Mr Masters (Mr. Book 1)

We walk down the busy street together. I’m holding hands with Sammy and Will is walking behind with her father.

“Where is this restaurant, Miss Brielle?” Julian calls from behind.

“Just up here.” I crane my neck to look up the street. “I hope,” I mutter under my breath.

It’s Friday night. After our meeting at the school earlier, I talked Julian into taking us to a new Texan restaurant that just opened up in town. It’s the opening week, so they have extra attractions there. It seemed like it could really be fun from what I read in the brochure. Hopefully, it will cheer Willow up.

“What exactly is Texan food?” Julian calls.

I smirk and wink at Sammy. “Horse.”

“What?” Will snaps, outraged. “I’m not eating horse.”

I giggle.

“They do not eat horse,” she calls. “You twit, Brell.”

Sammy and I giggle. Moments later, we arrive at the restaurant.

TEXAS RANGERS

The restaurant has huge double wooden doors, and the décor has been set up to make it look like a big barn. It seems so out of place compared with the snooty parts of London Julian insists on frequenting.

“Oh, wow, sick,” Sammy whispers, looking around in awe.

“Yes, there’s no doubt what we’ll all be after eating here,” Julian mutters dryly.

I elbow him. “Stop being such a snob.”

The attendant walks up to us. “Table for four?”

“Yes, please.” I smile as I go up onto my toes, completely excited to be here.

The attendant hands me a small silver bucket of beer nuts. “Nuts are on the house.” She begins to walk off. “This way, please,” she calls over her shoulders.

The children follow her, but I hang back, hunching my shoulders and smiling broadly at Julian. “I love it when nuts are on the house.”

He looks at me, deadpan. “Or in your mouth.”

I laugh. “That, too.”

We weave through the busy restaurant and take a seat at a bench seat. Country music is blaring through the space, and the back area of the restaurant opens out onto a huge courtyard. They have attractions out there, obviously because it’s the opening week. There are donkeys, horses, and a baby animal petting zoo, with a bucking bull set up in the corner.

“I love this place.” I smile as we sit down.

“Me, too,” Sammy beams. I hold my fist up and he punches it with his.

Julian turns his attention to his daughter. “What do you think of the place, Will?”

Will looks around and sees the peanut shells on the floor. “It’s a bit feral, if you ask me.”

“Thank you. At last, someone who knows what they’re talking about.” Julian sighs, relieved.

Sammy and I pull a face at one another, and we open the menus.

“Wow, I’m definitely getting the ribs.” I keep reading. “It’s called The Huge Rack.”

A look of disgust washes over Julian’s face. “I have to sit opposite you and watch you chew meat from a bone that’s called The Huge Rack?”

I giggle. “Aha, and I’m drinking beer straight out of the bottle, too.”

Willow giggles. “You are so uncouth, Brell.”

“That’s why you all like me so much.” I bat my eyelashes playfully. “What are you getting Sammy?” I ask.

He studies the menu. “Chicken wings, maybe.”

“Hmm.” I nod. “Sounds great but we’ll have to make sure we ask for them plain, not spicy.”

“Yeah.” He shakes his little head. “Definitely not spicy.”

“Will, you getting the ribs with me?” I keep looking at the menu. “Oh, we have to get the Yam Taters.”

She concentrates as she reads the menu. “Yam Taters? This food is weird.”

“I know, it’s great isn’t it?” I smile. “What are you getting, Mr. Masters?”

He frowns as he peruses the menu. “Food poisoning, no doubt.”

I roll my eyes. ‘Will you stop being such a killjoy? Just pick something.’

“Chilli Tex Mex.” He closes the menu.

I giggle. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, why?”

“You have no idea how hot that could be.”

He smirks. “My dear Miss Brielle. May I remind you that I like my life extra hot.” I smile down at the table. He’s being a bit flirty tonight.

“If you have an upset stomach all night long, don’t be blaming or calling me,” I tease.

The children both laugh and Julian rolls his eyes.

‘Oh look, the horse.’ Sammy smiles excitedly as he looks out to the backyard.

“Do you want to go see?” Will asks.

“Can we?” Sam asks me.

“Of course.” I smile.

They both get up and disappear out the back, leaving Julian and I to watch them in silence for a while.

“Thanks for coming tonight,” Julian says. “I’m not sure how to handle this whole thing.”

“It’s okay. I’m not going to go out this weekend.”

“Why not?”

“I want to stay with Will.”

“Oh, so you’ll stay home for her, not me?” he teases.

“That’s right.” I smile as I watch his eyes hold mine. He’s so lost in all this Will business, he has no idea what to do for the best. “I thought maybe we could do something fun, both on Saturday and Sunday. You know, to try and take her mind off it all.”

He nods as his eyes drop to the table.

“Did you think any more about getting them a kitten?” I ask hopefully.

