Made to Love, page 14
Mason felt her face turn red. Lately, the conversations had indeed gotten a bit more serious. Nikki was a hell of a flirt; that much Mason was learning. Her texts had gotten more suggestive, which lit a fire in Mason’s belly. Seeing Nikki face-to-face and having Nikki touch her skin in a blatant invitation was almost more than Mason could handle with all the people around them. She toyed with how much to reveal to Marly. “I’ll just say things are progressing nicely. We have talked a bunch in the last few weeks. She’s not at all what I thought. I kind of saw this edgy, balls-to-the-wall woman who didn’t give a rat’s ass what people think about her, but she’s got a soft heart hidden under all that purple. I think she hides behind that to protect herself.”
“Is she thinking about sticking around?” Again, a feeling of sadness washed through Marly. She assumed it was the idea of losing one of the few friends she actually let her guard down for. “I would think a long-distance relationship wouldn’t be very easy.”
Mason shrugged. “I don’t know. I think it’s probably too early to start thinking relationship.”
“Why are you working so hard to get her if you aren’t planning on keeping her?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want long term. I just think it’s too early in the relationship to think that far out. We haven’t even kis…” Mason stopped abruptly. Her stomach jumped at the mere thought of their first meeting. They had kissed. As a matter of fact, they had almost done a whole lot more. “I’m taking it slow.”
“Whoa-ho-ho, back up, pussycat.” Marly turned in her seat and shot Mason with a penetrating glare. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Mason blushed and groaned loudly. “We may or may not have made out the first time we met.”
“Oh, girl, how long were you planning on keeping that from me?” Marly shook her head in disbelief. “I thought we were doing all this to win her over, but you already have her.”
“Not exactly. That night doesn’t count. She was upset and a little tipsy. Besides, I want it to be based on something real and not some drunken make-out session. It isn’t just about her, though. It’s for me. I know I have things that I need to change.”
“Says who?” Marly studied Mason with a critical eye. “I said tweaking. That is an entirely different beast than changing yourself for someone. I think you’re amazing just the way you are.”
“Yeah, but it’s just you. You’re my friend; you’re supposed to think that. Nikki, well, she’s different. She’s…”
Marly flopped back in her seat. “She’s a gorgeous, alluring, sexy woman, and I’m chopped liver. I don’t have the same high standards like she does, so of course I think you’re wonderful.”
“Marly, I’m sorry.” Mason reached over and squeezed her hand. “That is not what I meant at all. I just meant Nikki has traveled the world. She's sophisticated. She’s been courted by rich women who have no problem dancing and don’t wear overalls as their everyday attire. I want to make sure I stack up to what she is used to.”
“Mm, not making it any better. I say if she doesn’t like you for you, then move on. Don’t waste your time on her.”
“She’s not like that. It’s my insecurities that make me feel inadequate, not her.”
“You promise? Mason, promise me that you won’t let her change who you are inside. You have a wonderful heart. And you’re not grotesque to look at.”
“Jeez, thanks.”
“I’m teasing.”
Mason slowed the car down and pulled into her driveway. “So, you will still help me out?”
“Yes.” Marly couldn’t help smiling. The sad look in Mason’s eyes was enough to break down any walls she tried to erect. “Come on.”
Mason followed Marly between the houses and up the stairs to the porch. Marly knelt down and pulled a key from beneath the doormat. “This means I don’t have to drag a purse everywhere I go.”
“You’re a very trusting woman.” Mason hid the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. Anne was the same way. She left her front door unlocked all the time. In the idyllic town of Burlington, not much happened as far as crime went, but Mason wouldn’t be caught dead leaving her house, and especially her garage, unlocked. She had way too much money invested in her welding equipment.
“It seems this was always the place I felt safe.” Marly opened the door and led them inside. “I’m going to change clothes real quick. Make yourself at home.”
