18

"On film?" My eyes widen dramatically, my heart racing. I'm trying to tune out the sex noises, but Irina is so obnoxiously loud it makes me want to bash my own head in.

"You want your freedom?" Masen barks. I'm taken aback a bit, the harsh tone night and day with mere minutes ago, when I thought we had this sizzling kind of connection I used to dream about. A connection I used to have with my husband. Eons ago, in a time where I got more beaming smiles than bruises.

Masen is just looking out for you, Bella. No more, no less. It's his job, for crying out loud.

"Let's take baby steps here," I attempt to calm down his enthusiasm.

"What baby steps?" He shakes his head, licking his chapped lips, the scar slashing his brow amplifying the frown on Masen's face. "I don't know if you realize what kind of leverage we have here, Mrs. Anderson. This kind of smoking gun doesn't just drop into your lap."

My vision is clouded, broken dreams holding my broken spirit upright like crutches. Masen really is looking out for me. I should be more grateful, and I should help him instead of standing here like the wounded woman. As if I didn't know he was cheating on me…It's probably more the shock of witnessing it like this, out in the open that's catching me off guard.

"You said there was someone else…earlier, in the elevator. What did you mean?" I tune out the pornographic background noise as much as I can.

"You were talking about fighting fire with fire, care to elaborate what that was all about?" He looks at me, green eyes full of questions. My heart hammers violently in my chest. It's not fear but it resembles it substantially.

"I believe I asked you a question, first." My bratty reply makes him huff out a smile. I never knew men could be so dangerously handsome. Masen is darkness personified, the shadows floating around in his irises, the black suit and his dark edges.

"Losing daylight here, princess…" He throws up his arms. "You know, figure of speech."

I bite my lip, debating my choices. Then it hits me. Alistair has done everything in his power to make me miserable. Why shouldn't I jump on this one chance to do the same for him?

"Fine," I finally say. "Tape it, do whatever you were planning. But once you've done that, we're talking and you'll talk to me."

"See, you can be feisty if you want to be," Masen says. "You're like a warrior princess now instead of one locked away in a gilded cage." His right hand caresses my upper arm, and his heat makes me shudder.

"Here." He shrugs off his jacket and drapes it around my shoulders. The expensive designer fabric swallows me whole. It smells like man, but not the scent I'm used to. Masen's cologne is just as powerful as the man himself, with that edge of darkness. Darkness never felt so safe.

"So you think this film of yours will open the little door of my cage, heh?" I wonder. I sit down on the bed, feeling silly, the slit of my dress uncovering much more thigh than I'm usually comfortable with. Right now I wish I wasn't wearing anything at all with the way Masen's eyes just traced my legs so slowly I bet he's got that shit memorized.

"Why did you think I got this room?"

I shrug.

"Because I got his all set up while we hadn't even left for the event yet."

My eyes grow large. Masen stands leaning against the desk, the reflection of his muscular back in the mirror, the shirt straining against his delts as he smirks like the cat who just caught one hell of a canary.

"W—How?" I frown so hard it makes my forehead hurt.

"The girl downstairs?" I nod. "She's dating someone at reception. And said person always has a suite ready for Mr. Mayor…"

"He has a personal fucking room here, now?" I say a little too loud.

"Shh, princess, keep it down. Wouldn't want to interrupt the people on set, now would you?"

Masen licks his lips, and actually lets out a damn chuckle. Raspy, and raw. Revolutionary. I didn't know chuckles could be so sexy.

"Puns, Masen? Really?" I arch a brow, playfully, leaning back a bit on the palms of my hands, my nails digging into the plush comforter underneath me.

"Fucking room, yeah. I know…But you caught me off guard." He shrugs. "But yes. This little video we've got here will most definitely open up the gates for you, darling." He's being softer again, the deep rumble of his voices reaching places in me I thought had died a long time ago.

I clear my throat, trying to keep my thoughts out of the gutter. I'm not like this. Not anymore. But this spacious hotel room suddenly seems too small, a claustrophobic sensation creeping up on me.

"So…" Masen trails off. "You wanted to talk to me, now that I've done all that I had planned?" He gives me a look, one that kind of puts me in my place.

My cheeks redden, hot flashes of nerves making me stutter.

"I shouldn't have been so rude, I apologize." I feel as small as I usually do, but then, Masen lets out a heavy breath. His hand rakes over his head, the short hairs at his nape making that scratching sound against his palm.

"Don't, okay…don't disappear on me, warrior princess. Don't go back to being that frail little bird in the fucking cage, because you're not that person."

I give Masen a little smile.

"Stop reading me, we're supposed to be talking," I joke.

"We are talking…"

"I mean—"

"The other person, right? You want to know who I was talking about, don't you?"

I nod.

"It's best if you don't know about that just yet. Not until it's safe for you to know. Because I don't need to tell you your husband is dangerous company. And I need you safe until we have this tape secured and locked away from his reach."

I blink a couple of times. How is this even real? I feel like this is some kind of crime show.

"You'll keep me safe," I blurt out.

"Even if it's the last thing I do."