“Now we sleep.”

“Just sleep huh?”

Stepping back from her he reached down and unzipped the jeans and pushed them off stepping out of them, revealing he’d gone commando for the night. She sucked in a deep breath and nodded. Stepping forward with all the resolve she could muster she managed to keep her eyes off his amazing body and glued to his face.

“No.” she paused and watched a smirk, devoid of humor, cross his face, “Not just sleep. We are going to sleep and I’m going to hold you.”

He stepped back from her shaking his head. “No offense Lena, but if you’re getting in my bed I don’t want you to hold me. I want you to fuck me.”

She winced and moved forward following him knowing he was starting to panic.

“Well that is kind of offensive Langley.” she reached up and pulled the bow at the top of her corset and watched his eyes go straight to it. He’d taken another step away from her and she tried not to grin at his retreat. “I’m offering comfort, not a fuck.”

He stopped for a moment watching her finally finish with the ties that held the corest together and then pulling it apart to fling it on the floor. She stood in front of him in her fuck me boots and her tiny mini skirt, and nothing else.

“So what? Now you think it’s fun to tease me? What the hell Lena? You never use to be this cruel.”

She reached up and took her ponytail out and shook her hair down over her shoulders. The hair came down to cover her breasts and she watched him as his eyes roved all over her, taking in every inch of her. While he did that she finally let her own eyes drop and she was thrilled to see that even if he was angry at her and even if he did blame her for everything wrong in his life, his body sure as hell remembered and like her. He had a rock hard erection, and even though she was dying to go to him, it was going to go unsatisfied tonight.

Finally he moved his eyes back to hers and he had that now familiar sneer on his mouth.

“This must be great for you right? Finally proved I still want you.” he said gesturing to his hard on. She shook her head and reached down unzipping the skirt and sliding it off. She stepped forward over it and toward him and he backed right up and hit the bed and fell onto it on his ass. Lena smiled down at him and put a boot delicately between his legs where he was throbbing and she looked down into his eyes and whispered.

“I’m proving how good we were together.” she stopped and unzipped the boot then pulled it off and changed feet while he sat silently spread eagled with her other booted foot now between his vulnerable legs. She leaned down to unzip the second one and looked right into his lust filled eyes.

“I’m proving how good we could be together.” she unzipped it and then yanked it off. Then she stood tall, as he sat staring at her in silence, and walked around to the side of the bed she use to sleep in and as calmly as she could manage she pulled the cover back and crawled into his bed wearing only a small black thong. She watched his back rise and fall with each breath and she counted to four before he turned to face her and he asked quietly. “Are you insane?”

She smiled in the dark and answered softly. “No why?”

She watched him in the twinkle of the lights as he stood and moved to pull the covers back. Staring down at her he asked, “You really think I’m not going to be in you in five seconds flat if I climb into this bed with you?”

Blinking up at him feeling her heart thump and her legs clench she spoke softly, “You could do that, we both know it.” she paused and then continued, “But Mason, I don’t want you in me again until you can touch me without regret.”

Swallowing deeply she reached out with a hand, “Let me hold you tonight. Even if you don’t think you need it. I do.”

After her confession she watched him sigh then slowly climb into the bed. He pulled the cover up over him and rolled onto his side away from her. She scooted over and pressed her naked breasts to his back and wrapped a hand around his waist, careful not to brush his erection. Her knees came up to bend into the crook of his and she nestled in close pressing her lips to his shoulder. She lay there listening to his breathing get slower, steadier. She felt his shoulders relax and his body calm as he drifted into sleep.

“You just keep trying to keep your distance Langley.” she stopped, felt him take a deep breath and then said softly, “And I’ll keep showing you I love you, until you’re ready to listen.”


