Logan watched them too before he slunk into one of the empty chairs and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "What's going on?" His voice was guarded.

I sighed. He had closed off. This wasn't going to go well.

Mason leaned forward. Nate remained silent.

"Maybe I should go." I started to stand up.

Mason clamped a hand on my arm. He kept me in place while Logan rolled his eyes. "Stay, Sam. You're family."

So I stayed, but my chest swelled with a smidgen of fear. I couldn't deny it. As I watched Mason turn hawk-like eyes on his brother, I wondered why he seemed so upset. Logan hadn't done anything.

Then it started, "Your ex was here."

Logan's eyes flashed. The hands came out of his pockets and he straightened in his chair. "Are you kidding me?"

Mason jerked his head to the side. "She says she's moving back."

"Are you messing with me?" Logan's nostrils flared now. Anger started to swirl in his depths, it mixed with something else, something that sent chills down my back again. Danger.

He shook his head. "No. I wish." He gestured to his side. "Nate kicked her out."

"But she'll come back," Logan clipped out.

Nate swiveled his head over to look at him, but there was no reaction. Mason's best friend was like a Greek god statue, made of stone. He showed no emotion. He was there for Mason. Logan was right when he said that Nate was only there for Mason. He wasn't there for Logan and me. He struck me as another silent guard dog, but I sensed ruthlessness in him that I have never experienced before. It wasn't the first time that I'd been struck off-balance by him, but it was the first time that I was starting to fear him a little bit.

He spoke now, "She won't be allowed to any of my parties."

Mason frowned at him. "That's not the point." He turned back to his brother. "She says she loves you. She wants you back."

Too many emotions crossed over Logan before he shut it off. He collapsed against the back of his seat. His hands gripped the sides of it. "Whatever. The bitch took enough skin from me, she won't get any more."

Mason leaned back. His chest never relaxed; instead, it tightened even more. "You sure?"

He didn't believe him.

Logan shot back a dark look. "Back off. She hurt me, not you."

"She hurt my brother, that means she hurt me too," Mason whipped out, bristling from his anger.

The air was thick now, filled with tension.

The only one who didn't seem affected was Nate as he stood. "I'll be back."

Logan snorted and kicked his feet up on the table. He scooted down in his chair, restless and on edge. He reminded me a coiled cobra, ready to strike but without a target in sight. "What's with him?"

"Parker." Mason watched his best friend weave through the crowd with lidded eyes. As Nate grabbed the girl by her arm, he led her away from her friends and further inside. The frown on Mason's face showed his disapproval.

Logan grunted. "Not to be a dick to Nate, but he's always preaching against pu**y. Look at him now. She's the most regular vagina he tastes. He's getting domesticated."

I frowned.

Logan flashed me a grin. "No offense, Sam. You're family. You're not normal."

"None taken?"

Mason jerked his head in a nod and the three guys from the bottom of the stairs filed back up. Each took a seat and it was back to being me with the guys. Mason lounged back and wrapped a hand around my shoulder this time. He pulled me tight against him.

Tingles reared inside of me. I didn't think they'd ever stop. He was claiming me. He always had before, but there were new threats tonight so he was showing it again. Adrenalin rushed through me when his hand started to brush against the back of my neck. His thumb rubbed back and forth. He would apply pressure under my ear so I would tilt my head, then he would press his lips there. He continued his soft kisses, and I could barely breathe an hour later. The need for him was pumping through my blood, strong and urgent. I squirmed under his hand and I felt him grin against my skin. He knew what he was doing.

The guys ignored us. They chatted together while someone kept bringing drinks to the patio. Mason gave me a few more shots and I'd take them, but we never broke eye contact. His had darkened so much they looked black, full of promises for the rest of the night. I wanted that now. My body was demanding it and I started to raise myself so I was in his lap when Nate joined the group again. He was alone, thankfully.

"The girl happy now? Did you satisfy her?" Logan threw an empty shot glass at him as he took the old seat on the other side of Mason. His tone was jovial, but there was a dark underlining edge to him. As he glanced at me, I knew I wasn't alone with my concern about Mason's best friend.

Nate frowned as he caught the glass. He chucked it back. "What's your problem with her?"

"Nothing." Logan caught it with a quick grab.

The rest of the guys grew quiet.

He continued, "But for the guy who doesn't like girlfriends, you seem to have one."

"Parker's not my girlfriend."

"She know that?" Logan goaded.

"It's none of your business, Logan. Stay out of it."

A few of the guys shared looks, but Mason seemed unaffected. His hand rubbed up and down my back as he scooped me into his lap. He nuzzled my neck and I closed my eyes. My bones melted into him. I couldn't leave, no way. But he didn't seem to mind. His arms wrapped around me and his hand rested low on my stomach. His thumb caressed me there, back and forth in a normally soothing motion.

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