Chapter Twenty one: Just a contract

We sat across from each other at the dining table, without saying a word.

The only sound was that of cutleries. I have gotten used to how quiet it was, but I didn't mind much, because I was used to having dinner in silence. Tonight was different. It was tense.

When Mason came home he simply said

“Have dinner with me.” Then he walked straight into the dining room. I followed after him, not because I wanted to. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

I'm not going to let him know that his leaving me actually made me feel in any way or seeing him with Lily made something ugly and green rise up in the pit of my stomach. Get a grip Iris, I said to myself.

I picked at my food, not really having much appetite. Across from me Mason ate in silence.

For several minutes the only sounds heard were the clinking of cutlery across the plate. Then he stopped, I didn't look up immediately but when I did I found him staring at me intensely.

“About that night.” He said his voice was calm.

My fingers tightened around my fork.

“Something important came up.”

“You don't have to explain.” I gave him my most charming smile.“I understood the message perfectly. And more food for me.”I picked up another bite of food, giving a charming smile I'm sure didn't quite reach my eye.

His eyebrows drew together.

“You're uncomfortable.”

“No, I'm not.I'm perfectly fine.”

“If you were fine, you wouldn't be holding your fork like that.”

My eyes dropped to my hands. My fingers were tightly wrapped around it.

“Like you would like to run it through me.”

I immediately loosened my hands.

“I normally eat like this.” I looked back at him. “You don't have to worry about getting hurt or anything. I understand that this is a marriage contract. You don't owe me anything”.

The silence that followed was heavier than before. I lowered my gaze to the plate. Mason didn't move. Then his voice came. “Is that what you think?”

His expression didn't change, but something in his eyes did.

I tried lowering my gaze to try and continue eating. My stomach suddenly felt full.

For the past two weeks, I have been doing my best to avoid Mason.

I’d stay in my room till he’d left for work. Then I’d go out and make sure I returned before him.

I'd even started eating dinner before he came home.

I knew that if Mason found out I was skipping meals, he would force me to eat. And I would like to avoid any awkward dinner in the future.

So I made sure he'd never have the chance to. It has become our routine.

Until today.

I had just returned from the movies with Owen.

He just came and told me to accompany him to see a movie.

“Why didn't you tell me it was a horror movie?” I complained as we walked into the living room.

Owen laughed.

“You should have seen your face.”

“I'm never going nowhere blindly with you again.” He laughed and grabbed my cheeks. “Iris don't be like that, if you don't, who will?”

I tried to pull his hands away. “You're impossible”. Then we both stopped.

Mason was sitting at the couch with his laptop resting on his thighs. He was dressed casually in sweatpants and a white shirt. Different from the tailored suits I'm used to seeing him in.

His blue eyes examined Owen and I then rested on Owen's hands. Specifically on where they were touching my face.

I swallowed, I cannot imagine what it must look like. Mason's jaw tightened and I immediately stepped away from Owen.

“Hey cuz, didn't know your back. You could have joined us to see the movie, it was pretty cool.” Owen said breaking the silence, oblivious to the tension.

“I am more interested in the making.” He said closing his laptop slowly.

“See Iris, this is why I never invite him out. You're way better company than him”. Owen put his arm around my shoulder drawing me to him in a completely friendly hold. But Mason didn't think that because his hands narrowed at the arm on my shoulder.

He stood and walked towards us, putting one hand on Owen's shoulder. “I think you should leave”.

“What?But I just got here.” Mason didn't even spare him a glance.

“Jason.”

Jason appeared almost immediately.

“Escort Owen out.”

Owen protested but I barely heard him because my attention was on Mason. This is the first time we've been this close in two weeks.

His eyes on mine were cold and unreadable. Except for the faint tension in his jaw.

Once Owen was gone, the room became painfully quiet.

“Do you always spend this much time together?”

I blinked. “You're back early.” I said.

His eyes narrowed, but he answered anyway. “i decided to finish my work early.”

“Oh.” I nodded and I looked away. So it was possible to take a break from work. That even made me more angry. Calm down Iris he doesn't owe you any explanation. I told myself that.

