Page 27 of The Associate
That vision will be ingrained in my brain for a very long time. The way his muscles moved as he undid each button, the ripple in his forearm as his fingers moved the fabric. I can just imagine how those muscles would move as his hands explore my body.
Climbing back into bed, I sigh as I pull the covers over me once again. My eyes close and images of Mason cross my vision. I can still hear his voice as if he stands right next to me: “Go to sleep, Viv, I will see you later today.” And with the memory of those words, my body relaxes and I drift off to sleep.
* * *
I wake a few hours later to the sound of someone knocking on my bedroom door.
“Viv, are you awake?” The sound of Mason’s voice coming through the door shocks me.
“Uhh, yeah, I am. Just give me a moment.” I throw the covers back and jump out of bed, quickly making my way to my wardrobe and pulling on a pair of shorts.
Walking over to the door, I open it up slightly. “Good morning.” He smiles at me. “Can I come in?”
“Morning?” I say, slightly confused, then look at my clock. Eleven-thirty. “Huh, I guess it still is morning.”
Opening the door a little more, I let him into my room before quickly shutting it behind me. “So why are you here this early? With the hour you came in last night I assumed you would still be asleep,” I ask, only to be greeted with that fucking smirk of his.
“Don’t need much sleep, Princess. A few hours and I am ready to go again.”
“Listen,” he starts, when I make no move to continue the conversation, because I honestly can’t think of anything to say. In my mind, he is just sitting on my bed, naked, waiting for me.
“Viv? Did you hear me?”
“Uhhh, sorry, my mind wandered off.” My cheeks redden. “What did you say?”
“I said I would like to take you out for coffee; now, if you want to. I want to talk to you about things.” He reaches forward, lacing our fingers together. “Things that I don’t want anyone else here knowing about.”
I nod, the feel of his touch like electricity down to my core. “Ok, just give me ten minutes to freshen up and then we can go.”
“Alright.” He smirks. “I’ll be waiting.”
He stands up and walks over to the door. As he opens it, he turns and looks at me, winks, and then retreats out into the hallway, closing the door behind him.
I don’t think I have showered faster in my life.
After I dry myself off, I throw on a pair of ripped skinny jeans, a purple tank top and my Converse. “Bye Mia, sweetie. I’ll take you out into the yard when I get home.” I pat her. “I’m sorry I haven’t spent much time with you lately.”
She puts her head down on her paws and closes her eyes as I walk out into the hall. Turning to walk towards the stairs, I hear the clicking of shoes approaching. He always wears perfectly tailored suit pants and dress shirts. I don’t think I have ever seen him in anything else.
“Ready to go?” he asks.
“Yep.” I nod.
He flicks his head to the side, following close behind me as we walk over to the other side of the front courtyard. We walk through the rows of rose bushes, the gardeners walking around, tending to the lawn and flowers. They all nod in Mason’s direction as we walk by.
“You’re very well known around here, aren’t you?” I drop back so that I walk at his side.
“Growing up here and becoming your father’s second-in-charge has earned me respect.” He places his hand on my lower back, steering me towards his car.
“Are we leaving the grounds?” I ask, a little confused. I am certain my father didn’t want me to leave the mansion at all.
“I know what you’re thinking, but it will be ok.” He stops and looks over at me, holding my hands in his. “I am very well known amongst all our rivals, no one will ever think about messing with me. I don’t get called Viper for nothing.”
He places his hand around my back again and leads me down to a black Mustang. The car is gorgeous. “Yours?”
“Yep, now get in.” He opens the door and holds it for me. “We’re going for a drive.”
I give him a little curtsy and climb into the passenger seat. I watch as he makes his way around the front of the car, his hand lightly sliding across the paintwork before opening the door, dropping into the seat, and turning the car on.
