Exquisite

Chapter Eleven

Lena woke the next morning with a killer hangover. She winced as the sun streamed into her room and across her pillow. Groaning she moved over on the bed and ran into something solid. She froze, please no please no, but as she turned her head slowly there he was lying beside her with his head nestled into one of her pillows. How had this happened? The last thing she remembered was their huge fight then him pulling her aside and blowing her mind on the stairs. After that there was nothing. Again, she looked over at him, very careful not to make any sudden moves that might wake him. He was lying on his back, and his hair was so dark against her white pillow she almost reached out to touch it. She bit her lip and pulled her hand back to her chest clutching the sheet tight. His eyes were closed, and she noticed those long sooty lashes against his cheek. He truly was an absolutely breathtaking man. Scooting over she was about to get out of bed when his eyes opened and locked onto hers. He didn’t move, just stayed right where he was, as though she’d invited him. For all she knew, maybe she had.

“Good morning Lena.” he said in a low gravely voice.

“Ahh..morning.” she watched as he lifted an arm and casually draped it over his head giving her an amazing view of his bicep as it flexed and the soft hair springing out from under. Dragging her eyes up to his face again she saw him watching her.

“Where were you going?”

Arching a brow at him she asked, “Have you forgotten you’re in my bed?” pausing for a moment she then rushed on, “Actually. Why are you in my bed?”

With his other hand he lazily scratched his chest then grinned. “You invited me.”

Lena’s mouth fell open and she shook her head. “I find that very hard to believe Langley. Especially after,” she paused.

“Especially after our fight?” he asked.

“Yes. The last thing I remember is you,” she stopped clutching the sheet tighter.

“Me?”

“You know what you did.”

Finally he moved to sit up against the headboard so she scooted back a little and a laugh escaped him.

“A little to late for that now don’t you think?”

She looked at the sheet that had fallen into his lap and all of the naked chest that was now on display. “I don’t remember anything after the stairs.”

As she watched a grin pull up on his mouth, his dimples crept out. “You do remember what happened on the stairs though?”

Lena felt a flush spread over her body and nodded.

“Then everything went blank you say?” he asked running a hand through his hair.

“Stop being so mysterious Langley and tell me how we ended up back at my place, in bed!” she demanded, embarrassed to hear her voice hitting close to hysterical.

Reaching down he lifted the sheet and flung it off himself. Lena averted her head quickly, which seemed slightly immature, but at this point she didn’t care. Then she caught a flash of black as he walked around the side of the bed and stopped an inch from her in a pair of black silk boxers.

Mason watched as she looked up at him with wide eyes and lots of questions. He reached out and pushed a stray curl behind her ear. “Nothing happened doctor, relax. I’m not naked, you’re not naked.”

“We might as well be!” she pointed out, “You’re all..” and she waved her hand up and down at him.

“In boxers.” then bending down at the waist so they were nose to nose he grinned, “And you’re in a little black thong.”

Blushing and holding the sheet tighter to herself he grinned then stood walking over to the window. “Anyway, lets focus on the real issue here. You must’ve had to much to drink and after you went off, like fireworks on the Fourth of July, you passed out.”

“Please tell me you’re lying.”

“I wish I could but...” he shrugged. “Then Shelly told me your address and I drove you home.”

“That still doesn’t explain how you’re in my bed. Why didn’t you just drop me off then leave?”

Stretching his long arms above his head he heard her move behind him and knew she was reaching for a shirt. “Well I put you down on the bed and was about to leave when you reached out and asked me to stay. So I did.”

He turned back to face her and noticed she looked appalled, which for some reason made him want to crawl back into that bed and do what she thought they had, but instead of doing that he leaned against the window and crossed his arms and legs. “Don’t worry Lena all the exciting stuff happened on the stairs.”

“That’s not the point.” she mumbled.

“Then what is?”

Sputtering she tried to come up with a good answer then she blew out a breath making a curl flop forward in her face. She must’ve been annoyed by that because she reached up and pushed the offending strand behind her ear. Almost reluctantly she raised her eyes to his again.

