Chapter 9: Hotel

Mason parked the car in the hotel lot and stepped out, tugging his jacket into place. The marble reception area sparkled, and he could see the young woman at the front desk watching them as they strode up. He smiled warmly, but his voice was all business, “I’m Mason from Reynolds and Evans Law Firm. I’m here to see if a guest may have stayed here between the 19th and 21st of September.”

The girl’s fingers flew across the keyboard, the soft tap-tap-tapping of the keys echoing in the room. She paused, glanced with an apologetic expression at Mason, and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Reynolds, but we don’t release that information to anyone.”

Mason took a confident step closer to the desk, his eyes twinkling. He gave her a playful wink and said in a low, teasing voice, “I’m not just anyone, you know.”

The girl’s mouth dropped open, her eyes widening and cheeks reddening as Mason’s flirtatious words rang in her ears. She hesitated, darting glances between him and the computer screen. After what felt like an eternity, she finally found her voice to reply. “I don’t know...” her voice quivered.

Thea stepped in, “Sorry, he’s my lawyer. My husband came here multiple times with girls your age. He cheated on me. I know I’m not crazy,” she pleaded, “Please help me.”

The young girl stared at Thea with wide, almost child-like eyes, her face reflecting the panic that had engulfed Thea. “You said September 19th through the 21st, right?” She asked, her voice barely audible, while her fingers quickly ran across the computer’s keyboard.

Mason nodded and said, “Yes,” before his gaze swept Thea, admiration evident in his expression. The slight upturn of his mouth revealed his approval.

The young woman’s lips were tight as she spoke, and her eyes hardened. “I’m sorry. I can only provide access to the public footage in the lobby and halls. Anything else needs to be cleared and verified through the firm first.” She tore off a piece of paper from a notepad on her desk and scribbled something down before retiring to a backroom.

The young woman returned a few moments later and handed Mason a small USB drive, her hand lingering on his for a moment before she pulled away. She turned to Thea; her eyes were kind and sad, and her voice soft as she said, “I’m so sorry you had to find out about your husband like this. I hope these will help.”

“Thank you so much for all your help,” Thea said, her voice full of genuine gratitude.

Mason and Thea stepped away from the concierge desk, their faces momentarily illuminated by the chandelier overhead. Mason looked at Thea in awe and said, “You continue to amaze me. Maybe I should book us a suite to show my appreciation.”

He could see the fire in her eyes as she uttered the words, “Sounds good. I was looking forward to a night by myself,” she retorted.

He grabbed her waist and pulled her in close. His gaze was hungry, and his voice echoed with a possessive warning, “I’m not letting you get away so easily. The only nights we’re separated are the ones I allow. You’re mine, Thea. All of you.”

Once back in his car, Mason fired up his laptop, plugged in the USB, and began to click through the footage. It was spliced, but a few images of the husband and mistress entering a hotel hand in hand was discernible. “Not much,” Mason said as he studied the footage, “but this, along with the hotel bill, shows something more was going on.” With a smirk, Mason shut the laptop and looked at Thea, mischief gleaming in his eyes. “I think we can end work early today,” he whispered playfully into her ear as he started the engine, “Let’s go home and celebrate our success.”

* * *

Mason and Thea stepped through the threshold of the penthouse, and the excited energy from their earlier day together still lingered. Mason walked into the kitchen, and Thea heard him clinking glasses together before he returned with a delicate bottle of wine. She smiled as she accepted the glasses and watched Mason pull out the cork with a satisfying pop!

“I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink,” he said, filling two long-stemmed glasses with a deep, ruby-red liquid.

“Yes, please,” Thea agreed.

Mason handed one glass to her, tapping his own against it in a gentle salute. She smiled softly as she raised the glass to her lips and took a sip, as did he.

Mason and Thea chatted for hours over the course of two bottles of red wine. With each sip, Thea felt her inhibitions slipping away, and she welcomed Mason’s hungry glances as he refilled her glass. When the last drops of wine were gone, she could feel her cheeks heating up with flushed warmth as Mason stood and reached for her hand, squeezing it gently as he led her to the back of the house. His smoldering gaze never left hers as they reached a door, and he murmured, “I think it’s time I show you what I use this room for.” As she stood outside his playroom, she tried to push down her excitement while Mason’s intense gaze met hers. She felt her body flush with heat at the power he held over her. Mason crossed his arms, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips, and Thea couldn’t help but feel a thrill run through her as his dominance asserted itself.

