Hera

I keep my gaze locked on Mason's face, awaiting his answer. My heart beats wildly in my chest. For some reason, I am anxious and nervous at the same time. I don't know what I want to hear from his confessions yet something deep inside me tells me that Mason's answer will either shatter me further or...

" I find you very attractive, Hera." Mason confesses, wetting his lips. My eyes follow each of his actions.

" And?" I probe further, excitement coursing through my nerves.

" I am interested in you as a woman, not a friend." He declares, looking straight at my face. His eyes hold a tender look. A look that I have not seen on any other man's face, not even from Carlos when we dated back in the days.

I stand up abruptly, my emotions in turmoil. The chair tumbles to the ground, making a loud clanging sound.

" Is something the matter, Hera?" Mason asks in a concerned voice. His hand reaches out to touch my shoulder.

" Nothing. I have to leave." I announce, turning to walk away. However, Mason doesn't let me as he clasps my wrist tightly.

" Why? Why are you running away? You asked me a question and I answered it. You can't face the truth now?" Mason questions, his brows furrowing.

I shake my head and try to escape his hold, but it is to no avail.

" I'm not running away, Mason. I just don't want to believe your words and regret it in the future. I don't have a place for regrets in my life and I won't allow myself to fall to the abyss of regrets." I cry.

" Regret it? Why would you?" Mason probes, his brows furrowed. I don't know if he is playing the fool or is genuinely clueless. After what I told him about me, isn't he supposed to know why?

" I have lived a life depraved of warmth and affection. I am afraid I'll cling to that little hope you are giving me and treat it as a treasure." I start, " I don't want that because in this world, nothing is permanent. What happens if that interest you have in me dwindles?

I am not that strong nor am I a nonchalant person. I can't bear heartache nor can I ignore it. The best I can do is walk away at the first sign of trouble and stay away from it."

" Hera," Mason breathes my name, his eyes softening. I look away. I can't bear his stare right now.

" You are shutting me down to protect yourself from getting hurt?" He asks, his question nailing the truth I always try to avoid.

" What else can I do? I have been hurt in the past. I also know how society views us. Why bother having fantasies that will never come true?" I exclaim.

" Look at me, Hera." Mason whispers, his voice soothing to my ears.

I shake my head.

" Look at me," he repeats. This time, he cups my cheeks and turns my face to him. Our eyes meet.

" I don't care what your family or the society thinks about you. If I did, I wouldn't have followed you all the way here." Mason's words stun me.

" You followed me?" I ask with narrowed eyes.

" Not just today. I have been keeping an eye on you for some time. At the airport, I bumped into you on purpose." He reveals, surprising me even further.

" What?" I ask,shocked. I pull my hand from his grip, taking a step back to keep some distance.

" I followed you all the way here, not because I am some psychotic stalker. I wanted to be with you, to protect you.

I know that this sounds so twisted but I want you Hera. I have wanted you from the first day I saw you entering Club image back in Chicago."

I tense from his confessions. Club image. Does he know about my secret?

"It was then that I decided that one day you will be mine. I won't lie to you, I am a very dominant and possessive man. I always get what I want. And you, Hera is what I want." Mason declares, his eyes burning with a fiery fire that threatens to consume me.

I could feel my body heating up from his intense gaze. My heart however calms when I realize that he doesn't know anything about my relationship with club Image. The last thing I want is anyone finding out another reason to judge me.

" Run all you want, little bird but I can assure you one thing, you will end up in my arms and when that happens, I'll claim you as mine." Mason asserts, giving me a long stare before he sits up from his chair.

He closes the space between us, a smile on his face as he places a chaste kiss on my forehead.

" Have a goodnight sleep, Hera. I'll see you soon." He announces before walking away.

I watch as his silhouette disappears from the bar. Only when he is out of sight do I realize that I have been clenching my hands into fists.

I release the deep breaths I didn't dare take in his presence as my mind replays his confessions.

He has been stalking me? The thought alone should scare me but why do I feel excited?

I must have lost my mind at this point.

" Another glass?" The bartender's question pulls me from my thoughts. I give him a smile, pushing my encounter with Jason to the back of my mind.

" No need. I think I have had enough drinks." I reply politely, fishing for notes from my handbag.

I pay for mine and Jason's drink and tip the handsome man.

" Don't let your fear and past experiences keep you away from your happiness. Give yourself a chance, life is too short to live with what ifs." The man says, giving me a smile before turning around to busy himself with his work.

I don't linger around. Leaving the bar, I head to my room.

Maybe when I wake up tomorrow, everything that happened will turn into a dream, nothing more or less.

Hera

Today is my last day here in Vegas and the second day I haven't seen Mason. After our last encounter at the club, he disappeared into thin air. I'll be lying if I say I haven't been looking forward to seeing him again. After his declaration, is he trying to play hard to get or was his confession nothing but bullshit?

" Are you even listening to me?" Chloe's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I lift my eyes to meet her glare.

