Chapter Seven
Saylor
“What am I doing?” I asked myself as I stood in front of the mirror.
The black mid-length dress hugged my curves beautifully. The neckline plunged just enough to show the slight swell of my cleavage. What really turned heads was the way the back of the dress dipped almost to my ass. I’d bought the dress for a Christmas party I was supposed to attend, but never got to thanks to Ron.
My mind drifted back to the day of the party.
***
Standing at my door, I stared at Ron. “Why are you here? I told you, Ron, we’re over. There is nothing left between us, so you need to let it go. I’m late for the company Christmas party. Please leave.”
He forced himself into my apartment. “I won’t let it go because you were meant to be with me, Saylor. I won’t let you go. Ever.”
Ron had never physically hurt me, but when he started to become increasingly obsessed with everything I did, wore, said, and went, I knew things needed to end.
“If you don’t leave my place now, I’ll call the police.”
He shot me a smirk. “Give me one more fuck, Saylor.”
“Get out. Now.”
He moved closer to me, and I quickly turned and tripped over the new rug. I knew I was going to hit the coffee table the moment I let out a scream.
The pain radiated through my head like nothing I had ever experienced. Ron was by my side, helping me to get up.
“Shit, Saylor, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Get out!” I screamed. “You need to go and leave me alone, Ron!” I cried out as the door to my condo flew open and my neighbor Justin rushed in. I could feel my eye swelling up, and the moment Justin saw me he thought Ron had hit me.
The next thing I knew Ron was being arrested for assault and I was trying to tell the police I honestly tripped and hit the corner of the coffee table.
That night it had been all over the news and in the papers. It was then I knew my time in Seattle had come to an end.
***
Pushing aside the memories of Ron and Seattle, I took one more look in the mirror and frowned. Why I got my hair done was beyond me. I wasn’t looking to meet anyone. That was the last thing on my mind. So why was the idea of spending the evening with Mason putting my stomach all in knots?
My phone buzzed, so I walked over to the kitchen island to retrieve it.
Mason: Your doorman is an asshole.
Smiling, I typed my response.
Me: Why?
Mason: He won’t let me in because I’m not on his list.
Shit. I had forgotten to give them Mason’s name.
Me: Sorry. That’s my fault.
My hands started to shake as I called down and added Mason’s name onto the approved list of visitors. Jesus, what is the matter with me? Why am I a nervous wreck?
Making my way over to the bar, I poured myself a quick shot of Tequila to take the edge off while waiting for Mason to come up.
The doorbell rang, and I took a deep breath.
“He’s my boss and only being nice. I was at a bar alone, and he felt sorry for me. That’s all this is.”
Stopping before I reached the door, I closed my eyes and groaned. “Damn it. I’m talking to myself.”
A light knock was next on the door. Rolling my eyes at his impatience, I yanked the door open, ready to lay into him for not being able to wait thirty seconds. Instead, I gasped and almost stumbled back.
Holy. Shit.
Mason stood before me dressed in a tux. A mother f’ing tux.
“Wow. You’re in a tux.”
It was then I noticed Mason’s eyes were roaming slowly over my body. “Jesus Christ. You look fucking amazing.”
Snarling my lip, I replied, “Well, aren’t you one with the words.”
Mason’s eyes were now on my cleavage while his tongue slowly ran over his bottom lip.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and reminded myself this was my boss. Not a date, not a one-night-stand. My boss.
When Mason sliced his hand through his hair, I knew I was screwed. I was going to be horny as hell all night. Damn it.
“I just need to grab my clutch and take care of something really quickly.” I said as I motioned for him to come into my condo.
As he walked in, I got a whiff of his cologne. Oh yeah. Panty change was already in order.
When he stopped and faced me, I sucked in a breath. There was no denying there was some weird energy between us. I felt it the very first time we ran into each other, and each time we were together it felt like it grew stronger.
“You look stunning, Saylor.”
His softer, sweeter words settled into my chest and caused me to smile. “And you look handsome, Mason.”
The way he looked at me made me feel all kinds of crazy. There was an attraction between us, but I wasn’t sure how much of it was purely sexual. Probably a hundred percent where Mason Quinn was concerned. If I hiked up my gown right now and invited him to have his way with me, he would probably do it in a nanosecond. The thought quickly dimmed the burning lust between my legs.
“Excuse me,” I whispered.
Making my way through the living room, I turned down the hallway that led to my master bedroom. I needed a moment to get my thoughts together.
The second I was in my bathroom, I shut the door and leaned against it. My chest rose and fell as I attempted to get myself together.
I’d sworn off men. Had no desire to be involved with another man, at least not for awhile. So why is Mason having this effect on me?
With a quick push off the door, I checked myself in the mirror. A little touch up on my lipstick, a quick check of my updo and one spray of Chanel No. 5 and I was ready to go.
I heard the door open and let out a scream when I saw Mason standing in my bedroom.
“What are you doing?” I asked. My voice breathless with desire.
“You can learn a lot about a person by their bedroom.”
Narrowing my eyes, I watched as he slowly took in my entire room. When his eyes landed on the new lingerie I just bought, my breath caught in my throat. Mason walked over and rubbed the satin lace between his fingers.
“For someone special?” he asked without looking at me.
“No.”
His eyes captured mine. “No?”
Slowly shaking my head, I repeated my answer. “No.”
Mason made his way around my room while I remained glued to the spot where I was standing. I couldn’t make myself understand why this man had such an impact on me. He made me long for things I vowed I didn’t desire.
When he stopped in front me, I held my breath. His eyes traveled over my body with intensity.
“What are you doing to me, Saylor?”
My chest rose and fell as I attempted to speak. “W-what do you mean?”
When Mason’s fingers lifted and lightly traced my jaw line I thought for sure I would melt into a mess on my own bedroom floor.
He moved closer to me, his lips inches from mine. I’d never longed for a man’s kiss like I had Mason’s.
The man who was my boss.
My boss.
Clearing my throat, I whispered, “We should probably be leaving.”
The look of disappointment in his eyes was quickly replaced by darkness.
“Right, we should go.”
And as quickly as he had come into my space, he was out of it. I watched as Mason made his way out the door of my bedroom.
“Bring a coat, Ms. Night. It’s going to get cold.”
The stabbing pain was almost too much to bear. One moment he acted like he was going to kiss me, the next he treated me like an acquaintance. It had been my own fault for shutting him down before he could kiss me.
I let out a sigh brushed away what I was sure was my wounded ego.
So he was going to treat me like this because I wouldn’t let him kiss me. Fuck that. I was over men playing games with me.