Page 88 of Freaks Of Nature
Gripping the handle, I pause briefly in anticipation of it being locked, but it isn’t, and I’m somehow relieved that he doesn’t feel the need to hide things from me. He knew I’d be alone here while they’re at work.
I swing the door inward and meet the darkness beyond like it’s an extension of him. It’s one thing I expected of Mason.
But the first thing I notice after the thick blackout curtains and black sheets is that it’s very clean. Even tidier than Ash’s room.
I give air to a little snort. Aneat freakis not what I took him for.
I don’t switch on the light as I enter. I have a feeling he doesn’t either, and I want to see it the way he does.
Mason wasn’t lying when he said his room matches Ash’s in size. My eyes sweep the space. He has several shelves with books, ranging from the mechanics of cars and motorcycles to various styles of art, but there are also volumes of classic literature. A soft grin teases my lips, and my finger tips the spine of Mary Shelley’sFrankensteinaffectionately before I let it fall back into place.
Everything is sorted by type and alphabetized. Very organized indeed.
I turn toward the open door of his closet. The walk-in is also spacious despite it not being the master suite. Various pairs of black boots and dark cargo pants as well as jeans fill the space.
I flip through the hangers of shirts. From what I can see, his style is the same as Ash’s, though Mason’s attire is distinctly darker. His brother wears colors other than black.
As I exit the closet and give the room another browse, it strikes me that there are no drugs of any kind that I can see. Not even a bong. No alcohol either.
My eyes land on the yellow and red bottle of cologne on the dresser to my right. I pick it up, brushing my thumb over the Creed logo on the front.
I recall the first time the fragrance licked through my airways—how it invaded my senses and overrode my inhibitions. The man owned me before I even knew who he was.
I pull the cap off. As I lift the bottle to my nose, heat rushes my body. The distinct scent of Mason pulls me into an embrace, and I instantly feel myself melting.
My body begins to throb fiercely with the memory of him filling me everywhere. The empty space between thighs aches for his touch, and while I’m still clutching his cologne, my free hand answers the call.
Leaning back against his dresser, I stroke myself over my jeans. I consider taking care of my need right here in his bed. He would never know.
My fingers hover over the button. My eyes catch sight of the plastic LED mask on his nightstand, and an idea forms in my head.
But I have to stop off at home for a minute.
Mace
Ihead out for lunch to get away from my brother. It’s a miracle I lasted this long in the same building with him, but getting his food?
Fuck that!He can get his own.
My anger threatens to surge again at the reminder of last night… the pictures… the video.
I’ve never felt so possessive over anyone. I wanted her out of that shitty apartment, and if that meant she’d be around my brother more, I thought I’d be okay with that. At least she’d be safe.
Until I saw them together.
But I don’t get it. Yeah, we’ve fucked the same woman before, at the same time or on separate occasions, and it’s never been competitive. They didn’t care whose dick was railing them, and we didn’t care whose name they cried out when they climaxed. It was sort of funny. We don’t even have the same taste; Ash likes blondes, where I prefer dark hair and bright eyes.
So why her? What makesEmily so special?
A tremble runs up my forearms as I brace my weight on the handlebars, and I ease up on the throttle. It already requires all of my focus not to wrap myself around a tree when I’m driving this angry. Add the lack of sleep, and the chances of my ride becoming a suicide mission double.
I make it to the soba house, a place I frequent more than Ash, in one piece. Shaun, the owner and one of my few friends, greets me from the back and puts in my usual order as I seat myself at the counter.
It takes me mere minutes to inhale my meal. With my elbows propped on the edge, I rub my eyes. I dread having to return to work. Perhaps I should take Ash’s advice to head home and get some sleep.
What are the odds that Emily is still at the house?
I shake my head at the thought. My brother’s bed is the last place I want to find her.
