Элла Франк - Exquisite

“Answer the question Lena, we’re coming up on the last mile marker.”

“Bragging rights?” she suggested quickly.

“Lame.”

She narrowed her eyes at him knowing that he was wanting more from her than bragging rights. Then a twinkle appeared in her eye like she was about to do something mischievous.

“Ok then. How about winner decides, but no touching involved.”

Mason felt his heart pick up in his chest and nodded confirming his approval as they rounded the bend to the marker that signaled the beginning of their last mile.

“Go!” she shouted and took off. Damn she was quick. She flew past him and he ordered his legs to get moving. They seemed to listen because they started pushing him forward closer to her delectable ass that was bouncing up and down in front of him. She sprinted round the slight bend at the halfway mark and he watched as she looked over her shoulder and winked at him. Oh hell, this woman was going to kill him. Picking up the pace he started pumping his legs and pounding his way toward her. She thought she had him and he almost let her but no, victory would be his and so would she. Just as they got to the bridge he passed her up and came around the bend and triumphantly hit the marker where they’d started. He turned heaving deep breaths, in and out, and saw her standing just behind him doing the same. She raised her eyes to his, flushed pink with sweat sliding down her temple. Putting her hands on her hips she took in a deep breath and then shook her head. “You don’t play fair.”

He walked over to her feeling the sweat dripping down his back. “Excuse me? I won fair and square.”

She shook her head pouting at him. “You won because I ran full out to the end then was tired and you took advantage and powered the last sprint.”

He burst out laughing at her, she was adorable in full sulk mode. “You Dr O’Donnell are a sore loser.”

“Am not.” she said crossing her arms over her chest like a ten year old. He bent down until they were nose to nose. “Are too.” he kissed her quickly on the nose then stood and walked over to the water fountain. He bent down got a drink then turned back to her.

“And now I get to name my prize.”

Lena stood trying to catch her breath as she watched him look her over. She could only imagine what he had in store for her. Something devious, no doubt.

“Ok Langley, enough with the suspense already spit it out.”

He walked over to her slowly and reached out tipping her chin up. He grinned down at her and said plainly. “I choose a shower.”

She blinked once then again. “Huh?”

“I choose to take a shower.”

Still looking up at him she raised a brow. “I’ve got news for you. It’s not going to happen. I’m not showering with you. I said no touching.”

That was way to intimate. To her that was more intimate than sex. Being close enough to trust someone with your health and care.

“I didn’t ask you to.” he bent down so they were inches apart, his finger still under her chin and said slowly. “I’m going to take a shower.”

Narrowing her eyes still confused she stated, “I don’t understand how that’s a reward. You could do that anyway.”

That’s when a wicked grin tugged on his lips and he nodded, “That’s true but my prize is that you’ll be there to watch.”

He couldn’t have shocked her more than if he’d told her he was an alien. Who in their right mind demands someone watch them shower? A lunatic trying to drive her crazy, that’s who. She felt her face heat and it had nothing to do with the 5 mile run she just did.

“What?” she managed to squeak out.

“I won so I get to choose my reward. I need and want a shower and you’re going to watch.”

Sputtering Lena managed to get out, “That’s kind of kinky Langley.”

“Say’s she who offered to smack me on our first date.”

Lena felt like her whole body was on fire. Just thinking about his big body under water made her want to hyperventilate. The idea was outrageous, but so damn sexy she could feel herself getting damp between her thighs. He dropped his hand and moved back a step and Lena found herself looking him over trying to visualize exactly what he was going to show her. Then her eyes found his and they were burning bright.

“So I’m what? Just going to sit there and watch you take a shower?”

He nodded slowly then stepped in so close to her she could see a small drop of sweat bead up and slide down his neck and into the shirt. “Yes. I told you Lena, you make me want things I’ve never wanted. You make me want to do things,” he paused and took a deep breath then let it out, “Hmm things I would never normally do.”

Licking her lips she asked, “And one of those things is take a shower?” it almost seemed ludicrous until he added.

