Page 81 of Boundaries

I heard the whistle of Mason’s breath as it rushed through his clenched teeth and he moved me to the side, squaring up against the smaller man.

Alex didn’t like that and surprisingly, he made a move, surging forward. People jostled past us and a jet of fear shot into me at the thought of Alex attempting to hit Mason again. He wouldn’t get away with it twice.

My face must have given away my thoughts, but Alex didn’t pay any attention.

This isn’t one of those silly fighting games you play on the Xbox Alex, this is real. Back the hell off. Dread clawed inside me at the thought of a looming scene.

Alex had no chance and my hand covered my mouth, as Mason drew back his arm and hit the other man in the jaw, the punch perfectly placed. Alex stumbled back grabbing his face, but he didn’t fall and I knew that Mason had purposefully pulled his punch. The crack of bone hitting bone was still eye-watering stuff.

“Mason!” I yelled and attempted to go to Alex but Mason grabbed my arm.

“Leave him, I barely grazed him,” Mason said in his defence as he tugged me against his side.

As I was pulled away, I turned to look behind me and saw a couple of girls from the crowd move to help Alex, shock on their faces. The looks on the men around us screamed not getting involved in that thank you and I lurched forward. Mason was so strong there was nothing I could do but follow him.

“I sure hope you’re proud of yourself? I can’t believe you hit Alex, and where are we going?” I shot out breathlessly, almost falling to keep up with his long angry strides.

“We’re going to have a little chat about your friend,” he bit down at me, unleashed fury marking his features. I felt intimidated, not knowing what to expect. Mason McKenna was a law unto himself and could never be second-guessed.

Great. Another little chat, my breasts felt heavy as I thought about that last time, he’d wanted a little chat with me.

As he dragged me along with his bad boy swagger, I struggled to keep up with him. His legs were so much longer than mine and the grim determination in his stride forced me to power on.

The crowd started to become a distant hum as Mason continued to walk me alongside him, his pace purposeful. We eventually came to the style in the fencing which led into a pathway through one of the farms in the area. It was secluded.

Mason’s hands went under my arms and he picked me up like I weighed nothing and dumped me on the other side of the fence, before manoeuvring his strong frame over the style. He then took my arm again.

“You’re going to pull my arm from its socket,” I snapped, trying to twist away from that vice.

“Good,” Mason huffed.

I hooked my chin back toward the fair, “My friends will wonder where I’ve gone.”

“No, they won’t. They know you’re with me.”

We came to a standstill under a large oak tree, it was shaded from the sun and the breeze was gentle, caressing the grass there. Mason positioned me against it, the bark biting into my back. He then placed his large arms on either side of my head, caging me in. The movement both frightened me and turned me on at the same time. A strange concoction.

Mason’s eyes were locked on mine, “So, who was he?”

Snorting, I repeated my words from earlier, “An old school friend, and we were just talking. You didn’t have to go all psycho and hit Alex,” I yelled up at him. His face was so close and his eyes were hooded so I couldn’t gauge his expression.

“Alex will be fine, I lightly tapped him. I can’t have him thinking he can get away with hitting me again now, can I?”

“Well, you could have really hurt him, you don’t know your own strength,”

“Oh, I know my own strength all right. I could have knocked the fucker out if I had wanted to.”

“Well, thank God for small mercies then. I still think you overreacted.”

“And that’s the thing, as you should know by now. I don’t do anything by halves. He was trying to involve himself in business that isn’t his anymore. I would say he’s lucky he isn’t picking up his teeth. No one gets involved in my shit.”

Unable to help myself I shot out, “You’re such an arrogant dick,”

He ignored that, obviously still upset, “So, what have you been up to with the old school friend? The guy who had his hands all over you.”

“OMG, I just said. Talking and he didn’t have his hands all over me.” Well, apart from the tickling thing. As I digested his words, I realised that it may not have looked as innocent from where Mason would have been standing. Oops. Damage control time.

“You were flirting with him like you wanted to drop your knickers in the middle of the fucking fair is more like it.” I didn’t really agree with that but what could I do?

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