“So ah, what happened with Delicious?”

He arched a brow at her and smirked. “So you do remember bits and pieces?”

Visibly she stiffened then snapped at him. “I told you I did.”

“So you did,” he nodded then pushed off the window to stand straight. “I won’t know until the article comes out on Monday but right after you passed out I called Peter and asked him if we could do a phone interview. He agreed and I called him after I got you safely in bed.”

Groaning loudly she flopped back on the bed her hair fluffing out behind her as she threw her arm over her eyes. “God Mason! This is a disaster.”

Taking her arm away and turning her head toward him she muttered, “I’m a disaster.”

He walked over and crouched down beside her. She’d shut her eyes so he reached out and stroked a finger down her cheek watching them spring back open. “I was comparing you more to a train wreck, but same conclusion.”

She grimaced then asked softly, “Then why are you still here?”

Lena couldn’t believe she’d asked him that. She shouldn’t even care why he was here or if he was going to stay but suddenly it seemed vital to her very existence to know.

“I have no idea. You really messed up last night.”

Although she didn’t like hearing it she knew he was right. She also knew he was half naked and very close. Pulling her hand out from under the sheet she reached out to stroke his chest. “I told you I wasn’t good at this.”

He laughed softly, “Yeah but you didn’t say you’d been the downfall of my career.”

Her eyes widened and he wrapped a curl around his finger, “I’m just kidding. I’m sure it wont be that bad. Although I’d love to be there when you finally meet up with Shelly again.”

Lena sighed then sat up as he walked away and she found she missed him being close to her. She froze when she saw him in front of her dresser, he reached out and picked up the picture of Carly and herself. He turned to face her with a smile and when his eyes met hers it disappeared. She felt the blood drain away from her face and all her walls shifting back into place. Suddenly last night disappeared and any pleasure she’d been feeling was suffocated by a heavy dose of guilt mixed with pain. Even though she knew it was coming she flinched when he asked.

“Who’s this in the picture with you?”

Mason knew he was walking through a minefield with the way Lena was frozen and barely breathing. Somehow the moment had gone from warm and almost, dare he say, tender? To arctic cold. He watched her eyes go from his face to the frame in his hand then back up to his face. He’d never had anyone look at him with such an icy glare, but suddenly the room was frigid.

“None of your business.” she answered coolly.

Okay, whoever this girl was, obviously it was a huge no go zone because suddenly he felt like he needed to dive back under the covers to warm up, or hide. Turning he placed the frame back then walked around the side of the bed he’d slept in. He bent down and picked up his clothes looking over to see that Lena hadn’t moved an inch. She didn’t so much as spare him a glance as he walked around the bed, clothes in hand to, the door.

“I’m going to walk out this door right now.” he paused and even though he had no indication as to whether or not she was listening he added, “This isn’t done though. Whatever it is you’re thinking, and whatever walls you’re trying to put up, don’t even think about it. I’m here to stay, you don’t get to kick me out yet.” and with that he left her sitting in the middle of her huge white bed, alone. Exactly the way she seemed to want it.

Lena sat staring at the dresser in absolute silence. She knew it was absolute because she’d just heard the front door slam signaling Mason’s departure. She couldn’t have explained what she was feeling at that moment if her life had depended on it. She’d been on her way to trying her luck at inviting Mason back to bed, to continue what they’d started last night, when everything had gotten flipped upside down. Taking a deep breath she pushed the covers off walking over to the dresser. Picking up the picture he’d been holding, not five minutes earlier, she stared at the two happy people in it. It felt like a lifetime ago, and it was, Carly’s life. She knew she’d been horribly rude to him about the photograph but she just hadn’t been ready to let him in, an honestly she didn’t know if she ever would be, and that was a damn shame. Putting the picture back in its place Lena made her way over to the bathroom. She splashed her face with cold water then looked at herself in the mirror. What the hell was the matter with her? Here she had a funny, gorgeous guy, who for some reason kept coming back when she continually screwed things up, and she couldn’t find it in her to let him in. Not having any idea what Mason Langley saw in her she was thinking that maybe she needed to squash whatever it was before he got in deeper and she squashed his heart instead.

