Элла Франк - Exquisite

“Well no. Not now that you asked me like it was an idiotic idea.”

That had her laughing even harder. The sulky note in his voice had tears leaking out her eyes. Finally she calmed down and heard him ask.

“You done?”

Clearing her throat she answered, “Yes. Thank you. Has anyone ever told you that you act like a spoilt brat at times? Man, you can work up a good sulk Langley. Were you a sulky kid?”

She heard him chuckle, “Actually, I was. Just ask my mother.”

“Well I would but I don’t know your mother.” she pointed out.

Lowering his voice he asked, “So Lena, tell me something I don’t know about you.”

She paused, “Like?”

“Like how many men would I find if I Googled you?”

“You did Google me.” she pointed out then sighed, “Not many. I told you I don’t do relationships.”

“Just sex?” he asked quickly.

“In the past, yes.”

She heard him clear his throat then continue, “How far in the past?”

Her eyes opened and she stared at her irritating fan, almost happy to have something to concentrate on, as the thwump thwump kept time for her.

“Doctor?”

“Three years.” she mumbled quietly. She heard a soft groan over the phone and asked defensively, “What? There’s nothing wrong with not having sex you know? I don’t know what it is about you and Shelly, just because I don’t hop into bed with every available man, I’m some kind of freak?”

There was nothing at the other end, just silence. She waited knowing he was still there because she could hear him breathing. Well she’d be damned if she spoke first.

“Are you done Lena?” he asked in a low deep voice that sent a pulse right down between her thighs.

“Excuse me?”

“I asked if you were done? You’re quick to accuse me of sulking but no one has you beat on throwing a temper tantrum.”

“Ahh..”

“No.” he cut her off effectively, “No. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I was just imagining how tight and hot that’s going to make you when I finally do get to slide deep inside of you.”

Mason waited on the other end of the phone with his eyes closed and his breathing deep, wondering if she was going to hang up on him. “Lena?”

“Yes?” she almost sighed and he smiled to himself.

“Why don’t you have relationships?”

“Why don’t you? Surely you can’t tell me all thirty three women in the past year have been meaningful and long lasting.”

He laughed at her surliness and was pleased to notice she almost sounded a little bit jealous. “Well no they haven’t been long and meaningful, and for the record I’m almost positive that number is exaggerated.”

“How reassuring.” he heard her mumble.

“But at least I put myself out there.”

“What a giant understatement.”

“See Lena, this is why I can’t argue with you over the phone, always a quick smart ass comment. At least in person I can shut you up.”

There was a pause then she asked him, “Why do you date so much?”

“Because I don’t like to be alone.” he answered quickly then added, “Plus I love women.”

Lena smiled at that response and knew he was telling the truth. She didn’t know what she was doing with him. She didn’t want a deep long lasting relationship but she also knew she didn’t want to walk away.

“What do you want from me Langley? You hardly seem the commitment type.”

There was a pause and she heard some movement, “Right now or in the future?”

“Lets start with the future.”

“Hmm. I want to know at some point in the future that I’ve made Dr Magdalena O’Donnell so happy that she walked around smiling all the way to her toes, for a whole week, with not a care in the world.”

It seemed like such a simple thing to say and yet at the same time she was amazed at how perceptive he was. He knew, from only a handful of meetings, that somewhere deep down inside her soul there was a huge gaping hole and although she may smile it was only on the surface and it was only for that second. When had he become so attuned to her? Since she didn’t want to ask him that she decided to take the easy button.

“And right now?”

He sighed as if he knew she’d chosen to side step the huge elephant he’d just put in the room. “Right now I want you to tell me one thing you’ve thought about, while you were around me, but didn’t tell me.”

Lena groaned softly then answered him in a husky whisper, “Last night,”

“Yes?”

“Will you be quiet and let me finish?”

“Sorry. I got excited.”

“Last night when you took your shirt off and your stomach had all that juice on it,” she paused then she heard him suck in a deep breath, “I wanted to get down on my knees and lick it all up. You have an amazing body Langley.”

