Bound by desire

Chapter 4: the proposition

The gilded chandelier overhead sparkled like stars caught in a frozen moment, but Lily’s focus was on the man in front of her. Mason Blackstone remained propped against the marble-topped bar, deceptively unhurried, but his eye flitting about impossible. His piercing blue eyes pinned her in place as though she were the only person in the room.

“Drink? " he asked, holding up a crystal tumbler of amber liquid.

Lily hesitated, her instincts warring with her curiosity. Every aspect of him spoke of threat, the type of threat that left you no choice but to be destroyed. However, there was about him, a pull, of which made it impossible to look away.

“I don’t usually drink with strangers, she said finally, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach.

His lips curved into a faint smirk. Well, I'm relieved to say at least that I guess we've moved beyond strangers, now.

Her brows furrowed. “We’ve only just met.”

But Mason said, his voice just a gentle murmur of familiarity. I feel as though I've known you all along. He moved there with a glass of champagne towards her. “Call it instinct.”

Lily stared at the glass, then back at him. Against her better judgment, she took a sip. However, the bubbles did feel against her throat but the drink felt nothing but a slight chill to the shivers along her spine.

“What do you want from me, Mr. Blackstone? She asked, deciding that it is pointless to get around the bush.

Mason's sneering tightened, but his expression transformed away from harmless into something predatory, something sinister. “Everything.”

Lily's heartbeats quickened, set down her glass and she held the bottom of the glass between her fingers.

“It's vague," she confessed, fightng to focus on his gaze. “Care to elaborate?”

Mason came nearer, the scent of his cologne, sharp and closely cupped her face and engulfed her. “I don’t believe in coincidences, Lily. You didn’t come here tonight by chance. You and I... we were meant to meet.”

A flicker of unease passed through her. “You sound like you’ve already decided how this will play out.

“I have,” he said simply. “I always get what I want.”

His patronizing way of talking should have repulsed her. However, it made her crave his closeness. There was a raw quality in the way he communicated, as if he was trying to pull her into a game of which he was omniscient.

But what if I don’t? she retorted, arching an eyebrow.

Mason chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. “You won’t.”

There was almost too much pressure between them and Lily felt the urge to hold on to the edge of the bar in order to keep from falling. “You don’t know anything about me, she said, her voice trembling slightly.

“Not yet,” he replied, his eyes glinting with determination. “But I will.”

Lily opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, her phone buzzed in her purse again. She hesitated, then pulled it out.

Unknown: Walk away now, or you’ll regret it.

Her blood ran cold. Nevertheless, the implication was unclear, but ominous, and the timing was simply a lucky coincidence.

Mason noticed the change in her expression. “Something wrong?”

No, she blurted, as a matter of fact, quickly putting the cell phone back in her bag. “It’s nothing.”

However, the message weighed down on her, and she couldn't help but feel that she was being watched.

Mason’s gaze softened, but only slightly. “I’m not a man who enjoys playing games, Lily. I prefer things... direct.”

“Direct?” she repeated, her voice tinged with skepticism.

“Yes. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I want you. But I'm pleased to say that which no one can.

Lily’s breath caught in her throat. “And what exactly is that?”

“Freedom,” Mason said, his tone serious now.

"From your struggles, your pain. From the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

Her stomach twisted. “You don’t even know what I’m dealing with.”

“Don’t I?” he countered, his eyes boring into hers. “Your mother’s illness,. The bills are piling up. Like you've sold out everything for her, even your aspirations."

Lily’s blood ran cold. “How do you know that?”

Mason didn’t answer immediately. On the other hand, he just took another drink, his eyes fixed on her. “I make it my business to know everything about the people who interest me.

The admission should have scared her and scared her it did, but it fascinated her. There was something about Mason that was mesmerizing, like he was laying out the world on her tray palm in silver.

“And what do you get out of this. Arrangement? she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mason pushed his glass to the side and stood literally in the space between their two faces, bringing them within a handful of inches of one another. “You.”

The notion hung in the space in between, burdened by expectation.

Lily’s mind raced. She knew she should just get away from there, that every meeting with a man, imagine Mason Blackstone, would be a complete waste of time. But the temptation was undeniable.

“What exactly are you proposing? she asked, her voice steadier now.

Mason’s lips curved into a slow, predatory smile. “A deal. I'll be taking care of everything regarding the treatment of your mother, your debt, and your art. In return, you’ll be mine.”

Lily’s heart pounded. “Yours?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “In every way that matters.”

Her heart rate increased and turned around in order to take one step back from them, to space them off. “I don’t think I’m the kind of person you’re looking for, Mr. Blackstone.

“On the contrary,” he said, his voice like silk. “You’re exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

Before Lily could utter a word, the lights in the ballroom went out and the sound died away in the room. She turned around to the ensuing chaos, her stomach twisting in terror.

“What’s happening?” she asked, her voice tinged with panic.

Mason's countenance fell into a serious mask and he gave a bland covertly possessive, comforting hand across the small of her back. “Stay close to me.”

Doors at the opposite side of the room opened, and a men's party in black suits came in, their appearance creating a wave of anxiety in the spectator's body.

One of them locked eyes with Mason and smirked. “Blackstone. We need to talk.”

Mason's jaw clamped tightly upon Lily's arm. “Not here.”

The man chuckled. “Oh, I think this is perfect.”

Lily's heart started to race as she spotted Mason and the attackers. She had no idea what was happening, but one thing was clear Mason Blackstone was far more dangerous than she’d realized.