Mikala's Passion (Pulse Series Book 2) Read online

  Copyright © 2014 Jennifer Rose

  All Rights Reserved Worldwide

  This book is a purely fictional. Names, characters and events are the mind creation of the author. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead or events is entirely coincidental.

  Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanically, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from author Jennifer Rose.

  All songs, titles, and lyrics are the property of the songwriters.

  Printed in the United States of America November 2014

  ISBN-10:1502883198

  ISBN-13:978-1502883193

  Book covers design by Sarah Foster of Sprinkles On Top Studios.

  http://sprinklesontopstudios.com/

  Editing Services by Melissa Burton

  Proofing by Lynn Martin

  Typesetting and formatting by C.L. Foster

  http://authorclfoster.com

  To Melissa,

  You keep me on my toes, make me laugh and you're not shy about throwing in your two cents and I love you for it. You are a special part of every book I write, I don't know what I would do without you girl!

  -Jenn

  Captivated by the yellow, orange and red hues, as the perilous sloth of destructive flames cascaded out of the now destroyed second story windows, Mikala took a long drag from her cigarette. She blew out a cloud of blue smoke with a shudder. A window blew out from the third floor with an almighty boom, causing her to flinch as she watched plumes of black smoke roll over the top of the window. Like inverted waves on the ocean, they curled round and crashed against the brick with a ferocious, savage passion. It was hauntingly fascinating, like a train wreck, she couldn’t force her eyes away.

  A strong arm slung over her shoulder bringing her momentarily from her meditation. Turning with an unwavering gaze, her eyes met the familiar stare of Mason’s dark chocolate eyes. Her heart leapt, she had to swallow back the urge to jump into his arms, to allow him to wrap her in his warmth and grasp onto a tiny piece of solace if only for a moment. As if his standing at her side wasn’t in anyway affecting her, she turned back to stare at the fire and puffed ever so unconcernedly on her cigarette to disguise her hidden happiness that he was back. Mikala had to remind herself that she was angry with him and after all this time the bridges between them were burned beyond recognition. It was far beyond over and he could simply crawl back under the rock from which he came and leave her alone.

  “A little bird tells me you need a guardian angel to watch over you.”

  “That little bird has a big fucking mouth and has no idea what he’s talking about,” Mikala said, turning her gaze towards the sound of crackling paint burning wood.

  The air was filled with the thick dense smell of smoke as her lungs filled to capacity with the smoke from her cigarette and the fumes from the air. Mikala was reminded of bonfires and bush parties she had enjoyed as a teen. She closed her eyes and wished that when they opened again she would find it had all been a dream brought on by too much alcohol and teenage stupidity. She sighed as they slowly opened and Mason and the fire were still very much there.

  “Beak.”

  “What?” she snarled, not at all impressed with his take on humor.

  “Birds have beaks.”

  She leaned into his strong body and attempted to force him away with a shove, “Fuck you, Mason, I don’t need anyone taking care of me.”

  “The fuck you don’t,” his grip tightened. “Talk to me, because I’m not going away until you do.”

  “Some son-of-a-bitch is out to shut me down. You can tell by the building that’s on fire there.” She knew her announcement was a waste of time, that he had to have been briefed on the matter already, or he wouldn’t be there.

  “Do you have any idea who did this?”

  The burning ember on the end of her cigarette glowed bright as she took another drag from her cigarette and blew it out.

  “Nope.”

  “This isn’t the first incident, is it?” Mason asked, watching the flash of blue and red emergency lights reflecting in her eyes, as she stared straight ahead. She was unreadable and, unsurprisingly, cold.

  “This is not the first and probably won’t be the last. This sick asshole isn’t going to be happy until I’m out of business completely.”

  “What else has happened?”

  Mason watched Mikala’s mouth intently as she exhaled another cloud of smoke, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips, “My apartment was broken into…there have been a few bomb threats on high volume nights and I get at least a letter a week warning me to close the doors or he’ll close them for me…hence, the fire.”

  “Do you think it’s someone you know?” he asked.

  Shrugging her shoulders she flicked her cigarette butt to the ground and watched as the glowing heater was extinguished in a puddle. “I have no idea. Maybe it’s a pissed off housewife because her hubby is coming in and getting his rocks off. Maybe it’s some bitch that got a drink spilled down her pretty little dress while she was dancing, a disgruntled ex-employee, I don’t have a fucking clue.”

  They stood quietly watching as firefighters quickly dealt with the blaze, shouting orders and rushing in all directions. There was an unusual calmness about Mikala. Although she was smoking like a chimney, lighting cigarette after cigarette sometimes lighting one from the end of the last and standing in a large puddle in bare feet, she was managing to hold it together. He knew without a doubt that this was the calm before the storm and when she eventually raged, it was going be a tumultuous tempest.

  “Where are your shoes, sugar?” Mason asked, taking the unlit cigarette from her hand and tossing it on the ground behind him.

  “Back of the bar,” she fleetingly laughed, “my feet were sore. I slipped out of them just before the smoke alarm went off. Rotten fucker, they were my favorite pair too.”

