Filed to story: The Rise Of The Lycan Queen
Needing distance, I turned and rushed to the bathroom. Right when I got into the small hall that lead there, a strong, warm hand touched my shoulder, gently turning me around.
“I can’t let you go in there. Remember what happened last time.” He stepped close to me, his eyes going straight to my lips.
“What are you doing here?” Every time I tried to run, he appeared.
“You know why.” He reached up and brushed a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I can’t get you out of my mind.”
“Try harder.” I had to be strong.
“The problem is I know you are attracted to me, too.” He took a step closer to me, making me dizzy. Our chests were almost touching.
In other words, he could smell my arousal. Scent is something that no one can fake. “We’re not right for one another.” He had to see that this couldn’t last.
“Then why does it feel like we are?” He brushed his chest against mine, and I turned, attempting to move around him, but instead, he pushed my back against the wall and trapped me within his arms.
I’d never been this turned on before. If I didn’t get my head on straight, I could wind up throwing caution to the wind and having a go with him right here and now.
“Dammit, you’re killing me.” He groaned as he leaned down, brushing his lips against mine once more.
I gasped as my body reacted, and I found myself licking his lips, tasting him. My wolf howled in approval and began to push to get free of me.
No, this can’t happen. I pushed him off of me so hard he flew into the other wall, and I ran back through the restaurant to Ella.
Her hazel eyes landed on me, and she stood. Understanding seemed to flicker in her eyes when she must have noticed Mason running to catch up to me. “All right, let’s go.”
Thank God I wouldn’t have to argue with her.
“What? No.” Mason almost yelled the words across the room.
It was so loud that Bridgette’s little group turned their attention to us, and Bridgette herself began to grin.
She planned on helping distract Mason from his thoughts of me like she had the other night. It pissed me off even though I had no right to be mad. However, my wolf had other ideas as she struggled to break free from her cage.
“I don’t know what the hell is up with you, but we’ll talk about this at home.” Ella glared at her brother and grabbed my arm, tugging me toward the car.
“Aria, wait.” There was a pleading undercurrent in his tone.
“Look, you can forget about me the way you did the other night.” I didn’t mean to be cruel, but I was hurt, and my wolf had almost gotten free. “She’s over there, waiting for you anyway.” I pointed at blondie who had bigger jugs than brains.
Something flashed across Mason’s face before it set back into the cruel demeanor he had when we first met. “Maybe I will.”
“Have fun with that.” I turned on my heel and headed to the car, slamming the door behind me.
Ella stood out there and chewed Mason out before climbing into the driver’s seat and pulling away.
The entire ride back was in silence.
When she pulled up at my house, she put the car in PARK and glanced at me. “I don’t know what to say besides sorry. He’s never acted like this before, and I don’t know what’s going on. I’d hoped to have a fun night with you, but instead, I feel like I messed up.”
“No, you didn’t.” I smiled despite the tears that burned my eyes. He was probably taking Bridgette right now in the back seat or his car. “It’s okay. I’ll see you Monday.” I got out of the car and headed straight to bed.
* * *
So here it was, Saturday night. I was in my room, watching television. Today would’ve been a work day for me, but when Mona and Kassie found out about the vampire who’d been hanging around work, they pretty much decided for me that I’d better call in sick this weekend or they would show up and make a scene. They wanted me to stay away to see if that would discourage him.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to be home, but I refused to do anything I’d regret.
Our doorbell rang, startling me from my internal thoughts. Great, they must have ordered a pizza. I was starving.
I jumped off the bed and opened my door. It didn’t smell like food yet, but they probably hadn’t brought it in. I ran down the steps and stopped short when I saw him.
“Mason?”
His gaze landed on me. “Hey, sorry to come over unannounced, but I figured you wouldn’t talk to me otherwise.”
“You got that right.” Kassie chuckled and arched an eyebrow at me. “She’s a pistol.” Kassie tilted her head up, gazing at me. “You hadn’t mentioned you had made some friends.”
She meant hot guys. I wasn’t dumb. “Well, it’s because no one should know where we live.” I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall. “Stalker much?”
“Please ignore her.” Mona waved him in. “Come in and visit. She has poor manners. I had thought we raised her better than that.”
“Well, in all fairness, I deserve it.” He entered the house and went straight to the couch. “I’ve been a jerk to her.”
“So, you’re the reason why she came in all in a panic last night.” Kassie punched Mona in the shoulder. “We should’ve known it was due to a guy.”
“Will you two be quiet?” They were purposely embarrassing me and encouraging him. “Why don’t we go talk outside?” I made my way down the rest of the stairs and headed toward the kitchen.
His footsteps followed mine as I walked out the back door.
When he stepped outside, he laughed. “No wonder you kicked that guy’s ass.” His eyes were on our little training station.
“Uh… yeah.” Damn him. His voice caused a shiver. “So what do you want to say? I figured we said everything yesterday and that you had to make up with blondie.” It hurt to say the words, but I prevented myself from flinching. I had to get used to the idea of him with someone else.
“Who? Bridgette?” His focus landed back on me. “She and I are nothing. I told you I fucked up and I didn’t sleep with her last night. You hurt me, so I lashed out in retaliation. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.” He needed to go, but I wasn’t sure how that was possible. He came to my house, and if I went back to my room, there was no telling what Mona and Kassie would do.
“Yeah, I do.” He huffed and scratched the top of his head. “Can we sit down for a minute?” He pointed to the two plastic chairs that were on the back porch.
“Okay.” I was going to ask how he found me, but we both knew that answer. Ella was getting yelled at as soon as I saw her. “I thought you had a fight tonight.’
“I do.” He huffed and gave me a small grin. “This is fucking ridiculous.”
“Then feel free to leave.” I waved him on. “You found me, not the other way around.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “Damn, you’re impossible.”
“Sorry if I’m not one of the girls throwing themselves at your feet.” I would never be that for him or anyone. I was my own person and strong enough to make it on my own.
