Chapter 7 A Deal is Made

I was washing my hands at the sink when I heard the door open. I didn't turn because I assumed it had been another female needing to use the bathroom.

It wasn't until I looked up to check myself in the mirror that I realized Mason was standing right behind me. I rolled my eyes, planning to simply walk out and continue avoiding him.

But he had other plans.

"You can't avoid me forever, no name. Or should I say, Dove?" Mason's deep voice has chills running down my spine, his warm breath tickling the hairs on the nape of my neck.

I've been avoiding him since the reception began, hiding within the crowd of people mingling with one another.

For about an hour I had been successful in keeping my distance. But then I ended up having to go to the bathroom after drinking two glasses of champagne to calm my nerves.

He pressed himself up against me, his veiny, tatted hands gripping the sink counter and preventing me from making my escape. And now I have no choice but to address the fact that I'm the escort he'd hired.

I kept a calm composure despite my breath being stolen from me the moment he closed the distance between us. I could smell his earthly cologne, the intoxicating scent of a man prompting me to inhale and welcome his spellbinding aroma.

"Nothing to say? What a surprise." I watched the way he reached up to gently thread his fingers through my hair, his lips twitching up into a smile.

His touch lit me aflame. I bit down on my lower lip, trying not to lean into his touch. I didn't want him to know I was enjoying the way he played with my hair. I also didn't want him to know how much I liked having him so close to me.

He lowered his head and nipped at my exposed shoulder. "Do you believe in fate, Dove?"

"I don't."

His other hand skated over my stomach, branding me with his burning touch before gripping my hip. "This is our third time running into each other and yet, you're still in denial."

"Denial about what?" I managed to say, my rapid pulsing heart beating on the outside of my chest.

"Ever since I met you, you've been ingrained in my mind like a bad memory. Tell me I'm not alone, Dove," he spoke lowly, slowly skating the tips of his fingers up and down the length of my arm. "Tell me you feel it too."

"Sorry but you're on your own, playboy. You haven't crossed my mind even once."

He smirked. "Liar."

I rolled my eyes. "You're going to have to find yourself another escort. I'm leaving." I pressed my open palm to his chest, feeling the muscles that lie beneath his tux. I quickly pulled my hand away, shoving past him.

"I'll pay you triple."

I paused in front of the door, my fingers coiled around the handle.

Triple?

Is he fucking crazy? Does he even know how much that is?

I get paid per hour, a percentage of the money made going back to the agency. The wedding ceremony was only an hour with the reception expected to be about five hours long.

I would make almost five thousand dollars. Which is the amount some escorts who perform sexual services in the agency average. Yes, although illegal, some of the members working under the agency do offer sexual services.

I am not one of them.

I frowned, dropping my hand at my side and turning around slowly. I'd be a fool to pass up making that much money even if the playboy arouses my very soul.

"Let me be clear, I'm not fucking you."

"That's fine."

"I'm not sucking your dick either."

He tilted his head, a lopsided grin on his handsome face. "Understood."

He's a fuck boy. I shouldn't be so damn aroused by a fuck boy. And yet, all it took was a single glance from those green eyes and a boyish smile for my panties to dampen.

I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing there was a catch. When it comes to guys like him, they always expect something in return. They can't just be nice to be nice. It fucking pisses me off.

"What do you expect to get out of this?"

"Nothing."

I crossed my arms over my chest, drawing my brows together and pulling my lips into a thin line. "Liar."

He chuckled, the gruff sound having way more of an effect on me than it should have. "Okay, you caught me." His pink tongue flits out to moisten his lips before disappearing back in his mouth. "There is something I want," he said calmly, shoving a hand into his pants pocket.

"Well, hurry up and spit it out," I blurt out in annoyance when he doesn't speak fast enough.

Unfazed, he brushes his fingers through his dark hair. I uncrossed my arms when I could no longer bear the way his heavy gaze bore into me. "I want you to be my personal escort," he reveals, watching the way my eyes widen.

"What?"

"I attend a lot of events, and a beautiful woman like you would look perfect on my arm."

I scoffed. "Hell no. Ask one of your fuck buddies."

"They're not reliable unless it's to fuck."

I shook my head. "What makes you so sure I'll even show up when you call?"

"Because I'm offering you ten grand for every event you accompany me to."

Ten grand? Fucking hell.

"And I won't have to fuck you or suck your cock?"

"Not unless you want to," be said with a seductive smile, his eyes raking over my body.

I laughed. "That's never going to happen."

He shrugged. "Never say never, Dove." I rolled my eyes and his eyes sparkled with amusement. "So, what's it going to be?"

I gave his offer careful consideration, tilting my head up at the ceiling in deep thought. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't give his offer a second thought. I mean not only are they getting paid a shit ton of money to look cute by his side, but he's hot.

