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I've never paid much attention to why I am the way I am.

I guess not having a mother does play into it - I've always known my dad spoiled me because I only had one parent. I think of myself as quite intelligent, knowing I'll always get what I want if I play my cards right. But with Mason... it makes me different.

It makes me want to be real, not lie constantly and cover up the little untruths that have a tendency to spill from my mouth. It makes me want to lose control for once in my life.

I don't know how much time I spend in the garden, but when I get up to leave, it's pitch dark outside.

I smooth down my simple, long dress. I'm wearing it over my bikini as I had planned on testing out the pool tonight - something I've longed to do for a while now. But the day passed faster than I intended it to. I wonder if I could take a night dip.

I head to the pool in the back of the house and look around to make sure I'm alone. Then, I strip off my dress, and on second thought, my bikini too. I dive into the pool, relishing the feeling of the cool water against my skin.

I swim, I float, I let the water wash away my worries. I don't notice that I'm crying until I hear a splash.

I stand on my toes, panic taking over as I see a body in the water.

Instinctively, I cover up my pussy and my tits, my chest heaving with suppressed panic.

A male form emerges from the water. I know right away who it is, and as he wipes away the water from his face and grins at me, I know this won't end well.

"Hello, Cara," he says sweetly, but he's slurring his words.

"Luca," I say in a shaky voice. "Do you mind? I... I don't have a swimsuit on."

He approaches me, the water making his movements painfully slow.

"How delicious," he says. "Let's play now, Cara."

I scramble to get away from him, a million thoughts racing through my mind.

What is he doing here?

Didn't he leave last night?

Mason wouldn't want us alone together. I think he doesn't trust Luca.

Mason.

Where is Mason?

I push my feet off the ground, trying to get outside of the pool desperately. Any notion of shame at Luca seeing me naked is forgotten as I realize there is a bigger risk at play.

He wants to hurt me.

I've known that since the first time I met him.

It's what made me so uncomfortable around him.

He makes a grab for me, reaching towards my naked skin. His fingers brush my hip and I scream, loud and scared and panicked. I try to run in the cool water, but my foot slips on the slippery floor of the pool, and I crash face first into the pool.

Strong arms wrap around me, one of them going to my face and covering up my mouth with a thick, meaty palm. I scream into his hand but no sound comes out, only muffled whispers.

Luca pulls me towards him, makes me face him and stares me down with a cruel, glazed-over look on his face. If I wasn’t sure he was drunk before, it’s painfully obvious now. His breath it tinged with alcohol, he reeks of booze. He holds me down firmly and I struggle in his arms.

“What’s so special about you, then?” Luca’s slurring at me. “You must have a magic fucking pussy if it made the old man like you this much.”

My cheeks burn up as he reaches for my throat, his nasty fingers wrapping around my neck and choking me. Hot tears of helplessness fall from my eyes, stinging my cheeks on the way down.

“Get your fucking hands off her, NOW!”

Someone’s yell interrupts us, and Luca lets go of me like he’s been burned. We turn to face the garden, where Mason is pulling off his clothes before diving into the water.

I sob, unable to stop my body from heaving from what I’ve just experienced. Mason resurfaces and grabs Luca by the throat as I retreat out of the pool, grabbing a towel I’d brought with me earlier and wrapping my shivering naked body inside it.

The two men are fighting in the pool, throwing punches at one another. Mason’s got the upper hand – he’s bigger, broader, and he’s pissed.

I shiver on the lounge chair, retreating somewhere deep inside of myself as the two take it out on each other. I don’t know how much time has passed when Mason emerges with Luca from the pool, holding him down with disgust.

Luca has a bloody nose – maybe even broken. He’s crying like a child.

“You’re leaving,” Mason tells him. “Right the fuck now. And you’re not coming back.”

“You can’t kick me out,” Luca groans, wiping the blood from his face.

“Can’t I?” Mason snarls, pulling him closer by the throat and making the younger man groan in pain. “I don’t owe you shit, little boy. And when you pick on her,” he gestures towards me, “you’re picking on my fucking property. I don’t want to see you near her again.”

