Mr. Masters (Mr. Series, #1)

by T.L. Swan

Emerson is trying to find her purpose and I’m running from a destructive past, one that involves me being in love with an adultering prick.

I loved him. He just didn’t love me. Not enough, anyway. If he had, he would have kept it in his pants, and I wouldn’t be at Heathrow Airport feeling like I’m about to throw up.

Emerson looks me up and down, smiling broadly. “You look exactly how a twenty-five-year-old nanny from Australia should.”

He walks over and smiles at me. “Brielle?” His voice is deep and commanding. “Yes, that’s me,” I breathe. He holds out his hand to shake mine. “Julian Masters.” What?

We walk back out and take our place next to Mr. Masters. He’s in his late thirties, immaculately dressed, and kind of attractive. His hair is dark with a sprinkle of grey.

“Hello, I’m Samuel.” The little boy smiles as he wraps his arms around my legs. He has dark hair, is wearing glasses, and he’s so damn cute.

“This is Willow,” he introduces. I smile at the teenage girl. “Hello.” She folds her arms across her chest defiantly. “Hi,” she grumbles.

I suddenly catch sight of Mr. Masters sitting in the armchair reading a book. He has a glass of red wine in his hand. I stand in the dark, unable to tear my eyes away. There’s something about him that fascinates me but I don’t quite know what it is.

“Mr. Masters has a broken heart and Willow reminds him of his late wife. They hardly speak, unless she is getting disciplined for something, and Samuel overcompensates their lack of relationship with too much sweetness to make up for his sister’s cold front.”

“Mr. Masters shuts her out?” I whisper. “That, and she won’t let him in now. She won’t let anyone in. The damage has been done. You’ll soon know that she’s very difficult to get along with.”

walk into Rodger's bar at around 4:00 p.m. to meet with Sebastian and Spencer—something we all do at least once a week.

We've been best friends since we were ten years old. I don't see them as much as I would like to, but they keep me sane when I need them.

Sebastian is an architect and Spencer owns a steel company and designs skyscrapers. They both do very well for themselves.

“So, you’re a scotch nanny virgin?” This time it’s him who chokes on his drink as he laughs. “Most definitely. A nanny virgin, anyway. Not so much a scotch virgin.”

“My mother put the ad in with the agency.” “Your mother?” I frown. He smirks around his glass. “You seem surprised.” “Well, I didn’t take you as a mummy’s boy.”

“Not by any means. But she is concerned about Willow, and she wanted to take care of this placement and for us to try something different.”

smile goofily. “Well…I am different.” “That you are.” “Just give me another chance, please?” I plead. “We got off on the wrong foot, sure, but I promise you I will turn this around.”

“If, in three weeks, you’re still not happy, I’ll get another job in a bar or something, but please don’t get me deported before I have a chance to find another job. I’v...

“Please…” He inhales sharply. “Fine, you have twenty one days. But next time I fire you, don’t beg me to stay.” I shake my head. “I won’t.” “Because next time I won’t be pushed over so easily.” I nod. “Fine, but y...

“Do you like your women wholesome and pure, or dirty and slutty?”

Satisfaction flashes across his face, and I realize that I just played straight into his hands. He used the truth serum tactic to see what I really wanted to know: his taste in women.

Shit, I need to up my game if I’m going to keep up with this master manipulator. He sips his scotch and the air swirls between us. “I like the first ...

I was a nice person I would tell you I am watching Samuel playing happily with his father. But, because I’m a dirty pervert, I can openly admit that I’m watching Mr. Masters, and nobody else.

Wait, where did that come from? Since when have I ever found thirty-nine-year-old men attractive? Not that I've ever really known one.

It’s okay to think he’s attractive. He is attractive. It doesn’t mean that I want to fuck him, although, one does have to wonder what he would be like in bed?

“You need to protect yourself, because I can’t protect you from me,” he whispers against my skin.

dancing with an honest devil sounds so much more appealing than sleeping with a lying god.

“I’m not here to romance you, Bree, I’m here to take my pleasure from your body.” He leans forward and takes my face in his hands. “And I’m going to fuck you so damn good, no man will ever compare.”

“I know why every single woman who tries to snag him fails.” I sip my coke; I need to know the tips without her knowing I need to know the tips. “You are a character,” I tease as I down my drink. “Julian hasn’t had a girlfriend since Alina died.” “His wife?” She nods. “It did something to him.” My face falls.

“He closed off when he met her, and he never recovered after she died.” “That’s so sad,” I whisper. “It is, but now he’s very lonely.” “I know he sees people… women,” I tell her to try and make her feel better. “Yes, but only on his terms.” “His terms?”

“He only wants to see a woman to use her for sex. As soon as they fall in love with him, he breaks it off every single time.” “He told you this?” I can’t imagine him ever telling anyone this, let alone his mother. “He doesn’...

“He doesn’t want the responsibility of making anyone else happy. He’s guarded. A lot of women want him for his money, and he’s more than well aware of that.” It’s not the money I want. It’s his huge jackhammer dick, I think to myself.

“Why would any woman chase a man just for his money? It’s an absurd way to live.” I tut. She sips her wine as she studies my face. “Do you know anything about Julian’s money, or about the Masters Group, dear?” “No, and I don’t want to. Just talking about money makes me uncomfortable.”

She smiles, as if impressed, making me feel like I’m a...

“Well, if I were to date Julian, I would keep my cards very close to my chest because he will run if he senses a relationship blooming.” I frown.

“And we wouldn’t want to scare him off too soon, would we?” She takes a mouthful of her food. “We would wait until he’s unaware of his emotions.”

“You do know that Julian and I are not suited, right?” “Julian is not suited to anyone. He’s troubled, dear, but he’s different with you.”

“He knows his money doesn’t interest you. He knows his children adore you. He can’t take his eyes off you whenever you’re in the room. You don’t even know it, but he is already putty in your hands. What you do with that putty and how you knead it will determine the outcome.”

“She wants me to pursue you.” He smiles and winces. “She actually said that to you?” “Yes.”

“What did you say to her, Bree? What did you say to her when she said you should pursue me?” This answer is important to him, I can tell. “I told her that I don’t pursue men.”

“Is that true?” “Yes.” I lick my bottom lip. “A relationship with a man is the last thing I want.”

“What do you want?” “What I’ve already got.” Our eyes are locked. “What’s that?” I smile softly. "A hot boss with a huge jackhammer dick." He chokes, laughing out loud...

“Yep, and then she had sex with them, too. We all lost our virginity on the same night to the same girl.” I burst out laughing. “Oh my God. That’s the worst virginity story ever. She’s such a slut.”

“Do you still see those friends?” I ask. “They’re still my two best friends. Sebastian and Spencer. We see each other all the time.”

“Why couldn’t you fuck her like you fuck me?” I whisper. “Because she’s the kind of girl you fall in love with, and I’m not wired to love. I’d only let her down.”

Great. Not only do I now have to deal with having blue balls, but I have to watch out for a cat attacking my dick in my sleep.

“It’s not a good time of the month for me.” “Since when?” “Since just now.”

He listens for a moment. “So you’re not coming… just because of that?” He sounds annoyed. “Well, we can’t have sex.”

“It’s just all about the sex for you, is it?” he snaps angrily. I bite my bottom lip to stifle my smile. “You were the one who said it was ...

“Well it’s not. Get in the car and get to the hotel. It’s been a long week without you.” I stay silent on the phone. Did he just admit that this is something more for him, too? “Okay...