Mason was standing in the small coffee shop he’d seen down on the corner of Lena’s street, still trying to decide what the hell had just happened back there. Things had been going well until the picture. Obviously it represented something important, he just had no idea what. Maybe it was a friend of hers who’d screwed her over? Maybe it was her sister who she no longer talked to and didn’t want to explain, hell he had no clue. He got to the counter ordered two coffees to go and two blueberry muffins. All he knew was she thought he was going home and leaving her alone, but she was in for a rude surprise. She’d invited him to go for a run today and he was going to hold her to that promise whether she wanted to or not. Grabbing up the small white paper sack with the muffins he balanced the coffee tray and headed back to the war zone.

Not twenty minutes after Mason left Lena heard a loud knock on her front door. She’d tied her hair up in a ponytail and brushed her teeth then gone back to her bedroom and thrown on some grey yoga pants. Rubbing her eyes she made her way to the door. Yawning once she didn’t bother checking who was on the other side before she flung it open, that would teach her. “I thought you left.” she watched as he looked her over.

“I told you I was leaving for the moment. You and I have a running date, incase you’ve forgotten.” he paused then raised the tray of coffee, “Plus I bought you coffee.”

“I don’t want a coffee. I want you to leave.” she snapped at him.

Pushing his way off the door jamb he stood tall and looked down at her. Lena tilted her head back still holding the door blocking half the entrance.

“This can be easy Lena, or it can be hard. Your choice.”

Clenching her jaw she took a deep breath. He was being stubborn and that was not helping her in the slightest. Why couldn’t he be like the guy she’d originally thought he was and just shrug and walk away? When had he turned into a stubborn wall of pain in the ass?

“Do you enjoy hanging around women who don’t want you?”

He rolled his eyes at her latest attempt of, mean. “We both know that statement is a lie and if you were a wooden boy your nose would be ten feet long.”

She felt a crack in her defense as her lip twitched. “I would hope you wouldn’t be having this conversation with a wooden boy.”

“Let me in the house Lena.”

She eyed the bag then asked, “What’s in the sack?”

“Muffins.”

“What kind?”

“Blueberry.”

Sighing loudly she moved aside reluctantly, “Fine come in, but only because I’m hungry and their blueberry muffins are to die for.”

He went to move past her then stopped. “Understood.”

Lena watched him as she sipped her coffee trying to figure out what he was thinking. He hadn’t said anything since he’d come into the house and made his way into the kitchen. After she’d got out two small plates they’d sat at her small kitchen table and ended up in a battle of wills. She was determined to make him so uncomfortable he’d leave and he was determined to be stubborn and stay. It was like two rams butting heads.

Leaning back in the wooden chair, his long legs sprawled out under the table accidentally bumping hers. She didn’t move though, she was determined to hold her ground. Never taking her eyes from his she picked up a piece of muffin and popped it into her mouth. He was still wearing his black pants from last night. She figured he must of had the black shirt under his white chef’s smock because that was what he was in now and even though he should look disheveled and put out, all he managed to look was hot. Smoking hot, and right now she hated him for it. When he finished his muffin he sat up in the chair hearing it creak and moan under him. He raised a brow to her. “I’m not in danger of landing on my ass am I?”

For some reason that statement broke the ice. She burst out laughing and placed a hand across her mouth. “Do you really think I’d tell you and miss out on something so spectacular?”

Mason found himself laughing with the prickly doctor. It seemed he’d managed to break through whatever wall she’d been trying to build. Leaning forward he rested his elbows on the table. “We’ll have to go by my place so I can get some running gear. There’s a park down the street from me we could go to. Does that sound ok to you?”

She sat back in her chair and let out a deep breath. “You really aren’t going away are you?”

He watched her closely and choose his words carefuly. “No I’m not. Lena look at me.”

Her eyes slowly opened and focused on him.

“I know there are things you don’t want to tell me. I get that. I even know that it’s way to soon for you to be ready to tell me, but you will. Eventually.”

She blinked once then bit her lip gently.

