by Ivy Smoak
"Tell me why, Bee."
I sighed. He clearly didn't mind cutting people off. "My boss hits on me sometimes. He's inappropriate. I thought maybe he'd stop if he thought we were together. I don't know why I did it. He flirted with me when I was wearing an engagement ring too. It's not going to stop him."
"You shouldn't let your boss walk all over you."
"You don't know me."
"I'd like to."
I swallowed hard.
"Why are you working for a guy like that anyway?"
"I can take care of him. I just thought him seeing us together might help for a few days."
"That doesn't answer my question. I'm sure there are other secretary jobs around."
"Because I don't want to be a secretary. I'm trying to get my first job in advertising. This is my way in."
"You want to be in advertising?"
"Yes. And don't even say it. I know you think I'm soft. And you probably think I'm not cut out for advertising because I don't have thick skin. I wasn't born in the city and therefore don't belong here. Yadda yadda. That's not going to stop me. You'll see."
He just stared at me for a second. "All I was going to say is that women who work at ad agencies don't usually start out as secretaries for dicks."
"Well I can't just get any job I want because my father has connections all over the city. I have to work my way up."
"You don't know me either, Bee."
Chapter 27
Mason
She thought she had me all figured out. But she didn't know me. And she didn't really want to. Because I wasn't a good guy. I certainly wasn't any different than her ex. All I wanted was for my cock to be deep inside of her. Maybe then I could stop thinking about her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to suggest..."
"Yes you did," I said.
Her face flushed slightly. I liked embarrassing her. When her cheeks were red it reminded me of how she looked after she came. I shifted in my seat. Screw chivalry. I was taking her back to my apartment tonight.
"Then tell me about yourself," she said. "Tell me what I'm missing."
"What do you want to know?"
"Where did you go to school?"
"Harvard."
"Harvard?"
"That's what I said, baby."
She frowned. "So if you didn't work as a secretary at Blue Media, how'd you get a job there?"
"I have my own connections. I don't need my father's. And I'm very good at networking. I can be incredibly persuasive."
"I know."
I smiled at her. She barely even seemed upset that I had introduced her fiancé to a bunch of sluts. I bet she was thinking about my cock right now. She wanted this just as badly as me. If I had to answer a few stupid questions first, then fine. Game on.
Our waiter came over and poured us each a glass of wine.
"To an adventurous evening," I said and lifted up my glass.
She raised her glass. "I guess we'll see." She clinked it against mine.
That's a yes.
"So how did you pay for Harvard? That's a very prestigious school."
"You mean expensive?"
"Well, yes." She put her elbows on the table and leaned forward slightly.
"My parents paid for it."
"You're very fortunate. I went to the University of New Castle, with instate tuition, and I'm still paying off student loans. I probably will be forever."
"The University of New Castle? One of my friends used to work there."
"Really? What did he do?"
"He was a professor. He didn't teach there for very long though."
"What was his name? Maybe I had him."
"James Hunter."
"Oh, Professor Hunter?"
"So you did have him?"
"No, I never had a class with him. I definitely heard about him, though. Didn't he get fired for sleeping with a student?"
"Yeah, her name's Penny. And James didn't technically get fired, he resigned. They're actually living in the city now."
"That's really sweet."
"I guess."
"That's a pretty crazy coincidence. Two sexy, rich, bachelors dating young women from the University of New Castle? Not that we're dating. Obviously." Her face blushed.
"Mhm." I took a sip of wine. She really doesn't know anything about me. She thought I had everything in my life handed to me. In a lot of ways I did. But not anymore. I didn't want to talk about my family. I didn't want to talk at all. I just wanted to fuck her. I leaned forward slightly. Maybe what she wanted to hear was that we were dating? Security would get her to come back to my place. "I mean, technically this is our second date in less than a week. So we're kind of dating."
"We're not dating, Mason." Her face was turning even more red. "I said I'd split the bill with you."
"That's not happening. I really like you, Bee."
She locked eyes with me. "You don't like me. You don't even know me."
"I know quite a bit about you, really. First of all, you're exquisite. And you're kinky as hell but you're embarrassed about it. You're a secretary for a dick. This is your favorite restaurant. I assume you're indifferent to roses since you didn't thank me. You like being bossed around because you're indecisive."
"I'm not..."
"You're definitely indecisive, because you seemed to have written me off, yet here we are. You grew up in Delaware and followed your asshole of an ex here even though you never pictured yourself in New York. And you're wondering why you're still here if the only reason you came was to be with him. You're torn about what to do because you're stuck in a job you hate in a city you don't fit in."
Chapter 28
Bee
Part of me wanted to tell him to go screw himself. But a bigger part of me knew that what he said was true. Was I really that transparent? I had made a life for myself here. I had an apartment that I called home and new friends that I considered family. But I was struggling. Just the other day I had said I was ready to move back to Wilmington. I thought I could leave a small town and never look back. I was so wrong. And I was indecisive. Which is why I felt stuck. I just wanted to be back in my apartment, alone. The Bachelor was on tonight, and that's all I really needed.