She heard a breath whoosh out of his mouth then he groaned, “I’m going to die of frustration I think.”

Lena laughed softly, “You asked.”

“I know. I never said I was smart.”

She paused thinking about what she wanted to say then went on before she lost her nerve. “You tell me all the time things you’re thinking. So what about things you wish you could do to a woman but never have? What is one thing you want to do to me?”

He was very quiet while he thought about his answer. She had the phone cradled against her ear, resting against the pillow, which was a good thing because when he opened his mouth and answered her she was sure she would’ve dropped it.

“I find myself feeling things with you that I haven’t felt before. I feel edgier, more intense. You make me want to strangle you and in the next minute throw you over my shoulder. I’m not usually like that. I’m always the easy going guy and I don’t know how that makes me feel.” he paused took a breath then continued. “My reactions to you make me question myself because they aren’t light and carefree, they’re dark and dirty Lena. I want to do so many dirty things with you, to name them all wouldn’t be possible.”

His voice had hit that rough pitch that grated over her nerves and made her throb between her legs. “But if you want one thing in particular I’ll give you this. All that amazing hair you have so neatly tucked away most of the time? I want to unravel that hair and wrap it around my cock and feel it all over me as you sit on top of me and I stroke myself with it.”

One heart beat, two heart beat.

“Holy shit Langley.” she murmured, “If you’re gonna to die from frustration. I’m about to die from a meltdown.”

He chuckled breaking the intense moment, “You asked.”

“Well on that note I need to go and take a long cold shower.” she could almost see him smile when he spoke.

“I’ll see you Saturday. Be ready to sweat.”

“See you then Langley.” and with that she hung up the phone.

Mason decided to go and visit his mother today before driving into work. He pulled up around the back and unlocked the door. He whistled as he moved through the back aisle up to the front and saw his mother talking to a customer. Standing off to the side watching her with a smile, he wondered what she’d think of Lena. Then he got to thinking about that first day when he’d delivered the flowers and the way his mother had called her poor Lena, almost as though she knew her.

“Mason.” she said with a huge smile as she walked over to him. She took his face between her palms and pulled him down to kiss him quickly. “What brings you by dear?”

“Do I need a reason? I just wanted to stop by and see you. Plus Rachel is in the kitchen this morning so I don’t want to show up until she’s done.”

She put her hands on her hips shaking her head, “You two still can’t play nice?”

“We can. We just play better when separated.” he watched as she moved past him to help the same customer from a moment ago check out. He glanced around the shop spotting the sunflowers in the corner, and smiled when he looked at them. She was right, they did make you smile. Watching the customer leave he noticed the place was now empty.

“So I have a question for you.”

She wiped her hands on her apron. “What’s that dear?” Picking up a red rose she clipped the end then placed it in a vase beside her.

“Remember about two or three weeks ago you sent me to that hospital?”

She looked up then nodded, “Yes St Luke’s. What about it?”

Mason leaned his hip up against the counter and looked down at her. “Well remember the lady I was delivering the flowers too?”

“Yes, they were for Lena.”

Mason tilted his head to the side then narrowed his eyes a little. “You know Lena? Dr O’Donnell?”

His mother put her scissors down and placed her hands on the counter.  “For pete’s sake Mason, spit it out. Yes I know Dr O’Donnell. Why? Do you?”

Boy did he, he thought, then remembered her sitting across from him in a wet bra and a skirt. Probably not exactly what his mother was referring to.

“Yes. We had a date last night. I’m surprised Rachel didn’t call you to gossip.”

He watched his mother frown a little then she smiled and tilted her head up to him. “I haven’t spoken to Rachel since she started dating that sous chef.”

“Charlie.” Mason nodded.

“Yes that’s right. But that’s not what we’re talking about. You say you had a date with Lena?”

Mason smiled now full blown. “Yes, last night.”

His mother carefully picked up another rose and clipped the end.

“How do you know her mom?”

She looked back at him and smiled a small almost sad smile.  “I’ve known Lena for years, son.”