His eyes snap up to mine. “I don’t want pets, Bree. We go away a lot. The children stay at mother’s every Thursday.” He frowns.

“The cat can go with them.”

He shakes his head. “No.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine.”

The waitress comes over and we order the meals and drinks, and then she disappears through the crowd once more.

“What do you want to do all weekend then?” he asks.

“Whatever you want.”

His eyes darken as they hold mine. “Whatever I want isn’t on the menu at home.”

“Why not?”

He shakes his head. “Because it needs to be kept separate.”

“Why?”

“It just does.”

The kids bounce back to the table, interrupting our conversation, and we fall quiet again.

I watch the bucking bull trying to throw somebody off. “Who wants to come watch me ride that bucking bull?” I ask.

Julian’s face falls.

“Yes,” both kids squeal.

I stand. “Come on then.”

“You’re not going on that death trap, Bree. I forbid it,” he suddenly snaps. “Sit back down this minute.”

“It’s completely safe.” I huff.

He glances over at it as it picks up speed, and he shakes his head in a panic. “No. No. You’re not allowed. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I’m not going to get hurt, pussy boy.” I smirk as I walk off, watching the kids rush ahead.

He stands abruptly. “Bree!” he barks.

I turn to him. “What?”

“Please. I really don’t want you to go on it.”

“Look at you, getting all protective.”

“This isn’t funny.”

I grin. “Yeah, it kind of is. Loosen up, Jules.”

He exhales heavily and follows me down the steps. “I’m not taking you to the hospital if you die.”

“Good. I would expect to be taken to the mortuary anyway.” I smile. “Christ all fucking mighty.”

Ten minutes later, I’m sitting on the bucking bull as it begins to slowly circle. Willow and Sammy are bouncing up and down, but Julian looks like he is about to throw up. I give them a wave and laugh out loud.

“Go, Brell!” Willow shouts.

I put my hand up in the air, pretending to swing a rope, and then throw a lasso over them. Julian pinches the bridge of his nose, exasperated.

It only makes me laugh more. I’m so embarrassing to him.

The bull picks up speed and I hang on with my thighs. The kids scream and Julian puts his hands on the top of his head, fear-stricken. The bull begins to buck but I still hold on.

The kids are chanting and I’m laughing out loud.

Julian’s eyes are like saucers as I go around and around, up and down. I can hear Sammy squealing with laughter. Suddenly, the bull becomes really violent and I begin to get thrown around.

“Oh my God,” I hear Julian cry. “Stop it, this minute,” he yells at the controller.

“No, don’t!” I cry with laughter.

All at once it lurches forward and I’m thrown from the bull, down onto the cushions. I land hard on my back, staring up at the sky.

Ouch… that hurt.

Julian rushes over me. “Are… are you injured?” he stammers as he looks down, filled with worry.

I laugh up at him. “That was so much fun.” He grabs my hand and pulls me up, helping me dust the straw from my body. “I’m going to do it again,” I tease.

“Over my dead body,” he growls, grabbing my hand and dragging me back to the table. The kids fall in behind us, hysterical with laughter.

“Children, control your lunatic nanny.” He guzzles his Corona straight from the bottle. “She’s completely out of control.”

I laugh and pick up my beer, holding his gaze as I sip it slowly.

“Behave yourself,” he mouths.

I throw him a cheeky wink. “Now it’s your turn to dice with death, Mr. Masters,” I tease.

“How so?”

With perfect timing, the waitress places his meal down in front of him. There’s a huge pile of meat stew filled with green and red chillies on his plate, and a dollop of sour cream on the top. It’s so hot, steam is rising from it.

The four of us all stare down at it in silence.

He frowns and looks back up at me. “Maybe the bucking bull was the safer option.”

“Don’t worry.” I grin. “I’ll take you to the mortuary.”

Julian

“Spotto!” Brielle calls.

“Huh.” I frown over at her in the passenger seat. It’s Saturday afternoon and we’re driving through the countryside. I have a surprise for the children. We went to football practice this morning, then to the park to play ball. I can confirm that Brielle Johnston is a complete and utter maniac.

She laughs and jokes constantly, never taking herself seriously for a single moment. She always knows exactly how to make fun in every situation.

No wonder my children adore her. Just being around her is addictive because she oozes happiness.

I’ve never known anyone quite like her.

“What is Spotto?” I ask.

Her eyes widen as she watches me. “You’ve never played Spotto before?”

I shake my head and she turns in her seat to the children. “Oh my God, have either of you played it?”

They both shake their heads.

She throws her arms up in the air. “This is unbelievable. Do you all live under a rock?”

We remain silent, waiting for her, no doubt long-winded, explanation.

“So, when you are driving and you see a yellow car, you have to be the first person to yell Spotto.”

I scowl harder. “What for?”

