“You can’t sleep?” he asks, taking a step closer to me.
I shake my head, trying to swallow the emotions down as a tear escapes.
“Babe?” He lifts his hand to my cheek and brushes the tear away. “Come here.” He wraps his arms around me and holds me tightly to his chest.
Never in a ka-zillion years would I have thought I’d be crying my heart out in Mason Chargill’s arms.
When a sob escapes, he bends down and placing an arm beneath my knees, he picks me up. I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face against his shoulder as he walks to the couch. He sits down with me on his lap and places a hand behind my head.
After a while, I manage to calm down enough to lift my head and say, “Thank you for giving me CPR.”
He doesn’t say anything but instead presses a kiss to my forehead.
I meet his eyes, and I wonder who Mason really is.
Is he the volatile bad boy or this caring man?
“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” he whispers.
I’ve never been one to beat around the bush, so I answer him honestly. “I’m wondering which Mason is the real one; the hotheaded, take-no-prisoners guy, or the kind one.”
“Who says I can’t be both?” A smile forms around my lips, and then he continues, “I’m ruthless when someone crosses me, but when it comes to my friends and family, I’m protective.”
“Well, then I’m glad I’m a friend,” I tease.
I begin to pull back so I can get off his lap, but he places a hand on my back, stopping me.
My eyes dart back to his face, and when I see the corner of his mouth lifting, I ask, “I’m a friend, aren’t I?”
He remains quiet for a while before he says, “You’re a friend… for now.”
And that means?
“Are you planning on fighting with me again?”
He shakes his head and a sexy smirk forms around his mouth. “You don’t want to know what I’m planning.”
I pull a face and grumble, “At least give me time to get back to my old self so I can fight back.”
He moves his hand from my back to the side of my neck, and when his thumb brushes over my jaw, a thought begins to niggle in the back of my mind.
As farfetched as it sounds, I have to wonder whether Mason likes me or whether he just feels pity for me because I almost died.
He begins to lean closer to me, his eyes never leaving mine, and then he stops an inch from my face, watching for my reaction before he presses his mouth to mine.
The kiss is soft and quick, but it packs one hell of a punch I didn’t expect.
“I’m going to leave you with that thought,” he says as he lifts me off his lap, and sets me down on the couch. “Get some sleep, Babe.”
Wide-eyed I watch him leave.
Well, that’s something I didn’t expect.
Angry sex, yes. But… gentle and caring?
I’m not imagining things, right?Chapter 19KingsleyI’ve been staring at Layla for the last thirty minutes, waiting for her to wake up.
When I can’t hold out any longer, I shake her shoulder. “I need you to wake up.”
She grumbles something, only stirring.
“Layla, wake up! I need you,” I whine, shaking her again.
Her eyes pop open, and she darts up, instantly going into panic mode. “Are you okay? Did something happen?”
I nod and pouting, I mumble, “I’m confused.”
Layla blinks then rubs her eyes. “So, you’re okay?”
“Far from. I can’t make sense of any of it.”
“Coffee first,” she groans, then falls back against the pillows.
“Coming right up.” I dart off the bed and not even bothering to brush my hair, I race to the elevator so I can go get us some coffee.
When the doors open, I freeze, and my eyes widen. Mason’s leaning against the back panel and his head lifts slowly from where he was staring at the floor.
When he sees me, the stupid sexy smirk begins to pull at the corner of his mouth. “Did your hair straightener break, or are you going with the all-natural look today?”
“Huh?” I pat the top of my head, then remember it must look like one hell of a mess. Glaring at him, I mumble, “I haven’t had coffee yet. Don’t mess with me while I’m caffeine-deprived.”
I step inside and press the button for the doors to close.
“And just when I think it couldn’t look worse, I get to see it from behind,” he chuckles.
“Dude,” I growl, willing the elevator to move faster.
“I might love your morning look, but for the sake of the other students, let’s get this on you.”
I glance over my shoulder, ready to snap at him when my eyes bulge as I watch him drag his hoody over his head. The doors ping open, and all I can do is stare at his abs as his t-shirt lifts up for a moment.