The Lesson (8 page)

Bianca pushed back to meet each brutal
thrust, crying out with pleasure.

“You like that?” Mason ground out
savagely.

She moaned in response and he slammed into
her even harder.

“Answer me!” he demanded. “You like
that?”

“Mm-hm,” she moaned, nodding as he plunged
into her depths again.

“I can’t hear you.” He leaned over, one hand
finding her sensitive nub. His fingers massaged it and she
shuddered with pleasure.

“Yes! Yes, oh yes, Mason!” The fire inside
her grew until she thought her entire body might spontaneously
combust.

“You want more?” He drove into her again,
still rubbing her clit.

“Yes!” she begged, quaking beneath him.

He stopped, and she squealed in protest. “I
want to see your face when you come,” he told her, flipping her
over on her back.

He lifted one of her legs over his shoulder
and straddled the other, pushing into her again. Bianca squirmed
against him as he gripped her calf with one hand and massaged her
clit with the other, plunging into her over and over.

Bianca closed her eyes and let her head fall
back as she tried to absorb the sensations.

“No!” Mason barked, slamming into her. “Look
at me!”

She opened her eyes and stared up at him,
his gaze fierce as he watched her. He pulled back, then buried
himself inside her, his hard shaft massaging her depths as he set a
heady rhythm. The fire inside her blazed hotter and hotter with
each stroke until pure bliss overwhelmed her. “Mason!” she cried as
her climax overtook her.

He shuddered as he watched her. “Sweet
girl.” He thrust into her again and again. “You’re so damn good, I
can’t stop it. Bianca!” he called, stiffening as he poured into
her, shaking from the intensity of his orgasm.

After a moment, he let go of her leg and
collapsed on top of her. Bianca wrapped her arms and legs around
him, dropping kisses on his neck before burying her face in his
shoulder.

They lay together for several minutes until
Mason finally lifted his head and stared down at her. “I love you.”
He dropped a soft kiss on her lips and gathered her into his arms,
rolling over so she lay on top of him, pulling the comforter from
the bed over her.

She crossed her arms over his chest and
rested her chin on her hands. She smiled at him. “I love you
too.”

He pushed her hair away from her face. “I
want you to come to dinner at my parents.”

Bianca gaped at him. “What?”

“They’re having a dinner party next week. I
want you to come. As my date.” He frowned. “No, not as my date, as
my girlfriend.” He held his breath for a moment, waiting for her to
respond. “Will you come?”

“Of course,” she answered.

He exhaled, a long whooshing sigh. “They’ll
love you,” he told her. “I just know it.”

Bianca nodded, but she couldn’t help
wondering if she had imagined the tone of desperation in his
voice.

CHAPTER TEN

Bianca rushed about the house. Mason would
arrive in thirty short minutes to pick her up for the dinner party
at his parents, and she wasn’t even close to being ready.

She bathed and shaved and plucked and
tweezed and buffed until she felt like a shiny new penny. Then she
brushed her hair until her curls turned to gentle waves cascading
around her shoulders, and then twisted it all up at the back of her
head in a classic French chignon. Little tendrils teased the gentle
curve of her cheek. She’d applied minimal makeup – a little
eyeshadow, a dab of lip gloss, and she was ready.

Back in her room, she slipped on the dress
she’d scoured her favorite consignment stores for. A sheer black
sheath with a thin strap holding the bodice together, creating a
cutout just above her breasts, and another cutout that revealed
most of her back, she thought it looked sexy but still classy. She
finished the look with simple gold hoops.

Now she searched the entire house for the
new black pumps she’d purchased for the occasion.

“Nonno!” she called, her hands flapping
uselessly. “Have you seen my new shoes?”

He didn’t answer and she crouched, trying
not to kneel on her new dress as she peered under her bed to see
the shoebox tucked under the bedframe. “Never mind,” she called
again. “I found them.”

“Well, isn’t that a pretty sight,” a
masculine voice came from behind her.

Still on her knees, she twisted to peer up
at Mason.