“Because that’s the game. You have to be the first to spot the yellow cars.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Good grief, you must be hard up for entertainment in Australia.”

The three of them giggle.

“Oh.” She holds up her finger. “And…” She turns back to talk to the children. “If you see a yellow Volkswagen, you need to yell punch buggy.”

My eyes flicker between her and the road. “Punch buggy?”

“Yep. Because you then get to punch the person sitting next to you in the arm as hard as you can.”

“Yes.” Willow laughs from the back. “I’m spotting one of these babies.”

I chuckle and shake my head.

What next?

“Punch buggy,” Brielle yells, and my eyes flash to her. She laughs out loud and points at me. “Ha! Made you look.”

I smirk as I pull into the drive. “I’m going to punch you in the buggy in a minute.”

The car falls silent as we pass the animal shelter sign.

“What are we doing here?” Willow asks.

I stop the car and turn toward them. “I thought we might get a puppy.”

“What?” they all screech. “Oh my God.” The children jump out of the car and run up into the building.

I turn my attention to Bree, and she smiles over at me with an affectionate glow in her eyes. “That may just be the hottest thing you’ve ever done.”

I smile, nodding as I look out through the windscreen. “I don’t know whether to be offended that my previous attempts to be hot have been so… underwhelming. Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult, Miss Brielle?” She giggles as she hops out of the car.

“Compliment, you baboon. Now get out of the car.”

Brielle

“The movie is starting, guys,” Sammy calls.

The microwave pings right on cue. Willow takes out the second bag of popcorn and tips it into the bowl.

I’ve just made a beautiful dinner and the house is alive with playful baby animals. It’s been a wonderful day.

I walk into the living room to find it dark, with the kids lounging on their beanbags and Julian on the couch. He’s covered himself with a huge blanket, and he pats the sofa next to him. I smile, liking that he wants to sit next to me.

Tillie, our puppy, and Maverick, our kitten, are now curled up on their little beds next to the children.

I lie down and Julian covers me with the blanket, pulling my feet onto his lap. God, I just want to kiss him.

Seeing him trying so hard with the children is literally exploding my ovaries.

“What are we watching?” I ask.

“The Terminator,” Willow tells me, her eyes glued to the screen.

“I’ll be back,” I say in my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice.

Julian rolls his eyes.

“I feel like I should get up and go to the bathroom just so I can say I’ll be back,” I chuckle.

“God help us,” Julian mutters dryly.

I giggle. “I crack myself up.”

“We know.”

I laugh again, and for two hours I sit, completely lost in the movie. “How much do you reckon he would eat to be that size?” I ask.

“Please don’t talk.” Julian sighs.

So serious. I wiggle my foot on his lap to annoy him and he grabs it and grinds it against his cock, staring straight ahead at the TV, stony faced.

Oh, this is fun.

He rubs my foot over his dick again, flexing it so I can feel it move beneath my skin.

My insides begin to melt.

I wonder what it would be like to have him in this house? To have him sneak into my bed at night, and to hold him as I slept. I have this nagging little voice in my mind telling me that I’m developing feelings for him. Especially after today.

I’m not. I know exactly what this is.

It is just fucking, right? But somehow it feels like more, and we bounce off of each other so well. His flirty little comments, his constant worry over me, his eyes lingering on my face when he thinks I’m not looking, and his comfortable complaints about my terrible sense of humor… they all leave me thinking things I shouldn’t be thinking.

Stop it.

He rubs my foot over himself again, and I smile to no one in particular.

I want to have sex in this house. I want to break him so that he can’t help himself. If we have sex here, he’ll have to accept the fact that the woman he thinks is too good for him is also the woman he can fuck.

They’re both me. I’m the same person. I don’t know why he wants to keep us separate, but I think fear has a lot to do with it.

When I’m in the hotel, it’s on his terms. His mother said that he is happy when things are on his terms. Then and only then. I need to move this whole thing to be on my terms… but how?

He grinds my foot again and I watch him, knowing he’s turned on. He needs it. He’s so sexual. I imagine he’s the kind of man that would want you every day if you were his wife.

His wife.

What would that be like?

What would it be like to have him love me and take care of me forever?

I close my eyes.

Stop it.

I feel his cock jerk beneath me, and my eyes flicker up to him.

His eyes are rolled back in his head. My mouth falls open and he smirks to himself.

Is he for real?

He just came in approximately four minutes.

The movie ends and he jumps up. “I’m going to shower.” He disappears up the stairs without another word, leaving me to shake my head.

I help the kids with their new pet routine before bed, when my email suddenly pings.

Julian Masters

Requests the company of

Bree Johnston

Occasion: Situation inspection

Date: Thursday

Time: 7 PM

Place: Room 612, Rosewood London

Dress code: Bondage

My eyes widen.

Bondage?

What the fuck?