Page 99 of Bang

I was glaring now. "Are you freaking kidding me?"

"No."

I bristled, "Hey, if you ever—"

"Don't worry, I won't. Like I said, I gave you my word."

"Oh, that's nice."

His gaze softened. "Cami, listen. We both know I'm not being nice. But Iambeing fair."

"Fair to who?" I scoffed.

"All of us." And then, in a gentler tone, he said, "Look, Willow knows you're leaving next year. And she's okay with it."

"Not the wayyoumake it sound."

"Hey, people come and go all the time," he said. "But hell if I'm gonna spend the next few months watching her wonder what she did to make you leave ahead of schedule."

I made a sound of frustration. "But I wouldn't be leaving because ofher."

"Right," he said. "You'd be leaving because of me. And why?" He moved a fraction closer. "Because, like a selfish prick, I couldn't keep my fucking hands off you."

His words startled me. It wasn't just the profanity. It was the raw emotion I heard in his voice.

And then, there was the gist of what he was saying, along with all those memories his words conjured up.It wasn't just his hands that were the problem.It was his lips and his tongue.And so much more.

As the memories swirled, I stifled a warm shiver.

In a near whisper, Mason continued, "…although fuck knows I tried."

I knew the feeling.In a near whisper of my own, I replied, "Yeah, well I tried, too."

"I know."

Did he?I highly doubted it, considering that I'd been putty in his oh-so capable hands. "But you're missing the point," I said. "Webothtried, butIwas the only one who was threatened."

"And yet, it didn't stop you."

"Exactly!" I said. "See, that's where the ice cream comes in. I knew I should've stopped. But I didn't. And hey, I'll be honest. The 'ice cream' was probably the best I'd ever had, okay?"

His lips curved into a knowing smile. "Only probably?"

God, he was so cocky, and with good reason, too. But that didn't change anything.

"Alright, fine," I said. "It was the best. But so what? I mean, you don't blame the ice cream if you can't resist. You blame yourself."

"So you're angry at yourself? That's what you're saying."

"More or less."

"Sorry but I'm not buying it."

He didn't look sorry. He looked way too sure of himself,as usual,which prompted me to say, "Listen, there's something you need to hear, for your sake, not mine."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Definitely," I said. "When it comes to women, you've been playing on easy mode for way too long. You think just because you're rich and famous, and yes, obnoxiously hot, that anyone would justloveto sleep with you, no matter how you actoutsidethe bedroom."