“Right now though, I’ll settle for a run with you in the park.”

He pushed the chair back and stood up coming around the table to hold out a hand. Looking up at him with wide eyes she took it.

“I don’t understand why you’re going to all this trouble.”

Grinning he squeezed her fingers. “I’m finally realizing something my father told me a couple of years ago before he died.”

He watched her eyes soften a little, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“That’s ok he was a great man, lived a great life.”

She seemed to be trying to work up the nerve to say something but at the last minute she lowered her gaze took a breath and dropped his hand. “What did he tell you?”

He reached out and stroked her cheek. “That’s something I’m not ready to tell you yet. But I will, eventually.”

An hour later Lena was waiting on a bench, watching the ducks swim in circles, while Mason had gone upstairs to change. She’d told him she needed the fresh air but really she just needed some distance. The man was starting to make her feel things she really didn’t want to and she was still trying to work that out. When he came jogging down the street then crossed over toward her she almost wished she could be like Shelly and just say, oh what the hell and jump the guy. His shorts were bright red and hit just above his knees showing off his muscular calf muscles that were lightly sprinkled with hair. He’d put on a black sleeveless shirt and red baseball cap to run in and his arms flexed as the swung back and forward. He looked lickable. This work out was going to be torture. She stood and walked over to him trying to act like the sight of him powering over to her didn’t affect her in the slightest.

“Ready to stretch?”

She nodded, “Sure am. Think you’ll be able to keep up with me Langley?”

He grunted and nodded, “You’ll be eating my dust doctor.”

Rolling her eyes she bent down to touch her toes. He made a noise and she looked up at him. The side of his mouth pulled up.

“Got a problem?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No. I was just wishing you’d do that over here in front of me.”

Shaking her head she laughed a little, “Perv.”

“Is it my fault you’re wearing the tightest yoga pants I’ve ever seen? Please don’t run in front of me I don’t think my heart will survive it.”

Now she laughed loudly, “That’s ok I’m a doctor I wont let you die.”

He moved into a forward lunge stretching his thigh and calf, “Yeah for little kids.”

“Same principal.” she said as she pulled her right leg up behind her to stretch her hamstring. He stood up crossing his arms over his head. She watched his biceps flex and pull and narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you trying to pay me back?”

He dropped his arms. “No, but it’s good to know you’re hot for my body.”

She let go of her ankle and rolled her eyes. “Oh my god. Can we go now?”

Chuckling he nodded, “Sure. How far?”

“I usually do 5 miles.”

“5 miles it is. But please for all that’s holy, run beside me.”

She chuckled and started off up the trail.

When they hit their fourth mile Mason glanced over to see a light sheen of sweat on Lena’s face. She was breathing evenly, in through her nose out through her mouth, and her form was unbelievable. She could really run. He thought he was going to have to pull back on his pace but she was giving him a run for his money. He paced along beside her and since she was smaller than him he did have to shorten his stride but other than that he found she was an amazing running partner. In fact, he was starting to think everything about her was amazing. He still couldn’t believe it’d only been a couple of weeks ago when they’d first met, not to mention only last week when they’d had their first date. Mason felt as though he’d known her much longer, and although there was a lot about her he didn’t understand he found he didn’t mind waiting to find out. She was smart, witty and prickly as a porcupine, but for some reason the ‘don’t touch sign’ that was hanging around her at times just made him want to touch more. They were just coming up over a small bridge when he saw her glance at him out of the corner of her eye. Turning his head toward her he arched an eyebrow. Then she grinned and he felt his chest tighten, that was worth everything. To see her smile like nothing else was bothering her for that moment. He’d done that, he was making her happy, and he didn’t think he’d ever felt so proud of himself in his life.

“Race you the last mile Langley.”

He kept pace beside her. “What are the stakes?”

“Stakes?” she asked looking a little confused.

“Yeah, what do I win?”

Letting out a quick laugh and breathing a little heavier she asked, “What makes you think you’ll win?”

“Answer the question Lena, we’re coming up on the last mile marker.”

“Bragging rights?” she suggested quickly.