"Dinner is served," Franco said as he walked up to our table with two plates in his hands. Franco smiled at me as he set down our entrees.
The only people that were actually nice in New York were the ones that were trying to get a good tip.
"Is there anything else I can get for you?" Franco asked.
"I think we have everything we need," Mason said. "Thank you, Franco."
I looked down at my dinner. I wasn't even hungry anymore. And I couldn't afford to be eating at a place like this. I lifted up my purse and pulled out a few twenty dollar bills. I wasn't sure that was enough to cover my half, but it's all I had. I set it on the table.
"I said I'd pay," Mason said.
"I'm actually not feeling very well. I'm just going to go."
"I didn't mean..."
"You did mean it. And you were right about me. I don't belong here. We're wasting each other's time, Mason. I'm not the type of girl you're looking for." He had me all figured out. And I was embarrassed of who I had become. I was confident while I was in college. I thought I could do anything I set my mind to. Being an adult sucked. I was completely lost. And I needed to work on finding myself again. Alone. Not with Mason Caldwell.
"You're exactly the type of girl I'm looking for." His words made me cold.
"I don't do one night stands."
Mason frowned. "I never said that's what this is."
"Isn't it, though? You said sex was your hobby. It's not a hobby for me. It's more than that. I don't know, I'm just..." I let my voice trail off. "I'm sorry about the other night. I don't know what I was thinking. Actually, I wasn't thinking."
He just stared at me. His silence was unnerving.
"I gave you the wrong impression of me."
"When I made you c
ome in the bathroom? Or when you sucked my dick in the alley?"
"Both." I still couldn't believe I had done those things. "I'm just going to go, okay?" I stood up.
"Don't."
"What's the point, Mason?"
"You didn't let me finish before, Bee. I want to give you a reason to stay in New York. I want to be the reason why you stay."
The way he was looking at me made me tremble. He was starting to get a 5 o'clock shadow along his chiseled jaw line. His brown eyes seemed to pierce into my soul. He may not be as bad as Patrick made him out to be, but he still wasn't a good guy. Why was he saying these things to me? Just so he could fuck me? He couldn't possibly be serious.
"I can't stop thinking about you," he said. "Please just sit back down. We can do this your way, okay? Let's just take things slow."
Chapter 29
Mason
What the fuck did I just say? I downed the rest of my wine.
"You want to take things slow?"
No, I want to fuck you on this table. "Yes."
She puckered her lips slightly as she thought about what I had just said. I wanted to stand up and kiss her. I needed to taste her lips again. I was completely out of my element here. Why the hell had I just agreed to take things slow? I never took things slow. I always took what I wanted. And I wanted her badly. It was just in my head. I wanted what I couldn't have. It was stupid and immature, but it was there. A primal want. She was teasing me. I wasn't sure if she was doing it on purpose. But when I finally did have her, I was going to punish her for it. I couldn't wait to spank her bare ass again. I could feel myself starting to get an erection. Fuck.
She sat back down across from me. "I'm not sure I believe you."
"You sat back down."
"That's because I'm indecisive and soft."
"Trust me, baby, I'm hard enough for both of us."
She laughed and then stared at me with her big brown eyes.
Her laugh was enticing. I tried to shake away the thought. Taking it slow was just a means to an end. The goal was still getting her to scream my name with my cock deep inside of her. It was just going to take more time than I originally thought. And I wasn't one to back away from a challenge. Especially when a girl like Bee was the prize.
"I'm bad at reading people," she finally said.
"I can tell. You dated Patrick."
She frowned. "I'm talking about you. The first time we met, you stole a taxi from me. But I gave you the benefit of the doubt. And then we did all those...things." She blushed. "You even admitted to knowing all about those disgusting underground clubs. But then the flowers, and saying you want to take things slow?" She stared into my eyes. "I don't understand. What do you want from me?"
"I just want to get to know you."
"Okay."
"So, Bee, what is it exactly that you wanted to talk about?"
"This really is amazing," she said after taking a bite of her food. She was ignoring me on purpose. She had to be intentionally driving me crazy.
I tried the gnocchi. It was okay. "It is really good." I had never been to this restaurant before. I was just using what Vargas had found out to win her over. She wanted to ask me something, but she looked embarrassed. "I can tell you have a question for me. So spill it."
"How many women have you slept with?"
"I don't know," I shrugged. She did not want the answer to that question.
"Well, I mean, you must have a guess."
Oh God. "Dozens?" I tried to say vaguely.
"Dozens with an s? So like 24?"
"I'd say several dozen."
She scrunched up her face. "That's...dirty."
"Well you're the one with the dirty mind."
"Me?" She laughed. "Yeah right."
"You're asking about my number. So you must be picturing yourself beneath me, or maybe you prefer to be on top. Are you like a sex addict or something?"
She laughed. "You think I'm a sex addict?"
"You accosted me in a bathroom and an alley."
"Okay, hold on. It was the woman's bathroom, which you shouldn't have been in. And you literally carried me into that alley."
"Minor details." I winked at her.
She responded by rolling her eyes.
