Perv (4 page)

Oh fuck. Was he talking about himself or the beer? Unwilling to find out, Jenna shook her head and jerked her gaze back to the front. His teasing made her squirm. She was certain he fully understood his pun. It was intentional.

Whatever Katy thought she knew about Jenna’s needs, Jenna made the mad decision at that moment to ignore reason. If this man was willing to fuck her senseless tonight, so be it. It was the best offer she’d had in too long.

•●•

Mason gulped his beer and set the glass down on the table, trying not to spill it with his shaky hand.

This woman was under his skin. He wanted her. And more importantly, she wanted him. She may not have known it, but she was coming around. She didn’t try to move her thigh away from his, and she let her elbow graze his as she continually reached for her wine glass and put it back. After the initial fortifying gulp she took, she sipped that damn white wine in such tiny increments, he couldn’t discern anything was missing with each drink.

“Have you been here before?” he asked as he opened the menu.

“No, you?”

He shook his head. “It’s Italian, though. I usually go for the lasagna. It’s generally a safe bet.”

“I’m sure the food is wonderful, or Rafe and Katy wouldn’t have chosen it.”

“True.”

It was insane the way he felt about Jenna. He’d barely met her. They’d exchanged few words. He couldn’t believe how hot he was for her. It took great strength and determination for him to order and eat his meal like a normal human being.

Jenna ordered some sort of salad and glared at him when he rolled his eyes. “What?”

“Is that all you women ever eat?”

“No. But I have to fit into a pretty slim dress tomorrow. I don’t need to feel like a whale.”

If they were alone, he’d have given her the riot act about selecting foods she enjoyed and eating until she was full rather than acting like a bunny. But they weren’t alone. And she wasn’t his woman.

She spent most of the meal chatting with Katy on her other side and making polite conversation with the couple across from them.

Mason spent the meal thinking about how good her thigh felt against his own and struggling to keep from setting his hand on her knee when she didn’t realize she was bouncing it nervously against him. He loved the feel of her and could care less if she fidgeted. It was endearing, but he wanted to calm her. It was in his nature.

The meal lasted forever. It seemed everyone, including himself, made a speech to the bride and groom. They toasted so many times, he worried about the amount of alcohol Jenna consumed. The last thing he wanted was for her to be inebriated to the point he couldn’t tell if she liked him or would take any man to her bed because she was drunk.

He needn’t have worried. She never asked for a second glass. She was the queen of faking like she was keeping up with everyone, and he admired a woman who knew her limits.

What the hell are you thinking? Stop it
. He needed to talk himself down. This was no ordinary woman he could woo into his bed. This was Katy’s best friend. And he’d been warned off by Rafe. Off limits.

Except he couldn’t stop watching the way she moved, the way she held her glass, and the way she laughed and flipped her long hair back when she tipped her head.

She was poised and…almost regal. She didn’t carry herself like an ordinary person. She looked…refined. Except when he made her nervous.

When they bumped hands reaching for their glasses, he couldn’t take it anymore. “Excuse me.” Mason pushed his chair back and took brisk steps toward the back patio door. It was dark now. He hoped it had cooled off outside. He needed some air to clear his head—and get it straightened back onto his shoulders.

The rush of oxygen in his face made him take in a long lungful of atmosphere that wasn’t filled with the scent of Jenna. He stepped to the iron fence and leaned forward against it as though putting a little more space between him and the woman inside would help him think straight.

“Mason. What are you doing?” Rafe’s voice came from behind, only seconds after Mason had exited the building.

Mason whipped his head around and found Rafe glaring at him. “I told you to keep away from her.”

“I heard you.” Mason turned back around and stared into the night.

“Why do I get the feeling you aren’t going to heed my advice?”

Mason stayed silent.

Rafe groaned. “Dude, she’s not like us. She has no idea about our alternative lifestyle.”

Mason turned toward him. “Neither did Katy when you met and look at you.”

“That’s different. Katy’s—”

“What? Submissive? Open-minded? Whipped?” Mason chuckled. “That’s rich, man. What makes you think Jenna isn’t like her?”

“She’s just not. Trust me. She has…baggage. A lot of baggage.”

Mason smirked. “Don’t we all?” He turned and leaned against the fence. “Look,” he held both hands up in surrender, “I’m not going to ruin your big day, okay? Promise.”

“It’s more than that, and you know it. My woman will have my head if you fuck with her friend. I don’t want to see her wrath any time soon. We’re about to get married for Christ’s sake.”

“I hear you.” Mason looked down. “Please don’t worry about me. I promise to keep my pants on and zipped.”

“Swear?”

