Page 7 of Irresistible Little Ivy

“You’re right,” Mason interrupted me, “you have been working too hard. Take some time off. I’m worried about you, buddy. You’re not acting like yourself.”

Ignoring him, I continued, “Mason, I’m telling you, there’s something between us. I don’t know what it is, I can’t explain it, but the feeling is electric. When I touched her, I swear my skin hummed like I was touching a low-voltage live wire. Not in a bad way, it felt… intense. And that was just from touching her face when I was afraid she had frostbite. Poor girl’s lips were purple.”

“Wait, wait,” Mason wandered back to the couch and slumped onto it with a defeated sigh. “Why did you think she had frostbite?”

I smiled at the memory of her indignant expression when I’d scolded her for not having a jacket. “She was distracted and forgot her coat. She didn’t think it was a big deal and refused the shuttle driver’s offer of having a jacket brought to her from the Ranch. Then she said she got distracted by admiring the full moon and spaced out a bit. By the time she made it up the walkway, she was frozen. In her defense, she’s from Miami and she’s never experienced weather like ours. You wouldn’t know it, though. She has pale as cream skin and the prettiest blonde hair with hints of red. And her lips, man, when they weren’t blue they were a very lush pink. Full, kissable, pink lips…”

“My, my, my,” Mason drawled as he crossed one leg over the other and tapped his finger to his chin. “Look at you, all starry-eyed and shit.”

“Fuck you.” I moved his jacket and shoes to the side, then sat on the couch across from his.

Mason gave me a cocky grin that made me want to punch him. “Sensitive about her, aren’t you. What does she look like?”

“Sexy,” I said instantly. “Maybe late twenties or early thirties with a slender body. Except for her ass. She has a round, full ass.” Mason grinned at me and I smiled back. “Yeah, you know I’m an ass man. Anyways, she also has this air of… I don’t know… confidence about her. Like she knows who she is. I can’t explain it. She’s just very sure of herself and I find that sexy as hell.” I realized I was babbling about her by this point but didn’t seem to be able to stop myself. “Also, she’s a brat. A funny one. I’ll be laughing as I spank her fat little rear, that’s for sure. She’s petite, and pale enough that even a hint of a blush turns her cheeks pink. Hazel eyes, little more green than gold, and a smirk that makes me want to tie her up and make her scream out her orgasms. I swear she mouths off just to see what I’ll do. Daring me to punish her.”

I had to adjust myself and Mason rolled his eyes. “You like your subs sweet and cuddly. Obedient rule followers. I can’t even picture you with a brat.”

“I never thought of topping a brat, until I met her.” I held my hand up to just under my chin. “Little thing, only comes up to my chin, but her attitude—her confidence—makes her seem ten feet tall. She doesn’t back down and she likes to poke the bear. Weirdest thing is, when she stood up to me, when she told me flat out her rules and boundaries, I liked it. I enjoyed how she was being honest, how she was clearly laying out how she felt, no mysterious bullshit. I like her, Mason, in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. I want to take care of her. Discipline her. Watch her have fun and laugh with her. She is so funny, in an odd way, and we click.”

“And you just met her,” he drawled before letting out a sigh. “Caleb, maybe you need to slow down for a minute and think about this.”

“I have thought about this. Yes, I just met her, but I have a feeling about her and I need to chase it.” I shrugged. “I didn’t get her last name, but I know she’s here for Spirit Week. I’ll attend the event, then I just need to find her and convince her to give me a chance. If I’m right, and the pull between us goes both ways, she won’t be able to resist me for long. I’m going to make that Middle brat mine.”

“Whoo hoo, Middles are usually full of saucy fun.” Mason shook his hands as if they were hot, the thick silver cuff he wore on his left wrist catching the light. “You ever topped a Middle before?”

“Not that I can remember. Why?”

Mason smiled and shook his head ruefully. “Like I said before, you like your women obedient. I personally, find that boring but it seems to be what you enjoy. If this is true, you may not vibe as well with someone who is really in touch with their rebellious teenager side.”

I let out a low hum. “Actually, I think I’d do well with that dynamic. It could be lots of fun, with the right woman. Yeah… I’d like to have a bratty Middle to call my own. I’d have so much fun punishing her. I wonder what she likes…”

Sighing, I let some of the tension that rode me ease away. Forcing my shoulders to drop, I took in a deep breath, then slowly let it out, my gaze going back to the window. I did my best thinking outdoors and found the solitude of the wilderness recharged my batteries. As a talent recruiter I spent a lot of time surrounded by large masses of humanity and noise. The deep silence of a snow-filled country night healed something inside of me. There were fewer lights out there now than before, and a darkness had settled over the vast landscape on this overcast night. More snow was on the way, and I wondered if we’d get buried one more time before the warmth of spring started to show up.

“Spirit Week starts tomorrow,” Mason said as he grabbed and opened his tablet. “I’m giving you a VIP pass. That, along with your relationship with the staff, should get you into whatever classes you need. As a talent recruiter you’ve interacted with all of professors and instructors at some point or another.”

My heart beat a little faster and anticipation had my blood rushing. “That’ll work. Look, I’m not going to stalk her or anything. I just want a chance to get to know her.” The memory of her feisty smile made my heart warm and my dick hard. “Wait until you see her. She lights up a room with her presence.”

“Uh-huh.” Mason looked up from the keyboard, his expression serious as he said, “I don’t need to tell you that asking myself or the staff for any information on her is strictly forbidden. For that you need to ask Derek directly. And I don’t need to mention that you must disclose to her that you work here before you become intimate with her. These are things you know and understand, correct?”

After an initial flash of offense, my logic prevailed as I reminded myself that despite all his kidding around, Mason was a stickler for the rules and consent. He liked to make sure everyone was on the same page, and while it annoyed me, I respected his work ethic.

“Yes, yes. She already knows I work here. And I’m not going to be all weird. When have I ever taken time off in order to spend it with a guest? Never? Besides the fact that I would never do it, we have software that tracks my every move. You’d know if I was browsing Rawhide’s records where I didn’t belong. But I wouldn’t do that because I have ethics.”

My voice came out a bit loud by the end, but it did piss me off to have my integrity questioned.

Mason rubbed his face so hard it stretched out a bit before he slapped his cheeks, then let out a harsh breath. “Right, sorry, but it had to be said. Now, with that bit of nastiness over, let’s talk clothing and character. Who are you going as?” Sitting back, Mason recrossed his long legs in the opposite position as he gave me a critical look.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your character.” Mason held his hands out to me with his eyebrows raised. “This is a theme week, my friend. The good old 1980s. These people take their Spirit Week themes seriously. I’ve been working with a student council volunteer group that helps host this event. They have invested a lot of time and effort into making sure our events are up to their standards. When you walk into Spirit Week, you’re supposed to feel transported to whatever time period this year’s event is. I swear I have told you this before.”

“You have.” I sighed and placed the heels of my palms against my eyes. “Sorry, my brain is fried.”

Mason gave a heavy sigh, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders and he had to explain something obvious to a moron. “If you don’t blend in fashion-wise, you won’t stand a chance of winning your fair maiden’s hand. And you need a haircut.”

I ran my hands through my hair, now reaching past my ears and down almost to almost my jaw. “I don’t like to get haircuts in the winter. You know this. It makes my head freeze.”

Rolling his eyes, Mason drummed his fingers on his knee as he returned to examining me. “What role are you going to play? You’re a Dom so you can pretend to be teacher if you want, but it might limit some of the social situations where you’d find your bratty Middle. You could be a Senior. Maybe one of the burnout crowd.”

---