Waking up next to Mason made me happier than a kid on Christmas morning. I ran my hand up and down his chest and began to guide it further down, gently stroking his morning wood. This made him squirm around a bit until he finally opened his eyes. Oh, those luscious blue eyes. I kissed the tip of his nose and then kissed his dimple as he grinned.

I could wake up to this face for the rest of my life. The way he looked at me was like a warm blanket and a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter’s day. For the first time, I wasn’t in a hurry to get anything over with. I wanted to draw this out as long as I possibly could.

Unfortunately, fate would not let me get my way, as the sound of a knock at the door made us both jump.

“Mason? It’s Amy. Are you there?”

We both looked at each other in horror. Amy finding me in bed with Mason at Hamilton House would look bad; VERY bad for both of us. Knowing her, she might tell Dominic that we pre-planned this rendezvous; that Mason was faking his heat so that we would have a ‘getaway’ for our illicit affair. Mason would definitely be fired and, though I would likely be able to keep my job, I would be wearing the proverbial Scarlett Letter on my back for the rest of my time at the company. Oh but, hell, maybe it was time to leave the job anyway and search for something new. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time to consider this as Mason literally kicked me out of bed.

I frantically searched for my pants and shirt, which I finally found crumpled up at the foot of the bed.

“Yes! Yes, Amy. I’m here. Wha-what’s up?” Mason called out.

“I tried calling your cell but no answer. One of the guys last night said he had a suspicion you were starting your heat based on how you were acting last night. I had to come down here anyway for a meeting in one of the conference rooms so…you know this would be easier if I could come in for a minute.”

“Sure. Sure. Just hold on a minute while I get dressed.”

Mason jumped off the bed and threw open his suitcase. He pulled out a cotton robe and quickly covered himself.

By this time my shirt was half open and I had only one leg in my pants. The only place I could even remotely hide was the kitchen area, which had no door on it. I only hoped Amy wouldn’t insist on coming in. I hobbled over to the kitchen and pressed my body up against the refrigerator, shielding as much of myself from any possible vantage point from the other room as possible.

Momentarily, I heard the door open and Amy’s voice. It was muffled so I could only hear every other word or so.

“here’s…loaner…laptop…documents…while…heat…kitchen?...water?...”

Oh Shit.

“NO!” Mason’s voice was about three times louder than what would be considered suspect. “sorry…mess…embarrassed...okay?...thanks…I need…lie down…”

Moments later, I heard the door close and I let out a big exhale and knelt down on the ground next to the fridge. I opened my eyes to see Mason standing over me, reaching his hand out to caress my hair.

“You okay, big guy?”

I reached out to take his hand and he helped me to my feet. “Yeah. I think I think I just aged another ten years though.”

“Me too. She was just dropping off a laptop so that I could get some work done remotely while I stay here. Fuck, Jordan. What are we going to do?”

I grabbed him by the belt loops of his robe and pulled him towards me. “I don’t know, baby, but we will figure it out. I promise.” I guided his head to my shoulder and held him tightly to me.