“What?” I turned toward him and almost gasped for breath.
Sweat dripped down Mason’s shirtless, muscular body, and my eyes skimmed over a large wolf paw print tattoo on his toned arm.
Drool had to be pooling at the corner of my mouth as I fought the urge to lick his body. I’d never been this attracted to someone before.
His emerald eyes scanned my face. “You got a problem?”
Ah, he was an alphahole. I could be one too. “You’re the one who stopped, so what the fuck is your problem?”
“You need to learn your place.” He straightened his shoulders and looked at me with cold regard.
The irony in that statement had me bursting out into laughter. He had no clue who he was talking to, which was a good thing. The fact that they couldn’t sense my wolf was a blessing within the curse.
“Are you okay?” Concern flickered in Mason’s eyes as he used his forearm to wipe the sweat from his brow.
“Yeah.” I took a few deep breaths, trying to rein the crazy in. I couldn’t blame him for looking so concerned. I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin. “It’s just hilarious to think that you would assume I was so easily intimidated.”
He scowled and narrowed his eyes at me. “I don’t have time for this shit.”
“Good.” I needed him gone and now. “You’re looking kind of out of shape, so you may want to go for a little longer.”
My eyes had to be playing tricks on me because I saw the corner of his mouth tilt up ever so slightly. “Is that so?”
“Yup, it’s easy to see why you’re running.” I was lying like hell. If I was Pinocchio, I’d have a nose longer than the average-sized erect penis. He was damn fine and hot as hell.
“Well, then I better take off.” He stayed there gazing at me, not moving an inch.
Neither one of us wanted to be there or leave. “All right. Have fun.” I exhaled and forced my legs to move. I even prevented myself from turning around and glancing back at him.
Soon, I heard his footsteps getting farther and farther away.
Maybe if we could keep up our façade, it wouldn’t be so bad not being with him. Hell, he may not even feel it, given the circumstances.
Flashes of Mason’s shirtless body kept popping into my mind as I made my way to class. I’d never been this hot and bothered before, and I had to get my shit together. The last thing I wanted was Ella smelling the arousal in the air. I was sure I’d never live that down.
“Hey, are you feeling okay?” Connor seemed to appear out of thin air.
Great, that’s how preoccupied I was with thoughts of Mason. If the vampire was following me, he could have easily stood right in front of me, and I wouldn't have noticed. “Yeah, sorry. I’m just super anxious about this test.” I’d studied all day yesterday and had this test in the bag. Business ethics wasn’t that difficult.
“I’m sure you’ve got this.” He smiled ever so slightly and adjusted the straps of his backpack on his shoulders. “If you’re that stressed, we could start a study group or something.”
This guy didn’t give up. I wasn’t quite sure if I admired him or thought he was an idiot. “I work most evenings. Sorry.”
“Oh, really?” He kicked at the ground. “Where at?”
Yeah, I didn’t think this one through. “Oh, some restaurant-bar kind of place.”
“Near campus?” He took a step closer to me.
“No, you should know how I am by now.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Being around a ton of people isn’t my thing, so a bar close to campus wouldn’t be ideal.”
“That’s not true.” He lifted his hand, and his forehead creased. “We met at a party here on campus.”
“But that’s not my usual.” The saying ‘first impressions last forever’ rang in my ears. “I had just toured the campus, and the guide made your party the last stop. I hadn’t planned on staying long.” Even though I hadn’t shifted, for some reason, I still had a feeling like a mild heat spell. Not as rough as a typical female shifter, but I got hot and bothered that night when I spotted Connor. He was damn fine, but now that my brain was fully functioning, I wasn’t the least bit attracted to him.
“You seemed to have a good time that night.” His eyes lingered on my lips.
“Do we need to have that conversation over again?” Obviously, I couldn’t be the least bit nice to him. “I’m not interested in you. I don’t want you to come by my work.”
“I feel like this is déjà vu.” Ella’s floral scent hit me as she walked up beside me. “She isn’t into you.”
“We were talking about our test.” Connor cleared his throat and glanced toward the building. “I guess we better get in so we aren’t late.”
“Right behind you,” Ella called out as she grabbed my arm. “You must be amazing in bed."
“What?” I hadn’t expected those to be the next words out of her mouth. “Why?”
“That boy is hard up for another round in the hay with you.” She laughed and shook her head. “You must be magical in the sack.”
“Hay? Sack? What are you? I don’t think people our age talk like that anymore.” That sounded like something Mona or Kassie would say. “Next time, you’re going to say ride ‘em cowgirl or bumpin’ uglies.”
“First off, please don’t ride him.” Ella looped her arm through mine and began our stroll to the building. “The one ride you gave him has him jonesing for more.”
“Really?” She must be watching an older sitcom or something.
“Yes, really.” She winked at me as she snorted. “But I kinda do like bumping uglies.”
“Why am I not surprised?” It was nice to have someone to just go back and forth with.
“Sex is extremely satisfying if done right.” A slow grin spread across her face. “Am I right?”
“Wouldn’t know.”
“Oh, we’ll have
