Razor: A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance(9)

“Wanna know something? I even waited to forty seconds because I knew thirty wasn’t enough.”

Only a few more feet and I’d wipe that smirk off of his face.

“What? No comeback? You can’t walk and chew bubble gum at the same time?”

One more step. “You know what Mason?”

He grinned at me goofily, seemingly unaware of my treachery. “What?”

This would be oh so satisfying. “Maybe you should go for a little swim—”

I reached forward to shove him, but I clumsily slipped and lost my footing on the bark.

The world spun around me as a shocked scream tore from my throat and I plunged into the pond’s icy depths.

Cold, muddy darkness.

I couldn’t see anything and panic gripped me as I tried to blindly paddle myself to the surface.

Why wasn’t I surfacing? The pond wasn’t that deep. I started to panic when strong arms suddenly wrapped around me and began pulling me up.

“You little fool!” Mason gasped as we broke the surface. His hair was matted down to his forehead and an angry scowl plastered his face. “Why would you do something like that?”

Was he kidding? If I weren’t already gasping for air, I’d slap him.

Mason’s angry scowl morphed into a soft expression as he studied me. “Are you alright?” The genuine concern in his voice touched me and I found my anger quickly evaporating.

I coughed weakly and shook my head. “I think so.”

“Fuck, I’m so sorry,” he said, surprising me. “I should’ve never made you climb that tree. I just wanted to have a little fun.”

An apology? From Mason? I was shocked.

I stared into his eyes and only saw earnestness. He really did care. Suddenly, warmth spread throughout my chest and then my whole body.

I could feel his hard stomach pressed up against me. And down below I could feel . . .

Blood rushed to my cheeks.

Luckily, Mason didn’t notice my embarrassment.

He hugged me close and started moving us toward the shore. “You scared the shit out of me. Don’t ever pull a stunt like that again or I’ll give you a spanking you won’t forget.”

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, though I was secretly delighted.

“You better be.”

As he swam us toward the shore, the events of the day faded into the background. The only thing that mattered in that moment was that I was safe in his arms.





Chapter 4





Mason




She’s so f*cking beautiful.

“Really, Carly?” I asked from my seat on her little couch. I had a hard time keeping my eyes off of her. In the years that I’d been gone, she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman. Her face had matured, but she still had an air of innocence stamped on her delicate features and that beautiful strawberry-blonde hair. And her body? Damn. She was what I called a full-figured petite. Though short, she had large breasts, a slim waist, wide hips and a nice round ass. “A gun?” It was hard to imagine Carly handling cold hard steel, though I could think of something warm and hard I’d love to see her handle.

Fuck me.

Carly stopped her pacing to scowl at me with that bitchiness I so fondly remembered, and placed her hands on her hips.

“I live by myself, Mason, what do you expect?” she demanded. “I may need to protect myself.”

A twinge of guilt went through my chest. Carly would’ve never had the need for a gun if she had me around.

But I had to get away, I thought. I couldn’t stay around her with the feelings that I was holding inside.

“What are you doing living out here anyway?” I asked. I never thought in a million years Carly would wind up in a place like this. She was more of a city girl.

“It was a good deal,” Carly replied. “And you know how expensive everything is in the Bay Area.”

I nodded. “No doubt. It’s ridiculous. But you didn’t have to do something this drastic just to afford rent. Dad’s wealthy, he would have helped you out . . . he always was fond of you.” My Dad and I weren’t on speaking terms, but I knew he held a soft place in his heart for Carly, and if she needed help, I’m sure he would’ve lent a hand.

Carly shook her head. “You know I don’t like asking for help. Besides, he already practically paid my way through college.”

While I dropped out . . .

Silence filled the room and Carly bit her lower lip as she stared at me. I knew what she was thinking. She was thinking that I’d walked out on all of the money my Father invested in me, walked out on the future he wanted for me, and walked out on her.

If she only knew why.

“But I thought for sure you’d be some big shot reporter by now,” I said, quick to deflect the accusations that I knew was coming.

A shadow darkened Carly’s visage. She glared at me as if pissed off I brought up such a sore subject, and resumed pacing back and forth in front of me.

My eyes followed her like the Mona Lisa. Damn. It was almost like she was teasing me, though I knew she wasn’t.

She was wearing pink shorts, which showcased her tight, round ass and a white, short-sleeved, V-neck top that showed off her cleavage.

I felt guilt-ridden, but I was more than a little turned on at half-mast. In fact, I wanted to bend her over the couch and . . .