Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her tight against my chest as both of our heart rates return to normal. When I slide her off me so I can dispose of the condom, I’m surprised that she sits up instead of snuggling back into bed for more sleep.
When I return from the bathroom, she’s pulling her clothes on. Crossing my arms, I frown. “Where are you going?”
She gives me a tired smile. “To work. My alarm goes off in five minutes. If I lie back down, I might try to go back to sleep, which will make it even harder to get up. It’s easier if I just head back to my room now and get ready for the day.”
My eyebrows climb my forehead.
With an indulgent chuckle, she pulls her top over her head, steps close to me and goes on her tiptoes for a quick kiss.
I oblige, but I’m still not happy about this.
“Marcus has a radio show interview this morning. You can go back to sleep. I’ll see you later.” With a pat on my chest, she moves to leave, but I catch her and pull her against me.
After kissing her thoroughly, I let her go. “Find me for your afternoon rest, okay?”
She pulls her mouth to the side. “After not sleeping much last night, I need to take a nap today.”
I give her a wicked grin. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you have the best nap of your life.”
With a tinkling laugh, she shakes her head and walks to the door. I let her go, despite the fact that she never agreed to find me at her rest time.
I’ll just have to convince her it’ll be worthwhile before then.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Viola
My mouth stretches wide in a jaw-popping yawn as the elevator doors open on the band’s floor. Blinking bleary eyes, I nod at Travis, the security guy on duty, as I step off the elevator.
“Get some rest,” he chides, and I give him a wan smile in return.
“I plan to.”
I’d returned to the hotel alone, which was unusual for me, Marcus staying at the arena going over a few things before heading back to the hotel for his shortened afternoon break. When I kept interrupting our conversations with my yawns every time I tried to speak no matter how much caffeine I consumed, he sent me back to the hotel. “Take a nap,” he said. “I can’t have you falling asleep during the show.”
Even though guilt worms through me at my night with Mason affecting my work, exhaustion is my overwhelming sensation. Too many late nights and early mornings added up plus only getting a few hours of disrupted sleep last night means I’m dead on my feet. And Marcus is right that it’s more important for me to be awake tonight to help keep the show running smoothly for them than to sit around with him to fetch his coffee or water at the arena.
As I head to my room at the end of the hall, a door to my left opens, and Mason slips out. His arm snakes around my waist and pulls me close before I can react, and then his lips are on mine.
I should push him away. I’m so tired. All I want is to curl up on a horizontal surface and go to sleep. At this point, I’m not even picky. The floor at my feet would work, though the risk of getting stepped on or tripped over is a consideration.
But his lips are too delicious, and when his tongue slips into my mouth, I’m powerless to resist. Plus I’m tired, and my willpower is at its weakest in this state.
He tugs me toward his room, but stops at my whine. “Bed,” I whisper against his chest, snuggling my head there now that he’s not kissing me anymore. “Sleep.”
His quiet laughter sends tingles racing over my body. “I told you I’d make sure you get a nap.”
“Mmm,” is my only response.
There’s a metallic whir and click, then Mason’s arm sweeps under my legs and he carries me into his room. I blink up at him, but before I can muster up words, he deposits me on his bed, sits me up, and pulls my bag over my head and off. He sets it on the floor next to the night stand, then chuckles again when he straightens to find me flopped over on the bed.
He pulls off my shoes before freeing the trapped blankets from under my legs and tucking them up around my shoulders. Brushing the hair out of my face, he presses a surprisingly gentle kiss to my forehead. “Get some sleep. I see you don’t need my help right now to fall asleep. I’ll help you wake up instead.”
But sleep pulls me under before I can respond to the dark promise in his voice. And just before I completely surrender to unconsciousness, I’m aware of the mattress dipping behind me and an arm circling my waist to pull me against a firm chest. With a sigh and a soft smile on my lips, I go to sleep.
“Viola,” a voice singsongs, dragging me from sleep. With a grumbly little sound, I roll over, pulling the blankets tighter around me.
A hand slips under my shirt, sliding up to cup my breast. A soft kiss on my neck. “Come on, Viola,” the deep voice whispers. “Time to wake up.” The hand squeezes my boob, then the thumb circles my nipple, bringing it to a point through the thin padding of my bra. The cup slides away and fingers pinch and tug on my nipple, drawing an involuntary gasp from my lips, my back arching.
“There we go,” Mason whispers, and kisses my neck again, sending a wave of goosebumps rippling down my back and arms.
His hips press into my butt, the hard ridge of his dick unmistakable.
“Are you really waking me up for