“In front of you.”

She swallowed slowly, sucked into the sensuality of the moment, then nodded. “Okay. It’s your choice. You won.”

He reached out and she placed her hand in his. “Yes I certainly did.”

Mason didn’t know what on earth had possessed him to choose what he had. All he knew was that when they were standing there, after the race, she’d been looking at him with a sort of hunger in her eyes he didn’t want to stop. So when she’d asked what he wanted that was what had popped out. In all fairness to her, it was a little kinky, but damn the more he thought about it the more he wanted it. They hadn’t spoken since they’d reached the agreement and now that they were getting out of the elevator and about to go into his condo he was wondering if she was trying to think of a way out. Sure, everything about them had been up and down from the start, but right now he would’ve done anything to know if she wanted to bolt. When they finally reached his front door he unlocked it and pushed it open. She walked past him and he could smell the slightest musky scent from her run permeating off her skin. Stopping in his large living room she looked around at the huge open space.

“Wow.”

He’d bought an old warehouse a few years back gutted it and remodeled. The roof had exposed silver pipes and the walls still had the old brick. His kitchen was his pride and joy, as any chef’s would be, all stainless steel and dark granite and the floors were the original hardwood restored. He loved his place and was happy to see that she was impressed.

“This place is amazing.”

He dropped his keys on a small table at the entrance and walked to her. She watched him carefully when he stopped in front of her. “Thanks. I like it.”

Turning away from him she walked over to stop in front of two huge windows that over looked the park they’d just run around. He followed and stopped next to her. She was quiet for a moment, almost contemplative, then she turned to look at him.

“So where’s your shower?”

He felt a dark edgy feeling crawl over him and into his skin as he smiled slowly at her. “Over here.” he motioned turning and walking behind a partition that separated the main living space from the bedroom.

A huge king size bed dominated the room and was pushed up against the brick wall facing a third, floor to ceiling, window. He didn’t have any blinds because he overlooked a park and was actually higher than the trees, so all the sun and all the night came right into the condo inviting you into whatever time of the day it was. Opening the bathroom, door that was off to the side of the bed, he flicked the light on. Lena made her way over then walked through the door brushing past him. The lights were on a dimmer so he muted them and let her look around. Along the left side was the vanity with a mirror running all the way down the length of the wall from the entrance to the end. At the far end of the room was a huge double headed shower with a glass wall partition and on the right side, opposite the mirror, was a whirlpool tub. The bathroom was decadent and that was before he added to it what he was thinking right now. He looked over to see Lena biting her bottom lip hard. She looked tense and he could understand, he was feeling pretty stiff too, everywhere. Finally she looked up at him and there seemed to be determination in her eyes.

“Where do you want me?”

Reaching down he took her hand and walked her into the bathroom. At the end of the tub he stopped and bumped her back a little to rest her delectable ass up against the lip of it.

“Here.”

She arched a brow at him then nodded. Licking her lips she asked, “Rules?”

He narrowed his eyes looking down at her, liking that she wasn’t running from the tension that was simmering between them like a pot of boiling water.

“You can’t touch me.”

Smirking a little she raised an eyebrow, “Thinking an awful lot of yourself there Langley.”

He took a step back from her took his cap off throwing it on the floor then reached down peeling his shirt off over his head, and he was pleased to see her mouth click shut.

Holy shit, was all Lena could think as her hands gripped the edge of the tub on either side of her. There was Mason, standing a foot away from her, in nothing but sweat and running shorts. His built chest moving slightly as he breathed in and out and his ripped abs twitching as he held still. Ok, so he’d been right to enforce the no touching rule, because if she’d had it her way she would’ve been all over him like white on rice, the man was mouthwatering. She looked up to meet his eyes and he had such a fierce look about him that she was almost scared. Until he smirked at her and turned to walk over to the shower. He stepped behind the clear glass partition and twisted the taps. As the water started to spray down she watched him come back around and walk over to her. He leaned in and cupped a hand around the back of her neck.