Page 62 of Not Another Dark Romance

“Thank you for everything. For seeing me and understanding what I need. The way you take care of me. Punish me. Treat me. For believing in me.”

He’s quiet for a moment, and I can feel his breath against my neck. “Of course, Mason.”

He snuggles me even closer. I close my eyes, letting out a contented sigh as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.

I smile into the darkness because for the first time since I’ve been in this house, I know I’m not just here because I’m his captive. Now it’s because I’m his, and he’s mine.

28

“Zane! Zane, are you alive?” Grant’s shout jolts me from sleep.

What the fuck is he doing at my house?

“Your truck is here, but I’ve called six times with no response!” he calls out as footprints echo up my stairs.

“Fuck off, Grant,” I yell, glancing at my phone screen to realize it’s nearly ten o’clock. Mason is also just waking up now, still wrapped around me. I guess last night really did take a lot out of us since we must have slept through my alarm and all those notifications.

I blink a few times as the reality of what’s happening sinks in. Grant is here. With Mason. Mason, who has been my prisoner for weeks now.

Maybe I should be more concerned about the possibility of him finding out the truth, maybe I should be scrambling to hide Mason, refuse to let them see each other out of fear that Mason will tell him, but I don’t think he will after lying to the cop. In fact, if I’m being totally honest, the only thing I’m worried about is my best friend meeting the guy I’m obsessed with. I want them to get along.

He knocks on my door. “Can I come in?”

“We’re naked,” I respond, and Mason’s eyes widen dramatically. He’s probably surprised I admitted I’m not alone.

“Holy shit, is audiobook guy here?”

Mason sucks in a sharp breath, sitting up in the bed before he turns and whispers frantically, “He knows about me?”

I bite my lip to hold back my smile as I nod. The blankets have shifted enough now for me to make out the marker all over him, and a wave of heat pools in my gut as I remember what he did and the fact that he didn’t want me to wash it off when we were done.

“So can I come in or not?” Grant asks again, and I chuckle to myself as I picture his reaction to seeing Mason like this. I don’t know what shit Grant’s into, but I don’t need him to see the evidence from last night. That’d be a hard one to explain.

“Give us a minute, and we’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

I can hear Grant grumbling to himself before his footsteps echo down the stairs. I get out of bed and head for my dresser, then my closet. I hand Mason one of my sweatshirts and sweatpants that will be too big on him.

“Here you are, Pet. That should cover the marker. As much as I love looking at it, I’m not sure if Grant would understand. It’s hot knowing I’m the only one who will know what you’re hiding under your clothes, though.”

“Oh fuck. Yeah, that definitely is,” he says with a smirk as we both get dressed.

“Ready?” I ask as I take Mason’s hand.

“Wait, you actually want me to meet him?” he checks.

“Yeah, Little Psycho, I do. But we should probably keep quiet about all the illegal shit.”

Mason laughs nervously, eyeing Pete, who doesn’t move from his bed to follow us as I guide him out of the room and down to the kitchen where Grant is waiting with a pot of coffee.

“Mason, this is my best friend, Grant. Grant, this is my boyfriend, Mason.”

“Boyfriend?” Grant asks, clearly surprised.

“Yeah, do you have a problem with that?”

“Obviously not. I’m super happy for you.” He rushes over to throw his arm around me and pulls me in for a tight hug. When he eventually steps back, he turns to Mason. “Hey, man. So great to finally meet you. I’ve been harassing this guy for weeks to get him to introduce us.”

Mason’s eyes look like they’re ready to bug out of his head. “You’ve known about me for weeks?”