To say I spent too long in the bathroom would be an understatement. However, it certainly helped to support the whole "sick" excuse I'd told Phil to give.

I came back to a table of mildly awkward and slightly concerned faces. One of the doctors quickly filled the role expected of his title and asked if I was okay. I mumbled a negative but vague response in the weakest voice possible before apologizing and saying I'd have to excuse myself for the evening.

Phil, of course, did his part as well. Offering to "drive me home" and all that. However, we both knew that was just for show. He wasn't going to leave an event as lucrative as this without bagging some rich fatcat. Besides, I didn't want him anywhere near me right now. Especially with what I had planned for tonight.

No, I stuck very carefully to the expected script, insisting that he stay and enjoy the evening and that I would catch a cab home instead. A chorus of polite "goodbyes" and "feel betters," a quick kiss on the cheek from Phil, and I was out the door in minutes.

The hard part was trying to contain my excitement as I headed towards the elevator. After all, I was supposed to be sick. Things like smiles, giggles, and skipping on my way there were likely to raise more than a few eyebrows in that case. And some questions from Phil as well.

So, I restrained myself. Even when the elevator doors were securely closed behind me, I made sure to keep up the show for the cameras. Same for the guards as I passed them on my way out, repeating the same weak sick excuse before giving them a small wave and heading outside.

The bus stop was still a couple blocks away. Not exactly a fun trek to make in heels. But tonight, I couldn't have cared less. The cool air of the night filled my lungs and reinvigorated my body. I felt more like I was floating than walking. Besides, I doubted I'd be on my feet for much longer. Not once Mason got ahold of me at least.

That little thought helped bring a smile to my face and put some pep into my step. In no time, the bright lights of the nearby supermarket lit up in front of me. A smattering of random commuters dotted the area around the bus stop. No doubt waiting for the next one to arrive.

Without a word, I sat at the furthest edge of one of the benches and pulled out my phone. The standard protocol for "please, nobody talk to me." I checked my messages again, but there was nothing new. I guess he really did get into the car right after I sent it.

After a few minutes, the bus did, in fact, arrive. Slowly, the area around me cleared out as everyone piled onto the bus.

"Miss, the bus is leaving," a random guy called out to me.

I glanced up and gave him a polite smile. "It's fine. I'll catch the next one. I'm still waiting on someone."

He gave a small shrug before turning and hopping on the bus himself. The doors hissed closed a second later and the bus gently rumbled away.

I was alone now. A terrifying thought for most women I'm sure. Being alone at a random bus stop in the middle of the night. But for some reason, I felt surprisingly calm. The air was silent. Only interrupted by the occasional passing car or distant dog bark. As if the universe was doing everything in its power to give me some privacy tonight.

I pulled out my phone to check the time again. There wasn't much traffic this time of night. With any luck, he should be here any minute now. Although, I guess I couldn't say that for sure. After all, a million and one things could happen between here and there.

A car horn suddenly interrupted these brooding thoughts. And nearly scared me out of my skin in the process. I whipped my head in its direction only to see Mason smiling at me from behind the glass. All at once, my racing heart switched from one of shock to one of excitement. I hopped up, tucking my phone back into my clutch as I hurried to the car.

"Hey, need a lift?" he teased as I opened up the door.

I didn't even hesitate as I slid into the seat next to him and closed it behind me. "Why, yes. Thank you. How can I ever repay you for this?"

"Oh, I've got a few ideas," he hinted, pulling back onto the street.

Neither of us really said anything after that, but the car was far from "silent." The growing tension between us had the air buzzing and crackling with raw sexual energy.

Maybe that's why he kept his distance just as much as I kept mine. Because we both knew. One touch. That was all it would take. One small touch between us was all it would take to send the electricity racing through our bodies and have us pawing at each other in seconds. Not exactly the safest thing to do while driving, but God, it sure was tempting.

That temptation, ironically enough, was the only thing keeping me from actually doing anything about it. Instead, it kept my mind occupied with all the possibilities. What would he do if I offered myself to him right now? Would he do his best to resist and tell me to wait until we arrived? Would he touch me while we were driving? Or would he pull the car over right then and there so he could have me immediately?

These wild thoughts raced through my mind, sending jolts of electricity between my legs. I still wasn't sure exactly where we were going tonight, but wherever it was, I could definitely say one thing about it: we weren't getting there fast enough.

All impatience and joking aside, I didn't really have high expectations for wherever he was taking me. After all, I called him out last minute on a Saturday night. I doubt there were too many places accepting last-minute reservations. If he even made a reservation at all.

No, I was pretty much expecting some cheap, off-road motel. Not exactly a five-star luxury penthouse, but it would be clean and serve our purposes for the night.

At least, that's what I expected. Which is why I was a little surprised as I noticed him driving past two or three such places as we traveled down the highway.

"I think there are some motels over there," I commented, wondering if maybe he didn't see them.

