Future

Mason and Thea sat up in bed, their bodies intertwined as they spoke of their desires and dreams for the future. As Thea rose to return to her room, Mason wrapped a strong arm around her waist and pulled her back into his chest. He hooked his leg around hers, keeping her snugly against him in his king-size bed. After tucking into the covers, Mason spooned up behind her, sighing contentedly as he breathed in the scent of her hair. His lips grazed the crown of her head as they drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Thea opened her eyes as the sun spilled into the bedroom, and a glint of glass reflected the light on the bedside table. She picked up a frosty drink and took a sip, tasting the hint of lemon in the cool water. There was a sticky note on the edge of the tray that read, “Good Morning Beautiful,” and Thea smiled to herself. She put on her slippers and walked out of the bedroom towards the kitchen. The sweet smell of butter and freshly squeezed oranges wafted from around the corner, and Thea peeked around to see him dancing in circles while flipping an omelet in a skillet. He looked back at her with surprise before breaking out into a beaming smile, and Thea felt her heart skip a beat.

Mason smiled and turned away from her to tend to the eggs cooking on the stovetop. He glanced over his shoulder, mischief twinkling in his eyes, and teased, “Make sure you drink plenty of water. We had quite the night last night.”

Thea’s face lit up like a lighthouse in the night. She took a sip of her water and teased, her voice light, “Mhm. I love waking up next to you. Oh wait, you weren’t there,” her voice was full of amusement as she pushed aside some paperwork on the counter. “Is this what pulled you away from me?” She arched an eyebrow; her lips still curved in a teasing grin.

Mason deftly scooped the omelets onto two plates and placed them on the counter. Turning towards Thea, he regarded her intently as if peering into her soul and spoke with a quiet gravity that left no room for doubt. “Nothing can pull me away from you.” Thea felt her heart quicken, and a warmth spread from her chest to her toes. Mason rounded the counter and took a seat beside her. His voice changed, taking on a more serious tone as he continued. “Remember when we were talking about our future last night? I was thinking about something we didn’t mention…our jobs.”

Thea hadn’t considered the impact her job could have on their relationship. She felt Mason’s warm hands cover hers as his gaze stayed trained on her. His eyes, usually so light and playful, were now dark with emotion. “I would never ask you to quit your career,” he said softly, “but I can’t stand the thought of you following around someone else. I’m a very jealous man.”

Thea nervously bit her lip and tried to steady her racing thoughts. “It’s okay, Mason. I’ve thought about this before meeting you,” her gaze dropped to the floor, and she sighed heavily before continuing. “My method works, but I’m always so busy that I don’t have time for a life outside of work. While I’m loyal to my patients, it’s beginning to take its toll,” Thea said as she tapped her fingers nervously against her thigh. She bit her lower lip and looked up into Mason’s eyes. “I know I don’t want to open a regular therapy office; it seems so boring. But I didn’t have a reason to change things up until now,” she smiled, her heart swelling with affection for him.

Mason paused, his expression thoughtful. “I think I may have a solution,” he said as he leaned forward, his eyes lit up with enthusiasm. “I remember that you mentioned how much you wished you had someone to talk with during your abuse lawsuit.”

Thea smiled, her eyes twinkling with admiration. “Yeah,” she murmured, memories of their long, winding conversation still fresh in her mind. “I’m genuinely impressed that you remembered all the little details, considering how much we talked about.”

Thea felt her pulse thump as she met Mason’s gaze. She could tell his blue eyes were full of memories, but he quickly regained his composure. “Of course, I remember,” he replied with a gentle smile. “Anyway, I woke up early to crunch some numbers and make a few calls,” he handed her an elaborate, illustrated mockup. His strong voice conveyed a sense of pride as he spoke, “The firm will now be offering in-house therapy services to their employees and clients, should they choose to participate. And only if you accept,” he paused, “We have many cases, some including domestic and child abuse.” His hands tenderly cupped her face, his thumb running across her cheek, warming her to the core. “I know firsthand how great you are with your clients. You would be a great addition to the firm.” She smiled as she looked over the mockup and felt she could really help a lot of people going through one of the most difficult periods in their lives. Something she was very passionate about. Mason’s large manly hands slid up and cupped her thighs as he gave a suggestive wink, “And I could always sneak to your office for private sessions.”

“That’s always a nice bonus,” she glanced at him from over her paperwork, her lips curling up in a smile. She placed the mockup down on the shiny marble counter and then leaned over and kissed him gently. “Mason, you don’t have to bribe me,” she said, her voice soft. “If it works for your firm, I’m in. But I have to warn you. I don’t come cheap.”

He closed his eyes and pressed his lips lightly against hers, feeling the warmth of her touch. The corners of his mouth curved in a smile. “Don’t I know it,” he said, pulling away, “You deserve so much more than any amount I can give you.”

A loud ding at the elevator jolted them back to reality. He was about to slide his hands around her waist but paused instead and pressed his lips against hers again. The slight pressure from his teeth tugging at her bottom lip silently begged for more. He sighed in frustration as he pulled away and rose from his chair, heading to the front of the house. “No one called to say I had visitors,” he muttered. When he arrived at the entrance, he stopped short. His mother stood there wearing a red fur coat, the hem of which dragged on the floor, and a handbag that hung from her wrist. Her face was stern and unreadable. “Mother,” he said dryly.