Professor Cline Revealed (19 page)

I turned to see his stunned expression. I knew he wouldn’t expect any of that from me, but I was done. I wasn’t a game player. I didn’t want anything to do with it. My goal was to do something I’d never done before: be spontaneous. But my feelings were getting involved, and I couldn’t let myself get sucked down that road again.

“But I’m not going to be her, Mason. I don’t want to play games. One minute you’re a domineering, sexual alpha male, but then your demeanor changes completely and you can’t get rid of me fast enough. I have no idea who you are and you don’t know anything about me. I just…” I turned and looked back at the painting. “I don’t understand how you can be with me in such an intimate way and then completely ignore the fact there’s something between us.”

I didn’t know what else to say. The thought of telling him I just didn’t want to be with him anymore gave me an anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach. Probably because I knew it wasn’t true. I did want to be with him again; I just wanted it to be on different terms. I wanted to get to know him better. I wanted him to get to know me. Yes, we had chemistry and yes, we were attracted to each other, but I knew there was more to it than that.

It took him a while before he finally spoke.

“You’re right about most of that, Emma,” he said as I turned and looked into his eyes, noticing he was standing a lot closer to me than I had originally thought. “But I’m not playing games with you. I do the things I do because it’s the only way I’ve ever done them. You make me want to try to change, but it’s not that easy. There are a lot of things about me, about my life, that are too fucked-up to talk about. Things I’ll never discuss because they’re too personal.”

He looked over my face and slowly lifted a hand, but thought better of it and lowered it to his side. “I do want to get to know you better, if that’s what you want, but it has to be on my terms. I can’t relinquish the control. It’s not in my nature. If you think that’s something you can do, then meet me outside in ten minutes. I’ll have Carlos waiting with the car. We can go somewhere private and get something to eat, get to know one another. The choice is yours again, Emma. I don’t think you realize how much power you have over this whole situation.” He reached down and grabbed my hand, flipping it over to rub circles in my palm. “You have me right here. You just need to figure out if you want to keep me there.” Then he turned and walked away from me, getting lost in a sea of people.

I stood there staring, my hand still out in front of me. I had to take a moment to understand exactly what had just happened.

Closing my hand into a fist, I could still feel his touch on my skin. What was I going to do? I’d finally asked questions and actually got some answers in return.
Do I take that chance and get to know him better, let him get to know me better? Or do I just walk away from it all? Go to a student/teacher relationship only?

I sighed as I walked away from the painting. The only problem was I didn’t think we could ever have just a student/teacher relationship. He confused and intrigued me all at the same time, and it was infuriating. I didn’t understand why I was having that internal battle, either. I had already made up my mind to go with him when he’d suggested it. It was time for me to stop second-guessing myself.

Walking back into the crowd of people, I looked around for Melanie. I found her talking to a few suited men and headed over to meet her. When I approached, I tapped her on the shoulder.

“Excuse me, gentlemen,” she said to the men before turning to me. “There you are. Are you all right? Are you still thinking of leaving?”

I glanced around the room to see if I could spot Tim, but he was nowhere to be seen. “Yeah, I’m going to head out. I’m just not feeling it anymore. I may see what Victoria and Becky had planned and go out with them. I’m not sure.”

“Okay,” she said as she gave me a hug. “I’m so sorry about tonight. I honestly had no idea.” She pulled back and gave me a sympathetic smile.

“It’s okay, really,” I assured her. I wasn’t even thinking about the encounter anymore, just Mason. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”

I waved goodbye to her and looked around the room once more. I saw Tim and his father talking to Mr. Cline again. I needed to be able to get past the pain of seeing him because if I were to be joining the same crowds, it would be inevitable that I’d run into him again.

Taking a deep breath, I walked toward the exit with a grin on my face. I had better things to be thinking about anyway.

Mason

Seeing her outside the classroom only solidified my feelings for her. I wanted her, to feel her soft skin on mine, to hear her heavy breaths as I pounded into her. I needed it. Being with her made everything else not matter even though those things were still there, nagging my brain. Not even my transgressions could get her out of my mind. Other women didn’t compare, and it was as if the universe was out to fuck with my head. I didn’t know how to do it. I didn’t know how to be with someone. I’d been single all of my life. Telling her that was the only thing I could think to do. She was strong-willed and smart, not the kind of woman who would put up with my actions for long.

