Chapter 21: It Has to Be More

JAMIE

My eyes fluttered open.

Three glasses of wine had left me groggy, and Mason Knight had left me sore.

I turned in bed, completely unsurprised to see that he’d gone.

Does he regret last night?

Everything he said, everything we did—it feels like more than just two people having sex. He’s jealous of Ryan.

It has to be more than that.

As I sat up in bed, I noticed the piece of paper on the nightstand. On it were five words:

~Call me when you wake.~

He left a note. I guess that’s a good sign.

I dialed his number anxiously. Thankfully it wasn’t long before I heard his voice.

“Good morning, Jamie.”

“Mason,” I chuckled, like a teenage girl with a crush. My stomach was full of butterflies. “You left a note. I wish you’d woken me this morning.”

“I didn’t want to. You looked like you needed the sleep after last night. Seems like I made the right decision.”

My lips curved into a smile. “Where are you right now?”

He sighed. “At the office. It looks like I’m going to be here awhile. But I want to see you tonight.”

At the office on New Year’s Day! The man is a workaholic.

“You don’t have plans with family?”

“Not important ones. I don’t do that, remember? Besides, I have responsibilities that can’t be put off for another day.”

I lay back in bed. “Well, I’ve got plans, so I’m afraid I’m unavailable. Maybe some other time.”

“Make yourself available and cancel your plans. I want to have you on every surface of my apartment. I’ll even make you dinner.”

I was tempted—extremely tempted—to have him again.

But dinner with the family…

I could call Mum and pretend I’m sick, that’s the only way I can think of.

Dad certainly wouldn’t like this one…luckily he’s not going to find out.

“Jamie? What do you say?”

I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth as I debated what to do.

“What time?”

“Four. Don’t be late. I’ll be waiting on you.”

“See you then.”

I looked up when my bedroom door opened and Carmen walked in. She had a smirk on her face knowing damn well that I was naked underneath the sheets.

I tried my best not to grin like an idiot as I held the sheet against my body.

“So...how was your night?”

“Fun party. Letdown in the bedroom.” Carmen grinned and plopped down on the end of my bed. “How was yours? I saw a certain someone leaving?”

I chuckled. “Well, I’m in bed naked, so you can guess the rest. I’m seeing him again tonight.”

“I still can’t believe you’re dating Mason Fucking Knight. I so called this. I knew he was going to come back for more, again and again, until he realized you were more than just a fling.”

I shrugged. “That’s nice that you think so. I, for one, don’t know what’s going on between us. I sure wouldn’t call it dating.”

“If there’s food involved, it’s a date.” She lay down on her side. “So are you going back to work for him?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not as if he gave me much choice. That’s partly why he came by last night. I just hope it’s not awkward in the office.”

“Only if you let it be. You could have some fun with it, make it a bit less boring and a lot more fun.” She winked. “Riding the boss in his office? Pretty kinky.”

I crossed my arms. “Nothing will be ridden in that office, I can promise you.”

I’ve already crossed the line by sleeping with him. I won’t do it in his office.

“What’s happening with Ryan? Is anything even happening with Ryan?”

I leaned my head back against the headboard with a groan.

“Well, he knows what’s going on—he found out last night when he came by unannounced. He saw Mason and...left.”

Carmen frowned. “Poor guy. Is that it between you two, then?”

I shrugged. “I guess it is. I feel guilty over the way things ended. I think I should meet him in person, to apologize.”

“You’re a better person than I am.”

She shifted position to be beside me, despite the fact that I wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing.

“Want to tell me about Mason’s cock?”

She sure knew how to lighten the moment, didn’t she?

***

I stepped out of the elevator and into the warmth of the penthouse.

Mason had told security to use their key in the elevator to let me up. Even the security guy seemed surprised that I was back again.

Like a boomerang.

Mason was standing by the tall window, one of his hands in the pocket of his pants and the other holding his phone to his ear.

He turned around and looked at me. I smiled and walked his way.

“I can’t, I have work to do,” Mason said into the phone as he removed my bobble hat from my head and threw it to the couch.

While he listened to the person on the other end, I undid my coat and placed it over the chair.

He came toward me again and started to undo the buttons on my cardigan.

“I know what day it is. Work is more important, you’ve taught me that.”

He listened again, then sighed.

“I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He hung up the phone and threw it on the couch. I could tell he was tense.

~Work is more important, you’ve taught me that.~

“Was that Harry on the phone?”

He sighed. “Yes.”

“I don’t want to be the reason you cancel plans, Mason. Obviously you’re not working right now, you could spend the day with him. It’s New Year’s—”

He shook his head.

“He knows I don’t do that. My father puts on an act, pretending he cares…but he doesn’t.”

He moved my cardigan down my arms and let it fall to the floor.

I furrowed my brows. “An act? Why would you say that?”

From what I’d seen, Harry was very good to his son.

Clearly he doesn’t agree with his behavior of having his cock in every beautiful blonde in London…but he seems like a loving father all the same.

Why else would he call?

“Right, enough talking.” Mason led me to the kitchen table and sat me up right in front of him.

“I want you exactly like I told you, Jamie—on every surface.”

I looked into his dark eyes.

“What are you so afraid of?” I whispered.

Something is holding him back, something is making him into this person. The womanizing is all an act to disguise his true feelings.

Isn’t it?

He let his pants down, pushed himself against me, and smashed his lips to mine.

Then he pulled back and looked me in the eye.

“Why are you asking questions that you know I don’t want to answer? You’re my exception, Jamie. Don’t push your luck.”