Unwanted Roommate

LAUREN

Mason and I left the living room, all eyes trailing us as we exited. He led me to the guest room, his silence a stark contrast to the lively chatter we’d left behind. I tried to catch his eye, but he kept his gaze firmly ahead.

We stopped at a brown door. He opened it and stepped inside, and I followed. My bags were already there, waiting at the foot of the bed. The room was huge, easily the size of my apartment. I took in the king-sized bed, the tasteful decor, and the massive flat-screen TV.

Mason cleared his throat, pulling my attention back to him. I looked at him, and only then did I realize our hands were still linked. I quickly pulled away, my heart pounding. I hoped he hadn’t noticed how long I’d held his hand, or that I’d enjoyed the contact. I was already embarrassed enough.

“I’m just glad this isn’t your room,” I said, forcing a smile to cover my discomfort.

“No one goes into my room,” he replied, his gaze never leaving mine. He shoved his hands into his pockets, and I wished he could see himself as I saw him—confident, intimidating, and undeniably attractive.

His confidence wasn’t an act. It was a part of him, as natural as breathing. It was a confidence born of success, and it put him on a pedestal that no one could knock him off of.

“Ah,” I said, nodding as if I’d figured something out. “That’s probably where you plan your murders. Keeping people away so you don’t get exposed. Got it.”

“Maybe I should take you there,” he replied, his tone so casual that I knew he was joking. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Nice family you’ve got there. I can see how you’re related,” I said, moving to unpack my bags. “You Campbells are definitely a ray of sunshine.”

He gave me a long, slow look, his expression unreadable. I pointed at his face. “You should smile more often. Anger decreases lifespan, don’t you know that? And what are you, forty?” I was joking, of course, but I wanted to lighten the mood. He seemed so tense.

“Do you ever shut up?” he asked, sighing in frustration.

“That’s no way to talk to your pregnant fiancée, Mason,” I replied, shaking my head in mock disappointment.

He raised an eyebrow, and I laughed. “Your family thinks the only reason we are getting married is that you got me pregnant. Oh, wait! That’s not the best part yet. They think I’m pregnant with someone else’s child and claiming it’s yours because I’m apparently a gold digger.”

I found the whole situation more amusing than I had in front of them. They were a crazy bunch.

Mason muttered a curse under his breath. I stepped closer to him, looking up into his eyes. The heat radiating from his body made me lose my balance for a moment.

“I just wanted to say thank you,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “For what you did back there. You could have let your family insult me more, but you stood up for me. Though I can fight my own battles, thank you for at least caring.”

Even though our marriage was a business arrangement, Mason understood his responsibilities. I had been worried that he wouldn’t respect me, but now I was convinced that he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. He would hold up his end of the bargain.

Maybe my dad was right. There was some good in Mason Campbell. It was rare, but it was there.

He rolled his eyes at me. “It’s not as if I have any choice. I’m supposed to play the good and loving fiancé.”

I knew what he was doing. He was trying to maintain his tough-guy image, but I knew he would do the same for anyone. But I let it slide.

“So, where are you going to sleep?”

“Right here, of course.”

“What?” I froze, my heart pounding. “You can’t stay here!” There was no way I was going to let him sleep in the same room with me. There had to be another room he could use.

Mason crossed his arms and looked at me, clearly unimpressed. “Where do you think I should stay if not in my fiancée’s room? The minute my family realized we are not sleeping in the same room they would start getting suspicious. I’m not taking any chances, Lauren. You’ll just have to suck it up.” His eyes raked over me dismissively. “Don’t worry, I have no interest in you. You’re not—”

“Your type, huh? I’ve heard you say it a million times. I could probably recite it in my sleep.”

He took a slow, deliberate step toward me as I retreated. His eyes, a deep shade of gray, sparkled with amusement.

His gaze ignited a familiar thrill, a rush of excitement that felt like fireworks under my skin.

“So, you dream about me?” he asked, his steps matching mine as I continued to back away.

“No, don’t be ridiculous. I don’t dream about you.”

His words, his look, they made my heart race with a mix of fear and excitement.

He let out a soft chuckle, his voice low and enticing.

“I’m not just a successful businessman. I’m also pretty good at spotting lies, Ms. Hart.”

“Really?” I tried to keep my voice steady as I continued to back away, his face now just inches from mine.

“Can you spot this?” I attempted to sidestep him, but my foot slipped. I was about to face-plant onto the floor.

Hello, embarrassment, my old friend.

But then, a hand shot out, wrapping around my waist, trying to keep me upright.

Mason spun us around so quickly that he lost his balance too. We both ended up tumbling onto the bed, him on top, me underneath.

His hand was flat on the bed above my head, holding his weight off me as he looked down into my eyes.

His gaze was intense, all-consuming.

I could hear my heart pounding in my ears, intoxicated by his scent, the warmth of his breath on my face, and the heat of his body surrounding me.

He wasn’t touching me, but I felt like I was unraveling.

He was so beautiful.

Every detail of his face was perfect, as if he’d been carved by a master sculptor.

I wanted to push him away, but all I could do was stare back, my breath coming in short gasps.

Mason’s gaze dropped to my lips and lingered there. I swallowed hard, my pulse racing as his expression became unreadable.

Then, he started to shake with laughter. He straightened up, looking down at me with a grin of pure amusement.

He backed away, still grinning, and left the room, leaving me lying there, breathless and with the realization that Mason Campbell had just proven himself right.