He leaned against the doorframe, his legs
slightly crossed, and he grinned wickedly. “You can’t imagine what
I’m thinking of right now,” he whispered.

She grinned back and ran her tongue over her
bottom lip. “Oh, I believe I can think of a few things.”

His eyes darkened. “Tease,” he muttered and
helped her off the floor, pulling her close against him, his heat
cutting through both their clothes. “And as much as I’d like to
entertain that thought, we have some place to be.”

He released her and watched as she pulled
her shoes on. Turning to him, she gave him an inquiring look. “Do I
look okay?”

“You’ll be the most exquisite woman in the
room,” he assured her, then frowned. “But you know, something seems
to be missing.”

“What?” she squeaked in panic, turning to
her mirror to study her reflection.

He came up behind her and caught her gaze in
the mirror. “This maybe?” he answered, reaching around and letting
something drop from his palm. He held each end of a simple gold
chain, as a teardrop pendant slid to the middle.

Bianca gasped as she studied it. The pendant
held a brilliant green emerald the size of her pinky nail.

“It reminded me of your eyes,” he whispered
against her ear as he fastened it around her neck. It followed the
line of her collarbone and fell just above her breasts.

“Mason,” Bianca breathed, reaching up to
finger the pendant. “It looks expensive,” she said with
discomfort.

“It’s only money,” he dismissed with a wave
of his hand and smiled down at her.” Don’t even worry about it.
Besides, you’re worth it. And so much more.”

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
Bianca stared at the two of them in the mirror.
Only money?
she thought.
How can he say that? My car isn’t worth as much as this
necklace.

Because to him, it’s nothing. He’s been
sucking on that silver spoon for so long, he has zero concept of
what it’s like for people like you. You know, the little
people.

He doesn’t think of me
like that,
Bianca responded to the voice in
anger.

Of course not,
the voice mocked.
Because he’s so
far out in La-La Land, he thinks you live in this house and drive
the car you drive because it’s cutesy provincial and quaint. Like
renting a cottage in Europe and riding bicycles for the
summer.

He does not,
she argued, but deep down, part of her knew the voice was
right.

Before she could examine the idea further,
Mason interrupted her train of thought.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

She nodded and picked up her lacy black
shawl and clutch purse. “Let me say goodbye to Nonno.”

They found the old man in the living room,
snoozing in his Barcalounger.

“Nonno,” Bianca said gently, touching his
shoulder.

He opened his eyes and peered up at her.
“Ah, there you are, my sweet girl. Are you leaving?”

She nodded, studying his face. “Are you
okay, Nonno? You look tired.”

He sighed, his wrinkled face drooping a bit.
“I’m fine. Just tired and old and not feeling myself today.”

Bianca glanced at Mason with worry, before
kneeling down beside her grandfather. “I should stay home, make
sure you’re okay.” She’d never seen him looking so old, and
suddenly she was overcome with misgiving.

“Pfft!” the old man dismissed with a wave of
his hand. “Nonsense! You go have a nice time with your young
man.”

She shook her head. “I’m worried about
you.”

He smiled a little. “It tired me out
watching you run around this house all day to get ready for your
young man.” He gave Mason a mock glare. “You best take care of my
sweet girl tonight.”

“Nonno-“ she started and he cut her off.

“You get,” he said, trying to look stern.
“You look too pretty to stay home with an old man like me.”

She stared at him a moment longer
before sighing and standing up. “Fine,” she finally agreed. “As
long as you promise me to make an appointment with your doctor on
Monday. For a
full checkup
,”
she added.

“Yes, yes.” He looked at Mason. “You drag
her out of here before she changes her mind.”

Bianca hesitated a moment longer.

“My sweet girl, I will be fine,” he
admonished. “I might be an old man, but I know how to take care of
myself.” He smiled. “How long did I take care of you?”

“All right.” She leaned over to kiss
him on the cheek. “I have my cell phone with me. Call if you need
anything. And I mean
anything
,” she stressed.

“Go, go,” he dismissed them as he turned on
the television. “I’ll be fine.”

