Fallen Crest University

The entire atmosphere shifted once Mason made his presence known.

Sebastian’s smirk fell flat.

The aura of tension and danger was around us. Students dashed for their classes, but they slowed and then stopped to watch the standoff.

No one said a thing. I wasn’t sure if I was even breathing.

Sebastian laughed—or tried to laugh. It fell short and came out sounding angry. “Mason, nice of you to sneak up behind me.”

I tensed.

Mason pushed something against my hand. “I was waiting for Sam.”

Opening my hand, I took my phone from him and tucked it into my purse.

I could feel the anger rising in Mason. He wasn’t doing or showing anything, but I felt it from him. His arm brushed against me, and it was rock solid, like cement. He was like cement on a normal day, his body toned and perfected from his training during the past summer, but this was more. The strength in him was radiating out, and everyone else was noticing, too.

As I looked at the crowd that formed, I knew the tension between Sebastian and Mason would be known by the end of the day, if everyone on campus didn’t already know. Phones were pointed at us, recording, and I only hoped Mason really wouldn’t do anything now. That would be blatant evidence against him.

Logan must’ve been thinking the same thing. He laughed and folded his arms over his chest. “Look at you, Sebastian. All alone. It’s like a rare sighting in the wild. You usually travel with your pack, don’t you?”

Sebastian shot back, “You would know.” He gestured to Mason. “Always in your brother’s shadow, right? He’s the leader. He’s the football talent while you…what are you?”

Sebastian’s eyes flicked to me, and I knew where he was going.

He added, taunting, “Couldn’t get the gi—”

I surged forward, stopping him. “You’ll stop right there.”

“Or what?” His eyes sharpened.

Yes, he hit a nerve, and I was the one to let him know that.

Lovely.

I opened my mouth. I had no idea what I was going to say, but Mason’s hand rested over my arm. He pressed it down. I’d been lifting it, but I hadn’t even known. Sebastian saw that gesture, too.

He laughed now. “Maybe I should feel sorry for the two of you.” He looked at Logan and back to me. His gaze stayed on me, falling to my mouth. His eyes narrowed, lingering there. “Neither of you really matter. I mean, it’s all about Mason, isn’t it? He’s the star wide receiver. You two came here, following him. And what for?” He pointed to my arm where Mason was still touching me. “To be told what to do by him? My, my. That must be so much fun for you both.”

His sarcasm was evident.

I gritted my teeth.

Mason shook his head. “It won’t work.”

“What won’t?”

“We’re not normal,” Mason continued. He was calm now. He was in control.

Sebastian didn’t like that. I could tell as his mouth pressed into a thin line, the ends stretching tight.

Mason continued, “You can’t try to bait them to see what they might say back to you. That’s what you’re doing—pressing some buttons that maybe others have. But it’s not true. I don’t tell Sam what to do. My brother isn’t jealous of me. You’re looking for a reaction because you’ll know that’s a weakness we have in our family, but you’re underestimating the bond we share.”

“What? You mean, you aren’t a dictator? You don’t control your girlfriend?”

I wanted to defend myself, but I wanted to defend Mason, too. His hold was keeping me contained—for now.

Logan started laughing. All attention went to him, and he was shaking his head. He pointed at Mason and to Sebastian, still laughing. “Honestly, have you not done your homework? Do you not know anything about us? If anything, Mason’s jealous of me. Sorry, Sam.” Logan flashed me a grin, but it was strained, too. He wasn’t completely enjoying this, even though he sounded like it. “I love her. We’re family, but my brother’s going to enjoy only that one vagina for the rest of his life.”

“Logan!” I snapped. “You want to piss me off, too?”

He waved at me, dismissing me. “See? You hear that? She’s so uptight just because I mentioned her vagina. I’m sure it’s amazing, Sam, but you have to give some sympathy to Mason. It’s like he’s in pussy prison. Everyone knows the two of you are going to get married, and he’s in the prime of his life. He should be partaking in ass morning, noon, and night with a couple of afternoon delights, if you know what I mean.”

“Logan,” Mason murmured, “if you could get to the point.”

“The point is pussy prison.” He swung his head to Sebastian, and his grin widened. “My brother’s wrong.”

Sebastian’s shoulders lifted and rolled back. He was getting ready for something.

Logan kept going as he brought one arm across his chest, stretching his shoulder. “I don’t think you’re here to throw bait at us, see what we bite on, and find a weakness in us. I think you came here, knowing where Sam’s first class was, and you wanted to threaten her, maybe see if we’d be here, too, maybe see what might happen after that.” He gestured to the onlookers who only doubled in numbers. “There are a lot of witnesses. No one can have a go at you…” His voice trailed off for a moment.