Mason guided her into the room, gently resting his hand on the small of her back. “Lie on the bed,” he commanded as he pulled an ebony silk blindfold from a drawer and gently tied it around her head, his fingertips brushing her forehead as he tied it securely. Her body trembled slightly as he tapped her hands, indicating that she should place them above her head and lay them atop the ornate headboard of his large four-poster bed. She could feel the weight of adventure on her shoulders as she complied.

Thea felt a spark at the light contact of his hand on her thigh, and she shuddered. She tried to focus on his strong, broad hands, but the anticipation was almost unbearable. He smiled, his lips curving slightly, and her stomach lurched as he rubbed circles on her skin. “What are you going to do?” she managed breathily, her heart pounding as she waited.

His eyes were liquid pools of dark mystery, and his finger lightly grazed her skin, sending a shock up her spine. “You’ll see,” he whispered, his voice like velvet.

Thea felt her pulse quicken as his lips brushed the underside of her chin, then trailed slowly down the curve of her neck. She could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin, and when he kissed her shoulder, tiny shivers of pleasure ran down her body. A low hum escaped her lips as Mason’s tongue slowly traced the contours of her upper thighs. She was lost in the sensations of his tender touch, the feeling melting away the boundaries of her vocabulary with every pass of his tongue. His hands explored her body with a sensuality that made her breath catch as he continued his exploration. Thea closed her eyes and trembled as his teeth lightly dug into her soft, delicate skin. Her skin prickled, and her back involuntarily arched against him. The sound of water running interrupted her thoughts, and she slowly peeled away from him to investigate the source, “What is that?” The faint sound of drops hitting a ceramic tile echoed from the bathroom, confirming her suspicions.

“Shhhhh,” Mason’s tantalizing lips moved gently down her stomach, leaving a trail of tingling sensations behind. His fingers entwined with hers, and he softly whispered, “Stay here with me.”

“Stay…here…” Thea’s eyes opened wide as she suddenly felt the unfamiliar sensation of being in a strange bed. She sat up groggily, taking in her surroundings. The room was dark, but light shone through the crack in the curtains and cast eerie shadows around her. She glanced at the oak nightstand, the neat stacks of books, and a neat pile of clothes. Clearing her throat, she realized that her mouth felt dry and her limbs felt heavy. Thea heard the sound of running water and realized with a start that it was coming from the bathroom behind the door across from her. Panic began to set in as she wondered whose bed she was in and what had happened the night before. As the shower stopped, Thea’s stomach dropped as everything suddenly came rushing back to her.

Mason opened the door and entered the room, a white towel slung low on his hips. Mason’s deep, melodious voice reverberated in the room as he pulled back the curtains, letting the morning light spill into the room. His face was framed by a mischievous smirk as he asked, “Morning, gorgeous. Having naughty dreams about me?” Water cascaded down his body, glinting off his taut muscles in the sun’s rays. Thea’s gaze traveled up and down his body, and her heart fluttered as she envisioned their bodies twined together.

“No,” Thea shook her head, her eyes wide in disbelief. She slowly stood up, her legs slightly unsteady and a fog clouding her memory. The harder she strained to recall the events of last night, the farther the details faded away. With hesitant steps, she moved towards the foot of the bed; curiosity and confusion mingled in her expression. “How did I get here?” she whispered.

He smirked and shook his head as he spoke. His voice was light, with a playful edge, “You can’t hold your liquor,” he said.

She plopped down on the edge of his bed and looked around, a wave of embarrassment washing over her as she searched for any evidence of what she had done. “Oh my gosh,” she groaned, “what did I do last night?!”

Mason’s smirk spread across his face as he asked, “I think the question is, what didn’t you do?” Thea’s cheeks flushed scarlet, her eyes cast downward in shame. Mason’s heart ached at the sight of her innocence. An innocence that paradoxically fueled his desire for her. He reminded her sternly, “You demanded I show you the pleasure I promised. And when I agreed, you pushed your way into my bedroom and climbed into my bed. But instead of staying awake with me, you fell asleep.” His lips curled into a frown as he added almost sardonically, “I wonder what your punishment should be.”

Thea felt her cheeks flush as she tried to apologize, her words faltering under the weight of her humiliation, “I didn’t mean….” Her head throbbed from the previous night’s revelry, her stomach churning as if it wanted to expel the remaining wine from the night before.

Mason closed the gap between them and leaned in, his breath brushing her ear, sending a thrill through her. “Do you know how much control it took not to touch you last night?”