Letting someone else into my Hell would be wrong and I’d be no better than I was before, but I couldn’t just let her go. I opened up to her and said more to her in a matter of two minutes than I’d ever said to any woman. It had to mean something.

If getting to know the little bit of me I was willing to share would appease her, then I’d gladly give it to her. I just wasn’t sure she would meet me and the thought alone was a blast to my ego.

I was halfway to the exit when I saw John to the right. He was walking toward me with Rachel on his arm.

“I was hoping you hadn’t left yet.”

“And why is that? I can see you’re doing fine with your recruiting,” I replied sarcastically.

John sighed and then laughed. “Really, Mason, you should know me well enough. I don’t need to recruit; they come to me.”

He looked at me with a smug expression and I could only shake my head. He really was an arrogant son of a bitch.

I looked away from him to meet Rachel’s wandering eyes then back. “So, when’s the big day? I haven’t seen anything about a date being set in the papers. I was sure I’d have heard something by now.”

John laughed and Rachel looked over at him confused. “Go powder your nose or whatever it is you women do in the bathroom,” he said to Rachel. “I’ll find you in a little bit.” She furrowed her brow but quietly relinquished her spot and walked away.

I pulled out my phone and quickly texted Carlos to drive around with Emma until I texted him back. I had a feeling it would be a little bit before I was to leave.

John stepped closer to me and looked around the room.

“Enough of the small talk, Mason. I’m glad you came, because there is someone who would like to speak with you.”

“There is no one here I’d take the time out to speak with. I’d rather not even be talking to you,” I countered.

John scoffed. “Now, now, Mason. Is that any way to speak to your father?”

“You haven’t been my father for a long time, John, so cut this shit. What is it you want?”

He was quiet for a moment as he looked around the room. It was almost time for the auction. Every year there were auctions to raise more money for the charity they were hosting.

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready to put on your speech? A speech where you tell people you believe in the protection of women?”

He turned to look at me with a blank expression.

“Did you know I own half the people in this room?” He spoke the words as if it was an everyday conversation. Like it was normal to pay people money to keep your secrets. “Did you also know that two-thirds of these people know you killed your mother?” A slight grin curved his lips.

My face went blank as I stared at him, anger building in my chest. I knew what he was doing. I should have known better. He was playing with me, trying to get me to explode and maybe put on a scene.

I couldn’t allow myself to do that. He knew how to rile me up and he only did it when he wanted something.

“Fuck you, John,” I seethed. “I’ll ask you one more time. What the fuck do you want?”

He shook his head. “It’s not what
I
want, Mason. It’s what
he
wants.” He nodded forward and looked over my shoulder.

I turned and followed his line of sight and that was when I noticed him. I hadn’t seen him in years. Rage built in my core as he locked eyes with mine, but it immediately turned into dread.

He approached us with a smile I didn’t return and slapped me on the shoulder as if we were old friends.

“Mason, it’s been a long time.”

Donicko Black was dressed for the occasion and I could only assume John had invited him.

“Not long enough, I’m afraid,” I said in a calm tone.

John and Donicko both laughed.

“It seems like you’ve done well for yourself, Mason. All things considered.”

I widened my stance where I stood, feeling like I’d need to defend myself at any moment.

Donicko was a powerful man, more powerful than John would ever be, and I’d been in his line of sight for a long time.

“I’ve been trying to get in touch with you, but I seem to never be able to get you to pick up the phone.” He tilted his head as he looked at me with a gleam in his eyes.

I felt like I was falling down a rabbit hole with no way out. I’d been putting off his calls, so I knew he’d eventually confront me. He’d told me he would. There was no way out once you were in, even if I was there against my will. There was no changing it. I had so many negatives stacked against me.

“What do you say we get a drink?” Donicko suggested.

I stepped away from him and dusted off my jacket where he’d put his hand, as if to wipe his remnants away.

“I have somewhere I need to be.”

“Ah, yes. Emmalynn Blake, is it? You seem fond of that one.”

The rage I’d bottled up burst at the seams. “You stay the fuck away from her!” I seethed as I pointed my finger into his chest. I wanted so badly to knock him out, but I knew I couldn’t. Too many people were watching, and I had no idea who he had with him. Anything could happen, and I had a feeling John wouldn’t do a thing to stop it if it did.

