Page 61 of Becoming His

Masen lets out a deep breath and nods his head. He wraps his arms around me, lifts me up, and buries his face in my neck. I feel his wide chest expand as he drags in deep breaths, scenting me. Too soon, he sets me down and brushes his lips across mine, kissing me softly. Then, he turns and places a large key into the elevator panel. He turns the keys and removes it quickly. Lifting my hand, he opens it, placing the keys in my palm. “Only two of the elevators are capable of reaching my floor; even then these keys are required to access it.”

The ride to the next floor is short. When the doors peel open, I see a small lobby much like the one below us, but this one is lacking Doris’s smiling face. Instead, I find Roxanne wearing what I would consider closer to a nighty than business attire. The green satin material has black lace at the hem and bust line. The thin material leaves no questions as to her braless state. It’s so short I’m sure if she were to bend over in the slightest we would see her flat skinny ass. I refuse to give her the satisfaction of knowing how her being here affects me. Her face is smug. She’s happy about something, and it makes me nervous.

“Good Roxanne, you’re already here. We have a few things to discuss.” His voice is firm but not unkind.

“Alright, Mase.” She turns and struts to a closed door to the right of the lobby. Her knee injury seems perfectly fine.

“Ah, in the office.” His eyes dart to mine. When she turns back around, her smile is full force.

“Why Mase?” She tries for innocence. “We never use your office.” She bats her lashes. She’s going to make this as hard on me as possible.

“Let’s just get this over with,” I say and pull him to follow. He’s reluctant. She opens the door and holds it for us to enter. Once I pass, she steps out further causing Masen’s body to brush against hers. I hear her hum as if he just caressed her, but I’m too riveted to the scene before me to object.

The area is open much like a loft. You can see the entire space from the door save a few walls blocking off some of the kitchen area, which from what I can tell is much smaller and more utilitarian than his kitchen at home. What bothers me more than I can express are the other similarities. A large four-poster bed that looks so close to the one we sleep in at home, it could be the exact same, takes up a large portion of the corner. It’s covered in natural light from the large windows. If that isn’t bad enough, there’s an office area closely resembling his home office. The same room I enjoyed so much because I could see and feel how much of himself he put into the room. I quickly scan the living room area, but my mind is still stuck on the bed and office. It feels like I’ve been standing in this... this space for an eternity when I feel Masen touch my lower back. I snap forward like his touch burns me but try and recover so she won’t know how bad she’s hurt me. “I need the restroom please”

“Let’s go into the office. I have a small one in there,” he urges.

“Oh Mase, don’t be silly. The bathroom in here is just to die for. I know I’ve enjoyed it for years.”

“Roxanne,” he warns.

“I’m sure she’ll love it. It’s right through that door.” She points a red-painted fingernail to the only door I can see, it’s next to the bed. I glide forward, keeping my eyes trained on the door, not wanting to see anymore. I think I could have handled it if it was different, but knowing he’s poured so much of himself into this space makes me sick. I close the door behind me before even turning on the light and try to catch my breath. I hear a raised muffled voice through the door, but I’m too upset to even try and listen. When I finally find the light switch by feeling the wall, I’m momentarily relieved it doesn’t look familiar at all, but the relief evaporates quickly when I take a better look around. There is no tub, but the shower with a built-in wooden bench could easily hold ten people. Five showerheads sprout from the walls, and three hang from the ceiling. The clear glass surrounding it does nothing to hide the six different bottles of female soaps and shampoos, telling me Roxanne either likes a variety or he keeps it well stocked for his discerning guests. The same bottles Masen uses at home in his shower sit on the opposite side, whereas mine are mixed in with his.

I’m still leaning against the door when I feel a light tapping from the other side. “Can I come in, Little One?” he asks softly.

“I’ll be just a minute,” I return, my voice sure even if my thoughts aren’t. I’m sure he can tell I’m standing right next to the door and haven’t gone any further.

“Yeah, okay,” he says solemnly. I wash my hands letting the cold water run over my wrist while I stare into the mirror seeing my full reflection cast back at me from the mirrored covered wall behind me. “Nothing’s changed, Little One. I’ll give you an explanation, but I’m not sure it will make it any better,” he says sorrowfully through the closed door.

