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“I came down here earlier to scope out your room so I’d know exactly where to go when all the candles were out,” he said. “I didn’t mean to snoop. Saw a book-shaped lump in the pillow. I thought I’d take it and put it in my room for safekeeping. I’m allowed books in there, after all.”

“Oh. Thank you,” I murmured.

He smiled. “Y’know, I flipped through it a bit, to see what kinda stuff you’re into. I was surprised. It’s very racy. Sex scene after sex scene. Like porn with a plot.”

I shook my head with confusion. “Porn?”

He chuckled. “Right. You wouldn’t know. Do you remember movies?”

“Yes.”

“In the old times, some people made movies or took photos of people doing all the things described in these pages.” He held the book in the air again.

“Like the ceiling mural in the Great Room?” I asked.

“Yes, like that.”

“What were the movies for?”

His smile grew wider. “People watched them to get off.” He paused. “I mean, they’d pleasure themselves to the sight of it. Probably the same reason you kept this book, huh?”

I felt my face flush. “I like the story,” I said indignantly. “That’s all.”

“Uh-huh.” I could tell he didn’t believe me. I was a bad liar.

I stood up. “Mason, I can’t talk about these sinful things with you. I already told you earlier, I can’t—”

He cut me off, pressing a finger to my lips. “Shh, pretty girl. I didn’t come down here to try and convince you to fuck me. I just want to talk. That’s all.”

My brows furrowed. “You want to talk to me?” I said. I shook my head and went on before he could respond. “Men don’t talk to women. Not unless they need to.”

He shrugged. “I do.”

“But isn’t it hard to lower yourself to my level?”

He chuckled again. “Don’t need to.” He took my hand and guided me back to my bed. “Lie down. If we squash ourselves together, we can both fit.”

I stiffened and pulled away. “I said I can’t do that.”

“Jolie, I promise, I just want to talk,” Mason said in a soothing tone. “I’ll keep my hands to myself. Do you trust me?”

I thought about it for a second, then nodded. “I think so.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

I lay down. Mason got in beside me, making the bed creak under the weight of his muscular form. It was so narrow that the only way we’d both fit is if we lay right next to each other, snuggled up close with my head on his chest. Mason stayed true to his word, though. His hands didn’t sneak down below the blanket or try to touch me in any way. He simply lay next to me, letting me listen to his steady heartbeat.

“You’re the only man who’s ever treated me like I’m a real person,” I murmured a moment later. “That’s why I trust you.”

“You are a real person,” Mason replied. “And you deserve to be treated like one.”

“You’re so strange.”

I thought he might laugh at that, but instead he remained silent for a long moment. “I don’t like that you find it strange that a man might want to treat you as an equal,” he finally said. He sounded angry, but not at me.

I didn’t reply. I didn’t know what to say. I just lay there listening to his heart again.

“What did you want to talk to me about?” I finally asked after a few peaceful minutes of silence.

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