" Of course I am listening." I reply, smiling at her. Chloe doesn't buy my act though.

" You have been distracted since we met. What are you thinking about?" She probes and I swallow. I admit Mason has been all over my head but I am not admitting any of that to Chloe or I won't hear the end of it.

" Nothing." I deny her claims. Chloe raises her brows, her eyes screaming suspicion.

" Hera, are you keeping something from me? Maybe a loverboy you had a one night stand with these days?" She inquires and I almost choke on my saliva.

" What nonsense are you spouting?" I hiss but my face is already covered in blush. " You have a wild imagination Chloe." I add, flustered. Of all things I can think about, that was the only thing she suspected. Of course, she won't be Chloe if she doesn't come with the wildest and most absurd suggestions.

Chloe rolls her eyes at me.

" What's wrong with having one night stands from time to time? Are you planning on taking your v- card to your grave? " She snorts. " Besides, the way you are blushing, I can tell something happened."

" Chloe, shut up." I grumble and she laughs.

" It's okay if you don't want to tell me who got you looking like a teenager falling in love. You know what, I have some exciting sexcapades to share." She giggles, wiggling her brows mischievously.

I roll my eyes, knowing that there's no escaping hearing how she and her new husband fucked like bunnies on heat.

After almost an hour of being traumatized by Chloe's tales of how her husband is skilled in bed, I finally bid her goodbye and make my way to the airport.

" I'll visit you soon in Chicago after I get enough of my husband's dick." Those are the last words she shouts before I slip into the cab.

***

My life here in Chicago feels more like a routine. Waking up, working at the clinic, coming back home to pen down more words to my story. It's too monotonous and boring. Just like each day, today is Tuesday and after dealing with tons of patients, I am ready to head back home.

I skip to the parking lot, slipping into my car before I start driving home. Halfway through the drive, I change my mind and decide to head to the club.

Club image is like a little solace to my loneliness. I come here several times when I feel down. My car pulls up outside the club. I take my time to survey the area. Since today is not Saturday, I can't use the private parking lot.

After making sure the coast is clear, I make my way inside. I avoid the club arena as I head to the workers wing.

I am about to push the door open when it's pulled open from inside. My eyes come into contact with his blue mesmerizing ones.

My body goes into shock, eyes widening and legs rooted in place.

" Hera?" Mason asks, seemingly shocked as I am. He looks behind him and my eyes follow him, catching a glimpse of a half naked woman with roughly tousled hair.

I recognize her. She is one of the club dancers.

Mason turns to look at me, swallowing as guilt paints his face.

My mind sums up what transpired inside and my heart clenches. A bitter feeling crawls from deep inside my stomach, rising up and scorching in its wake.

" What are you doing here, Hera?" Mason asks, his gaze fixed on me.

" I didn't expect to see you here." I reply, aware of what it means for a man to come to such a place.

" Oh yeah. I had something to talk about with Linda." Mason replies and I fight the urge to scoff at his words.

Talk about my feet.

" What about you? Why are you here?" He probes and I fight to find the right excuse as to what I would be doing at a changing room for club workers.

It would have been easy to slap a random excuse if Mason didn't confess to stalking me the last time we met. I don't know how much he knows about me.

Now that I think of it, I feel my anger rising. Did he stalk Linda just like he did me? Was he here confessing like he did to me at Vegas? My hands tighten into fists and my annoyance resurfaces.

" I was looking for someone and was told she was here." I reply, praying he doesn't probe further.

" Maybe you went in the wrong direction." He offers and I nod. Indeed, I got the wrong direction from the start. I should have gone home in the first place instead of coming here and having such an awkward encounter.

I nod and turn around with every intention of walking away.

" Hera... wait!" Mason calls, grabbing my wrist forcing me to a halt. I turn around and regard him with raised brows.

After catching him with another woman doing god knows what, what else is there to stop me for?

Linda, who had been busy changing into her work clothes walks out. She gives me a curt nod before walking away.

I turn my attention back to Mason.

" Don't you have anything to tell me after what happened in Vegas?" He asks, further fanning my anger. The nerve of him to remind me about what happened in Vegas.

" I do have something to tell you. You are a bastard and a liar. Don't ever come close to me again." I spat, snatching my hand before walking away.

Mason POV

I watch as Hera walks away angrily after calling me a bastard and a liar.

A bastard and a liar? That's what I am in her eyes? I have to admit,she is the first woman to ever disrespect me and walk scotfree,not even...

Instead of getting angry,I find myself grinning like the fool she has turned me into.

But then again...She was clearly angry at me. What did I do wrong? I try to think of what I did wrong but come up with nothing.

A tap on my shoulders interrupts my thoughts . I turn around and come face to face with a grinning Jepoy.

"What's with that stupid smile of yours?" I ask and Jepoy glares at me.

" You are the only person in the world to call me stupid!"

I smile at his words, "Yet you are the biggest fool. You can't even tell that your woman is angry at you." He adds and now, it's my time to glare at him.

