The Soul Mate (Roommates, # 4)

Bren

What had just happened… What was everything I had just felt? It was too much, too fast. Overwhelming and scary and real and if I didn’t get away soon, it would only get worse. White-hot panic enveloped me, creeping into every single cell in my body. It screamed for attention.

I had to get out of here.

With every breath, every beat of my heart, I knew it.

My heart was still hammering wildly as I pulled away, trying not to make eye contact with Mason as he wiped me clean. He ran a possessive hand over my belly as I sat up, his eyes lingering there as he studied me.

As I stood, Mason fastened his pants again and then paused, shooting me a questioning glance.

“I’m going to get changed and we can decide what to do for the rest of the night,” he called over his shoulder, his gaze raking over my body and sending a shiver through me.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Slowly I trailed behind him, trying to come up with some excuse for why I couldn’t stay. I didn’t have a dog or cat to feed and no roommate was waiting for me at home. I didn’t have to work the next day. Still, I didn’t think “I’m a big fat chicken” felt like a valid excuse, and it certainly wasn’t one I wanted to utter out loud. This whole damn situation defied logic so I couldn’t justify my behavior. I wanted to run. Period.

With a deep breath, I followed him into the bedroom and watched as he pulled on a hoodie and pajama pants, then tossed a T-shirt and pants onto his gray comforter.

He nodded toward the clothes. “For you. If you want to get more comfortable.”

I forced a smile. “No thanks. I think I’m going to get going.”

His gaze narrowed on my face and it was all I could do not to squirm. Even though he didn’t say anything, his expression said it all.

Coward.

“What’s the rush?” he asked softly.

You just knocked my socks off again and that wasn’t supposed to be how it went. You can own my body but you can’t own my heart.

But I couldn’t say that either.

“You should stay. We’ll go into the living room and watch some TV.”

I shook my head, panic ceasing my heartbeat in my chest. “I don’t think so.”

“Something better to do, or just need some space?” he asked as he picked up a pile of socks and shoved them into a new drawer before turning to face me. It was freakish how well he knew me after so short a time. He was getting close to figuring me out. Too close.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice going shrill.

“Making room for you. My place is closer to the zoo than yours, and that way, if there is a night you do decide to stay, it will be easy. You can keep some clothes here and-”

“What? No.” I blinked. “We barely know each other, Mason.”

He closed the drawer before turning to face me and crossing his arms over his chest. “We know that we fit together like hand in glove,” he said, his eyes skimming over me and making me shiver. “We know that I might be the father of your child. And we know that we like each other’s company. It only makes sense that we try to spend some time together so that we can get to know each other even better, doesn’t it? Isn’t that what we agreed to do?”

“No, it doesn’t make sense, and no, that wasn’t what we agreed to do,” I shot back. “None of this makes sense. Look, what we just did? That was a mistake. I should have gone before. Just pretend it never happened, okay? I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You were thinking you’re attracted to me. Just like I’m attracted to you. I thought we established that.” He took another step toward me, but I retreated, making my way toward the bedroom door.

“I need to get some air. Some time to think. I’ll call you…or something.”

I sprinted for my sandals and slid them on quickly before heading for the front door. When my hand closed around the knob, I felt a warm, masculine hand on my bicep, but I yanked my shoulder away and hurried out the door without bothering to turn around.

That orgasm?

My own drawer?

Oh, hell no.

It was all too much. He was too much, and I had to get out of there before this thing between us swallowed me whole.