Donicko laughed and kept his eyes on me, not bothered that others were staring.

I loathed him.
If I could get away with murder, he’d already be six-feet under or better yet, at the bottom of the Atlantic.

“You should get a hold of yourself, boy. We don’t want things to get out of hand, do we?”

I took a deep breath and looked from John to Donicko. I knew what he wanted. “You’re wasting your time. It’s not going to fucking happen,” I said as I turned to leave.

I felt a hand wrap around my bicep and stopped.

“Think about your life, Mason. Why you do things the way you do?” I turned to see Donicko with a smug expression on his face. He knew exactly how fucked-up I was after everything had happened. “I own you and you know it. You know it here.” He poked me on the chest with his index finger. “And here,” he continued as he tapped my temple. “It’ll never go away…and neither will I.” He dropped his hand and placed it into his pants pocket. “Don’t make me do things, Mason. You know how this will work. If you don’t want it to happen like it did last time…” He stepped toward me and leaned close to my ear. “Answer your fucking phone when I call.”

He pulled away and I gritted my teeth. Flashes of Sophia and the last time I’d seen her appeared in my mind. He was the reason I never let anyone get close.

Patting me on the shoulder, he grinned at me. “I’m glad you see the big picture, Mason. Just remember, I’m always watching. Nothing goes unnoticed.”

They both walked away from me, leaving me to stare blankly. The motherfucker was blackmailing me…again. And he fucking knew about Emma. He’d been watching me?

I turned and walked out of the gallery, trying to calm my erratic breathing. I had a sense of foreboding and anxiety inching in my veins. My dark past was at the surface and there was no way for me to hide from it. I just couldn’t drag Emma down the same dark path Sophia had to take.

Emmalynn

I was still on a high as Carlos opened the door for me. I smiled and thanked him as I slid into the leather seat. I’d never get used to the kind of lifestyle Mason lived. I opened my own door. I liked the smelly subway. The variety of people I passed by every day. They all had a story, and it was interesting to watch. But I could definitely get used to the high life.

As I sat there waiting for Mason, I thought about the words he’d spoken just a few moments before. There were things in his life he didn’t want to talk about, things that made him into the man I knew. His words just made me more curious about him. I knew he was a private man. He was, after all, the son of a very well-known attorney.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes for a moment to get myself together. He said we could get to know one another, and I wanted to know exactly what that meant. I wanted to be prepared for whatever was to come. Did he want to be exclusive, or did he just want to be fuck-buddies again? Did he want to be in a relationship and date? He said he wanted me, but that could mean so many different things.

I was zapped out of my thoughts as the car started to move. I looked to the left and right but didn’t see Mason anywhere.

I leaned forward in my seat and tapped Carlos on the shoulder. “Carlos, what’s going on?”

“Miss, Mr. Cline asked me to drive around for a few moments. He should be out shortly.”

I sat back, resting my hands in my lap as I stared out the window, wondering what was holding him up.

We’d been driving around downtown New York for twenty minutes and I had no idea what was going on. Carlos hadn’t said another word since I’d asked him, and I was starting to get annoyed.

I should just tell him to pull over so I can get out and take a taxi home. Or I could just request he take me home, but I don’t think he’d do it unless his boss ordered him to.

Letting out a sigh, I noticed we were making our way around the corner back to the museum. He pulled over to the side, in front of the building, and that was when I saw Mason standing there.

He had his phone in his hand and a pissed-off look on his face. Either something had happened or that was just his natural expression, because every time I was around him he was wearing it.

Mason opened the door, not waiting for Carlos to get out and open it for him, and slid into the seat next to me. He slammed the door closed and I immediately became uneasy.

“Is everything all right?” I asked, trying to gauge his mood.

He was staring out the side window and I could see his jaw clench before he finally turned to look at me.

“Everything is fine,” he said with a small smile. “Are you hungry?”

I nodded and glanced over his face. “I’m starved actually,” I stated. I hadn’t eaten much during the day; I was too excited to go to the event.

“Me, too.” He smiled down at me. “Carlos, take us to The Deli Shop.”