Once they were safely ensconced in Mason’s
car and speeding down the freeway, Bianca leaned back and let out a
shuddering sigh. “Did he look okay to you? He seemed so tired. Not
himself.”

Mason shrugged a little. “He seemed a little
tired, I guess, but other than that, he seemed okay.”

She pursed her lips. “He was trying to put
on a front so I’d leave.”

Mason chuckled a little. “Maybe. But you
know, he’s a grown man. He can decide for himself.”

“I know,” she answered. “You’re right.”

Mason smiled at her. “Don’t worry, Bianca.
We’re going to a party. Let’s make sure to have a good time
tonight.”

Bianca let out a shaky laugh. “I don’t know
if that’s possible.”

“Why?”

“I’m so nervous.”

“Don’t be.” He took her hand in his and
giving it a comforting squeeze. “They’ll love you. And if they
don’t, it doesn’t matter because I love you.”

She nodded. “I hope you’re right.”

A few minutes later they were turning off
the freeway and driving through Forest Park. Bianca stared as the
neighborhood turned from upper middle class to upper crust.
Finally, they turned off the main street, driving down a long,
winding driveway surrounded by great expanses of lush lawns and low
hanging trees.

When the trees parted, revealing the house,
Bianca gasped. The sprawling brick estate covered more real estate
than most of the city block she lived on. Several lampposts lit up
the circular driveway, and two valets stood waiting to help
them.

Mason stopped the car and hopped out, coming
around to help Bianca from the car as one of the valets opened her
door.

“M- Mason,” she stuttered, staring up at the
house. “This is where you grew up?”

He shrugged. “It’s not bad. Just a few
sticks and stones thrown together.”

Not bad?
Bianca gaped.
This isn’t a house,
it’s a mansion. I’m swimming with the big fish now.

More like sharks,
the little voice inside her mocked.

Shut up!

Mason held his arm out to her, and she
placed her hand on his forearm, grateful for the support as they
climbed the stairs to the front door.

An attendant at the door bowed his head
slightly. “Mr. Mason,” he acknowledged, opening the wide door for
them.

Once inside, Bianca’s eyes roamed the room,
trying to take it all in. Everything seemed to gleam, from the
marble floors under their feet to the glass on the family portraits
and photographs hanging on the walls.

A little further down a wide hallway,
several more attendants lingered outside a set of double doors,
which they opened as Mason and Bianca approached.

“This is the ballroom,” Mason whispered as
they rounded the corner.

Bianca worked to keep her mouth closed. The
room was filled with the finest dressed people she’d ever seen,
most of them draped in gold and diamonds, and all of them sparkling
as much as the crystal chandeliers dangling from the cathedral
ceilings above them.

They stood in the doorway as an older couple
glided across the room toward them. Mason leaned down to whisper in
her ear. “Put your game face on, baby, shit’s about to get
real.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Mason straightened as Bianca studied the
couple. She knew immediately these were Mason’s parents. The man
had the same wide jaw and high cheekbones, similar build, although
Mason stood a few inches taller, and the slender, regal woman
watched them with the same caramel eyes. The woman seemed to float
next to the man who strode toward them with purpose and a tumbler
of amber liquid in one hand.

“Mason, darling,” his mother said as she
took his hand and kissed the air next to his cheek, careful not to
smudge her perfect makeup or wrinkle her dazzling silver sheath of
a gown. “I’m so glad you came out tonight. You ought to come by
more often.”

“I would,” he replied as he carefully hugged
his mother. “But then it wouldn’t be such a pleasant surprise when
I do come to visit.” He turned to his father and held out his hand.
“Besides, I know better than to miss father’s yearly gala.”

“Of course you do,” the older man commented
with a lift of his eyebrow. “One must keep up appearances. That
said, I think you’ve misplaced your manners as you have yet to
introduce us to your lovely companion.”

Mason glanced at Bianca and smiled as he
placed a hand at the small of her back, urging her forward a step.
“Mother, Father, this Bianca Russo. Bianca, I’m happy to introduce
you to my parents, Vivian and Mason Freeman the First.”