The Real Mason by Julia Devlin Page A

his memories clearly fond, and an unwanted stab of jealousy speared Anna in the chest. “Eighteen-year-old boys don’t say no to an offer like that.”
    Anna pressed her lips together, fighting the urge to say something scathing.
    He ran his thumb along her lower lip. “None of that, girl. She’s a dear friend of mine, so if you decide to stay, you’ll have to get used to her.”
    “You still see her?” Anna’s stomach turned over.
    “Of course,” he said as though it should be as obvious. “She taught me everything I know. She’s actually quite angry with me.”
    “Why?” Anna liked this less and less. How many other secrets did he have?
    “According to her, she taught me better than to be a coward.” He shrugged, not looking upset by the insult. “She thought I should have been honest with you from the start. We’ve had many knock-down, drag-out arguments about it.”
    Anna swallowed hard. “You’ve had fights about me?”
    “Yes, she’s still fond of telling me what to do.” He stroked her arm and slid his fingers into her hair, massaging the nape of her neck. “She was convinced you were a submissive.”
    “She doesn’t even know me,” Anna said, shivering as he traced the cords of her neck even while she wanted to reject the word.
    One big shoulder shrugged. “Her theory was I’d never be attracted to you in the first place if you didn’t call to the dominant in me.” A wry shake of the head. “She was right, as usual, annoying woman.”
    Anna frowned. “What are you trying to say?”
    A smile twitched at his lips. “We’ve proven tonight you have tendencies, how deep those desires go is still open to debate.”
    She wanted to deny it. Refute the claim but the evidence wasn’t in her favor. She cleared her throat. “How did you go from her submissive to being…what you are?”
    “What I am, huh?” The corners of his eyes crinkled. “’Rissa pretty much beat it out of me.”
    Anna gasped. “That’s horrible.”
    He chuckled. “Not in a bad way, sweet girl. She’d known all along what my true nature was and she pushed me until I took ownership of it. Then she turned around and taught me everything there is to know about being a Dom.”
    “Do you still…” Anna trailed off, unable to voice the words. Afraid of what she’d learn and what it would mean to her future with Mason.
    “Fuck her?” he added helpfully and Anna scowled at him, crossing her arms. “Not since I met you. I haven’t had sex with anyone or stepped foot into a club since we met.” He sighed and brushed her hair off her shoulders. “Have we played together over the years? I’d love to say no as I know it would ease your mind, but yes, I’ve played with her many times.”
    Anna bit her lip and looked away from him, feeling hurt and confused and generally unhappy. “What does that mean? Play together?”
    He gave her a gentle smile, so reminiscent of the man she’d known she wanted to weep from it. Everything had seemed so simple then.
    His thumb brushed the line of her jaw. “It means we’ve done scenes with her sub, my sub or both. Sometimes that includes sex with each other, sometimes it doesn’t. But I don’t show up for dinner at her house and sleep with her. Those days were over long before I ever met you.”
    Her stomach dipped, heated instantly, recalling some of the scenes she’d read in the book that included multiple people. She shook her head. She had to draw the line somewhere and his seemed as good as any. “I’m never going to do that, Mason.”
    His head tilted as he studied her quizzically. “Is that so?”
    Her chin raised in defiance. “Yes. I’m not sharing.” She squirmed, ignoring the way her nipples tightened in interest.
    And just like that the air shifted between them. His lids became heavy and that unmistakable dominance slid over his features, hardening the planes of his face into something sinful and dangerous. Lethal. Capable of making her do god only knew