“Refill?”

I looked at the empty glass in my hand. It had been full of soda water and tequila a minute ago. Now a lemon slice sat in the bottom of the glass, all alone.

I didn’t drink often, but whatever I was drinking tonight was going down easy.

“Oh, that went fast.”

Dave grinned, flashing perfectly straight, Chiclet white teeth.

He was cute, and seemed nice, but he didn’t do it for me.

Only one man had since I went out on my own.

I caught Mason’s eye from across the room. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Not talking to anyone. Just… staring.

At me.

I felt a shiver go through me as Dave wandered off with my drink. Fred took his place, smiling and charming me as best he could. I laughed, because he was silly, but not to encourage him. He didn’t need any encouragement. Not one of the single men at the party did.

My plan had worked, just with all the wrong men.

I sighed, realizing I had waved a red flag at a room full of raging bulls. Meanwhile, all I’d done is piss Mason off. He thought I looked ridiculous, which made me want to crawl into a hole and hide.

But I was here and I wasn’t backing down. If he didn’t want me, then so be it. But I wasn’t going to let him see me cry about it!

I let out a shaky breath. Dave was back quickly with my drink. I thanked him and took a big sip. I could barely pay attention when they tried to engage me in conversation.

“Excuse me, please.”

I ran for the bathroom, the second half of my drink sloshing in the glass. I set it on the counter and stared at myself in the mirror.

I heard a knock.

“Just… just a minute!”

I tried to make myself sound normal. But I wasn’t normal. I was tipsy, which was rare for me. And I was on the verge of tears.

I spun when I heard the door open.

“I said I’d be out in a minute!”

Mason was slipping inside, and locking the door behind him. My mouth opened in surprise.

“What are you doing?”

He took a step towards me. Then another. Until he was flush against me, my back pressing into the countertop behind me.

I lifted my chin.

“Are you going to tell me I look ridiculous again?”

His thumb came up and brushed my bottom lip. He was staring at my mouth in a way that made my insides flutter. But I wouldn’t be charmed into forgetting what an ass he was being!

“No.”

“Well, that’s a relief. I was thinking I should try and find a clown nose or—”

His mouth came crashing down on mine. I froze for a split second, surprised as hell. I realized my plan must have worked and melted into him. He cradled my head tenderly in his hands, slanting his mouth over mine this way and that.

His hands were gentle but his mouth was… not.

I felt like I was being eaten, but it didn’t hurt. Like I was being absorbed, but I could still feel everything. That’s how insistent he was. How close. Everything he did was try and get closer.

Finally, he tore his lips away. He didn’t move away this time though. I could feel his arousal pressing against my belly. It was big and hard and burning into me where it pushed against me eagerly.

He was brazen. He was not pulling back this time. He was… not pulling back.

“You don’t look ridiculous. I’m the one who is ridiculous.”

“No. You’re not.”

“Yes, I am. I’ve been afraid…”

“You? Afraid? I don’t believe it.”

He nodded solemnly.

“I was. I didn’t think I was good enough for you.”

“But, you are!”

“No, I’m not. But I don’t care anymore. I can’t do the noble thing. I’m weak when it comes to you.”

I drew in a breath. I was afraid to hope. Afraid to let my feelings show.

“What does that mean?”

“It means, Paton has that room all to herself.”

My eyes got wide. It was one thing to give us a place to crash. It was something else entirely to start a relationship by sharing a bed.

“Are you sure, Mason? Maybe we should just… date first.”

He shook his head.

“I’m all in, or all out. I can’t wait for you any more. I’m taking you home right now. Kelly and Cass will both be here tonight. They already made a bed up for Paton.”

Oh. My.

He’d really thought this through. It wasn’t just the miniskirt. Wasn’t just sex.

He wanted me.

“You really want this? With me?”

“You have no idea how badly. I’ve been fighting this from the moment we met.”

He smiled wryly.

“I lost that battle.”

I inhaled sharply as he tipped my head back and told me to open my lips. Slowly he lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me firmly. He slid his tongue into my mouth and I shivered with pleasure.

“Cold?”

His eyes were laughing but warm with desire. I had to laugh. I was a little bit chilly.

“Is it okay if Pate stays here tonight? Kelly already made up the trundle.”

I stared at him.

His fingertips traced my collarbone. I was having trouble focusing on what he was saying. I tried to concentrate but his touch was too distracting. His fingertips sent shivers coursing through me in every direction.

But they all ended up in the same place.

“Why?”

“I thought we could be alone tonight.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip, my whole body alight. “You want to be alone with me?”

“Yes. I’m tired of pussyfooting around. I want you in my bed tonight. And I want to be loud.”

My knees got weak and he caught me, his arm pressed against my lower back.

Oh my.

“There are things I want to do… well, we can always be quiet. But tonight I thought we could take the night off from being good.”

My mouth felt dry so I licked my lips without thinking. He smiled knowingly when I did that.

“So what do you say, Michelle? Do you want to be bad with me?”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

“That’s good, honey. That’s real good.”

And then he scooped me up into his arms and carried me through the party. Everyone gawked at us, except Kelly who gave me a furtive thumbs up. But I didn’t care about the stares.

Mason wanted me.