Элла Франк - Exquisite

She needed to get these feelings under control. She was beginning to enjoy the moment her heart started to pick up when he looked at her and she was starting to find she didn’t know how she’d feel when it all came to an end. When she reached her office she walked in and stood aside letting him follow her through. It also gave her the perfect opportunity to look at his fine ass. Today he was in jeans and, wow, he could really fill them out. His legs were so long they seemed to eat up the ground as he walked. On top he was in a midnight blue sweater that made his eyes such a deep blue they looked like the ocean and his black hair looked as though the wind had personally run its fingers through it to make it look like he just got out of bed, so damn sexy. Lena closed the door and cleared her throat walking around her desk to put some space between her and the temptation that was now sitting in a chair opposite her. She watched him as he sprawled his jean clad legs out in front of him then rested his hands on his thighs.

“Alright Langley, enough with the tense silence.”

“Tense? Who’s tense?” he grinned at her slowly. “Are you tense Lena? Want me to help?”

Before she thought it through she quipped. “Sure, take off your pants.”

Arching his brow he moved to sit up straight, “Careful doctor.”

Rolling her eyes she sat down and he grinned dimples and all.

“This feels like our first date, rolls reversed though.” he commented as he looked around her office at the large certificates on the wall then over to the bookcase that held text books, research journals and yes a couple of Twilight books, so what? He stood as though he couldn’t sit still and moved over to the large window that over looked the city and whistled low.

“Wow this is some view.” then he turned and rested his delicious ass against the window sill and told her softly. “But I like this one better.”

Lena turned her chair to face him and rocked back on it. “Stop the excess charm Langley. I said yes to the second date.”

He nodded slowly, “You did didn’t you?” he paused. “This isn’t charm Lena I mean it when I tell you I like what I see. Your so buttoned up, professional. You make me want to unbutton things.”

Lena felt her heart pick up at the look that came over his face. He was such an easy going man by nature. She could tell he was relaxed and calm, most likely well loved by everyone who met him. However, there were moments with her that he changed, his emotions took hold of him and she watched as a darker side rose to the surface and made its way out. She wondered if she brought his dark side out because she wasn’t what he needed. She wasn’t sunshine and light. She was gloomy, cold and numb.

“Why?”

Mason watched her as she continued to push herself back and forward on her chair by the tip of her toe.

“What do you mean why?”

“Well come on Langley. It isn’t like I was the obvious choice here. I’ve got to wonder why you’re even bothering with me.”

He pushed off from the window and walked over to her. Placing his foot on the bottom rung of her leather chair he brought it to a halt then reached down and drew her up so she was standing an inch apart from him. He ran his hands down her arms to her hands then intertwined their fingers. Looking down at her silently he watched her as she stared up at him, mouth slightly parted eyes wide and not a single sound came out. He noticed she fought to stand still and came to the conclusion he liked tormenting this woman. Not in a horrific, mean spirited way, but in a sensual frustrating way he’d never known he could enjoy. Usually he was all about the wham the bam and the thank you ma’am, but as he stood there not touching anything but her hands he was more aroused than he’d ever been.

“I don’t understand.” she finally whispered. He leaned down and pressed a warm kiss to her cheek then moved to her ear and whispered.

“Neither do I.” he felt her swallow and could smell that delicious vanilla and wondered if it was the soap she used or a perfume. “I came by to ask you to meet me tonight at my restaurant. I want to cook for you.” he felt her take a deep breath then continued, “I would’ve told you the other night but you had nothing to write it down on. In fact if I remember right, you had nothing on at all.”

Lena couldn’t move. It was as though she was a deer trapped in the headlights of an oncoming car. Here she was, professional Dr O’Donnell standing in her office in the middle of the day with a man whispering in her ear and making her want to reach down between her legs and give herself some kind of release. She swallowed and unconsciously tilted her head to the side. That was when she felt his mouth as he kissed the side of her neck gently. She was sure she would’ve fallen over but his hands gripped her tighter and he lifted his head and looked down at her.

