I rolled off her, pulling her on top of my chest as we both caught our breath. I blinked lazily at the early morning light filtering in through the curtain. I wondered what time it was.
“Do you have to go into work today?” I asked, hoping that she didn’t have to go, but then feeling selfish about wanting her all to myself. “I don’t want to make you late.”
She didn’t seem to be in a hurry, though, yawning as she stretched her body on top of mine.
“Nah, it’s fine. It’s my day off today, so I don’t have to go anywhere.”
I relaxed into the bed, closing my eyes for a moment, one of my hands running up and down Laura’s back.
There was something I’d forgotten about. I still had to take care of the family matter, and I probably had to get it out of the way soon. I had Laura now, so I didn’t think I’d just leave town immediately.
“Breakfast?” I offered, opening my eyes and looking down at the woman lying drowsily on my chest. Shit, what had got into me? I would never feel emotional with a woman before; usually it was in and out as fast as my cock died down, but now I just wanted to stay. Not to fuck or do anything, but to have her company.
Her eyes opened into slits and she considered me silently, before rolling off me. I took that as silent agreement and got out of bed. I picked my clothes up from the floor and put them on, then left her with a peck on the forehead, going to the kitchen.
I picked out some of the stuff I’d brought over last night and used it to make something light. I hummed as I worked, and I heard over my cooking when Laura went to take a shower.
By the time she showed up to the kitchen, dressed in tights and a large jumper that fell to the tops of her thighs, I was setting two plates on the table.
“This looks good,” she said, taking the other seat once I sat down.
“Sorry, I think I used your last eggs. I’ll get more later.”
“It’s fine,” she said quickly, shaking her head.
I watched as she picked up her fork and popped some food in her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully, then smiled.
“Hey, this is good.”
“I told you I’m not just good looking, I´m pretty good in the kitchen too.”
I was being arrogant. Maybe there was still a part of me that was still real.
“I’m not used to vegetables in my eggs,” she said, and I could tell by the expression on her face that she was thinking that she wasn’t going to enjoy them. She was going to fucking love them. Don’t judge a book by its cover! That was my motto and as soon as she tried it, she’d regret her comment.
“I fried some vegetables and added a little bit of fruit, a tiny bit of salt and the egg on top. It’s a pretty easy recipe.”
“You seem to have a lot of those,” she said. “I’m wondering if you just borrowed them all from somewhere.”
“I’ve moved around a bit, so you could say I’ve been exposed to different tastes and cuisines. Basically, I try to remake what I liked. A lot of it is from home though,” I admitted and wondered whether to tell her about my travels and about studying in England. But then something stopped me from saying anything else. Maybe because a part of me knew that Laura and I hadn’t had the same experiences and I didn’t want her to think that I was showing off. So I kept quiet.
We ate silently, then I got up to clean the dishes before she could. Once I was done, I turned to lean against the counter, facing her.
“I think maybe we can talk now?” I asked.
That had her perking up, straightening her spine, her expression taking an uneasy cast.
I chuckled. “Why do you look like that? It’s only fair, isn’t it? I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while but you kept avoiding me.”
“What could we possibly have to talk about?” she asked, narrowing her eyes as her lips pursed.
I picked the chair across from her at the table and moved it, so it was closer to her, facing her directly. I sat down on it, leaning forward so our faces were close.
“I’m going to ask you a question, and I need you to answer me honestly, Laura. Do you or do you not like me? If you tell me right now that you don’t like me, whether you mean it or not, I will take you seriously and leave you alone after today.”
My heart was beating fast in my chest because I felt uneasy. I didn’t want her to say it. Especially if she didn’t mean it, because I would have to walk away. However, I knew we wouldn’t be getting anywhere if all I did was keep chasing her when she was insistent on running away from me. As much as it could be a fun sort of a challenge, I didn’t want to see her that way. I didn’t want my relationship with Laura to be like that.
I wanted a real relationship with her, another first for me because while I’d had flings, I’d never had a girlfriend before. But this was Laura, and I thought she could be the one, the woman I could commit to.
After a long moment, where I thought I wouldn’t be able to hold out my impatience, she reacted. She let out a heavy sigh as she leaned back in her chair, her head rolled to the side to meet my gaze.
“It´s not as simple as that,” she said, a little frown on her face. “I don’t think this is a good idea, but I don’t want to never see you again. When I was avoiding you before… I did it because I thought it was for the best, but I missed you too.”
I could imagine how difficult it was for her to admit that much, her hesitation was too long for it to have been an easy decision to make. But I was happy she’d admitted it to me and to herself.
“Can we just try and have a relationship without you thinking about all the reasons why we shouldn’t be together?” I asked. “That’s all I’m really asking for. I mean, I’ve never dated myself, but if we try…”
“You’ve never dated before?” she asked, incredulous.
I shook my head with a chuckle. “No, not like long-term dating anyway. Not even in high school. You could say I… have a problem with trusting people. Outside of family, I can't say I’ve ever really trusted anybody.”