  Mason tucked a lock of her wild red hair behind her ear and she shook it free, annoyed by his attempt at tenderness. He had no right to console her, no right to be her hero now. She was finished with what had been, and what was now carefully swept away under the rug. She was more than happy to keep it there. No longer did she care what they had shared. He had his opportunity to stay and make a life with her and chose another direction to follow, one that didn’t allow for her. She had moved on as had he.

  “Why are you here?” Mikala asked, holding her palm to her forehead as a headache threatened to start, blowing out an exasperated breath.

  “You need me,” Mason boldly told her.

  “I don’t need anyone, especially you.” She turned to walk away as Mason’s hand clamped onto her elbow. Her glare was as burning hot as the flames that threatened to destroy her business and home. “You walked away from me, you should have stayed away,” she hissed.

  Her words practically brought him to his knees; he was crushed with regret each and every day since he had left her life. His decision was the most difficult he had ever had to make, no one could begin to understand why and he wouldn’t know where to start explaining. He just knew she’d survive until his return. Mikala’s strength astonished him most times, she had strength like no one he had ever encountered, a true force to be reckoned with. However, he knew she also had a stubborn, determined streak. When she erected walls, they stood forefront like steel obstacles with an impenetrable surface virtually impossible to tear down.

  “I had to make a choice, I know now it wasn’t the right one and the timing was off, I idiotically thought it w
as best for both of us if I left. If I could take it all back and do it over, believe me I’d try.”

  “I don’t care,” she said, tearing herself from his grasp and staring into his eyes with such a calm, collected venom he could feel its effect surging through his veins. “I don’t fucking care!”

  Allowing her to have a moment he pulled back and kept his distance, watching every move from afar. He hadn’t realized until that very minute exactly what he had given up these past months. He had never forgotten the warmth of her touch and the scent that was Mikala’s alone. Closing his eyes he could smell the scent of lime and pears embedded deep in his memory, a smell that got him through the darkest, bleakest hours while he was on assignment, the memory that now threatened to disappear. It was her and the indomitable spirit that she emanated that he had missed most of all.

  Mason wasn’t ready to let her give up on them. He had acted like a fool when he had hastily accepted his assignment, regretting it the moment his feet hit the tarmac at the air force base. His biggest regret however was leaving without telling her he loved her and would think of her every day. It was too late now, he’d have to spend some major time making it up to her, if at all possible.

  Mason moved to her side as she lit another cigarette. She turned to look at him and blew the smoke into his face, before looking away. “Go away Mason. Tell that little bird you couldn’t help me. Tell him that this eagle has flown and doesn’t need rescuing.” Mikala wrapped her arms across her chest, walking over to a police officer who appeared to be filling out paperwork. Mason slid his hands into his pockets and watched.

  Time passed slowly as he observed her talking with officers and the fire chief. Mason bided his time until Mikala stood alone, still barefoot, shivering in the night air. He came to her side and stood silent.

  “Still here I see,” she said, clenching her jaw defiantly. “Surely you have somewhere to be.”

  “What’re you going to do now, sugar?” he asked.

  “Wait for one of the firemen to get my shoes… stop calling me sugar.” She looked to the doorway of the club. “I’m not allowed back in tonight.”

  “Are you staying at Eden’s?”

  “Her and Chase are away, I’ll get a hotel room for the night. I have to meet with the fire chief at noon tomorrow to get the all clear.” She wondered why she was telling him all this, why she thought he deserved to know. “The damage is bad, but it could have been worse. Thanks to that fancy sprinkler system I put in the dance club last year. There’s still going to be one hell of a mess to clean and a lot of water damage.”

  “Come stay with me tonight,” Mason suggested.

  She tossed her head back and roared with sarcastic laughter, “I’d rather sleep in one of the dumpsters outback than spend the night with you.”

  “That’s harsh don’t you think?” he asked. The rejection was painful.

  As much as the pained expression on his face tugged at her heart as she fought the burning desire to surrender to his suggestion, her shields had moved into place and her armor stood carefully erected. Narrowing her eyes, she scowled. “You’d know. Cruelty is after all your middle name.”

  He dropped his eyes to the ground and moved in closer. “I never meant to be cruel. All I wanted was to give you time.”

  “I didn’t need time you sorry ass excuse for a man, all I needed was you to be there for me, but instead you left me to deal on my own. In my books that makes you a coward.”

  Considering her words as if they hadn’t already crossed his own mind, he quietly said, “Be that as it may, you need somewhere to stay and I have an extra room. I’ll keep a distance, I promise I won’t bother you and I’ll drop you off here tomorrow. Let me do this one thing for you.”

  Though there was no way in hell she was about to admit that she didn’t want to be alone, and deep in the recesses of her heart there lay a spot that still stirred when his name was mentioned or she allowed herself the fleeting pleasure of thinking of him, she considered his offer. “Tonight only and you stay away from me.”

  “Agreed,” he put out a hand offering a good-hearted shake of friendship. Mikala glared down at his hand, turning her back and stormed barefoot to his truck. He would have laughed if he wasn’t in fear of her tearing off his arm and beating him to death with it.

