“Mason!” I jerked against his hand, feeling the sensations triple, as he started rubbing in a circular motion.

He pressed harder, but not too hard. I felt the buildup once again. Two waves were pressing onto me. I strained against him, trying to pause his caresses. I was going to come undone.

“Mason,” I whimpered. Please.

He kissed under my ear, finding my spot, and his hand moved faster and then slower before picking up speed, and pressing down. I couldn’t do anything. I was helpless.

He whispered, “Let go. This is for you.”

I was coming…

His hand kept rubbing.

He pulled out, but his finger dipped in me.

I gasped again. My back was off the bed. My hands, head, and legs were the only things touching.

Mason kept going. A second finger slid into me.

“Mason!”

He started kissing my throat, moving up the side of my chin to the corner of my mouth. He held there, a teasing caress. I wanted his mouth on mine again. I always felt home when he was there. I turned my head, seeking his lips, but he moved back.

My eyes flashed in warning. I was going to get him back for this.

He grinned, his hand pumping in and out, as he rubbed at my tip.

“I’m—” I couldn’t talk. I was panting again.

This man…he was going to be the death of me.

Mason stilled his hand. He let go of my wrists, and I curved into him, holding on to him, as I rode out the sensations. My body continued to tremble as wave after wave crashed over me. I was a puddle of nothing by the time they stopped. I could die happily.

“Fuck. You.” I rolled to look at Mason.

He bit out a laugh before dropping a kiss to my mouth. “Did you enjoy that?”

I curved my hand over his shoulder, savoring the feel of his muscles. “I’m going to get you back. You know that, right?”

“I hope so.” He sat up. His eyes darkened once again as he took in the sight of me.

My breasts were full and erect. I was perspiring, and my eyes must’ve looked crazy. He trailed a hand down from my throat to my stomach, ending right between my legs. “I missed you so goddamn much.”

So goddamn much.

So goddamn much.

I remembered the texts we shared a while back. A wave of nostalgia rose up, and my throat swelled. We’d been apart during that time. My hand cupped the side of his face. “Hey,” I said softly, rising up to my elbow, “what’s wrong?”

We’re together. We’re fine. Nothing will come between us, I tried to tell myself, but his rigid shoulders were causing me to worry.

“Hey,” I tapped the underside of his mouth, “talk to me.”

He grinned before lightly kissing me. Dropping to his back, he lay next to me and scooped me, so I was curled halfway over him. His hand fell down my back, causing a trail of tingles in its wake. “It’s nothing.”

It wasn’t nothing. I had two guesses, but I only needed one. “You saw Park Sebastian today?”

He sighed. “Yeah.”

“And it didn’t go well?”

“It did, but…”

I was done with his hesitation. Sitting up, I fixed him with a stare. “Talk. Now.”

He started to reach for me, but I caught his hand. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

He sat up, resting against the headboard, watching me. “Logan threatened to go after someone Sebastian loves, someone who’s vulnerable.”

I waited, hearing what he wasn’t saying. “You and Park Sebastian are not the same.”

“You’re right.” Mason gave me a half grin, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “He’s a monster that hurt a friend of mine where he was vulnerable. I’m the monster that let my brother threaten someone Sebastian loves.” He shook his head. “I don’t see how we’re that different.”

“Threatening someone so that he’s scared is completely different than actually doing it.”

“But Logan would do it.”

Our eyes caught and held. He was right.

I swallowed. “Logan wouldn’t do it unless he was forced, unless he had no other option.”

“Sam…” Mason tugged on my arm, drawing me closer to him.

I was almost kneeling on his stomach.

He caught and held my hand on his lap. “I know what you’re saying. I’m just worried that we’ve bitten off more than we can handle.”

His gaze was focused on me, but I had a feeling he wasn’t really watching for my reaction. He was watching me. He was worried about me.

I squeezed his hand. “Hey.”

I shifted until I was straddling him, and his hands rested on my hips, holding me in place.

“You and Logan are not monsters. You protect. You take care. You shield those you love. Yes, you’re ruthless. Yes, you go to lengths others don’t, but you do it so that no one—and I mean, no one—can hurt you or even try to hurt you. That’s why you do what you do. That’s why you’re who you are and why you’re loved by me and wanted by so many others. That’s why you’re respected. You protect and you love and you don’t let anyone take that away from you.”

I leaned down until my forehead rested against his. I was staring right into him, and I felt like I could see his soul. He was stripped bare to me, like I had been moments ago for him.

“Do not let Park Sebastian get into your head. Handle him how you handle everyone. You go right through them, no matter what fight they put up.”

He grinned and his lips nipped at mine. His hand caught the back of my neck, and he held me still, adjusting our hips. I had a second’s notice as he said, “I love you so damn much.” He pushed inside me.

I closed my eyes, leaning back, and he started moving in and out of me again.

I loved him, too.

And I would tell him right after—

He held me to him and rolled, so he was on top of me.

I grabbed his hips and began to move with him.

Yes. Right after this.

“How do you like your roommate?”

I peered up at Mason, lying next to him. I was half-tempted to glare at him and give him the silent treatment. He hadn’t let me return the favor for his earlier torture that was…delicious. I didn’t know why, but something was still bothering him. I wouldn’t push it though.

I answered, tugging my tank top over my head, “She seems nice. We went to get our books after you guys left.”