|
|
Nick listens from the hallway, hoping Constance's charm is working
well for her - waiting just as anxiously - wishes the dogs were with him,
and goes to release them, whispering to each in turn to be very quiet,
he sits amidst their comforting company, wondering what will happen.
Mason gazes at Constance about as surprised as she can be... flattered and confused... still not at all sure what she is supposed to do. "Comfortable? I'm ... giving up on comfortable.... I don't want to be alone anymore... too cold of a comfort." In an odd juxtaposition the image that flits across her thoughts is of a dog who chases cars, and one day actually catches one, wondering, now that I caught it what do I ~do~ with it?
"You never have to be alone again, if you don't want to be. Both Nick and I open our heart and home to you." She glances back to the hallway, hearing the telltale whine of of the dogs. Turning back to Mason, she asks, "Will you still stay the night?"
"Yes.. it's a weekend too... I don't have anything required of me tomorrow until the evening... I could stay quite a while. I'll get Brutis and an overnight bag... it'll just take me a few minutes." Mason hugs Constance again. "Thank you, Constance."
Constance grins, hugging her back with great affection. "Thank me for what? You've just made my decade." She laughs.
As she watches Mason leave, Constance smiles to herself, filled with a warmth she hasn't felt since she first met Nick. She rises from the couch and joins Nick on the floor. "She's going to stay for a few days, Nicky. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Oh yes! I never doubt your ability to sway, Constance." He smiles. "Can I take the suit off now?"
Back at her apartment, Mason greets Brutis happily. She quickly grabs a duffel and stuffs a change of clothes and underswear into it, her toothbrush and other toiletries, and zips it up. "Slumber party time, Brutis - let's go see your brother and your other friends ok?"
Brutis whines excitedly, following Mason back upstairs, wagging his tail. Mason feels excess energy and decides to run up the stairs with Brutis instead of waiting on the elevator. She arrives back to Nick and Constance's floor somewhat breathing hard from the extra exertion.
Mason waits a little outside, before starting to enter the security code to get in, in case they want to open it for her.
Constance is gathering up the remains of dinner, pausing to sample several of the dishes on her way to the kitchen, muttering to herself, "God, i love this stuff..." She looks up at the security monitor and heads to the door instead, opening it with one hand, the tray in the other. "Come on in... feel free to come and go as you please."
Brutis and Mason walk in. "Thank you... oh... there were lots of leftovers... I think Nick got enough food for about six dinners..."
"Hello there, Mr. Brutis..." Constance scratches his head affectionately, then raises her head, chuckling. "At least. He never does things half way." She smiles indulgently, closing the door after them and reactivating the security system.
Looking for Nick, Mason continues inside past Constance, who returns to her task of cleaning up, calling out, "Nick is in the bedroom changing. Go ahead and join him, if you want. I'm going to put some of this stuff to good use." She makes an example of this by fishing out a piece of chicken and eating it on her way to the kitchen.
Mason feels too shy to go into the bedroom while Nick is supposedly changing. She hangs around outside the bedroom door waiting for him.
After a minute, thinking he heard someone in the hall, Nick opens the door. He smiles warmly at Mason, and extends his hand to take her bag. "May I get this for you?" He's wearing sweatpants, with a t-shirt dangling from his other hand, caught in the act of dressing.
Mason smiles back, gives his hand a squeeze, and gives her duffel to him. "Okay, thanks!"
"I hope you don't think it too.. brusque of me... ahh.. of us," he corrects himself, smiling bashfully. "I've gone ahead and cleared out a few drawers for your things. Shall I put them up for you?"
Mason turns quite pink... "Oh... sure... show me where?"
He shifts from foot to foot, noticing her blush, and smiles, pointing to the top three drawers of the dresser cloest to the closet. Mason follows his direction and spots the location, making a mental note of it.
Her thoughts turn to the weekend ahead, and her one duty every weekend that will interrupt what she now is envisioning as a very pleasant weekend of companionship. "Nick, do you think - tomorrow evening - you'd accompany me? I have to go represent Miss Semingworth at the elysium club. She isnt going to go, and, I really dont want to go by myself."
"Of course, I'd be delighted to represent Ms. Semingsworth with you, Mason."
Mason smiles brightly... seeming pleased and relieved. "Thank you SO much. I was dreading it."
"There is no reason to thank me, I enjoy your company a great deal. Besides, Constance and I have never been to an elysium in this city."
"We can bring her too, if you think she'd like to come. I don't want her to feel pressured though if she isnt up to it yet."
Nick nods, understanding instinctively, if not intellectually. "She may, though I am not certain she is up to... socializing just yet. We will ask her."
"Okay." Mason glances at his shirt that he's still holding. Her eyes make trails along his bare chest and back up to his eyes.
Nick looks down as well, noticing her interest. "Oh. Yes, I was in the middle of something, wasn't I? I'm a tad absent minded at times. I'd quite forgotten all about it when I saw you in the hallway."
Mason grins. "I distracted you huh?"
He drops his eyes slightly as he answers, "Yes."
Mason makes a little involuntary sound as she steps toward Nick and to the side, a step in the direction of circling around him.
He watches her quietly, a calm scerenity lighting his eyes. He remains still, once again, his arousal apparent. Mason steps behind him, wraps her arms around his waist, and presses her lips to his shoulder, back of neck, kissing him softly across there. Her warm breath can be felt on his back as she murmurs against his skin... 'I love you' ... voice seeming wondering at her ability to say those words...
Nick answers very softly. "I love you too, Mason." He lays his hands over hers, enjoying the feel of her lips.
She holds him like that a few moments longer, then lets go, reluctant to stop, but overwhelmed and unable to continue. Surprising herself, she yawns, which makes her laugh softly. "I think all that rich food has made me awfully sleepy," she says.
Nicholas gestures at the bed. "You're in the right place, then?" he suggests with a smile.
Mason giggles and sits down on the side of the bed. "Are you sleepy too?"
"I'd like to sleep beside you, Mason. Yes. If you wish it."
She nods, then glances at the door. "Yes... um... would you ask Constance to ... to come join us when she finishes her dinner or whatever? That'll be... awfully nice won't it?"
"I will." Nick gives her a quick smile and goes out, talking to Constance for a few moments. While he is doing this, Mason crawls into the bed, finding it warm and slightly rumpled and very comfortable. She snuggles and finds herself drifting to sleep already when Nicholas returns, and gets in beside her, curling up with an arm wrapped around her midsection. She presses backward into his body and falls fast asleep.
She half-wakes about two hours later as Constance pulls the covers aside
a bit to join them, pulls Constance close and returns to sleep without
ever completely regaining consciousness. Her dreams are oddly innocent
in the warmth of the first human company she has had in her sleep in a
long time.
Go back to the beginning: Prologue
or go back to the Stories Page