CHAPTER 11: Isabelle

The feeling was explosive as I peaked, crashing over the edge. I had never come like that before and felt like I never would again as his hand slipped over my bare folds and stroked me. It had been since before Kendra was born that I was with anybody and I breathed in deeply as he teased me. I wanted to give myself to him but I tried to remember that this was my boss. He had exact control of my future at this time and I knew that I should stop this. It felt too good to stop.

I felt something tingling as he circled my clit again and bit my lips as warmth surged through my body again. I gasped as I opened my eyes and looked into his face, tense with need as he pulled his hand away and resting beside me. “Was that the first time in a while?” Mason asked me as I smiled weakly.

“Yes. It felt amazing,” I replied as he traced his hand over my stomach. “Are you okay?”

“I didn’t mean for it to go this far, Isabelle. I’m fine,” he said as he rested his head against the cushion. I relaxed, knowing that there was something to this. I felt happy inside and not at all ashamed to be nearly naked beside him. I didn’t know what Monday was going to be like but I could deal with that later.

I felt alive again.

We stayed there for a while before Mason asked me if I wanted him to tuck me in bed. I assumed that Kendra was still sleeping and nodded as he went to get my phone before helping me up. I walked with him as he asked if he could lock my door before leaving. A part of me didn’t want him to leave since this was such a rare opportunity. It was also the first time we’d been together outside of work and I needed to slow down. “Yes. You can lock the knob and pull it closed. It’s a secure door.”

He got me under the covers of my queen bed and tucked me in before giving me a soft kiss. I watched as he made sure I was okay before telling me that he’d contact me tomorrow and left the apartment.

I knew that he might never call me again or be over here. It was so rare that I got the apartment to myself, much less any time to go out. How could I be anything to Mason?

I turned and pulled the covers over myself after checking to see if my phone was fully charged. I saw that it was going to die at some point during the night and reached for the cord to plug it in. I closed my eyes, thinking about the night as I hoped that there might be another. If not, I had to be an adult and move past it. This might just be a great night and nothing more.

I slept hard and woke up early the next morning, listening for Kendra. I remembered that she was sleeping next door and guilt washed over me as I thought back to what I’d done last night.

“She’s safe,” I told myself as I looked at the clock to see that it was seven in the morning. Nan was usually up early and I sent her a text asking how everything was. I meant to do the same last night but fell asleep too quickly. Nan responded to tell me that Kendra was up and hungry, so she was making breakfast for her if I’d like to come over. I told her that I was going to wash my face and would be right over, smiling as I took a deep breath.

I washed my face and brushed my teeth before pulling on leggings and a sweatshirt. I checked my neck and sighed with relief when I saw that there were no marks before pulling my hair into a messy bun. I grabbed my keys and walked over to Nan’s, giving Kendra a hug when she answered the door. She led me in and I looked her over, seeing that she looked perky again. “Glad to see that you’re okay, bug. I hope you didn’t mind sleeping here. You looked so comfortable.” I smiled gratefully at Nan as her blue eyes twinkled.

“I didn’t, Mommy. Nan took good care of me yesterday.” Kendra told me as I took into account how lucky I was to have people like her in my life.

“She sure did.” I went over to hug the woman when Kendra went to watch TV, thanking her for being such an angel.

“You deserve a break. You worked all week, and she was fine here. I locked up tight and left my door open so I would hear her.” Nan smiled. “Once a mother, you always have that instinct.” Her kids were grown and had children of their own. I’d met them before.

“That’s so true. Can I help?” I asked her, glancing back at my daughter before going into the small kitchen with her. We made up some bacon and eggs together and Nan looked over at me as she plated the eggs. “Who was the man that came over last night? I couldn’t help but to notice the footsteps.”

“Oh, God.” I shook my head. “It was a friend from work. I invited him over for dinner.” I looked at her with an apologetic smile. “It was nothing.”

“He was mighty handsome,” she told me as I laughed out loud. I pressed a paper towel over the bacon and made some toast as she told Kendra that the food was ready. We sat down at her table and ate as I asked Kendra how her day was before she got sick and she told me all about her first two classes and what she did with her friends before the virus hit her.

We made plans to take it easy for the most part today. I told her that I’d watch movies with her and we’d just eat in, since there were so many leftovers. She might like some of it. I helped Nan clean up and left to go back home with Kendra, letting her in first. She hurried to her room, and I watched with a smile as I locked the door and looked around. I felt so awake today, and I heard my phone in my bedroom. Mason had sent a text while I was gone asking how I was and I responded by telling him I was great. I wanted to thank him for contacting me but that was immature, so I left it alone. We sent a few messages back and forth before I joined Kendra on the couch to watch some of her favorite movies.

Memories of last night kept playing through my mind as I snuggled beside her. I called my mom to tell her that Kendra got her first sickness of the year, and we talked for a little while before I handed the phone to my daughter. I watched as she talked to her grandparents, feeling sleepy as I dropped my head back against the cushion.

I dozed when she was finished talking and she snuggled against me and closed her eyes. We were close due to the situation and during moments where I woke up, I wondered how a man would fit into this. How would Mason fit in? I had no plans on introducing her to anybody until it was serious enough to do so. I thought that I would know, and this was still new. I didn’t even tell my mom about the night before. Well, that and the fact that Kendra was sitting beside me.

We relaxed all day and did a little shopping the following afternoon together, getting home and preparing for the week. I made lunches the night before every night and she took a bath before bed. I read her a book that she picked at school before shutting the light off and walked to the living room, dropping to the couch and breathing in deeply. I reached for my phone and considered sending a message to Mason but I decided to wait until the following day to see what happened at work.

I woke up early the next morning before my alarm. I took a slow shower and made some coffee while I got ready, paying special attention to my makeup and hair. I was nervous but forced myself to accept whatever happened today. I wanted to think that this was more to Mason than just getting me off at my house. If not, then I was strong enough to deal with that. If anything, it opened up the fact that I might be ready to date again.

I dropped Kendra off with a hug and a kiss and headed into Seattle to work, grinning like a fool as I sang along to the song on the radio.