Page 12 of Magnetic Temptations

“Okay,” he agrees, but has a faraway look in his eyes.

I stand up, pat his shoulder, grab my coffee, and head to the bedroom where my phone is still plugged into the charger. Sitting on the edge of my mattress, I unplug my phone and call Hydro.

“Yo, what’s up?” he answers, sounding alert.

“Did I catch you at a bad time?” I ask, chuckling.

“Nah. Just watching the boys nag each other. What can I do for you, Mane girl?”

“By any chance, can you get away and come over?”

“Sure can. Wanna give me a heads up of what’s going on and why you need me?” he asks.

“It’s not me that needs you, Hydro.”

“Mason?” he questions.

Bobbing my head, even though he can’t see me, I answer, “Yes. There are things about him, about his past and the way he grew up that have him concerned.”

“On my way,” he informs me, hanging up the phone.

“Goodbye to you too,” I chortle. I should be used to it by now because quite a few of the brothers just hang up when they’re done speaking. My father even does it from time to time.

CHAPTER

SEVEN

MASON

My feet have worn out the linoleum flooring of her kitchen by the time there’s a knock at her door. Straightening my shoulders, I follow her into the living room and stand there, waiting to greet Hydro and Ella. Mane escorts them into the room and we all take a seat. I’m not sure how to begin this conversation so I wait for Hydro to lead.

“Is this about what we discussed this morning, Mason?” Hydro asks, his full attention on me.

“In a way, it is. There are things about me that I think you should know. There are reasons I didn’t give you an immediate answer,” I admit.

“Outside of wanting to discuss it with your future old lady?” Hydro questions, his brows drawn in.

“I did want to do that,” I point out, not wanting him to think I lied to him in any fashion. “What I do concerns her since we’re building a future together.” Mane has a twinkle in her eyes when I tell Hydro that.

It’s the damn truth.

Anything that concerns me is her business and she should have a say in it. She and I are a team, I’m not the sort of man who believes that a woman should follow her man’s law and does as he says without any questions. We’re in this together, everything is split equally—fifty-fifty.

“That’s admirable and I respect that. Talk to me, I can’t help you muddle through without knowing what the issue is,” Hydro requests.

“I grew up in a religious family,” I begin. “Not quite fanatical, but there are certain things I believe in that clash with the club lifestyle.”

It’s important to me that they don’t think I’m judging any of them for the lifestyle they’re used to. I just need Hydro to understand who I am, as a man and a prospective brother. There’s absolutely no way I could ever engage in public sex with a strange woman. Even without my upbringing, that’s not who I am as a person.

“I think I see the problem,” Ella interjects. “It’s the women and the free show they give, right?”

Mane snorts and adds, “I think they search out shit online so they can ‘impress’ the single brothers. I’m never gonna judge what someone else does, but they act like they have zero respect for themselves, much less anyone else, you know?”

“These girls need something, and for some damn reason, the brothers provide that for them,” Hydro excuses.

“It’s a problem for me,” I confess. “I wanted to scrub my skin raw last night after I walked Mane to her car and came into the clubhouse. It was a free for all, and it made me feel… uneasy.”

“I can see where you’re coming from,” Hydro states. “It took some getting used to for me the first time I ever visited. After a while, it’s background, and eventually, you won’t even notice.”

---