After what felt like the longest two minute elevator ride ever, it lurched to a stop and dinged. The doors slid open and she waited for him to move. Pushing off the wall he kept his eyes on her as he moved past. She didn’t look as though she were breathing either but he saw her move and follow him out. He unlocked the door and moved into the dark condo quietly, aware she was standing directly behind him. He dumped his keys on the counter and heard the click of the door and lock. He didn’t move and didn’t turn. This was the first time she’d been up here since that horrible night months ago and he suddenly found he couldn’t think of anything to say.


Lena was barely breathing. The air thrummed with tension. Mason had moved through the condo and was now standing in the living room in front of the couch. She wasn’t sure what to do from here but she knew talking was not going to be part of the plan, and she was determined that sex wasn’t going to be either.

It was clear he was waiting to see what she would do so she moved up to stand behind him and reached out to place a hand on his hip. His whole body tensed and she could actually see his spine straighten, but he held still. Not saying anything she moved in behind him and ran a hand around his waist until her palm was flat against his stomach. When he did nothing but stand there she did the same thing with the other hand, until she had her arms wrapped around his waist with both palms flat on his shirt just above his belt buckle. She pulled him back a little and moved in molding herself to his back. Her breasts brushed against his shirt with every breath she took and she gently placed her cheek between his shoulders. Closing her eyes she listened to his breathing, in out in out. Her hands tightened and she felt him shudder. This was what she’d wanted to do that fateful night many months ago, hold him.

She felt him shift then sighed as his hands laced over her fingers that were resting on his belly. Swallowing hard she fought back the tears that were threatening to spill over and then she felt him pull her hands apart as he slowly turned and walked silently into his room. Left standing in the living room she looked out the huge window at the city lights below. Taking a deep breath she turned and made her way into the bedroom they’d once shared. He had his back to her and was removing his shirt. She watched in silence, with just the lights playing over his skin, as he slowly shrugged out of it. He turned to face her, and she noticed he’d unbuckled the belt and top button of his jeans, he looked mouth watering. His eyes didn’t hold the anger she had seen earlier, but they weren’t warm either, they seemed distant.

He moved around the bed and walked over to stand in front of her. Lena looked up at him when he stopped in front of her and held her breath as he reached out to touch her cheek. He stroked his fingers down it, like he had so many times before, but this time the touch seemed impersonal. He was holding back from her and it broke every part of her heart.

“Now what?” he asked softly.

She knew he expected her to get angry or scared and leave but he was in for a shock. She reached up and placed a hand over his heart. He looked down at it and then his eyes came back to her face, not missing the importance of where she had put her hand.

“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.”