When I know I won’t cry, I open the door and find Masen sitting on the floor next to the door. He stands and grabs my hand in his. “Can we get out of here?” When I look around, I find Roxanne is gone so we’re alone.

“If it makes you feel better.” I shrug, knowing it won’t erase my knowledge of this place. He guides me with a hand on my back to the elevator. When we leave the building, it’s with just as many stares as when we entered. How many of these people watched Masen walk other women out? How many of them were the ones he walked out? I know it shouldn’t matter. Who cares what these strangers think about me, but it’s still hard not to let it bother me. I wish we hadn’t met all those years ago. Then, I could understand him and how he was still with another woman. When my thoughts turn dark, I wish he could feel what it feels like to know he wasn’t worth waiting for.

I stop and tell him. “I’m going to need a little time to myself. I’m too upset to deal with this right now. It would just turn into a huge fight, and I just don’t have the energy for it.”

His eyes search my face. I’m pretty sure I’ve mastered blocking him. He doesn’t seem to know or feel what I’m thinking. “I don’t want to leave you, but I can understand you wanting a few minutes.”

I start walking to a bench, and he follows behind me about ten paces. Realizing he’s going to stand and watch me, I walk back to him. “I mean alone, Masen. I can’t have you hovering over me right now.”

His face falls. “I can’t leave. I don’t want to, and it’s not safe.”

I huff and stomp to the car. “Let’s just go.” He reaches my door right before me and opens it but smartly walks over to his side and gets in instead of trying to help me in like he usually does.

Once we are driving, he looks at me from the corner of his eye. I can see the slight shift in his head. Then, he does exactly what I didn’t want, he starts explaining. “I wasn’t thinking. It never dawned on me what it would look like to you, other than a bedroom and office,” he says, squeezing the steering wheel. “I knew seeing it would bother you. I just didn’t think that would be part of it. I never made the connection.” He must have been listening to my thoughts, which pisses me off even more. I sit and stew, trapped in this car when what I really want to do is erase this whole morning from the time we got to his office. To think, I almost felt sorry for the receptionist. I snort, and his head whips to the side, trying to figure out what caused my reaction. “I let Roxanne put the apartment together,” he says guiltily. “When she asked what I had at home, I never thought twice about it. She said she wanted to get what I like, so I told her.” His shoulders shrink. “To be honest, I don’t think it was her intention. I think she really did just want to get me what I liked.”

“Ha,” I scoff. “You are an idiot if you actually believe the shit you’re saying,” I spit. “That woman knows exactly what she’s doing. How you don’t see it boggles my mind.”

“You make it seem like she knew about you. That she’s out to hurt you personally,” he defends.

“How do you know she didn’t? That woman watches every move you make. You think she didn’t notice the change in you and put two and two together. She hated me the moment she saw me, and I was just a kid. I’m telling you now, she knows a hell of a lot more than you’re giving her credit for. If you could just take a minute and look at all this from my point of view, I think you’d feel very different,” I turn to him and glare, “And if you defend her again, you can fucking walk home!” I turn on the radio. Pink and Nate from F.U.N. blast from the speakers, begging for just a reason. I laugh mirthlessly at the irony.

When we pull in the garage, he asks, “Should I come in?” I’d already decided what I was going to do on the drive here.

“You go on in. I’m going for a run.” When he opens his mouth, I hold up my hand stopping him. “Alone! No one will see me. I’m used to hiding and taking care of myself. Do not follow me or have me followed. I will stay on your personal property.” I exit the car before he can object. I close my eyes and call on my wolf, within seconds I’m itching to run so I do.

I race through the open yard, making sure to keep from the main areas of the house where someone might see me through a window. Once I hit the trees, I slow but still speed past trees letting my wolf roam. My nose is much keener in this form. I can scent Masen on every tree and rock, occasionally I get a whiff of Sniffer or one of the few others he considers friends.

When I get too close to the Pack property line, I circle back and let my wolf guide me. I’ve always been so careful about when and where I’ve shifted. The freedom of exploring his refuge in the daylight is exciting. I’m not sure how long I’ve been running when I find a tree with low enough branches for me to climb easily. The fallen leaves let the sun shine down through the branches, casting me in a warm glow as I rest my muzzle on my front paws. I’m not nearly as upset now that I’ve had some time to settle down. I’m almost ready to go back to Masen.

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