Chapter Seventeen: I don't like sharing.

I took a break to go to the restroom to pee. I didn't know what to think. He must have seen I wanted it and decided to have Clara buy it for me.

My face broke into a smile as I washed my hands in the sink.

I pushed the restroom door open and my hand was caught in a tight grip. I turned to look at the person.

"Ryan!"

"What are you doing? Let me go.” He didn't, instead he pushed me to the wall beside the restroom door.

"So you dumped me to marry him? I didn't know you were such a golddigger. You were just waiting for a bigger fish!" He spat at me.

"You don't understand Ryan, I had no choice".

"Choice? Lies! You forgot that you chose to break up with me and break my heart? Now, you are here pretending that you are the victim.

“Is that why you held back from me? Were to fucking him while we were together?"

I froze at his words, shocked that he would think of me that way."

"Ryan! Let go of me.” I said, trying to make my voice firm.

"No. You have to break things off with him. Haven't you heard the rumors about how cruel and cold he is? He is not capable of love, especially you."

That got my attention. "What do you mean by that?" Feeling a little offended by his tone.

Like, I'm not good enough for someone like Mason to fall in love with.

"You're you, and he is him. Do you think a stick in the mud like you can make a man such as Mason Kingston love her? No one is capable of loving a lot like you except me."

"How touching.”

We both turned to look at where the voice came from and saw Mason. He turned his piercing blue gaze to Ryan, whose shoulders were now stiff and his expression wary.

His expression void of any emotion but tight line along his lip showed displeasure.

"Don't you think your confession is a little too late Mr Whitmore?"

He said pushing away from the wall he was leaning on and coming towards us.

"It's Ryan.” Ryan said in a gruff voice. Mason ignored him and his eyes dropped to where Ryan and mine joined.

His expression on his face turned dark. I couldn't even imagine how this must have looked to him.

"How long have you been standing there?” Ryan said to Mason.

"Enough to see everything.”

He looked into Ryan's eyes, both of them not breaking eye contact, till Ryan faltered.

"Look, there must be a mistake here. Iris can’t marry someone else. No one can make her happy except me.”

"Ryan..." I said softly, already tired of all these.

It happened so fast. Mason came close and grabbed the hand Ryan was holding me with. Something flashed through his eyes which I'm sure was anger.

Ryan winced in pain.

"Get it into your fucking head. She married me, not you. That makes her my wife, and I don't like people touching what's mine." His voice remained dangerously calm.

"I won't be so merciful next time.”

Taking my hand, and leading me away. I snuck a quick glance at Ryan who looked at his hands his face twisted in pain. I felt guilty for the whole situation. We passed the entrance to the ball room.

"Where we going?" I asked Mason confused.

"We are leaving.”

He just continued his pace. Henry was already waiting by the car for us at the entrance of the hotel.

The ride home was silence. He focused on work on his phone, while I looked outside the window.

"Who is he to you?" Mason said suddenly speaking up.

"Ryan?"

He eyebrows furrowed a little. "Yes. He made you uncomfortable, I don't like it".

"Ryan's my ex." Guilt filled my chest. "I broke his heart so it doesn't matter anymore.”

"Hmmm.”

We spent the remainder of the ride home quiet. I rushed to go upstairs ready to sleep. When Mason grabbed my hands stopping me from ascending up the stairs.

With my back to him, he came closer and I could feel the heat of him radiating from him. God he smelt so good.

I felt him push my long brown locks to the side, his long finger brushing my neck. I inhaled sharply, feeling the cool touch of an object gently placed around my neck, before the feel of his hands disappeared.

I turned to face him and looked down at the object he put on my neck. Letting out a gasp it was the necklace from the charity.

I thought he had been pretending for appearance sake when he said he bought it for me, because I could hardly believe he would give such a valuable gift to me.

I looked up to meet those bluish eyes already studying me intensely.

"Mr Kingston, you didn't give this to me?"

"Mason.”

"What?" I asked confused.

"I think it's appropriate you should call me by my name. You calling me Mr Kingston is too formal for a supposedly loving married couple.”

"Mason.”I saw the side of his mouth tilt up a little, just barely noticeable.

"I don't think I deserve such an expensive gift. You should have actually given it to a woman you love.”

"Iris.” He said my name softly, I think this is actually the first time I have heard him call me by name and not Miss Davidson. I actually liked how it sounded on his lips.

"I don't plan on remarrying or falling in love. I promised you I will try to fulfill my duties as your husband and part of it is giving you everything you need and want. So do well to get used to it."

"Thank you.” I said to him.

"You're welcome.”

I turned to go back to my room when I heard him say.

"I don't like sharing.”

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing.

"Hello.”

"Don't tell me you're still in bed?

“You and my boss' picture is plastered all over the Internet." Kim's voice came through the phone.

“I opened some of the new sites and saw pictures of Mason and I, the headline " hottest new couple in town.”

The picture of Mason focusing solely on her intimately, one would think we're a couple so in love with each other.

"So does this prove that he is interested in women."

"I don't know Kim. It was part of our contract to sleep with each other, but he hasn't made any move."

"Well do you want him to?"

My face heated remembering the sensations I got from his little caresses at the ball.

"I don't know. But, I would like to know what I'm expecting, instead of waiting for something to happen.”

"Then we go with the original plan with you seducing him.”