Page 34 of Sapphire Spring

In other words, if he wanted to bite down on his arm whilespearing himself with huge dildos in the shower, what was the harm? So long as hedidn’t draw blood or get an infection.

But there was no denying that MasonWorther,or some archetypal version of him, played a starring role in the fantasies thatswirled through his head during Naser’s solo shower sessions. They were arevolving wardrobe of bargain-basement porn scenes: the angry cop who used hiscock to let you know how fast you’d been going; the cold, laser-focused doctorwho demanded Naser submit to extensive physical examinations for his own good;the demanding daddy of a boss who punished workplace infractions with a swiftopen hand on Naser’s bare ass. But underneath the costume, these remote,hyper-masculine figures of authority and power and privilege, whose desirelashed out at Naser in the form of frenzied assaults that made his balls ache,were all some version of Mason.

Engaging in one of those fantasies now might purge the manfrom his system.

Or it might make this mindfuckofa twenty-four hours last even longer.

For a while, Naser sat on the edge of his bed, favorite dildoresting on his lap, trying to decide the best course of action.

Then his phone rang.

It was Gloria Alvarez, which couldn’t be good, given todaywas Naser’s day off.

“Tell me she didn’t burn down the hotel,” he said by way ofgreeting.

“Not yet. But she is smoking on her balcony, and we’ve hadsome complaints from other guests.”

“I’ll call her right now.”

“AndNas…”

“Yeah?”

“Jonas said you had to leave the party last night to dealwith some guy you knew who got too drunk?”

That’s one way of putting it,he thought. And noteto file—he owed Jonas an apology, both for being short with him about puttingMason in his office and leaving the event without explanation.

“SoI thought you should know. Duringtear-down, your sister was crying. Hard. Jonas said he practically had to carryher up to her room.”

“Why?”

“I’m not exactly sure, but before she lost it, she wasapparently telling most of her staff goodbye.”

Naser shot up from the bed, the dildo dropping to the carpetand rolling. “Goodbye?What?”

Even as he voiced the question, a dark suspicion started toform in his mind. The signs had been staring him in the face, but he’d been toodistracted by his fear that his sister would make trouble for him in hisworkplace, and then Mason’s explosive arrival.

The absence of the Bliss Network’s logo at the event.

The need for discounts from Connor.

The frostiness in Fareena’s eyes when she talked aboutpossible investors.

The fact that she’d brought a potential investor to beginwith.

“I’m on my way.”

“Sounds wise,” Gloria answered softly.

11

Mason had braced himself for arapid-fire interrogation as soon as he’d asked for his neighbor’s help. Thekind you’d see on a reality show about addiction, or a sad movie about hislife. What was his plan? Did he have a therapist? Was he going to rehab? Hedidn’t have any of those answers, and he hadn’t been asked to provide them,because as soon as he’d asked for help, Shirley had headed across the sandtoward his house, looking back once to make sure he was following.

Then they were standing inside Mason’s kitchen as she helpedherself to his coffee maker and began brewing a pot without asking him if hewanted any. She wanted some, apparently, and that was a sign she didn’t plan toleave anytime soon.

While they waited for the coffee to percolate, she turned tohis fridge and began removing the bottles of beer, followed by the bottles ofwhite wine. Then she opened the freezer and removed three bottles of vodka. Shedidn’t blink at the amount.

“Sowe can either throw this all outor give it away to the neighbors,” she said brightly, hands on her hips. “Doyou know Susan and Phil a few doors down? They’re having a party next weekend.They might take it.”

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