“The Deli Shop?” I asked, never hearing of it before.

He grabbed my hand and lifted it to his mouth, giving it a soft kiss before dropping it back to my lap with his hand still in mine. “Yes, it’s a favorite of mine. I go whenever I can.” He smiled again. “You said you wanted to get to know me better, so that’s where we’ll start.”

I matched his smile and turned to look out the window, giddy with excitement. I was starting to feel like this might actually go somewhere, like we had potential, but only time would tell.

~*~

The rest of the ride was filled with silence. He kept his hand in mine the whole way to The Deli Shop and I didn’t move my hand an inch, too afraid he would realize it was still there and move it. I took it as a sign that maybe good things were to come. Maybe finally voicing my opinion would solidify what we had.  He’d never held my hand before, so it gave me hope.

We pulled up to The Deli Shop a little after nine and I waited to exit the car until Carlos opened the door for me. I gave him a small smile and watched as Mason walked onto the sidewalk and headed for the door.

Making my way toward him, he opened the door for me to enter and my senses were immediately overwhelmed with the smells of fresh-baked bread. I stayed where I was in the doorway and took a deep breath, savoring the smell.

“Tony makes the best bread in town,” he stated as he placed his hand on my lower back, guiding me into the building.

It looked somewhat run-down: cracked tile flooring, old wooden countertops, and some of the tables and chairs had rusted metal. But the bread smelled so good.

I looked up to Mason to see him smiling down at me.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

I shook my head and shrugged. “I’m just surprised is all,” I replied as I glanced around again. There were only a few people in the place.

“Of what?”

I looked back at him to meet his gaze. “This doesn’t seem like a place you would eat. You seem more like a… fancy restaurant kind of guy.” I smiled.

He chuckled and looked around himself. “I used to come here when I was little with my mom,” he said, seeming lost in thought. “We’d come on the weekends when we were downtown. She’d always stop here to eat, so I always try to do the same.”

“Do you get to see her at all?” I asked. I had been introduced to Mr. Cline’s fiancée, so I knew they weren’t together.

He looked at me with a frown and shook his head before looking away. “She died when I was seven.”

Sadness flowed through me at his words. I felt like an ass for even asking, but I had no idea she’d died.

“Mason, is that you?”

I looked up to see an older man walking around the counter, heading in our direction.

Mason smiled at him and opened his arms to give the man a hug, not caring the man was wearing an apron covered in flour that would get all over his tux.

“It’s good to see you, Tony,” Mason said as he embraced the man, patting him on the back.

Tony pulled away from him and smiled. “It’s been a long time. You must not stay away for so long. Martha has missed your face.”

“How is Martha?”

“She’s good, but will be disappointed she missed seeing you,” Tony answered as his focus turned to me. “And who is this lovely lady?” He beamed.

I smiled at Tony as Mason pulled me closer to him. “This is Emma. I wanted to treat her to one of your famous club sandwiches.”

“Of course, of course. Go get a seat and I’ll get you both fixed up with your usual.”

Mason smiled at Tony. “That sounds great. Thank you,” he said as he turned and guided me to a seat.

“I take it you’ve known him for a long time?”

He laughed. “Ever since I was little.”

We took a seat and I watched him as I sat back, getting comfortable. I should’ve felt strange sitting in a run-down deli wearing the dress I was, but Mason looked so relaxed, it put me at ease.

“What were you like when you were little?” I blurted.

He tapped his fingers on the table and grinned. “Going into the questions already?”

I nodded. “Better late than never.”

He sat back in his seat and looked down at the table for a few moments before glancing back up to meet my gaze.

“I was quiet and kept to myself mostly. What about you?” he countered.

Tony arrived at our table and set bottled waters down, nodding to Mason before walking off.

I watched him retreat then smiled at Mason as I remembered my childhood. “I was a bit of a tomboy growing up. Besides my sister, I didn’t have any other girls to play with in my neighborhood; it was all boys. It wasn’t too bad, though, because I liked getting dirty.”

Mason grinned slyly. “Is that so?”

I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Dirty as in riding bikes through the woods and falling in the dirt, you perv.”

He laughed and I was enamored by his carefree behavior. I wondered how many people got to see that side of him. He wore his mask so well.

