Chapter Two
Mason sauntered through the doors of Castle Lodge into the main foyer, which looked grandiose as always, and toward the Reception desk. He barely held back the curse threatening to spill forward when he saw the pack member who waited behind the counter. His date would have to be on a night she worked the front desk. Her name started with R…Rachel or Rebecca, some girl name with a few syllables he couldn’t remember. He remembered her body, though—those giant tits and an ass that could take a pounding.
He reached the counter and rang the bell. His ex-conquest turned and stopped mid-greeting. “Well, hello, stranger. Long time no see.”
“Yeah, hi.” He searched for a name badge but couldn’t find one.
She stared at him for a minute, probably expecting him to say more, but he remained quiet, worried he’d put his foot in his mouth if he said anything else.
“So, how can I help you?” she asked finishing the sentence she’d started earlier.
“I have a booking tonight.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Under Taylor?”
He hesitated.This is going to suck.“Umm, no. Madame Eve.”
R whatever-her-name-was’s eyes opened so wide, her eyebrows disappeared into her hair. “Well, that explains it,” she mumbled.
After a few clicks and some typing, she handed him the keycard to his room. “Your date is already here. Enjoy your evening.”
Her tone hinted at some sort of anger or frustration, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Instead of dwelling on her, he said thanks and headed for the elevator. When it hadn’t arrived after a couple of minutes, he took the stairs two at a time instead, running off a little of the nervous energy pounding through his veins.
Reaching the right floor, he exited the stairwell and made his way down the hall. The number on his key was 220, and a glance at the first door on the left read 210. A brisk walk down the seemingly endless hall and, finally, he stood outside the right room.
He raised his hand to knock but stopped dead in his tracks. The scent he’d been haunted by for nigh on a decade hit him like someone had sucker punched him.
It can’t be.
He’d never told anyone about that night. He barely admitted it happened, even to himself, except in his dreams where he relived it time and again.
Instead of knocking, he swiped his keycard through the lock before he could change his mind. He didn’t want to risk getting the door slammed in his face before he’d even had a chance to explain.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The full effect of his date’s scent hit him hard and sent all his blood flooding to the giant erection in his pants.
This is going to be interesting.
Sebastian jumped. The click of the lock opening caught him completely off guard. He put his hand to his chest as his heart thumped wildly. He turned to see a giant of a man stepping through the doorway. Big broad shoulders, muscles upon muscles, and dark-brown hair long enough to hold onto as he fucked you into oblivion. His cock hardened at the thought. It had been a long time since he’d experienced true ecstasy with a man, since that night so long ago.
His date closed the door and turned to face him. His rapidly beating heart plummeted to the floor.
“Fuck.” Sebastian couldn’t believe it was him. Out of all the men Madame Eve could have sent, she’d found the one he never wanted to see again.
“Well, hello to you, too.”
He didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t say anything.
“I’m Mason Taylor. Your date.”
Sebastian stared at the hand his date held out for him to shake.Is this guy for real?“Un-fucking-believable.”
“Sorry, just trying to be polite.” Mason pulled it back and wrung his hands in front of him like a little boy waiting to be told off.
“You really think I have no idea who you are?MasonTaylor—manwhore extraordinaire. Everyone from here to the Canadian border has had a turn with you.”Including me.Mason cringed at his words. He hadn’t meant for them to come out with such a venomous tone, but seeing this man again up close and personal after so much time was like a kick to the gut.
“I see my reputation precedes me. Guess you’re a local, then.”
He wanted to yell and scream and bury his fist in the smug bastard’s gut, but he held it all back and played along. “Yeah, born and raised an hour east of here. Sebastian Cooke.” He thought for a second he glimpsed a hint of recognition. But one blink and the unaffected expression returned. He held his hand out to shake and couldn’t hide his surprise when Mason didn’t hesitate.