Mason watched Marly disappear up the stairs then wandered into the living room. She had been in the house countless times over the years, but now it seemed different somehow. Maybe it felt less inviting without Anne here, less cozy. Her eyes roamed around the room. Marly had left everything the same. It took several seconds before Mason realized that it was the smell of baking that was missing. Anne was always in the kitchen, whipping up Mason’s favorite cookies or homemade bread. It was something Mason realized she missed very much.
“Okay, I’m ready.” Marly joined Mason in the living room. She changed from her jeans and polo to cutoff jean shorts and a T-shirt. “I’ll admit right now, my methods aren’t what you would expect.”
Mason’s eyes traveled the length of Marly’s well-sculpted body. She didn’t mean to, but as she drank in Marly’s curves and the fullness of her breasts, which, up until now, had gone wholly unnoticed, Mason moaned appreciatively.
“Huh?” Marly didn’t look up from the TV, so she missed the heat in Mason’s cheeks.
“Uh, nothing. I was just remembering the times Anne and I would gather here and watch TV. She was a Desperate Housewives junkie.” Mason paused when Marly bent over to insert a disc into a player on the entertainment center. She swallowed guiltily at the thoughts that her friend’s body put in her head. That’s right, Mason, she’s your friend. It’s just your hormones talking. Truth be told, it probably was as simple as that. Mason ignored the pounding in her chest and slowed her breathing back down. It was as simple as Mason needed to get laid. Right now, the wind could change directions and she would probably get turned on. Focus on Anne. That’s a safe topic.
“That sounds like Mom. She loved Days of Our Lives when I was growing up.” Marly grabbed a controller and pushed play. “Ready?”
Before Mason could make a comment about the lack of music, the room filled with the sound of “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk. She watched as Marly started to dance side-to-side then rotate in her arms in perfect time with the music and mirroring the moves on the television. Marly moved with each new step effortlessly. Mason stared in complete awe as her body gyrated in time with the beat. When the song ended, the only move that seemed remotely familiar to Mason was the running man.
“Did…you…get…the…idea?” Marly huffed between words and flopped down in the chair. “That…is…a…workout.”
“Yes…no.” Mason nodded helplessly. Honestly, she didn’t get it at all. Even when she saw the character on the game do a step and Marly translate it into real life, she was completely lost.
Marly laughed out loud. “I can promise you; it took me a while to get it down. I looked like a complete buffoon the first few times I did it. But for the latest dance stuff, this game is great. Just give it a chance. I promise you will pick up enough moves to fool Nikki.”
“I’m willing to try it.” Mason pushed her out of the chair. “Okay, tell me what to do.”
“First, let the sensor pick you up. There’s no controller with the Kinect. See how it shows your body in green.”
Mason nodded and moved her arms around wildly. The infrared figure on the screen mirrored her movements. She strummed a fake guitar in wide, sweeping arches then fell to one knee dramatically.
Marly smothered a snort. “That’s great…if you are going to some underground 80’s hairband revival party. I looked up the club and Higher Ground is not that. You might want to get serious.”
Mason might have almost believed the stern warning if it weren’t for the smirk on Marly’s face. “Yes, Ms. Cabot.” She recited the line in a sing-song voice, and her player jumped sideways as Mason dodged the playful punch that Marly threw. “Okay, okay, I’m serious. Let’s do this.”
Marly talked Mason through choosing an avatar, picking her song and hitting play. “Mm, “Gangnam Style”. Starting off with a good one.” Assuming that Mason had gotten the idea of how to follow the directions from the dancers as they scrolled below, Marly stepped aside.
Mason shook her hands at her sides and cracked her neck. She wasn’t sure she agreed with Marly’s methods, but she was willing to try anything. Seconds later, the music started, and she tried her best to imitate what Marly had done just seconds before. She put her hands on her hips and kicked to her left, trying to keep up with her avatar. As soon as she got the move down, the screen changed. Mason, bless her heart, tried to do the downward steps, mirroring the movement with her hands. It took her seconds to realize that she looked like a chicken strutting around the yard, flapping its wings. She tried hard to stay with it, but when the next move required crossing her arms and kicking her feet forward like a Russian dancer, she dropped her chin in defeat. “This may work for normal people, but clearly not someone with two left feet.”