Ugh.

I can't believe I'm even considering this. Based on his choice in hobby, it will be assumed that I am also sleeping with him, along with the other women he's buried his cock in. It's inevitable.

I mean Mason Isaacs screams slut. The first interaction we had with one another proved just that. As soon as he flashed that pretty practiced smile of his, I knew right then and there that his face had been shoved between the legs of a plethora of women.

Do I care that he loves having sex? No. I love sex. But there's not a doubt in my mind that one of those women who've fallen into his webbed trap ended up gaining feelings for him.

Most of them knew exactly what they were getting into, and they still fell for the web of lies he spun.

I don't hate Mason for his commitment issues, because I have them too. Besides, he's not the only one who engages in sex with multiple people. I fuck a different guy every other week. I'm not sure how many of them caught feelings for me, but I never gave them any kind of hope.

Mason gave them hope.

I know, because I used to frequently fuck a guy like him. It lasted for about a year. The sex was good. Too good. I ended up catching feelings for him.

Or maybe it was his dick I caught feelings for. Who knows. Either way, I told him about my feelings, which were unrequited, and things ended between us.

I kind of expected that to happen. I knew he wasn't ready for a relationship. I just didn't want to spend my entire life wondering what if.

I respected his decision and we remained friends. Until a few months later when I found out from his mom that he got engaged to a woman he had only known for a month.

Yeah, that shit fucked me up for awhile. Especially because we were friends long before the benefits entered the picture. Now he's happily married with a baby on the way.

"Dove?"

I didn't realize Mason was trying to get my attention until I heard him call me by my alias. "Huh?" I asked, blinking away my thoughts.

"Are you going to keep me waiting forever?"

"Oh, right," I muttered, remembering where I was. "I'll accept your offer, but only on one condition."

His brows rose. "I'm listening."

"You pay me an additional five grand for my escorting you tonight."

I promise I'm not a gold digger. It's just that I have bills to pay, tv subscriptions to uphold, and a dog to spoil.

He looked taken aback, not expecting me to want more than what he had already offered me. "What for?"

"Pain and suffering."

"Pain and suffering?" He repeated with an incredulous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "You're kidding right?"

"Nope," I replied, popping the p. "It's the only way I'll be able to tolerate your horny ass breathing down my neck all night. And it may just boost my performance."

"Your performance?"

"Mhm. If you want me to make you look good in front of mommy and daddy, then I'm going to have to get into character."

He rolled his eyes and sighed, as if accepting defeat. "I admire your hustle," he said, his signature smile making a reappearance. I wonder if his jaw hurts with all that damn smiling he does. "It's a deal."

"Great." Offering him my hand, he interlaced our fingers and allowed me to lead him out of the bathroom.

An elderly woman with serpent green eyes was standing outside of the bathroom door with a shocked expression etched into her wrinkled face.

Mason cursed. "Hey... grandma," he said, laughing nervously, his cheeks tinged pink.

She started hitting him with the little white clutch in her hand, Mason trying to dodge her attack. "Really Mason?" She chided. "At your brother's wedding?"

"Ow, grandma! It's not what you think," he said quickly, stumbling over his words.

"Actually," I cut in, feeling as though this opportunity was too great to pass up. "It's exactly what you think, grandma Isaacs." Mason's head whipped in my direction, his glare icy. "Your grandson raw-dogged me in the bathroom. Shameful, I know." I shook my head. "He just couldn't keep it in his pants."

Getting in one last hit, she struck him upside his head and another curse left his lips. Grandma Isaacs sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose while shaking her head. "All you Isaacs men are the same."

"Wha- grandma," he protested. "Would you stop hitting me!?"

She stopped her assault, but only so she could wiggle her pink gloved finger in his face. "I'll deal with you later, young man. Now go congratulate your brother."

With a look of disgust on her face, she walked past us to go into the bathroom.

"What the hell was that?" Mason growled, yanking his hand from mine. "I thought you said you were going to get into character?"

"I'm sorry," I said through a fit of laughter. "I just couldn't help myself."

"You're so damn childish," he grumbled, rubbing the side of his head.

Rolling my eyes, I moved his hand out of the way and kissed the little pink bruise on his temple. He tensed up, caught off guard by the action. "Come on," I said, grabbing his hand. "Let's go congratulate the happy couple."

"I can't," he whispered, his face red. "You go on without me. I'll join you momentarily."

"What, why?"

He glanced down, then back up. "Just give me a minute, yeah?"

Confused, I looked down as well. When I saw the bulge in his pants, I looked back up at him with a smirk. "You are such a guy."

"Shut up," he muttered. "Unless you're going to help me get rid of it."

"Hell no," I replied, walking away from him. "You're on your own."