“And you trust me?” she asked, eyebrow arched.
“I can't explain it, but I feel like I can so I do. You never have to try to avoid me or run away from me again. I know I tend to be insistent and it can get annoying, but I won’t ever disregard anything you say. If later you tell me you want to break up… well, I’ll try to change your mind probably, but I’ll respect it.”
It was probably more than I’d ever spoken honestly to any woman I’d ever been with. Laura didn’t reply, her expression complicated.
“Let me try,” I said quietly. “I know we’re different, but I want to show you I do know what life is about, even if I do seem like some spoiled rich brat at times.”
Her face warmed, and she stood abruptly from the chair, taking some steps away from me. She couldn’t meet my gaze but I held my breath as I waited for her reply.
“Alright,” she said, her voice even quieter than mine. I might have missed it if I wasn’t listening so intently. Before I could say anything, though, she turned around and rushed out of the kitchen, calling over her shoulder. “I need to go change!”
I couldn’t help but grin, watching her rush off. I wanted to know what was going through her head that made her retreat with a burning face, but she was cute, so I didn’t mind.
I had what I wanted now—a chance with Laura. All I had to do was not blow it, because she was exactly what I needed right now.
22
Mason
Laura hadn't come out of the bedroom when I received a text on my phone. I pulled it out of my pocket and unlocked the screen, frowning at the text that had come from my sister.
She wanted me to come home and it was something urgent.
“Again?”
The question escaped from my mouth. There was always something fucking urgent and it would have to ruin this moment. I wondered if I could be like Laura. Just go and work and get away from all this fucking drama. It was doing my head in. I didn’t know what was wrong this time, but I had some
idea. I went to the bedroom door and knocked lightly.
“Laura, something’s come up at home and I have to head back. Do you think you can come to the hotel, meet me in my room later? Maybe lunch?”
It was as if she was thinking about it. I was about to say something to her, about the fact she said that she’d at least try, when she blurted out, “Okay. Sounds nice.”
I smiled to myself, pulling away from the door.
“I’ll see you later,” I called out to her. “Hurry up and lock the front door behind me, all right?”
“Okay!”
I hesitated a bit, wanting her to lock it immediately, but stepped out anyway. I dialed my sister’s number as I made my way downstairs. She answered just as I stepped out of the building.
“Hey, Emily. What’s going—?”
“Don’t come home,” she said, cutting me off. “Just go to your room back at the hotel, okay? Not back to the mansion.”
I frowned, wanting more detail, but she hung up before I could ask for any. I just shrugged and went to my car where I’d parked it a few blocks from Laura’s place. I’d walked all the way to the supermarket and carried the stuff I bought for her, plus the food I cooked, all the way to her house, but there wasn’t anywhere near her building with a free parking space.
The trek wasn’t enough to tire me out. If anything, I nearly skipped the whole way there, but I had my pride and my image to uphold, so I behaved myself.
I made it to my car and jumped in, putting one of my CDs in the player. The drive wasn’t that long, but I enjoyed the music for as long as it lasted. I was whistling along as I parked the car at the hotel and jumped out to head inside. I went all the way up to my room, let myself in, and went to take a shower.
Was Emily going to come to my room? I frowned, wondering if she even knew my room number, before shrugging the thought off. It wasn’t like she couldn’t find out.
Because I hadn’t showered yet or brushed my teeth, I stripped down and jumped into the shower. I was done and out, toweling my hair dry in ten minutes. I didn’t know how long Emily would take to arrive, so I hurriedly put on some clothes.
By the time I was back in the front room, there was a knock on the door.
“Just in time,” I muttered to myself, stepping toward the door to unlock it.
Only the person I expected, was not the person standing there.
“Dad?” I said, incredulous.
“Hello there, Mason,” he said casually as if nothing was wrong, but when it came to him everything was wrong.
He was dressed in a suit as per usual, with his hands casually tucked into his pockets. He walked past me into my room, and all I could do was stand and gape at him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked.
“Watch your language,” he retorted in warning. “I am your father, you know. And I also happen to own this hotel, so I have every right to be here.”
That was enough to break me out of my stupor, and I glared at him. That high handedness right there, I technically had it too, but I’d learned it from him, and it was his one trait that I hated.
“I thought you had a heart attack or were on your death bed?” I said sarcastically. “It hasn’t been nearly long enough for you to make a miraculous recovery, Dad. So what are you doing here? The truth, please. If you’re worried I’m going to skip town, you don’t have to... yet.”
I added that ‘yet’ just to annoy him. For the moment, I couldn’t imagine leaving unless Laura agreed to go with me, and I somehow doubted that she would. Dad turned to look at me with this curious expression on his face but he didn’t ask.
“I came to talk about… well, how you’re currently living your life.”
I sighed and walked over to the couch. It didn’t surprise me he had something to criticize. I didn’t exactly live the way he’d taught me to. And of course, perfect, slightly controlling Dad that he was, he’d know. There probably hadn't been a scandal about me already because he’d taken care of that end. Rumors inside the hotels where I stayed at never spread out of the hotel because he threw his weight around and made people listen to what he had to say.
