Hollywood Bad Boys Club: Book 2: Mason by Alexis Adaire Page A

to say it struck me as odd when you invited me to dinner. What nefarious purpose lies behind this meal?”
    His reply is simply odd. “Actually, Drake found your texts on my phone and thought it would be funny. He’s the one who sent the invitation.” Sure, whatever you say. “But I thought it would be fun, seeing as how we’ve got this big wager between us.”
    “You’re not trying to back out already, are you?” I ask snarkily.
    “On the contrary. I’m already making a to-do list for your stay at Chez Stark.”
    I take the bait, wanting to egg him on. “And what’s sitting at the top of that list? What’s the very first thing Mason Stark wants to do with his imaginary sex slave?”
    “Do you really want to know?”
    I smile and say, “Of course. I’m curious about this little fantasy of yours.”
    “I was going to have you strip on my doorstep, leave your clothes there, and just remain naked for the entire week. But seeing how ridiculously sexy you look tonight, I’ve changed my mind. First thing on my list now is to take you shopping and have you try on slutty clothes for me.”
    I wait, aware of the lump suddenly forming in my throat.
    “Then again, maybe I’ll just have you leave your clothes at home and drive to my place already naked.”
    I try not to blush, but on the inside I’m secretly excited by the idea of being ordered to do such an insane thing.
    “That’s it?” I try to be nonchalant. “I expected something more deviant from you. Are there many items on this to-do list?”
    Stark gives me a dirty smirk that sends a shiver through my body. Damn, he’s handsome.
    “It’s a mental list,” he says. “I don’t really have anything written down on paper. But yes, there are dozens of items. Maybe hundreds.”
    “How adorable! You’re actually making plans to take advantage of me, aren’t you?” I ask teasingly right as the waiter approaches.
    While our plates are being removed, I look across the table to see Stark staring deeply into my eyes and confidently nodding.
    When we’re alone again, he says. “I’m planning to ravage you, totally, in every way you could possibly imagine.”
    This little cat-and-mouse game is fun, but by the time my entrée of boeuf bourguignon arrives, I’ve begun to realize I’m seriously attracted to this man. Sexually, at least. I also know that all this sex talk is painting me into a dangerous corner if I don’t win that bet, but I can’t seem to help it.
    Maybe accepting this dinner invitation was a bad idea. I attempt to steer the conversation away from sex.
    Rolling my eyes at Stark, I try to sound bored. “Let’s talk about something else now.”
    He grins smugly. “What else is there to talk about? The weather?”

13

Mason
    T hough it started out as Drake’s idea of a joke, this dinner is going even better than I’d hoped.
    I laugh when Claire makes an abrupt attempt at changing the subject. I know I’m getting to this woman. I can feel it. Although I chose my wager as a joke, I’m now convinced it will be a once-in-a-lifetime treat to have a woman this hot at my disposal, to fuck her any way I can think of for an entire week. Her being a key business rival just makes it that much sweeter.
    I lean forward in my chair. “So what would you prefer to talk about?”
    “Anything except the bet. I feel guilty because you’re getting your hopes up,” she says, but it sounds forced. “What’s the biggest deal you’re working on at the moment?”
    “So you’re a size queen?” I ask, teasing her by refusing to drop the topic of sex.
    “Only when it comes to business,” she says with a snarky tone. “I’ll go first. Just yesterday I got Terrance Massey locked down with Paramount for the Incubus trilogy. Done deal – minimum fifteen million per film, with incremental raises for parts two and three based on the grosses.”
    It’s a terrific deal, though I won’t tell her that. I had one of my actors up for the Incubus lead, but