“Nothing to say?”

She shook her head quickly and he stepped back taking with him his warmth. She looked him over and noticed a bulge straining hard against his zipper.

“I think we can safely give up the argument that you’re not my type. Right?”

Lena stood motionless feeling like an idiot then she remembered, “I-I- can’t do tonight.” she stuttered for the first time in her life. She watched Mason narrow his eyes a little.

“I swear I’m not putting you off. I have something I have to do. Can we make it another night?”

He walked over to the door and she thought he was going to leave. She almost found herself calling out for him to stay, but he stopped turned and flashed her that sexy ass grin, “How about Wednesday?”

Lena shut down her computer, switched off the light and headed out into the cold. It was Monday night and as she took the elevator down to the parking garage she started to think back to this afternoon. Somehow Mason Langley had got past her defenses. He’d managed to irritate her into a date, then stalked her into a second one. She groaned leaning back against the wall thinking about how good he’d felt against her. She’d been fine before he’d come along. Of course, she wished she could go out meet some random guy and take him home, but if she was honest with herself that always made her feel much more lonely then just being alone. So she’d stopped the random hook ups, put up her barricade and had hidden behind it quite well, until him. Making her way to her car she got in and drove down to the little boutique flower store, ‘Precious Petals’. Parking out front as usual she got out bundling herself up in her coat and walked across the lot to open the door to the store. She loved hearing the tinkling of the bells as she walked in, it made the place feel special, magical. The whole store, including the lovely owner, made her feel comforted in a way nothing else did. Just as she was reaching the counter Catherine walked out from the back and a smiled so bright Lena thought it could light a room.

“Lena!”

Lena smiled and waved, “Hi Catherine.”

“How are you tonight my dear?”

Shrugging Lena nodded. “I’m okay. Getting by. How was your day?”

“Oh lovely dear. Just lovely.”

Catherine came around the desk stopping by one man asking him if he needed help. When he shook his head she continued over to stop by Lena. Slipping her arm around Lena’s waist she moved them toward the back room. “They came in just an hour ago.” she whispered as though she was telling her state secrets. Lena squeezed the little lady tighter, so happy to be there with her. She always made Lena feel comfortable with her, she never asked to many questions. In fact Lena would have to say this was just about the happiest she’d been in years. If she were honest and like Mason had said, she should always be, part of that had to do with him. Catherine turned them around the last corner in the back room and sitting in an aluminum can were seven bright yellow sunflowers. They were magnificent. Lena grinned and patted Catherine’s hand. “They’re beautiful.”

She moved over closer and looked at the wide face of the flower. They were flawless. Catherine only ever picked the best for her.

“They’re happy little things and they make you smile. So they must be beautiful.”

Lena looked over her shoulder toward the lady standing under the bright light of her shop. She had to be around sixty Lena would guess and she had laugh lines around her eyes and mouth, a testament to the fact, she’d enjoyed life. Lena had been coming to Precious Petals since two weeks after Carly had been killed.

That was nine years ago. She remembered walking aimlessly down the street in the middle of winter and she’d heard the tinkle of some bells and turned to see a lady at the top step of her shop sweeping them free of snow. The lady had smiled and waved her forward and she’d gone because she had nowhere else to go. Catherine had taken her inside and given her a cup of hot chocolate and she’d sat in the warmth of this lady’s shop looking around when she saw three sunflowers, Carly’s favorite, smiling back at her. It was the first time Lena had found herself smiling in the weeks after her sister’s death and ever since then she’d ordered one sunflower a day to be delivered to Carly.

“How much do I owe you?” Lena asked as she stood up and walked over to Catherine.

“Just the usual dear.”

Lena shook her head, “You need to let me start paying you the right price Catherine. How do you expect to make a profit?”

“Oh pssh! You’re one of my most loyal customers and I’ve been dealing with you since you were in college busing tables to pay me. You almost feel like my own daughter. I will not change the price now. No matter how successful you are.”