He made a disgusted noise, but I noticed the smile as clear as day on his face. "Ugh. You really think I'd take you to one of those? Come on, have a little more faith in me than that."

"Then where exactly are we going?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Somewhere a lot nicer than the Bedbug Inn, I'll tell you that," he laughed.

It didn't take a genius to realize that he clearly wasn't going to tell me where we were going. A fact that only helped to pique my curiosity. Again, I hadn't expected much more than a fleabag motel, so whatever he seemed to have planned already far exceeded my expectations for the evening.

As the night grew darker, the scenery grew less and less familiar around me. Although, in all honesty, I doubt the darkness actually had much to do with that.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd been this far from the suburbs. Going to Phil's work events in the city was usually as far as I traveled. Hell, even going out with Shirley or one of the other wives from the neighborhood, we rarely went beyond the city. It was like I was traveling to another country or something.

That thought was a lot more depressing than it was exciting. I let out a small sigh as I stared out the window at the unfamiliar shadows.

"Long ride?" he asked, giving a sheepish smile.

"Ah, no. Sorry. I was just thinking about how I never get out of town like this," I explained.

"What, your husband doesn't take you out?"

"Not unless you count things like this," I said, gesturing towards my outfit. "After all, what good is a trophy wife if you're not showing it off to others?"

"Honestly, I've never really understood that mindset," he said, shaking his head. "I mean, I get it to some degree. It is nice to have something pretty to show off to others, but... Well, shouldn't that be a more secondary reason for having one?"

"Secondary?"

"Well, think about it," he explained. "Usually, when you get a trophy, it's because you achieved something right? I mean, at the end of the day a pretty thing is just a pretty thing. And yeah, that's fine and all, but what's the point of having something like that if there's no meaning behind it? After all, anyone can technically go out and buy a trophy. It's what you did to earn it that makes it so special.

Call me crazy, but I'd like a wife with a little more substance than just being a 'pretty thing to show off.' Not that there's anything wrong with that of course," he added quickly. "I mean, to each his own, but it's just not what I'm looking for in a wife. I want somebody I could be proud of anywhere at any time, no matter how she looks. And, honestly, I kind of hope she'd hold me to the same standard too."

It was a nice sentiment. Certainly a breath of fresh air compared to the way I heard a lot of guys talk about women and relationships. Still, there was something in what he said that nagged at me.

"Hey, Mason? Why aren't you married?"

"Huh?" He seemed completely caught off guard by the question.

"Sorry, it's just... Well, when we first started doing... all this," I explained, gesturing around vaguely, "I assumed you just weren't interested. You know, like a lifelong bachelor kind of thing. But the more I talk to you, the more that doesn't seem to be the case. If anything, it sounds like you're really interested in finding someone and settling down. So, why haven't you? I mean, I get that 'soulmates' don't exactly pop up overnight or anything. But still. You really haven't found anybody you're interested in?"

He sighed, giving a small shrug. "Well, you weren't completely wrong about me. I wasn't interested in marriage. Until pretty recently, at least. I spent most of my twenties fooling around and playing the field. It wasn't until a couple years back that I got bored with all that and started looking to settle down, but... God, I am not liking my options so far."

"Really?"

"Let me put it this way: you just came from some corporate hell office party, right? Would you want to marry any of the women there? Or even date them?" I grimaced at the thought. "Exactly. Believe it or not, my social circle isn't actually too different from yours. So, the women you see are the women I see. And given those options... well, I think you can understand a little better why I'm still single, right?"

I gave him a weak smile. "I guess, but why not just keep 'playing the field' then? See if any good options pop up along the way?"

"Nah, all the good ones are already married anyway. I'm better off poaching somebody else's," he teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Wow, 'poaching.' What am I? An elephant?"

"Well, you're certainly a tiger in the sack," he said, winking.

"Oh my god," I mumbled, closing my eyes and pinching the bridge of my nose.

His laughter rang out next to me loud and genuine. I shook my head and turned towards the window. It was all I could do to keep the cheesy smile from slipping onto my face.

This was what I wanted to do this evening. This was where I wanted to be. Not in corporate hell with its fake smiles and relentless ass-kissing. I wanted to be here. In the car. With Mason. Laughing, teasing, and having an overall good time. And this was before the sex.

The tingling quickly returned between my legs at that little reminder. It was almost amazing really. I mean, bad sex is easy to forget about. Or to want to forget about, at least. But good sex? It really said a lot about him that he could make me forget something like that so easily.

I must have been deep in thought because the next thing I knew, Mason was tapping on my shoulder. I turned towards him only to realize the car had stopped in some kind of parking lot.

Mason smiled at me, but unlike earlier, there was something hungry in his gaze this time. He stared at me in a way that sent shivers down my spine and sparks shooting through the rest of my body. My heart raced as he opened his mouth and murmured those three long-awaited words to me.

"Hey, we're here."