Page 14 of Black Roses

chapter six

mason

What was I thinking making that bet with Piper Mitchell?A date?I haven’t been on a date in two years. I don’t want to go on a date withanyone, let alone the one woman who seems to infuriate me at every turn.

In the shower, I contemplate how I avoided her at the gym for the rest of the week, switching my workouts to afternoons instead of mornings. I needed to be able to concentrate on the task at hand: getting stronger, fitter, more deserving of the job I’m after.

Watching her run on the treadmill was too much of a distraction. I had to slow my speed when she was next to me. I swear to God I could smell her, and her scent was doing things to my body that I had to ignore, or risk being mortified in front of the gym I work out in—the gym I own for Christ’s sake. I felt like I would fall over my own feet if I kept up the pace I needed to.

When I finished my run and spotted that sexy little tattoo of a black rose behind her right ear, it was all I could do to keep from losing my shit. By the time I left her to the rest of her workout, I couldn’t keep my eyes from drifting back over to her. I tried like hell not to look, but it was like her body was a tractor beam and I had absolutely no control over my own vision. I had to look. I had to watch her tight ass bounce up and down with every stride she took. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her alluring breasts in the sports bra that was as green as her eyes.

Shit!

Before I fully comprehend what’s happening, I realize my dick is standing at full mast. I’m beyond the point of stopping this freight train, so I let my mind continue to fantasize and let my left hand go to work. I can see those emerald eyes staring into mine as she licks her lips in anticipation of taking me fully into her mouth. I imagine the faint and fleeting sparkle of the small diamond in her nose as I look down on her pleasing me. I can almost feel her soft, pouty lips encompassing my shaft, her tongue swirling around the tip.

My hand moves faster and my heart races. With my other hand, I steady myself against the wall of the shower, warm water running over my shoulders. My guttural shout echoes through the bathroom as my orgasm overtakes me and my release slowly swirls down the drain of the grey-tiled travertine shower.

Breathless, I let the water run over my head as I recover from the powerful climax. Then I vow to figure out a way to get the princess out of my head.

~ ~ ~

Skylar opens the door to her townhouse, greeting me with a hug. When I see her eyes, I could swear I blush like a freaking girl thinking of how, not an hour ago, I came all over my shower wall to those same brilliant-colored eyes she shares with her little sister. I quickly look behind her to see if anyone else is home. My heart rate decreases slightly when I see the lights out with no activity. “You’re not bringing Aaron?”

She swats my arm playfully. “To a tattoo parlor? I don’t think so.” She pulls her purse onto her shoulder. “No. Aaron is with my folks for the day.”

And Piper?I have to keep myself from asking, rationalizing how I don’t care where she is or who she’s with.

“Okay, then. Let’s get going.” I take her arm and escort her down the front steps. We make a left turn and head for the subway. I didn’t bring my car today. I wasn’t sure how safe it would be at the tattoo parlor. I’ve met the owner before, Spike. He’s the one who came to the townhouse and did Erin’s tattoo. The same tattoo he’s about to ink into Skylar’s lower back, in the very same spot he inked it into Erin. “You ready for this, Skylar?”

She has a bounce in her step when she turns to smile at me. Her dark-blonde hair is pulled back into an effortless wavy ponytail. “Oh my God, Mason, yes! I’m so excited. Do you think Griffin will be okay with it?”

I know he will be. He’s got two tattoos of his own. One in memory of his mother. The other for Erin. I think he’ll be over the moon when he sees it. Tattoos can be sexy if done tastefully. I don’t have any myself, but not because I’m opposed. I just haven’t come across anything I want to permanently etch into my skin. “He’s gonna love it. It’s a great wedding gift to him. And a perfect way to honor Erin.” I have to catch myself before tears burn the backs of my eyes. “I’m really proud of you, Skylar. Have I ever told you that? I think you are one of the best people I’ve ever come across, and I’m damn proud to be a part of your wedding.”

She stops walking, pools of tears welling in her eyes as she nods her head at me. She grabs my arm and we walk down the steps to the subway station.

Twenty minutes later, Spike is pulling out the stencil for her tattoo. “I knew you’d be back,” he says to Skylar, referring to her and Griffin’s visit earlier this year in an effort to track down Erin’s surprise tattoo. “Have a seat right here. I’ll go get the equipment.” He directs her to a chair that is similar to something you’d find in a medical exam room, only it looks like it can be changed into almost any position. “Grab some coffee if you want,” he says, nodding to the corner of the room which houses one of those single-cup brewers with an array of flavor selections off to the side.

While I’m perusing the coffee choices, the bell on the front door chimes and we all instinctively turn our heads in that direction. My heart beats powerfully in my chest as I watch Piper walk through the door. Before she notices me, she shares a smile with her sister. “I’m stoked to watch this,” she says to Skylar. “You inflicted a lot of pain on me when we were little, so I’m going to enjoy every second of this.”

Skylar scoffs, “I did no such thing.”

“You did, too,” Piper quips like a petulant child. “You and Baylor always pulled my pigtails. It got to the point that I begged Mom to just cut my hair off.”

“Oh my God, I had totally forgotten about that.” Skylar brings a hand up to hide her surreptitious smirk. “I remember now. We used to chase you out in the field behind our house. I’m so sorry, Piper. Can you ever forgive me?”

“Maybe,” she says, raising her voice so Spike can hear, “it depends on how loudly he can make you squeal.”

Spike chuckles and they laugh. I watch them interact, falling into a comfortable banter between two sisters who were obviously close growing up. It makes me wonder why Piper chooses to stay away. She has a great, close-knit family here. She could get a job at the drop of a hat. Why has she chosen the life she has? Did the apple really fall that far from the tree?

It’s like she has two personalities. One I’m seeing now, as she talks with her sister. The charming, carefree, confident gypsy, with easy laughter filling her gleaming eyes. But there is the other side of her; when her ‘Mr. Hyde’ comes out, turning her into a skittish raccoon, fighting for her life and tearing through everything in her path.

I shake my head, ridding it of the thoughts infiltrating my brain. Thoughts of taming the beast within. Being her protector. Her confidant. The reason she stays in New York, even.

I turn my attention back to the coffee machine when I hear an unforgiving, “What’shedoing here?”

And, Mr. Hyde has made his appearance once again. I pick up my freshly-brewed cup and head over to where the sisters are sitting. In an equally malevolent voice, I say, “Actually,heis just leaving.” I turn my attention to Skylar. “Now that Piper’s here to keep you company, I’ll just take off.”

I hold my coffee out, offering it to Piper. “Here, want this?” She eyes it as if I’ve offered her a goblet of poison. Then she pulls a bottle of water from her bag.

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