‘This is Bethesda Terrace,’ Mason informed her, but his dark eyes remained on Katy. ‘The fountain is through here. It’s my favourite part of the city, especially at night.’
‘We have underpasses in Glasgow, but they stink of piss and have nasty graffiti covering the walls,’ she said, laughing. ‘I may have contributed to some of them in my younger days, too. But this? This is magical!’ She almost jumped towards Mason, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
He picked her up and spun her around. ‘We have them too, but I have to admit after “underpass”, I have no idea what you just said.’
When Mason put her down, their eyes remained on one another.
‘You’re unbelievable, Katy,’ he breathed, his voice soft and genuine.
Katy grinned. ‘So are you, Mason.’
He leaned forward and they began kissing, more passionately this time. Mason pressed her against the beautiful golden wall, skimming his hands up and down her breasts.
‘Jesus, Katy,’ he panted.
Katy’s heart was pounding. She had never felt so sexy, so empowered. She ran her fingers through his hair while wrapping her tongue around his. The kissing became rougher, and Katy took a glance around, finding them entirely alone. She slid her hand down his trousers and felt his dick.
‘Fuck,’ she said. Knowing there was no way she could resist an eight-incher, she wondered if Zola and Ella would take the huff if she arrived a few hours later than expected. I mean, it wasn’t every day you met a man like this. Surely the girls would understand? After all, she was on her holidays.
Katy moved her hand up and down his dick, while Mason kissed and bit her neck.
He was panting as he slid his hand up her dress, tugging her thong to the side and pushing a finger inside her.
‘Mmmm .?.?. I’ve made you wet,’ he whispered.
Katy nodded, feeling goosebumps travel from her neck to her nipples, making them rock hard. ‘From the minute I saw you,’ she replied.
His eyes had become alive, fire blazing behind them. ‘We need to go back to my hotel room, Katy. I have to fuck you – now.’ Mason slipped his hand from between her thighs and dragged her back up the marble steps.
‘I promised I’d go back to the apartment to prep for this meeting!’ She giggled, knowing that nothing was further from her mind.
‘Come on!’ He grinned as she followed behind. ‘I’ll get you home safely when we’re done.’
For the next ten minutes, the pair walked, kissed and panted as the passion grew between them. Finally, they reached the park entrance, where Mason popped out his hand to flag down a yellow cab.
‘The Carlyle,’ he said to the driver, then placed his hand on Katy’s face. ‘I never want this night to end.’
And truthfully, neither did she.
Chapter Six
Ella
It was the morning of the pitch. I woke at 5 a.m., bright-eyed and alert, sunlight streaming through my bedroom window – I’d been too tired to close the blinds the night before. Zola and I had spent the entire evening perfecting our pitch together, munching on pizza and cookies as we cut slides and tinkered with the presentation until well past nine, when jet lag had finally claimed us both. Katy, despite promising otherwise, hadn’t reappeared from her date with her American fling. But it was OK – neither Zola nor I had really expected her to. As long as she turned up and wasn’t hungover, it would be fine.
I got up and dressed in my gym gear, planning to run along the Hudson before waking the others. Then we’d rehearse one final time, walk Katy through her part and head to our meeting fully prepared. At 10 a.m., we’d strut in there and smash it. I felt calm and in control as I brushed my hair into a neat ponytail, adding a navy bow to complement my lululemon set.
Reluctantly, I glanced at my phone – nothing from Philip.
An ache settled heavy in my chest every time I thought about him. It felt strange not to wake up beside him and not to receive my usual good-morning messages. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he’d stormed out of the restaurant, the disappointment in his eyes when I’d told him I was coming to New York. Had I taken it too far? Had I gone into full-on defensive mode because I knew he’d be angry? Bringing up ridiculous things like his shitty sports obsession? My eyes began to fill with tears, but I brushed them away immediately.Not today, Ella. Today is about the pitch, not Philip fucking Khan.
I took my key card and headed down to the lobby. A doorman stood there.
‘Hey there, you’re one of the girls on floor thirty-one, right?’ His smooth accent and wide grin made me smile.
‘That’s right. I’m Ella, lovely to meet you,’ I said, holding out my hand.
He shook it proudly. ‘Call me Otis. I was wondering when you’d come out of your room. Did jet lag beat you three last night?’ He laughed, pulling open the door.