Marly smothered a laugh and plastered the serious look of a teacher on her face. “Let’s try it as a couple. See the characters at the bottom of the screen. They will slide across the bottom right before the next series of steps starts and give you the moves. Like this guy who looks like he is holding a bucket of water with the arrow pointing up and down. He’s actually doing this.” Marly lifted her left knee then her right knee and pushed her clasped hands toward the floor. She repeated the move slowly a few times then sped up and did it in time with the music that played earlier.
“I think I can do that.” Mason mirrored the step, albeit it more slowly than Marly. When she was able to do several in a row, her face broke into an expectant grin. “Was that it?”
Marly bit her lip and nodded. Mason’s moves looked more like someone digging a hole with a shovel, but it was a start. And, maybe, Mason just invented some new move called the digger that would sweep through the club. “Let’s do two-player. Some of the moves won’t be the same for both of us, but watching me should help you with a few club-worthy moves.” Marly lined up the next song, and they jumped right into a song by One Direction. An hour later, she chose “C’Mon” by Keisha. They started out serious and Mason actually had a lot of the moves down, but when she tried to do something similar to a jumping jack and couldn’t get her arms and legs to jump in tandem, Marly doubled over and busted out laughing. “All those moves and jumping jacks stop you in your tracks?”
Mason smiled sheepishly. “Never have been able to do one. Sad, isn’t it?” She wiped perspiration off her brow and let out a deep sigh. “I guess that’s about as good as it’s going to get.”
“Okay.” Marly pressed a button on the console and removed the disc. “For what it’s worth, you didn’t do too bad once we started dancing together. Hey, if you’re hot, I have bottled water in the fridge.”
“Yes, thank you. Want one?”
“Please.” Marly popped the disc back into its case and set it on the shelf. She picked up a remote and thumbed through her TV guide until she found the music channels. She settled on something slower, and her body started to sway on its own.
“Slowing it down, huh?” Mason handed Marly a water then swigged half of her bottle.
“I thought you might want to learn to slow dance, just in case.” Marly held the cold bottle to her face and closed her eyes. Another out of character scene painted itself in her head. She was in Mason’s arms with her head resting against her chest. She inhaled slowly, burning Mason’s scent into her brain. Marly opened her eyes and looked guiltily at Mason, but she didn’t need to worry. Mason wasn’t even paying attention to her.
Mason moved through the jumping jack slowly. She looked very serious as she swung her arms over her head and tried to jump out at the same time. She was getting closer, but still couldn’t quite nail the timing.
“I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to be doing a lot of calisthenics at the club, at least not the ones that take you back to grade school.”
“Mm, probably not.” Mason took a quick sip of her water. “I was actually avoiding the slow dancing. Ever see the cartoon where someone gets their foot run over with a steamroller, and they end up with a flat foot the size of Texas. I see that in your future.”
“Quit it, Coyote. You’re not going to hurt me.”
“Not on purpose anyway. I think that in normal circumstances, I should come with a hazard label. The risk of engaging in any activity with this person could result in injury. Extreme caution should be taken.”
“You forgot swim at your own risk, no lifeguard on duty.”
"Or misuse of this toy could cause death. The seller assumes no responsibility for the use of this item outside the recommended usage.” Mason laughed at herself. “You should probably sign a waiver; I don’t want to get sued later.”
“I’ll take my chances.” Marly set her bottle down and narrowed the distance between them. “This song is perfect. Let’s teach you to dance.”
Mason recognized “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin and she chuckled softly. “Man, this brings back memories. My old man took me to see Top Gun at the theater. Probably, a bit racy for a nine-year-old.”
“Umm, yeah, I’m thinking so. However, it was an awesome song.” Marly held her right hand up and pulled Mason’s arm around her waist. She signaled for Mason to clasp her hand. “Show me what you got.”
Mason gulped nervously and looked down at her feet. She scooted them back slightly before she started to step back and forth and rock her body from side-to-side. “How’s this?”
