“Don’t try to lie about it. I know you like a twin knows her sister. Fess up.” She cocked one hip out to the side and tipped her head, narrowing her gaze.
“It wasn’t like that.”
“What was it like, exactly?” Katy held up a hand. “On second thought, no details please.”
Jenna chuckled, but it sounded strained. “He was a perfect gentleman.” If by gentleman you mean a man who manages to hypnotize his impromptu date and lures her down a path of debauchery. All while keeping his clothes on…
“Right.” Now Katy laughed, hard. “The day Mason is allowed that noun in the same sentence with his first name is the day I peel my clothes off and run down the street stark naked and raving mad.”
He could probably convince you to do so, actually. “What I mean is,” Jenna nibbled her lower lip, “he didn’t fuck me, at least not with his cock.”
Katy leaned in. “Pardon?”
“Do we have to discuss this now? It’s your wedding day. Let’s make it all about you and leave my weird evening for another time. Huh?”
Katy shook her head. “No way. Spill. Explain yourself.” She pulled out a chair, sat, and grabbed her coffee, leaning back to enjoy the saga.
Reluctantly Jenna did the same opposite her friend, kicking herself for being such an open book. “Don’t get me wrong. I wanted him to. By the time we got to my apartment, I was a ball of need, and I couldn’t have cared less who warned me off him. I wanted that man between my legs more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
Katy grinned. She was losing her anger. “So what happened?”
“So he…cast a spell on me, I guess. There’s no other way I can possibly describe how he managed to get me to strip for him.”
“You did a strip tease?” Katy leaned forward on her elbows, intrigued.
“No. Nothing like that.” Or maybe, yes, everything like that. “He’s very—controlling, demanding. Ya know?”
Katy rolled her eyes. “Do I ever.” She didn’t elaborate, and Jenna let it go.
“I guess I did…sort of. I stripped anyway, and he scrambled my brains with his intense stare, his commanding words, and his talented fingers.” Jenna closed her eyes at the memory.
“Oh God. This is bad. You have a hard-on for him, don’t you?”
Jenna laughed. “A hard-on? Me?” She shook her head. “Never. Hey,” she stiffened and looked Katy in the eye, “please don’t mention my family situation to him, okay?”
Katy nodded. “Of course. You know I would never do that, anyway. You don’t even have to ask. And Rafe would never say a word, either.”
“Thank you. I just want to be perceived as a normal, regular human living a normal, regular life.”
Katy took her arm. “I know, and you’ve worked hard to earn that right. I would never do anything to jeopardize what you’ve built for yourself. Nevertheless, you need to listen to me. This thing…with Mason… It’s a train wreck waiting to happen, I tell you. Mason has secrets too.”
“What secrets?”
“Hey, I’m no more at liberty to divulge Mason’s past than I am yours.” She lifted her hands in the air. “But I need you to hear me.” Katy stood. She bounced her way toward the sink and grabbed two paper towels from the holder. When she returned and took her seat once again, she grabbed for the muffins and set about peeling hers out of the wrapper. She didn’t look at Jenna’s face again as she spoke. “Please, just… God, Jenna.” She lifted her gaze. “Can’t you trust me on this one?”
“Sure,” Jenna agreed. She reached for the other muffin, but she never tasted it. She concentrated on Katy’s warning for several minutes while she examined the pastry.
•●•
Mason stepped into the octagon and headed for the center of the mat. “This is what you want to do on your wedding day?” He quirked his mouth at Rafe and strapped on his gloves.
“Yep. Can’t think of anything better. Try to avoid my face. Katy will have my head if I show up with a black eye.” Rafe bounced around the ring, loosening up and taking several jabs at the air.
“Can’t promise anything. I’m not used to holding back.”
Rafe stopped jumping and froze. “Please tell me you used that motto last night when you took Jenna home.”
Mason cringed. Fuck. The last thing he wanted to do was get into the nitty gritty details of last night with Rafe this morning. “Don’t worry. I kept my pants on.”
“Good. That’s all I asked.” Rafe resumed his stretching. He stopped again in a moment. “Wait. That was too vague for you. Way too articulated.”