He pushes Luca to the ground and I look away when the man tries to make eye contact. I can’t stand to look at him, not after he scared me so badly.

“You’re picking her over me?” Luca asks angrily. “She’s just a piece of fucking ass, Mason! When are you going to realize that, old man?”

“Get. The fuck. Out.” Mason emphasized every word with a jab in Luca’s throat, and the younger man laughs bitterly.

“Call me when you’re alone again,” he says to Mason and storms off, his clothes dripping with water from the pool.

Mason approaches me as soon as Luca is gone from the garden. He gathers me in his arms and lifts me up.

“You can’t carry me,” I protest softly. “I’m too heavy for that.”

“Shut up,” he says gently. “You weigh nothing.”

He carries me inside the house, into his own bedroom. He dries me off with the towel, wrapping my hair up and putting PJs on me like he’s dressing a little doll. He tucks me into bed and climbs in along with me, his fingers trailing a line down my arms.

“Where were you?” I ask him. “I didn’t know… I thought you left me here by myself.”

“I had to deal with some shit,” Mason says roughly. “Luca… he got into a fight at some bar. I had to go intervene. I had no idea he’d come back here, sweetheart. He was gone by the time I got there.”

I sniffle and he pulls me tightly against his chest, crushing me on top of him. I climb on top of his strong, muscular body, and Mason’s hands go to my hips, holding me in place as I settle down.

“Don’t leave me again,” I beg him.

“Never,” he mutters in my hair.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CARA

A FEW DAYS LATER, as we're having lunch, Mason tells me he wants to take me out. I get excited right away, remembering the trip we took to Venice and hoping for something similar.

"Where are we going?" I ask right away, finishing off my plate of chicken salad.

"I can't tell you," he grins at me. "That would just spoil the surprise, wouldn't it?"

I pout, but only for a little while. We've spent every hour of the past few days together, trying to put what happened with Luca behind us. I think it's working, and it's making us grow closer as well.

"Meet me downstairs at seven p.m. sharp," Mason tells me, and I nod.

A million other questions race through my mind and I have to bite my lip before they slip from my tongue. Where are we going in the evening? Will we spend the night there? Will there be other people?"

Mason's leaving the room, but as an afterthought, he turns around and grins at me.

"I want you to wear a skirt," he tells me. "Your sluttiest, shortest one."

I blush, but find myself nodding nonetheless.

"And, sweetheart?"

I look up at him, my cheeks burning up. He grins, showing me his perfect smile and making me get wet on that dining room chair.

"Underwear is not optional. I want your ass bare in that skirt."

With that, he leaves the dining room, leaving me guessing.

I SPEND the rest of the day finding an appropriate outfit. Of course, I know what I should wear

the whole time I'm digging through my suitcases. But it's just a little bit too much - too revealing, too sexy. My dad would kill me if he saw me in it.

In the end, I decide I don't really have a choice. I have to wear my shortest skirt, like Mason said. If I don't, he's going to find out somehow and punish me for disobeying.

I bring out the black leather miniskirt. It's short as hell, and I don't even know what I was thinking, bringing it with me. It's so not my style. Still, I slip it on along with a frilly white blouse that's cropped in the front. I don't really have anything that goes with it. I obey Mason's orders and don't put on a bra or panties. But on second thought, I go for a pair of fishnets I bought in secret back at home with one of my girlfriends. It'll help me feel less naked.

The car is waiting for us as I come downstairs. It's Mason's usual ride, the black one that almost looks like a limo. Filippe doesn't comment on my outfit as he opens the back door for me, even though my cheeks are burning up. I'm thankful that he chooses to ignore what's going on here.

I climb into the backseat, and a strong hand guides me in. Sitting down on the plush leather of the chair, I blush as my eyes meet Mason's.

"My, my," he says roughly. "Don't you look like a fucking dream, princess. Always have loved a girl in fishnets."