" What do you mean? She was angry at me, I just don't know why." I refute.

" There, it proves my point."

I look at Jepoy and the urge to strangle him fills my mind. But this is JP, my best friend and member of the shadow riders motorcycle club,my club.

" Since you are my brother I will help you figure out why." Jepoy offers and I give him a skeptical look.

"What? You think I am clueless about how to deal with women?" he asks and I snicker.

"For someone who has had no Woman by his side for a decade, how are you supposed to help me?" I ask, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

A familiar look of pain flashes jepoy's eyes before he immediately schools his emotions.

"Just because I don't date doesn't mean I am entirely clueless about it. Furthermore, don't you want to win your beauty?" Jepoy insists and I sigh.

Indeed there's nothing more I want than to stake my claim on Hera. Although I made my intentions clear to her,that's not enough. I want to own her, to claim her, to possess every inch of those luscious hips of her. Those sexy eyes when she looks at me, it feels like a siren call to hell, one that I am willing to indulge.

Thinking about her body pressed against mine as I pleasure her gives me a damn erection.

"Look at you, drooling after thinking about a woman no one would believe that you are the leader of a MC." Jepoy mocks me, feigning a disgusted look on his face

I fight the urge to roll my eyes at Jepoy's words. Drooling isn't all I do when I think about my Hera. I can't count the number of times I have jerked off thinking about her. The thought of her lips, those full, pink lips that make me imagine how good they would feel on my dick. I can already imagine the look on her face if I force her to suck me off.

That's just one of the things I would have her do, I have a whole list. I would love to have her tied up and naked as I use her body for my pleasure.

" Earth to you idiot!" Jepoy says as he slaps my head. I snap out of my fantasies.

"What the fuck are you thinking? I know that look and I would like to say it's disgusting." He says.

I ignore him but can't help the smile that paints my lips. I make my way to my bike with every intention of leaving the club. Jepoy's footsteps echo behind me.

" By the way, what did Linda say?" Jepoy asks and my mood suddenly darkens.

I take a deep breath and let it out. Linda... That wretched woman!

" If she wasn't Lily's mom, I would have already put a bullet in her head." I growl in anger.

" What? I thought you came to make peace with her so that she can withdraw the case?" Jepoy asks and I take a deep breath before exhaling loudly.

" That was the plan but she even threatened me. Before I could do anything, Hera walked on us." I answer. I can feel my frustration creeping in me.

Linda is really trying my patience by threatening me twice. I am not someone who appreciates threats. The last person to threaten me is already serving as nutrients for the trees in the forest.

" What? You are saying Hera walked on you with Linda? " Jepoy suddenly asks, his tone of voice alarming. I turn around to face him, nodding.

" That's right. I wanted to strangle the life out of that conniving bitch but... "

"Forget about Linda for now, your woman misunderstood you." Jepoy informs me and I frown, not understanding.

" She walked on you with Linda and I assume in a confined place. She thinks you have something going on with her. It's no wonder she looked mad earlier."

The moment Jepoy's words sink in, the air suddenly grows heavier and panic creeps in. The urge to go after Hera and clarify the issue fills me. I can't let her think that Linda and I...

" Don't even think about it." Jepoy's words stop me in my tracks. I frown at him.

" Think about what?" I ask, half annoyed, half anxious.

"Don't think about going after Hera. Let her cool off."

" Let her cool off? Jepoy, she thinks I am fucking that vile woman after confessing to her not long ago." I explain, my voice rising.

Jepoy's lips curve in a grin and I look at him like he is an idiot.

" What are you grinning for? Can't you see that this is serious?"

" That's why I am grinning. You have never been so interested in a woman before. You always go after your prey, fuck and discard them but you have never been interested enough to chase after them. It's refreshing seeing this side of you." Jepoy answers.

He does have a point. I have never been this invested in a woman. Hera is the first.

" This is different. I do want to fuck her but the desire to own her, stake my claim and mark her as mine, it's new. I want her and I will have her. But I also want her trust. The look of anger and something else I couldn't decipher in her eyes earlier, it was too much. At first, I didn't relate to the pained look on her face but after realizing what made her angry,I feel antsy."

" You are afraid Mason. " Jepoy states and I narrow my eyes at him.

" Afraid? Afraid of what? I always get any woman I want, she won't be any different." I declare. I am used to women fighting for my attention, fighting for a chance to share a bed with me, to have a taste of what my dick can offer them... I don't believe Hera won't be the same . ..

" Yet you want to chase after her and explain yourself. You don't want to lose her. That's what this is about." Jepoy challenges. He is not entirely true. I knew from the moment I saw her that she was different. It's not about her curvaceous body which is considered below beauty standards here in the city. There's something more about her...something that enticed me from the word go.

" I am your best friend. The person who knows you the best. I'll never advise you to do something that will harm you. Let her cool off then confess what you were doing with Linda and your relationship with her." Jepoy suggests and my eyes widen in shock.

" No fucking way!"