"You know, I'm clean, if that's what you're worried about." I gestured toward my lap.
"No, I'm not." She bit her lip. "But that is good to know."
"And what about you, Miss Sex Addict?"
"I'm not going to respond to that name. I'm not a sex addict."
"Right, you're actually a serial monogamist. Of course you're clean."
She shrugged. "At least I'm not a whore."
"Did you just call me a whore?"
"It depends. How many of the dozens of women that you slept with were your girlfriends?"
"I don't really do the whole girlfriend thing."
"I knew it. Just one night stands."
"I didn't say that either. I date. But I'm not one to settle down."
"Have you ever had a girlfriend?"
"Not in a long time."
"You're being impossible."
"Impossible?" I smiled at her.
"Your answers are so vague. How on earth am I supposed to get to know you?"
"You're the one that's being impossible."
"I'm not."
"And stubborn."
"I..." she scowled. "I'll answer whatever questions you have."
"Why are you really still here?"
"Because I want to prove everyone wrong. I do have what it takes to be in advertising. I have great ideas, I just need to make people listen. I refuse to move back to Delaware just because my fiancé cheated on me. It would just be a copout. I need to be here. I need to do this for myself."
"That's very inspirational, Bee. But I don't mean in New York. Everyone comes here to prove that they have what it takes. I mean why are you with me, right now? Why didn't you walk out a minute ago?"
"I'm attracted to you."
"That's good to know." I leaned forward slightly. "I think you're sexy as hell, Bee."
"I've never really felt so..." her voice trailed off. "I like the way you look at me. Like I'm the only girl in the room. No one's ever made me feel desired like that before. I know we don't have that much in common. But I can't stop thinking about you either."
I have you right where I want you. "It's called sexual chemistry, baby."
She shifted in her seat as she crossed her legs together. It was obvious that she wanted me. But tonight I was going to play the game like she wanted me to. I wasn't going to touch her at all. Not even a kiss goodnight. She'd be begging me in no time at all. I'd have to add the taking it slow route to my playbook.
"I just have to ask. That thing you do for your father's employees. What is it exactly?"
"It's nothing important. I'm trying to start my own ad agency. So I need the extra money. It's not a big deal."
"That's ambitious."
"Does that surprise you?"
"Not at all, actually. And I get it. I could use some extra money myself."
"Would you rather this be an audition?"
She gulped. "An audition for what?"
"Well, I could always use someone like you on my roster."
"What?"
"Bee...I'm joking." Men would pay a lot for her. But I wanted her for myself.
"Oh," she laughed.
"Now I have to ask. What exactly did Patrick tell you?"
"He made it seem like you were kind of...I don't know, like a pimp."
Fitting. "Do I look like a pimp to you? Am I wearing a purple fur coat with a cane?"
"No."
"There you go."
Chapter 30
Bee
Tonight had been much more like a first date than our actual first date. I couldn't help but be a little suspicious of his complete 180. Every now and then he would say something entirely inappropriate. And I couldn't deny that I liked when he did. I liked both sides of him. I al
most wished he was being a little more like he had been on our first date. I crossed my legs under the table.
"I should probably get you home," he said.
"Yes, you probably should." There was no invitation back to his place. Or any suggestion that he wanted tonight to continue. I bit my lip. I wanted him more now than I had the first night, now that he wasn't offering. I didn't want his hands on me to become a distant memory.
Our check had come and he had paid for the whole meal despite my protests. And now he was just staring at me. Did he want me to make the first move? I was so out of my element. I had only ever really dated Patrick. My experience was close to zero. I swallowed hard. "Unless you want to do something else?"
A small smile crossed his handsome face. "Not tonight. I have an early morning tomorrow."
"Right, me too."
"Okay then." He pulled on his wool jacket and stood up.
I didn't want him to put on more clothes, I wanted him to be taking them off. I stood up and grabbed my jacket off the back of my chair.
"Allow me." He grabbed my jacket and held it up for me.
He was a gentleman. Despite what he had said on our first date, he seemed to be the most respectful man I had ever met. And un-respectful at the same time. I slid my arms into my jacket as he pulled it up onto my shoulders. His fingers brushed across the back of my neck as he pushed my hair over the collar of my jacket. My skin tingled where he had touched me. It was the first time he had touched me since we had started our dinner. I quickly turned around and looked up at him. His face was just a few inches from mine. I saw his Adam's apple rise and fall as he stared down at me.
But he quickly turned away from me, placing his hand on the small of my back for a second, directing me toward the exit.
He said we could do things my way. But I wasn't sure taking things slowly was my way. I had fallen for Patrick so quickly. And Mason Caldwell was more captivating than Patrick. I was in way over my head. Maybe Mason knew that. Maybe that was why he had said we could take things slowly. Because he was respectful. No. He's not respectful. I had never been so confused in my life.
He opened up the door for me and I walked out into the cold night. It was well past 8 o'clock and now that The Bachelor was over, I really had nothing to do back at my apartment. I wanted him to come with me. Maybe he would make it feel warm and full of life again.