“Scout’s honor.” Mason saluted his friend.

“Dude, you were never a scout, and I’m pretty sure that isn’t the sign they make.” Rafe grabbed his friend’s arm and laughed. “Let’s get back inside before Katy sends out reinforcements.”

•●•

Soon after Mason bolted from the table, Rafe jumped from his chair and left also. That left Jenna glancing to her left to find a very anxious Katy staring at her. “Didn’t you get my meaning earlier?”

“What? Your subtle head shake? Yes.” Jenna grinned. “What’s wrong with Mason? He’s a friend of Rafe. How bad can he be?”

“He’s not…bad. He’s a perfectly nice guy, but he isn’t your type. Trust me. I know that look you have in your eyes. He will only hurt you if you let him. Let it go. Please.” Katy’s eyes blinked as she begged, and then she stuck her lip out in a pout.

“Is it that big a deal?”

“Yes.”

“I’d love to hear more of this story. It must be a good one.”

“It is. Believe me. But not now. I don’t have that kind of time tonight.”

Jenna laughed. “That bad, huh? Okay, but I’m holding you to it. You owe me a girl’s night when you get back from Hawaii, and I intend to dig all the gory details about this bad boy you insist on warding me off of.”

“You got it. Promise. Please don’t jump in his pants and do all the things I can see your mind whirling with. He isn’t your kind of guy.” Katy narrowed her gaze. She grabbed Jenna’s arm and squeezed hard. “Promise?”

“Yes. Fine. Okay. I won’t jump into his pants. Promise.”

“You’re still coming over tomorrow morning to help me get ready?”

“Of course. What time do you want me?”

“I’ll call you when I get up, and we’ll spend the day getting nails and hair done.” Katy clapped her hands together as the men returned to the table.

Rafe leaned in and kissed his fiancée. “What’s so amusing?”

“Hair and nails. First thing in the morning. Wanna come?” Jenna teased.

Rafe stepped back and held his hands up like he’d been burned. “Not a chance in hell. You ladies enjoy yourselves. I’ll meet you at the altar. Nails done. Hair poofed. Smiles in place.” He stared at Katy for a second and then shifted his gaze to Jenna.

Why did it feel like he was warning her off his friend in the same way Katy had just finished lecturing her?

Katy glanced at her watch. “We should go. Big day tomorrow.”

Rafe frowned. “I was hoping to have a few moments alone with you before you leave. It’s not midnight yet. As long as I have you home by twelve, I’m not breaking any rules, right?”

Everyone got up from the table and gathered their belongings. Jenna stood at the same time Mason returned to the table. As the perfect gentleman, he held her chair out for her and reached to retrieve her purse where it had fallen on the ground.

“I have to take Jenna home,” Katy said.

“I’ll take her.” Mason didn’t look at Katy or Jenna when he spoke. He kept his gaze lowered as though he’d presented an idea that would start a fire.

“No, really,” Katy began, “you’ve done so much already. Rafe and I will see each other tomorrow. Right, honey?” She reached for his hand and squeezed it.

Jenna shook her head. “I’m a big girl,” she mumbled toward Katy.

“It’s no trouble at all,” Mason insisted. “You two go over to the bar and enjoy your last few moments of singlehood. I’ll get Jenna home and see you guys tomorrow.”

“You sure?” Katy asked Jenna.

Jenna nodded. “I’m fine.” She gave her friend a hug. “Stop worrying. I promise I’ll be there first thing in the morning, ready to make your day perfect.”

Katy frowned for a moment and then shook it off and waved Jenna away. “Fine. Okay. I’ll call you.”

As if they needed to run from the restaurant before anyone could change their minds, Mason grabbed Jenna’s hand and tucked it under his elbow. He wove through the throng of diners, telling everyone good-bye as they made their way to the door.

Jenna thought he was a bit high-handed, as usual, but when she tried to release her hand from the crook of his arm, he held steady. He wrapped his other hand around her fingers as they exited the building. “Ready?”

And what if I said no?
Somehow she got the feeling he didn’t usually take no for an answer. And for once in her life, she rather enjoyed letting someone else make a few decisions and letting her sit back and enjoy the ride.

Every day she was in charge. All day long she gave out instructions to her employees and dealt with floral orders and deliveries. Letting this huge confident hunk of man take her under his wing and whisk her out the door was no hardship. It felt nice to be pampered.

When he had her secure in the car, she sat back and took a deep breath. She watched him circle the front this time, his enormous physique incongruent with the size of the sports car.

“Your place or mine?” he asked after he folded himself into the front seat.

Jenna gasped. She’d been thinking something similar, but she would never have voiced it so blatantly.