“You’ve decided to relive the Sadie Hawkins dance. That’s one way to do it.” She pulled Mason tightly toward her, inhaling sharply when their bodies met. Marly felt her stomach flutter. She licked her lips and pushed the feelings as far down as she could before meeting Mason’s eyes. “Can you feel the way my body leans into yours?”
“Yes.” Mason nodded nervously. Marly wasn’t supposed to feel so good in her arms. This wasn’t what she wanted. Mason willed herself to focus on just the task at hand and not the soft body pressed tightly against her, waking up sensations that she thought were reserved for someone else.
“You’re going to use that closeness to tell me where you want me to move.” Marly took a step forward, the closeness forcing Mason to step backward. “Use the tension in your arm, your palm on my back and your hips to move me around the floor. You’re leading; you're in control. This is how you tell your partner what your intentions are.”
Mason nodded. She tested it slowly by moving her foot forward just as Marly had done. She was surprised when Marly moved her foot backwards. “It worked.”
“See.” Marly leaned over and hit rewind on the remote. The beginning of the song started again. “Now listen to the rhythm of the music. Let your body move in time with that.”
“Okay.” Mason closed her eyes and listened for several beats before she opened them and met Marly’s gaze. The intensity of it clenched Mason’s chest tightly. She took a deep breath, ignoring the ache in her heart, and took her first tentative step. Surprisingly, Marly moved with her. Soon, Mason’s steps became less unsure. She felt comfortable leading Marly around the floor. It was a feeling that Mason wasn’t ready for. To break the spell, Mason pulled her hand away and spun Marly awkwardly. “I’d say that move needs some work.”
Marly laughed and agreed. “It’s a good start, though. You only got me once.”
“Oh, no. Are you serious?” Mason groaned loudly. “I told you.”
“It’s okay, besides it was just my toes.” Another slow song started and Marly smiled. “I am just going to go out on a limb here and say that Nikki probably won’t be dancing with you this way, so I’m going to show you one more thing.” She took Mason’s arms and placed them around her waist then slid hers around Mason’s neck and clasped her fingers together. “This is the bread and butter, honey. This is where you will show her just what you can do with that body of yours.”
Mason gulped nervously.
“It’s okay, just like the last song. Listen to the music and let your body respond. You’re actually really good at this.” Marly stepped forward until her body brushed against Mason’s. She put her head on Mason’s shoulder and waited for her to move.
“You really think so?” Mason felt Marly nod against her chest, and she started to relax. She closed her eyes and just listened, letting the song move through her for several beats before she moved her hips in time with the music. She could feel Marly move with her, their bodies pressed together in a way that made everything seem right. Mason tightened her arms and continued to sway. As they danced, Mason began to pay attention to other things. The sweet smell of Marly’s hair, the soft suppleness of her body, the way her arms clung to her like a second skin, every small nuance that made this dance so perfect in Mason’s head.
Marly sensed the change in Mason right away. It wasn’t something tangible that she could put into words, but more a feeling of something different; something that made her think of tomorrow, where normally she only lived for today. It made her heart flutter in her chest. The feeling of being consumed burned in her stomach with delicious intensity. Marly couldn’t remember a time when she felt so at home with someone or with herself. The thought should have comforted her, but instead it scared her. All of this wasn’t for her. Mason wasn’t falling for Marly. This dance between them was Marly grooming Mason for someone else. Everything she taught Mason or helped Mason improve upon was for another woman. Marly had no right to want her the way she did. Mason wasn’t hers to take. But the feeling of Mason’s arms around her, their bodies pressed together felt right. Despite what her mind screamed at her, her body knew a different truth. It only knew how good it felt to be in Mason’s arms.
Mason could feel Marly’s hands against her neck. Her fingers twitched every few seconds, and she knew something was bothering her. She wasn’t sure if she should press. Their friendship, though more open now, was still new and fragile. Mason didn’t want to push her away by delving too deep into her head without being invited. Instead, she did what came naturally to her and that was to pull Marly closer to her in hopes of offering silent comfort and letting her know that she was safe to confide in.