  Not long after her dramatic retreat, he climbed into the truck and handed her the shoes she had been waiting for. She gave him a fleeting smile of thanks and stared out the passenger window the entire way to his apartment.

  He held the door open as she stepped inside and peered around the loft conversion. It was like stepping back in time, as if the eight months they had been apart had vanished. Even his shoes sat in the same spot at the door with his i-pod and ear buds tucked inside, along with his ratty old red sox cap that she detested. Nothing had changed and it tore at her soul to remember the happy times, the times that they couldn’t get back.

  “Do you need anything, sugar?”

  “Yeah, I need you to stop calling me sugar and one of your t-shirts.”

  Mason was never an emotional man at the best of times, but she could see the guilt that he felt sitting hidden just beyond his stare, she knew it was there and knew it well. To put him out of his misery would be the best thing for all. Mikala just couldn’t manage the forgiveness card so soon, not after all she’d suffered, alone.

  “I guess suggesting we talk is futile?” he asked, looking at her and seeing only hatred before she turned away. “I’ll get you that t-shirt.”

  While he disappeared behind the wall that divided the bedroom from the rest of the loft, Mikala found herself scrutinizing her familiar surroundings. There were memories everywhere. In the stainless steel kitchen tucked into one corner with polished concrete counters and the wine fridge he had put in especially for her. The hot fuchsia colored overstuffed chair he bought for the living room that they made love on too many times to count and the black and white photo that hung over the fireplace of her half hidden profile and fire red hair. He always said her hair was one of her hottest assets, he admittedly told her that it turned him on when he took her from behind with her hair intertwined in his fingers.

  “Mik,” his voice snapped her from her reflections. Turning to face him, she brought her hands to her cheeks in an attempt to cover her heated skin.

  She took the t-shirt he offered and walked toward the washroom. The partition wall allowed for privacy but conversation could still be accomplished, that was until she turned on the shower and climbed inside. She could hear the low hum of his voice.

  “I can’t hear a thing you’re saying,” she called out, closing her eyes and leaning under the hot spray.

  His voice suddenly became very clear as she heard the glass shower door open and he stepped inside. “I said are you ever going to forgive me? Will you ever believe how fucking sorry I am?”

  Spinning round, she couldn’t hold back a laugh when she saw him standing half under the rain head fully dressed, right down to his expensive sneakers. “Are you fucking crazy?” she said, pushing her palms against his chest. “Get out of here!”

  The man was unmovable, built like a rock and as big as a mountain. His beautiful brown eyes, so often hidden behind aviator style sunglasses were now sad and searching, waiting for her to say something, anything to give him hope.

  “I’m sorry, I’m so fucking sorry,” his voice melted to a whisper as emotion chocked his vocal cords. “It was as much my loss as yours, sugar. I couldn’t handle it, I couldn’t deal. I didn’t know how.”

  “And didn’t give a fuck if I could or not!” Her fist pounded his chest as his arms circled her waist and pulled her to his chest as she continued, “No, you ran away, you took the easy way out. How could you just walk off the day we bury our little boy, how?”

  “I fucked up,” Mason tipped up her chin with his finger waiting to see tears but her eyes were icy cold, void of emotion as they narrowed and she wriggled free from his hold. “Mik…please,”


  “Yeah, you did fuck up and it’s too late to apologize. I’m over it and over you.” Her slick body slid past his. She took his fluffy robe from its place on the back of the door, like she had done a million times before, and slipped it on. “Goodnight,” she snapped.

  Mason didn’t bother to speak. It was far beyond obvious that Mikala wanted nothing to do with him. All he wanted was to hold her in his arms and take it all back to the beginning when they had met, to happier times before his stupidity had ruined it all.

  Lying awake, knowing that she was asleep in the hideaway bedroom on the other side of the loft just one floor above him, he loudly exhaled. He stared up at the railing across the room at her foot dangling over the beds edge. She liked her feet in the cool air when she slept, summer or winter it didn’t matter. He wished those feet were sharing his bed tonight.

  Sadly, his memories were all he had now, it would take a miracle to turn her head again and convince her to take him back. Miracles didn’t happen for Mason, only moments of happiness, then tragedy before mayhem moved in and took over.

  He rolled onto his back, pillowed his hands under his head and closed his eyes, losing himself in thoughts of cheerier times.

  Her hair was the first thing that caught his eye. He’d never really been attracted to a redhead before, that was until he got a load of those full red tinted lips of hers. She reminded him of a 60’s pin up girl he often thought of having tattooed on his bicep. She was the hottest thing on legs, a real woman, with full round breasts and swinging sexy hips and as she crossed the dance floor of Pulse Night Club walking towards him, a smile curled his lips. He could feel his cock thicken with each step she took, he had to take a deep breath and remind himself he was there on business.

  “Well hello, sunshine,” she said, holding out a hand. His hand wrapped over hers so tiny and fragile, that he feared he’d break her, “I’m Mikala, what can I do for you today?”