“Where exactly are you from?” he asked, just as Tony stopped at our table with two plates and sandwiches piled sky high with fresh bread and meats.

My eyes widened as I looked from the plate to Tony. “There is no way I’m going to eat all of this.” I pointed to the sandwich and laughed.

“Do not worry. We have take-home boxes,” he said with a wink and walked off.

I eyed the sandwich then Mason, who was smiling at me.

“Go on,” he encouraged, nodding toward the sandwich. “Take a bite.”

I grabbed a fourth of the sandwich with both hands and leaned in to do just that. I looked up as I began to chew and couldn’t help my moan. The meats and cheese and whatever condiments Tony used mixed with the fresh-baked bread were amazing. Mason’s gaze was centered on my mouth as he watched me finish the bite.

Self-consciously, I grabbed a napkin and wiped at my lips. “Did I get something on my face?”

He shook his head. “No, I was just admiring your mouth,” he said softly.

I averted my gaze as a blush took over my face. I was amazed that after everything he could still make me blush.

“So, where were we? Ah, yes, where are you from?” Mason asked before starting on his own sandwich.

After taking another bite and wiping my mouth, I answered. “Pensacola, Florida. Have you heard of it?”

He nodded. “What made you want to come all the way to New York and pursue a career in law?”

I shrugged. “NYU is a great school. Plus, Melanie is here.”

“Why criminal law?”

I glanced at his plate and noticed he’d already eaten half of his sandwich. I was the one who was supposed to be asking the questions.

“It’s my turn,” I stated before taking another bite. He smiled. “Why did you decide to teach instead of joining your dad? I’m sure you would be a great lawyer.”

He looked down at his plate with his eyebrows pinched for a moment before picking up his napkin, wiping his mouth, and then staring at me. “I wanted to make my own path, do things the way I wanted to do them. I’d been in John’s shadow for so long it was time I did things on my own. You’ll see when you begin to practice that lawyers have their own way of doing things. Yes, they follow the law to a certain extent, because there isn’t much you can get by without doing it, but there are those who walk a fine line.” He pushed his plate away and rested his forearms on the table as I stared into his eyes, caught on every word he spoke. “I wanted to teach so I knew good lawyers were being put out into the world.”

“So it’s a control thing,” I pointed out, causing his lip to curl up into a grin.

I was learning that he was a man who wanted control in all things in his life, which didn’t surprise me. He was intimidating and had an aura of power around him. If I hadn’t met him the way I had, I would never have had the nerve to talk to him.

“You could say that.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. That was what I had wanted, him to be open, to remove his mask for once and let me in. Even if it was only a little, it was a small step.

“This is nice,” I added when I stopped laughing.

“And what’s that?” he asked, leaning toward me a little bit more, his eyes focused on my lips.

“You. Letting go of whatever it is you hold onto so tight. There’s no tension in your expression and I’ve seen you smile more in the past ten minutes than I’ve seen since I first met you. It’s nice. You should do it more often.”

I smiled at him, but his gaze never faltered from my lips.

“You still owe me,” he said, finally looking into my eyes.

I scoffed and looked at him confused. “I owe you for what?”

“You still owe me a drink for spilling alcohol on my suit.”

I laughed and he had a smug look on his face as he pushed his seat back and stood.

“Come, let’s have a nightcap,” he said as he tossed a hundred on the table.

I looked up at him as I bit my bottom lip. After everything that had happened between us, I knew in that moment I wanted to give this a chance. I got that feeling in the pit of my stomach that there was something about him. He was someone I wanted to get to know better. I didn’t know where it would lead, but I was willing to find out.

Making my decision, I took a long drink of water before wiping my mouth and pushing myself out of the seat..

I felt like I had broken past a barrier. I wanted to keep going to see what else I could find, and there was only one way to do that: follow him.

~*~

The ride home was quiet and I could feel the sexual tension building, but it also seemed like he was starting to distance himself again.

When we finally arrived to Mason’s colonial home, he opened the door for me to enter and guided me through French doors which led to his study.

He took off his tuxedo jacket and laid it on the black leather sofa before unwrapping his bowtie and tossing it down on his desk.

I watched him, waiting for his next move. It was as if his whole demeanor had changed as soon as we left the deli. The mask he’d so easily taken off was back into place.