Mason. Alone with me in my apartment. The two together threw my breathing all out of whack and made Eva’s warning—don’t do it, don’t do it—whirl through my brain.
He snorted. “Hey, you’re not leaving me in there by myself with fifty other Eva Mercers lurking about. I might be molested before you returned.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, my God. Drama much?” But really, I wasn’t all that certain he was joking.
Did every drunk girl throw herself at him?
Okay, that was a stupid question. If I were drunk right now and all my inhibitions went bye-bye into alcohol land, I’d be throwing myself at him.
“Well, just don’t expect me to jump in front of you like some kind of human shield if any frisky females come flying out the shadows to ambush you for a freebie.”
He chuckled as we started up the steps to my apartment. “I’ll be sure to toss you in front of me against your will, then.”
“Ha, real funny, smart ass.” I paused to fiddle with my keys in the dark.
To be perfectly honest, I was kind of glad to have him with me. There wasn’t a nightlight outside the doorway to my loft, and standing in the dark alone during one of Eva’s keggers didn’t sound appealing. What if some drunk Jeremy-wannabe stumbled across me and tried to get frisky?
Mason was quiet as I fumbled, and I relished the sturdy, protective feel of his presence.
“Here we go.” Finding the right key, I unlocked the door and pushed my way inside.
I hadn’t thought to clean before leaving for the party. My place wasn’t a disaster by any means, but it looked well lived in. My Brit Lit book hung open on the coffee table. Yes, I was still in Dr. Janison’s class, and passing—whew. A throw blanket lay wadded on the couch. A handful of dishes were piled in the sink, and I’d yet to toss the empty latte cup I’d run out to get this morning for breakfast.
Mason seemed to take everything in as he slowly wandered around the living room and kitchen space.
Nodding, he murmured, “Yeah, I have to say, you were right. This is pretty awesome. I could live here with no problem.” He strolled toward the table in front of the window unit and snagged an apple from my fruit basket.
I shook my head. “You just couldn’t resist, could you?”
His eyes glittered with amusement as he sank his teeth in the apple’s pulp. “What? Resist your forbidden fruit? Hell no.” Then he winked as he chewed. “What do you think of them apples?”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “I think your pun is corny and pathetic.” And completely adorable.
He laughed and took another massive bite. “So, where’s this book?”
“In my room.” Hugging book one of the series to my chest, I left him eating and dashed into my small sleeping nook. Flipping on the light, I tossed The Sorcerer’s Stone onto my unmade bed and knelt in front of the mini bookshelf set up under my window.
Finding book number two almost immediately, I slid it free and stood. Whirling away to hurry back to Mason, I found him the doorway, still chewing slowly as he watched me.
“Oh!” I yelped and skidded to a halt. “There you are.”
Heat covered my body like a rash. I suddenly felt the presence of my full-size bed only three feet away as if it were a living thing, breathing hot air down the back of my neck to remind me of its existence. I pulled my hair into my hand only to let it go again. But the sensation remained. I think as long as Mason stood in my room, I’d be hyperaware of any available flat surface.
“Do you…I mean…” I swallowed and took a breath. “You can take the entire series now if you’d like. That way you won’t have to wait between each book until I can get the next one to you.”
“I don’t mind waiting.” His gaze was direct and meaningful. “In fact, I like building up the anticipation.”
Whoa. Were we still talking about books?
I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.
As if completely oblivious to my growing arousal, Mason turned toward my dresser and examined all my personal effects on top. I felt exposed, probably more exposed than if I’d been standing in front of him naked. He smiled softly as he set his half-eaten apple down and picked up my favorite lotion.
Knees turning to jelly as he flipped open the top and took a deep sniff, I could only watch as he glanced at me. “You wore this Friday.”
No way in the world could my vocal chords work. I simply nodded.
He turned the label and read it aloud. “Sweet Pea.” When his grin broadened, I thought I was going to pass out from hormone overdose. “So fitting.”
Slowly, I reached out and slid it from his hand because watching him hold my lotion was doing wicked, evil, wonderful things to me. “I was thinking of getting a bottle for Sarah. Do you think she’d like this fragrance?”
Mason frowned and shook his head. “Don’t you dare. This is your scent. It would be too weird to smell on my little sister.”