That’s it? Thank you? After he peeled your big butt off the asphalt and drove you to the hospital that’s all you can say?
He waved me off. “It’s fine. I have the space. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Once I heard his footsteps fading, I went to the bathroom across the hall that he pointed out earlier. It was also renovated and boasted a beautiful clawfoot tub and a big shower.
The tiles were white and the cabinets black, giving the space a simple elegance. He didn’t add any colors or frills, and it worked. It was all him.
I changed into his clothes, the pants so big I had to roll them up a few times, and the T-shirt and sweater reached to midthigh. I doubted I would be cold tonight.
I crawled into bed, pulling the blanket all the way up to my chin. I drifted off with my nose in the sweater, smelling the clean laundry scent and Mason.
“You stupid waste of space. Just turn off and we won’t have a problem,” I yelled at the tap that was gushing water.
It was the next morning and I was in the shower, trying to turn the faucet off. But it was stuck, and the now cold water kept flowing over me while I tried to wrangle the tap. My teeth were chattering, and my plastic-covered arm was getting heavy. I had to hold it away from the spray and that was a workout for a five-minute shower, let alone for the fifteen I’d been in there for.
I gave up on the tap and opened the shower curtain to get my towel and reassess my situation. Or life in general. Because the way I was going, I wouldn’t make it past breakfast.
“What the hell are you doing in here,” I squealed when I saw a smirking Mason standing in the open doorway. I looked down at my naked and dripping wet body with wide eyes. And one of the first things that popped into my head was that I hadn’t shaved in a while.
But who knew Peeping Tom over there would burst in without knocking? He ignored the color rising to my cheeks and walked past me to the shower, then reached inside and turned the water off. I finally became unstuck and dove for the towel I had left on the sink and held it to the front of my body. At least now I was somewhat covered.
Mason turned around and his eyes swept up and down my body. I tossed my wet hair across my shoulders, and it landed heavily on my back. “What are you doing?” I yelled, too humiliated to acknowledge his help. Why was he still standing in the goddamn bathroom?
“Just taking in the view,” the bastard said and winked.
I nervously moistened my dry lips. “Get out,” I said, my voice tight with barely controlled anger and humiliation.
One corner of his mouth was pulled into a slight smile. Neither one of us moved, and I noticed he was only wearing boxers. Really tight boxers. As in you could see the outline of his quite impressive dick. And it was getting more impressive the longer I stared at it. I wanted to look away, but my eyes wouldn’t comply. Instead, they greedily drank in all that was Mason. His muscled thighs. His defined abs. His perfect arms. Even his forearms turned me on. I must still be in a Mason fog from last night or I wouldn’t so openly stare, would I?
My eyes stopped before they got to his face, self-preservation finally kicking in. I backed my way out, holding the towel in front of me. As soon as I cleared the doorway I sprinted out of the bathroom and to the guest bedroom. I slammed the door behind me and leaned against it. Getting dressed was my top priority, thinking about what just happened a close second.
It was about two-point-five seconds after I closed the door that I noticed I didn’t bring any clothes with me. I only had what I wore yesterday and what I borrowed last night.
A sigh escaped me at the thought of having to face Mason again, dressed in a towel. If only Willa was back. Nora was busy with her kids, no way would I add to her crazy schedule. And Maisie was in a house that was too full already. We used to be roommates, but my mother insisted I move back home after I finished college.
I was still playing the dutiful daughter back then and complied with her request. Maisie and I gave up the apartment we were renting and she moved in with some friends. They were nice but loved to throw a party. There wasn’t a night they didn’t have people over, which was a problem if you were sleeping on the couch.
I peeked out the door, and there was Mason, standing in front of me, holding out a pile of clothes. I narrowed my eyes at him and snatched up the pile, disappearing back into the room. I wasn’t feeling very grateful at the moment.
I got dressed in another set of Mason’s clothes and made my way downstairs. When I got to the kitchen Mason was standing at the counter, stirring something on the stove. He put on jeans—unfortunately—and a T-shirt. I had to be grateful it wasn’t a sweater, because arm porn was alive and kicking, and the shirt outlined his wide chest and perfect arms.
Loki was sitting next to him, watching with rapt attention as he cooked breakfast. Mason looked up when I got closer. “Can you grab the milk out of the fridge?”
I nodded and went to the fridge to get him the milk and pray that he wouldn’t mention what happened.
“We’re having scrambled eggs and bacon,” he said.
I nodded and put the milk on the counter next to him. “Anything I can help with?”
He gave me a sidelong glance. “You can get the plates and cutlery.”
I
