In my head, I’d walk down the stairs, take a moment to seek him out—find him first. The studio is my territory, after all. Unfortunately, I don’t get that luxury, and I’m caught completely off guard by him, which is ridiculous because I knew he was here.
He stands at the bottom of the steps, waiting for me. His jaw taut, and lips pressed together. His brows pulled low. I want this man angry all the time. I mean, I have seen his smile. It’s breathtaking.
But angry Mase is fucking fire. I want to douse myself in petrol and climb him like a tree.
I pull my top lip between my teeth to try and stop my smile, my walls slowly crumbling.
How am I supposed to resist this man?
“Mr Lowell, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I can’t hold it in any longer, a smile splitting my face.
He seems taken aback by my mood. “Uh, I just wanted to see if you needed a lift home,” he stutters.
“Oh, yes, please,” I say sweetly.
He looks at me completely and utterly confused. “You do? You want a lift home? With me?” He frowns, his pointer finger nestled between his solid pecs.
I think I’ve broken him.
“Is Vinny here?” I ask.
“Yes, he’s around the back,” he admits.
“Around the back.” I nod, surprised that he went to so much trouble to scope the place out. And why around the back? Was he preparing for me to run?
I take the last step, standing tall as I look up at him through my lashes. “I think I will go with Vinny today. If you don’t mind?”
His jaw tightens. He doesn’t argue, but I can tell he doesn’t like my answer. “I’ll walk you out,” he grumbles, letting me go first as he follows closely behind as I walk down the narrow hall.
I’m almost at the door when I feel his hands snake around my waist, his warm fingers flexing against the exposed flesh between my leggings and crop top. He turns me, pinning me against the door, his knee pressing roughly at the apex of my thighs. My clit throbs as he looks down at me, gently bringing his forehead to rest against mine.
His hands skim me, waist to hips, holding me in place, and all I can think is how good he feels pushed up against me.
“Keep this up, Nina. I have nothing.” He rolls his hips, his erection prodding my stomach. “Fucking nothing, better to do,” he grits out, brushing his lips from my ear to my neck. He plants one soft kiss on the smooth skin, his nose trailing over the spot before he pulls away from me.
I stand flustered, chest heaving, and desperately craving his touch as he pulls open the door and leaves me without looking back. I let my head drop back to the wall, trying to ease the arousal coursing through me.
Taking a deep breath, I pull open the door; Vinny is waiting right outside, the Audi parked and ready for me.
I give him half a smile, mortified that he could have seen us but knowing it’s impossible. “Hi, Vinny.”
“Nina, nice to see you again so soon,” he says as I skirt past him and climb into the car.
I wait for him to get seated in the driver’s seat then say, “I’m sorry, you must have far more important things to do than drive me around the city.”
“I don’t do what’s important to me; I do what’s important to Mr Lowell.” He winks.
“You’re his driver?” I ask with a frown.
He has a funny look on his face as if what I am saying is amusing. “Yes. I’m his driver,” he confirms.
“How long have you worked for him?” I decide to get as much out of him as I can whilst I have the chance.
“Sixteen years now,” he says proudly, eyeing me in the mirror again. I want to ask so many questions.
I need to pick the right ones.
“Sixteen years? That’s a long time.” I study him as he drives. I wouldn’t have put Vinny at much past fifty, so he had to be young when he started.
