I take a sip of my soda. “And hot dogs.”

His jaw drops. “Why is my dick hard right now? What magical sorcery have you put me under that this can be turning me on?”

“The curse of the great Bimbino strikes again.”

“Bam. Bambino. Oh my god.” He storms over and kisses me so hard, our teeth clack. Laughter tears out of me because it’s like getting all the sport stuff wrong is his ultimate hot button.

Guys are so weird.

“This is crazy,” he rumbles in my ear before giving me a nice hand necklace. “You keep driving me wild in the craziest ways.”

Well, he keeps driving me wild, so we’re both winning.

I’ve had a lot of men and women look at me like I’m a fantasy come to life. Part of my camgirl job is to give the illusion that they’re my one and only. To make them feel like what they’re saying or doing on the other side of the screen turns me on, gets me off. It makes them feel special.

I’m not pretending with Mason.

And that scares me.

We’re having fun together right now because I’m his shiny new toy and he’s convenient. What happens when the game ends? I can’t imagine us ever getting serious, so I won’t even go there hypothetically.

Before Mason can take things further, I pull back. “We’re both taking a big risk here, Mason.”

His dark eyes soften a fraction. “I know.”

“Do you? Because you’ve thrown yourself at me pretty recklessly.” The instant I say those words, guilt smacks me in the face, making my cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Not that I mean you’re being a pick me or anything like that. It’s just—” Shit, I don’t know how to say any of this nicely.

“No, I get it.” He steps back. “I go full throttle with anything I want.”

“That’s not a bad thing, but we’re really playing with fire here. I could lose my job if the company finds out I’m banging a client. And you...” My words fade as I think of what his family will say if they find out he’s dating a housecleaner who moonlights in the sex industry. This is the first time in a long while I’ve felt shame for being myself and I don’t like it.

“I’m a big boy, Leah. I know what I’m doing and what the consequences of each of my actions are.”

Yeah, but you’re not the one who could lose the job you love. You’re not the one who will be seen as a gold digger in this relationship. You’re not the one who’s living a double life—sweeping floors by day and sticking their painted pink toes in honey at night.

Fuck, there I go again, letting my head do all the talking when I should let my pussy have a say once in a while. Why should I give a shit what people think about me? Mason and I are just having fun. This isn’t forever, it’s for now. Everyone else should mind their damn business.

Mason’s right, he’s a big boy. He knows what he’s doing and can accept the consequences of his actions.

But I’m not sure I can.

“We gotta keep this a secret, X.”

Disappointment spreads across his features and down his body until he’s a hard-staring, rigid-shouldered, tragic-looking Greek statue. But in the end, he concedes. “Whatever you want, Princess.”

Good. This is… good.

Right?

Chapter 12

Mason

Keep this a secret, my ass. The only time I keep secrets is when I’m in the throes of a major deal and I don’t want anything fucking up my carefully chosen negotiations. Leah deserves to be shown off. Spoiled. Put on a pedestal and given the world.

Yeah, I just met her, but my intuition is never wrong. This woman is made for me. I just hope I’m also made for her.

---