Page 44 of The Spare

Shit, I don't know how I'm going to sit down without flashing everyone.

I hand him my clutch, and he raises his eyebrow at me. He let's out a deep chuckle then sucks in a deep breath, clearing his throat and then stepping into me, closing the door on us and shielding me from the sidewalk.

"Just sit down, Mel.No need to be shy."

I press my legs together tightly, grab the hem of my dress and then sit, picking up my legs and settling into the car. Even an inch higher, the lace of my thong would be showing through the sheerness of the stockings. He leans in, placing my clutch on my lap.

"Thank you," I say, my eyes going wide as his fingers trail down my leg. My eyes slide to his as he squats down, making his pants stretch deliciously across his thick thighs.

"I have a present for you. That's why I didn't want you to be late, I couldn't wait a minute longer to give it to you," he says, reaching forward to the glove compartment.

My belly tightens as his warmth leaves me; my legs shift restlessly, missing the warmth of his fingers. He opens the glove compartment and pulls out a little box.

My eyes go wide, recognizing it instantly.

"Oh my gosh!" I gasp, not able to help myself as a huge smile spreads across my face. "It's the perfume I wanted! How'd you know?"

"Isobel."

He spends a second opening the box. When he gets out the bottle, he grasps my wrist and turns it palm up and spritzes a spray on my wrists, then my neck. Just when I think he's done, he grabs my calf and raises my leg slightly, spritzing a bit on the bend of my knee.

"Why on the back of my knee? That's such a waste," I ask, raising an eyebrow at him. "No one's going to be smelling me down there, Mason."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, sweetheart," he says.

I blink, staying quiet as he replaces the bottle in the box and puts it back in the glove compartment. "Wait, I want to put it in my clutch," I say, reaching forward to try and grab it before he closes the glove compartment, but to my surprise he snatches my wrist up rather roughly, wrapping his fingers all the way around."Hey!"I complain. "Mason,what are you doing?" I turn my eyes to his, seeing he's standing up out of his hunkered position and looking down at me.

Something flashes in his eyes as they narrow slightly at me. I narrow mine back.

"It's only for you to wear when you're with me," he says.

It's a completely jealous, if notpossessive,move that burns me up from the inside out.

My thighs clench even harder as the flesh between my legs becomes heavy and hot with need. His eyes burn into mine, as do his words. Mason and I have been dancing this rather precarious, dangerous tango that only he and I seem to know the steps to.

Well,heonly knows the steps. I have to follow his lead. Problem is, I'm tired of waiting. He hasn't made a move yet, and I'm beginning to be frustrated beyond belief. Thinking maybe I'm only imagining he wants me, and I just spent three years pining for a man who doesn't want me back.

Feelings of inadequacy arises from deep down inside, stifling the desire I feel towards him.

Mason shuts the passenger door and then walks lazily around to the driver’s side, sliding in. I watch as he adjusts his long legs beneath the steering wheel, and as he works to make himself comfortable, his suit jacket rides up, revealing his cufflinks.

Every time I see him, he's got the same ones on.

His spicy cologne fills the air and mixes with the muted floral and orange of my new perfume, creating it's own distinct scent that is, quite simply, addicting. It's like it was planned to be perfect together. He stays quiet as he buckles his seatbelt and then puts on his blinker, looking in the rearview mirror to check that security is watching.

He hits the gas, making the quiet engine roar before he smoothly pulls out onto the street and guns it. My fingers twitch in my lap as I stare out the window.

Maybe I'm nothing but his plaything.

A convenient toy to amuse him while he waits for the real person he wants. Maybe I've spent three years imagining this whole scenario between us. That he's nothing more than my sister's brother-in-law, and that's all he'll ever be.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Mason asks, looking over at me while he guides us to the highway. "How's school going??"

"Great," I say lightly, "I'm apartment hunting now."

"I don't know why you're apartment hunting," he says wryly.

I turn my head sharply, raising an eyebrow. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Izzy and Henny-"