Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Mason slammed the phone down for the eighth time in two days. If he got her voice mail just one more time…
The more she avoided him, the more furious he became. This was exactly why he hadn’t wanted to get physically involved and he cursed himself for his weakness.
Rebecca had been a part of his life for so long that he couldn’t handle the separation.
It had been two long weeks since he’d seen her.
She hadn’t shown up for class last week and he felt responsible.
Her grades couldn’t take any neglect. Economics was a tough course for someone who wasn’t exactly practical minded.
Pacing his office he tried to think of a way to recover what they’d lost, knowing instinctively that they couldn’t go back.
His body burned for her in a way he’d never experienced before.
The women in his life had always been fun, but forgettable and he’d never been faced with this gut wrenching indecision.
‘Witch’ was a good name for her he thought dejectedly.
She’d cast a spell on him, haunted his nights and thoughts of her consumed his days.
It amazed him that one night of Rebecca’s loving had affected him so deeply.
He’d known she was a virgin and figured it would take lots of patience and practice before everything clicked perfectly.
He expected some shyness, maybe a few tears, even some embarrassment the first few times.
Instead he’d gotten a hellion who bulldozed him into bed before he even knew what hit him, and she loved every second of it.
Thank God he’d been her first, and so far only lover or who knew what could happen.
A guy could certainly take advantage of a woman like that.
Hell, he still felt as though he’d taken advantage even though he loved her deeply.
She wanted everything, and she wanted it right now.
That was fine with him and he had no problem giving her anything she desired in and out of the bedroom, but first he wanted his ring on her finger.
Mason knew the longer this silence went on, the more insurmountable their problems would seem. He’d tried to give her some space, time to cool down and realize marriage was the only reasonable solution, but as time went by and he didn’t hear from her he began to grow angry.
Every message he left that went unanswered increased his frustration.
Rebecca had been angry with him many times, but to avoid a confrontation wasn’t her style.
No, Rebecca preferred to battle it out. The fact that she was acting so out of character worried him and increased his sense of urgency.
The situation was completely out of control and he’d better damn well think of a way to stop it.
Brushing his hair back he dropped down on the edge of his desk absently watching the final blaze of the sun as it sank beyond the horizon.
She’s just some girl you met last week he told himself.
You’ve watched her grow up; you know how her mind works.
Now come up with a way to change it. It’s not her mind that’s driving you nuts, a little voice whispered.
Mason shoved off the desk and smiled. It’s her delectable little body.
She wanted him; wanted him enough to seduce him.
Wanted him enough to tell him right out what she’d done.
The answer had been there all along. He couldn’t believe it took him two weeks to figure it out.
The worst thing he could have done was give her space.
Mason grinned. He would assault her every sense, tease and torment her until she dragged him to the altar, because if she wanted his body again she was going to have to marry him to get it.
If she didn’t show up tonight for class he’d go to her and show her just what she was missing by not becoming his wife. As he slammed the door of his office Maggie looked up from where she had been going over some figures with Marsha and watched him stride down the hall.
“Now there goes a man with a purpose,” she said.
Marsha sighed wistfully, wishing that purpose was her.
* * *
Mason leaned on the desk and glanced at his watch.
It was six forty-five and Rebecca still hadn’t arrived.
Checking the clock over the door he verified that his watch was correct.
He couldn’t believe she was missing tonight’s class, the midterm exam.
The next few minutes he devoted to answering questions for the students who had shown up early.
At precisely seven he closed the door and began giving out the instructions for the test. As he walked to the back of the room, passing out papers the door started to rattle.
Knowing everyone was present except Rebecca; he smiled to himself and let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding.
Turning sharply he decided to make her pay for his worry.
“So pleased you could join us, Miss Moran,” he said with a touch of sarcasm.
Looking up his heart stopped cold. Teetering in the doorway was Rebecca, wearing one and a half legs of jeans, the bottom half replaced by white plaster. Crutches under one arm, she swayed alarmingly, her heavy book bag, purse and the added weight of the cast pulling her to the left.