“Lame.”

She narrowed her eyes at him knowing that he was wanting more from her than bragging rights. Then a twinkle appeared in her eye like she was about to do something mischievous.

“Ok then. How about winner decides, but no touching involved.”

Mason felt his heart pick up in his chest and nodded confirming his approval as they rounded the bend to the marker that signaled the beginning of their last mile.

“Go!” she shouted and took off. Damn she was quick. She flew past him and he ordered his legs to get moving. They seemed to listen because they started pushing him forward closer to her delectable ass that was bouncing up and down in front of him. She sprinted round the slight bend at the halfway mark and he watched as she looked over her shoulder and winked at him. Oh hell, this woman was going to kill him. Picking up the pace he started pumping his legs and pounding his way toward her. She thought she had him and he almost let her but no, victory would be his and so would she. Just as they got to the bridge he passed her up and came around the bend and triumphantly hit the marker where they’d started. He turned heaving deep breaths, in and out, and saw her standing just behind him doing the same. She raised her eyes to his, flushed pink with sweat sliding down her temple. Putting her hands on her hips she took in a deep breath and then shook her head. “You don’t play fair.”

He walked over to her feeling the sweat dripping down his back. “Excuse me? I won fair and square.”

She shook her head pouting at him. “You won because I ran full out to the end then was tired and you took advantage and powered the last sprint.”

He burst out laughing at her, she was adorable in full sulk mode. “You Dr O’Donnell are a sore loser.”

“Am not.” she said crossing her arms over her chest like a ten year old. He bent down until they were nose to nose. “Are too.” he kissed her quickly on the nose then stood and walked over to the water fountain. He bent down got a drink then turned back to her.

“And now I get to name my prize.”

Lena stood trying to catch her breath as she watched him look her over. She could only imagine what he had in store for her. Something devious, no doubt.

“Ok Langley, enough with the suspense already spit it out.”

He walked over to her slowly and reached out tipping her chin up. He grinned down at her and said plainly. “I choose a shower.”

She blinked once then again. “Huh?”

“I choose to take a shower.”

Still looking up at him she raised a brow. “I’ve got news for you. It’s not going to happen. I’m not showering with you. I said no touching.”

That was way to intimate. To her that was more intimate than sex. Being close enough to trust someone with your health and care.

“I didn’t ask you to.” he bent down so they were inches apart, his finger still under her chin and said slowly. “I’m going to take a shower.”

Narrowing her eyes still confused she stated, “I don’t understand how that’s a reward. You could do that anyway.”

That’s when a wicked grin tugged on his lips and he nodded, “That’s true but my prize is that you’ll be there to watch.”

He couldn’t have shocked her more than if he’d told her he was an alien. Who in their right mind demands someone watch them shower? A lunatic trying to drive her crazy, that’s who. She felt her face heat and it had nothing to do with the 5 mile run she just did.

“What?” she managed to squeak out.

“I won so I get to choose my reward. I need and want a shower and you’re going to watch.”

Sputtering Lena managed to get out, “That’s kind of kinky Langley.”

“Say’s she who offered to smack me on our first date.”

Lena felt like her whole body was on fire. Just thinking about his big body under water made her want to hyperventilate. The idea was outrageous, but so damn sexy she could feel herself getting damp between her thighs. He dropped his hand and moved back a step and Lena found herself looking him over trying to visualize exactly what he was going to show her. Then her eyes found his and they were burning bright.

“So I’m what? Just going to sit there and watch you take a shower?”

He nodded slowly then stepped in so close to her she could see a small drop of sweat bead up and slide down his neck and into the shirt. “Yes. I told you Lena, you make me want things I’ve never wanted. You make me want to do things,” he paused and took a deep breath then let it out, “Hmm things I would never normally do.”

Licking her lips she asked, “And one of those things is take a shower?” it almost seemed ludicrous until he added.

“In front of you.”

She swallowed slowly, sucked into the sensuality of the moment, then nodded. “Okay. It’s your choice. You won.”

He reached out and she placed her hand in his. “Yes I certainly did.”