The day flew, and before I knew it the sun was already setting, painting the most autumnal picture I had seen in a very long time. The reddish sun, hidden behind two dark grey clouds, splashing the dusky evening sky with a dark shade of orange. It was something rarely I had seen.
The knock on the door brought me back to my senses," Come in," I said as I turned around to face either Mason or Enid.
" How are you feeling?" He asked as he pushed the door to a close behind him.
" I'm well. My arm is doing better, and the bruise is looking good," I smiled, as he nodded, slowly closing the distance between us, shoving his hands in his trousers pockets.
" I just wanted to wish you good luck for tomorrow," He said as he raised his eye to look at me.
" Thank you. I'm going to need it," I giggled, trying to settle my unease. It felt a lot longer than it had been since the day I received the letter from the academy.
"Hmm...It will be alright. You're overthinking it," He said with a crooked smile and cleared his throat.
" I should go," He said as he turned on his heels, to leave.
" Stay," My mouth ran off on me before my brain could stop it. Damn it, I internally cursed.
" I've already gone through all that will happen if we go down this path," He turned back to face me," Are you sure that this is what you want?" His quirked-up brows were a clear sign that he was surprised at my decision.
" No...we are not going to do that," I pushed myself off the French doors where he often liked to lean into, and closed the distance between us.
" Sounds promising," He amusedly said as he closed the distance between us further.
" No. Nothing of the sort. You don't have to, but if you want you can stay, "
" Hmm....interesting," He crooned, pinching my chin and narrowing his eyes at me," Are you sure?" I wasn't entirely sure what he implied with that question, but the salacious grin that followed hinted at what I needed to know.
" Take it or leave it," I smirked and pulled my chin out of his hand.
Lowering his hand to his side he turned on his heels and walked to the side of the bed where he usually slept, and shrugged off his jacket.
" Are you coming?" He crooned as he kicked off his shoes and plopped himself on the bed.The throaty chuckle that erupted from his throat when I snuggled next to him brought back many memories of a time when we lay in bed in each other arms revelling in the afterglow of our lovemaking.
" How was your day?" He rolled onto his side to face me, close enough to feel his breath on my lips.
" It was good. It went by faster than usual," I tucked one hand under my head since I could stop fiddling with the lace of my nightgown.
" How was yours?" We rarely had such moments of respiro to speak to each other of everyday banalities.
" The usual, " He sighed," I had a few meetings, and then I got stuck in the office doing the mountain of paperwork sitting on my desk. Other than that, nothing notable," He pulled on a strand of my hair and rubbed it between his fingers.
" Are you nervous about tomorrow?"
" Yes," I immediately replied, watching him, absently, running his fingers over the lock of hair,
" Eight o'clock."
" Be punctual. Aldo hates it when people are late so make sure that you are there on time" Mason added, as he dropped his hand on my shoulder.
" I will." I glanced up at him, " You worry for nothing" I smiled, " I'm always on time. Well, most of the time" I added giggling, trying my best to keep my hands to myself.
" That almost worries me" He placed his finger under my chin to raise my head " I got you something," He pecked my lips and reached for his jacket on the chair. Now, I was worried. Mason didn't buy gifts unless they served a purpose. The cooking book, the dress and now whatever he'd come up with, honestly, I didn't want to know.
When he finally managed to shake the jacket off his hand, he placed the box on his chest and opened it with one hand to reveal a very simple but elegant powdered pink watch.
" This would help you with your struggles" He amusedly added and took the watch out of its box.
" Your hand, please. I want to make sure you wear it tomorrow. So give me your hand so I can put it on" He went into specifics while I just ogled at the watch. This was more personal than anything he had given to me since it all started.
I absently raised my hand for him to strap the watch on my wrist while I looked at it, a bit dazed.
" Thank you," I said looking up at him with a widening grin and kissing his cheek.
" Always. But I believe that the watch deserves at least a kiss on the lips" Mason patted his lips with his finger smiling and each time he showed himself to me the deeper I fell.
Somehow, I forgot myself and found myself straddling him, most likely with an idiotic grin plastered on my face.
" Careful. You're poking the bear with a stick" Mason amusedly cautioned, with an impish grin running his hands up and down my back.
" What is the bear going to do about it ?" I challenged, playfully poking him with my finger.
Mason grabbed my hand, and kissed the tip of my finger " The bear might take the stick and poke you back" He retorted, nibbling on the tip of my fingers, devilishly grinning.
" Is that so?" I grinned back, sliding down on him, " The bear should know that I put up quite a fight. Maybe he should think twice before taking the stick," I leaned in when he let go of my hand and pressed my lips on his" Thank you for the watch " I whispered against his lips, not quite sure whether I wanted more or not" Always, Lily" He brushed the hair that curtained over my face, tucking it behind my ear. I felt the tug on my heartstrings at the softness in his voice.