Without thinking Mason swore and sprinted to the front of the room, sweeping her up in his arms.
“What the hell have you done now?” he demanded not caring that they had a very interested audience.
His eyes scanned her from top to bottom and then back again as if he didn’t trust what he saw.
He took in the heavy plaster cast that went from her bare toes to just below her knee.
Her hair was pulled back in a glossy ponytail, so he didn’t think she had any head wound.
The bulky jacket she wore concealed most of her upper body and he had a flash thought of stripping it off her and inspecting her for other injuries.
When his eyes saw the bruise on her cheek, he lost it.
“I asked you what happened?” he repeated harshly, fear making his voice raspy.
“My car and I had a little argument with a telephone pole and I lost,” she told him quickly. “Now put me down,” she hissed.
He continued as if she hadn’t said a thing, just as if they weren’t standing in a room with twenty-four people eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.
“When?”
“Two days ago, now put me down,” she responded, red faced with embarrassment.
“Two days,” he all but shouted, furious because she hadn’t even thought to call him. “Should you even be walking around? What doctor did you see? I’ll call him and see what he thinks.”
Rebecca sighed and put a hand to her aching head. “Will you please stop repeating everything I say? I don’t want you to call anyone. I just want you to stop acting like a lunatic and let me take this test, preferably seated at a desk, and go home,” she told him between gritted teeth.
Several giggles and snickers finally began to penetrate Mason’s brain. Turning around to face the class he then proceeded to stride back and forth, not quite sure where he should go with the infuriating woman in his arms.
Looking up and seeing the expressions on the faces of her classmates Rebecca groaned. Amusement was the most prevalent, but there were also several female faces with what could only be described as envy on them. Giving Mason a sharp jab with her elbow she finally lost her temper.
“I have a broken foot Mason,” she almost shouted at him. “I’m perfectly capable of sitting at a desk and I don’t need you carrying me around like I’m some kind of invalid. Now stop acting like a moron and put me down!”
Totally unconcerned with her tirade Mason finally settled on a place and kicking his chair out from under the large desk he sat her down gently.
Pulling out a drawer he propped her injured foot on it.
He then retrieved her book bag and purse from the floor where they had fallen and placed them within her reach.
Walking back to the rear of the classroom he picked up the test papers and began to pass them out.
Rebecca was seated so that she had to face the class and smiling in what she hoped was an apologetic manner she squared her shoulders and got out her pencils and calculator.
“When you’ve finished the test, raise your hand and I’ll collect your paper. There won’t be any class next week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but your grades should be in your file by Tuesday. I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday,” he finished, giving Rebecca a tight-lipped smile.
Geesh, you’d think I trashed my car on purpose she thought. Sometimes I could just …
Unconsciously massaging her temple she closed her eyes and didn’t see the worry on his face.
Rebecca was one of the last to finish her exam. As each student left the classroom Mason put their papers into his briefcase and returned to the window ledge where he’d taken up residence.
Struggling with the answers until her head actually felt fuzzy, Rebecca finally raised her hand for him to come and get her test. Handing it to him she quietly whispered, “Would you please get my crutch?”
Mason stood looking over her paper but didn’t answer.
“Could you hand me my crutch?” she hissed.
Two more hands went up and Mason still did not make a move toward doing as she asked. Drumming her fingers impatiently on the desk she waited until the last student had turned in their exam in.
“Mason?”
“Hmm”, he mumbled, walking around and absently straightening up chairs, for all intents and purposes ignoring her.
“Mason, do we have a problem here?” The nagging pain that ran from her foot and up her leg was nothing compared to the frustration of not being able to get up and walk out. It galled her to have to sit there and wait until he saw fit to hand her the damn crutch.
“Yes, Rebecca,” he informed her, crossing his arms and leaning against the desk in front of her. “I believe we do, several in fact.”
“Well could we discuss it later? I’m very tired and I need to call Sara for a ride home. Now if you’ll just…”