“You've been avoiding me.”

“I have just been busy.”

“Busy?” His voice was quiet. Somehow that made it worse.

“Busy with another man?”

I looked at him in disbelief. “ That man is your cousin. Besides, who I spend time with is not your business.”

Something flickered across his face. He took one step towards me. Then another. I instinctively stepped back till my shoulders hit the wall.

“Not my business?” His voice dropped.

“You seem to forget that we are married.”

“It's just a contract.”

For the first time unmistakable anger flashed through his eyes. But it was gone leaving a cold unexpressionless face devoid of any emotion.

He stepped closer.

“What now you have feelings for him? Do you want him to fuck this your pussy? Do you wish you went to him for help before?”

I gasped and my eyes widened in shock. Before I could phantom what was happening I raised my hands and slapped him across the face.

Fear came over me when I realized what I did. “I'm sorry I didn't mean to.” I said, this was so unlike me.

I looked for a place to escape. But his body was covering every possible way.

He let out a scoff and looked at me. “ If it's just a contract”. He said quietly. “You haven't been fulfilling your part.” He came closer and whispered in my ears. “I won't be cockblocked.”

My heart jumped. I looked at him and I know what it meant. For two weeks I have been hurt. Lonely. This was the second time I was putting myself out there, he doesn't know how hard it is to be me.

Before I could talk myself out of it. I reached up and kissed him. I had to stand on my toes using his shoulder to lift me up before I could get to his lips.

His body went completely still. For one terrifying second he didn't respond. Heat rushed to my face. What had I been thinking? I started to pull away. His hand caught my waist. In one swift moment, he pulled me against him. Then he kissed me.

Oh my. It was not like anything I have thought of. It was even better than I imagined. His velvety soft lip moved on mine with force. Not gently. Not cautiously. All the tension he had been holding evaporated slowly.

My fingers curled on his shirt as his lips moved against mine, as I tried to keep up with him. My heart is pounding loudly against my chest.

He drew me closer, until there was barely any space between us. I could feel the heat of his body through my close, and I felt my nipples stiffening into hard peaks.

I clutched his shoulders. When he finally pulled away, I stared at him. His breathing was heavier than before. His vibrant blue eyes had turned dark, almost stormy. There were so many emotions in them, I couldn't identify each one.

Then his mouth came down on me again. This kiss was different. More intense and demanding.

I stopped thinking and simply kissed him back.my hands slipped into his thick black hair. A quiet groan escaped him. The sound sent another shiver through me.

His lips left mine, moving slowly across my cheek and along my jaw. When he kissed the sensitive spot beneath my ear, I couldn't stop the small sound that escaped me.My head tilted instinctively, giving him more access.

“Mason…”

My voice barely sounded like mine.His arms tightened around me.I felt him smile faintly against my skin before his lips found mine again.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt so wanted.Not even with Ryan.

My hands tightened around his shoulders as he lifted me effortlessly.I gasped, instinctively wrapping my arms around him.He carried me to the couch and sat down, keeping me close.I ended up straddling him, my hands resting on his shoulders as I tried to steady myself.

His eyes traveled over my face.Then he reached for me again.His hand moved down and cupped my breast and I let out a small gasp.

I forgot how to breathe.His hands moved over my back, holding me firmly against him as his lips found mine once more.

I pulled away for a second, trying to catch my breath. “I feel like I can't breathe.”His forehead rested against mine.

“You don't need to think about anything right now, angel.”The husky sound of his voice sent warmth through me.He pulled down the hand of my dress allowing it to fall to my waist .He attacked my breast sucking my nipple through my pink lace bra.

Arching my back at the intense pleasure that shot through me, I could feel my panties getting soak. I didn't know when I started grinding on him.

He finally reached behind my unclasping my bra leaving my naked upwards. He raised his head and stared at my breast.

My cheeks burned. I raised my hands to shield his stare, suddenly feeling conscious. But he stopped me.

“Don't hide from me.”

He circled round my nipples with his fingers before pinching it making me cry out in pleasure.

“Fucking perfect. Just as I imagined.”