Predictably Mason woke with a hangover. The sun was once again shining through his window and hitting him right in the eye. Grumbling to himself, he rolled over vowing to get some kind of curtain to hang over the wide windows. He froze when he noticed the pillow beside him was indented but empty. Suddenly the night before came back to him with startling clarity. He sat up quickly, wincing as his head protested against the sudden movement. His eyes narrowed against the bright light and he looked around his bedroom franticly. Nothing, there was absolutely no sign she’d ever been there. Had he imagined the whole thing? He moved to the edge of the bed where she’d dropped her top and skirt and looked for visual evidence that he wasn’t going crazy. Nothing. Sitting up and resting his back against the headboard he ran a hand over his face and blew out a deep breath. Shit, maybe he should stop drinking if he was going to come up with life like fantasies in his head. It had seemed so real though, and when he looked down at the pillow beside him there was an impression that looked as though someone had slept there, but the house was silent. There wasn’t a single sound and he was sitting dead still straining to hear everything.

Shaking his head he reached down and grabbed a pair of shorts he must’ve thrown to the floor at some point. He pulled them on and stood scratching his stomach and running a hand up through his hair. He moved over to the window and watched as a woman crossed the street in running pants and a shirt and started a jog into the park. How long had it been since he’d gone for a run? Actually he couldn’t even remember the last time. Sighing he turned and walked over to the closet looking for his running shoes. Grabbing them he made his way through to the bathroom and turned the tap on splashing his face with cold water. Sure, his head was hurting but maybe a run would clear it. He needed to do something to clear his mind after last night. Bending down he put his shoes on and went out to grab a shirt. Shrugging into it he made his way around the partition and into his living room.

Walking into the kitchen he stopped cold and blinked at what was on his counter. He knew he hadn’t left it there. Moving closer he looked down at the bench and sitting right in the center of it was the ripest peach he’d ever seen. Picking it up he noticed it was sitting on a small note that read, Look after yourself Langley, eat some fruit. Doctors orders. He couldn’t help the grin that slid onto his face when he realized last night hadn’t been a fantasy, but in fact reality.


It was 3pm and Lena had just sat down at her desk when she noticed her phone’s message light was blinking. She blew out a breath and felt her hair flop back over an ear. She hadn’t planned to sneak out of Mason’s place this morning like some kind of thief in the night, or in this case the morning, but he’d been sleeping so peacefully she didn’t have the heart to wake him. When she’d left she had made it down the street and it was right as she was passing by the corner store she spotted the fruit. Automatically she’d snatched it up hoping he was still sleeping and begged the doorman to let her in, lying that she’d left her phone and didn’t want to wake him. In the end the plan had been genius. Picking up the phone she went through numerous messages and froze when she heard his voice come over the line.

“Lena? Thanks, you’re a real peach.”

That was it? Nothing else? No, hey about last night thanks for staying with me. I agree with everything you said. Just, you’re a friggin peach? Glaring at the phone she debated the benefits of picking it up and hurling it across the room. Clenching her jaw she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Okay so she hadn’t expected him to just wake up this morning and think, oh I’m an idiot and want her back, and then call her. Sighing she sat back and admitted, she had hoped for it though. Glancing at the clock she stood and made her way down the hall and took the elevator to Shelly’s floor. When she got to her friend’s office she tapped on the door and was shocked to see a dark haired man sitting in the chair opposite Shelly.

“Oh I’m sorry for interrupting.”

Shelly’s eyes came up to hers and they looked mad. “You’re not. Paul here was just about to leave.”

Presumably, Paul the lawyer, stood and nodded once more at Shelly then turned and brushed past Lena, without so much of a hello. Lena bit her bottom lip then moved inside closing the door behind her. “What was that all about?”

Shelly let out a deep breath. ‘That was me kicking Paul to the curb.”

Wincing at her friend she took the vacated seat. “Sorry?”

“Nah, don’t be. It wasn’t working out anyway.”

“That’s because you’re too picky.”

“Oh and you’re not?” She asked raising an eyebrow. “The first guy you date in nine years was a local celebrity, not to mention you haven’t dated since.”

Waving her hand at her friend Lena said softly, “Yeah, yeah whatever. Want to talk about it?”

“Nope. But you want to talk about something, so spill.” Then she asked as though she realized she’d forgotten. “How did last night end?”