Not that I was grateful to him. He’d always been better at doing whatever he wanted and not listening to me at all. My little rebellious phase meant nothing to him, and I’d known, but it doubled as my distraction, so I’d carried on. It would probably come to a stop now.
“Please, Dad,” I said, waving a hand to the other chair. “Have a seat and tell me all about your troubles, why don’t you.”
Again, I was being sarcastic, and I hated the way that he brought that out of me. A few minutes ago, I was on cloud nine. Now I felt as if I was a few steps from torture. I was too old to be feeling like that little boy he could bully all the time. Maybe I should listen to what he has to say, and then tell him exactly what’s on my mind.
He chuckled as I moved to sit down, leaning back with his legs crossed and his fingers folded together on his knee.
“I’m here to give you an ultimatum,” he said bluntly.
I rolled my eyes, not even surprised. “I guessed it would be something like that. I mean, you couldn’t just be a normal dad and ask why I’m going through my angsty teenage years late, and then talk things out with me.”
“You are right that isn’t my style,” he said. “So I’m not going to bother doing any of that. You’re an adult now, Mason, not a teenager. And you need to know that all of your actions have consequences.”
“Consequences for you, you mean. I don’t have a care in the world.” I waved a hand around blithely, an indication that I wasn’t taking him seriously.
“No, consequences in general,” he retorted. “I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful for all the work you’ve done for me up until now, but your behavior is… horrible. And I’m tired of keeping it from your mother. So… you either stop it with the partying, or you’re out.”
I stared at him, surprised he’d kept it all from Mom. If he’d just told her, she’d have scolded me until I behaved, because I listened to what she wanted. I’d always wondered why she never mentioned it when I went back home.
“Am I banned from all parties in general?” I asked, just to be a smartass. “Like, if a friend asked me to a party, I have to refuse? Even if it’s a birthday or a holiday event that could be publicized? Parties the company will be throwing at some of the hotels, where you, Mom, and all of us usually are in attendance?”
“Don’t be difficult, Mason. I’ve let you have your fun over the years, but haven’t you had enough now? All I want is for you to take life seriously from now on because I won’t always be there to cover your ass for you.”
My eyebrow jumped up when he cursed. It wasn’t something he usually did, and he must have been wound up to curse at all.
“Don’t strain yourself, Dad. It’s not a problem, I’ll stop.”
It wasn’t like I particularly cared for the partying, or that any of the people I invited were friends of mine. They were just acquaintances I’d met in my travels. I’d have no trouble cutting ties with most of them.
Besides, even if he hadn't come to see me, I had a feeling I would have stopped anyway, now that I had Laura to think about. Thinking about her led to thinking about what Dad’s reaction would be when I told him I was dating someone, and it might be serious.
He’d been married before, to Trent’s mother. I believed he loved Mom though, because while he was a hardass with the rest of us, the two people in the world that could still make him go soft were Emily and Mom.
There was a problem though. Not only was Laura a maid at his hotel, but she was also several years older than me, and somehow I didn’t think that would go over well with Dad. It had been him who’d drilled into all of us from the time we were young that we were Thompsons, and we had a duty to uphold the family name and image. That we had to act with dignity, in public or not. My taunts to Emily not to make friends with the help—I got all that from his teachings. And her
e I was, going above and beyond.
Dad’s sure to be fucking proud, I thought with sarcasm.
“I promise to cut it with the wild parties,” I said, being sincere. “I’ll only go to the parties that you approve of. Now, if that’s all you had to say to me, you can let yourself out. I’ll get in line so don’t worry about it anymore.”
Matthew Thompson didn’t take orders from anyone, but he had nothing more to say to me, so he just got up and left. A part of me was disappointed he didn’t even try to talk to me, though it was completely expected. I was a little worried about when he’d find out about Laura, but not enough to stop him.
When the time came, I’d just have to make Dad listen to me. For the moment, I couldn’t be bothered. I was waiting for Laura to come to me, and I couldn’t let her see me all gloomy or she’d get worried unnecessarily.
Hopefully, Dad’s conviction to have a woman he loved would be extended to his children and their choices. He could butt in with everything else, but I hoped that in this one matter, he’d fucking trust me.
For the moment, Laura won’t try running from me again. I had to convince her we could have something real together, so in case I had to go up against my dad, she wouldn’t leave me.
I didn’t think she would, but… you never knew.
23
Laura
I waited until Mason left and then hesitated as I peeked my head out the door, to make sure he’d left. I took a deep breath knowing he’d gone and went to lock the door. Then I turned around and dramatically fell back against it.
What exactly was I going to do about Mason Thompson? I’d had such conviction when I told myself that, no matter how disappointed or how tempted I was, I wouldn’t waver. And yet, I’d gone way beyond that. We were dating now! I’d given him permission to be my boyfriend, so why was I so scared? Why did I have butterflies in my stomach at the thought of it?
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