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He was still wearing nothing but wet boxer briefs, which clung way too closely to his body His calves and quads were as ripped as every other part of him, and with his arms crossed over his chest, his dark brown hair slicked back, he looked utterly casual as he leaned against the doorfrareen eyes took in every inch of ain, and I threwstomach emptied every last bit of itself into the bowl

Gentle hands pulledit at the back of , Mason helped e tub He pulled some toilet paper off the roll and handed it to me, and I weakly wiped my mouth with it and tossed it in the toilet before he flushed

>The lights over thethe small space an oddly intimate quality, and I noticed Mason had shut the door when he’d stepped inside, cutting us off from the rest of the party

He crouched before me now, balanced on the balls of his feet with his forearhs His emerald eyes had that open quality that I wished I could love, and the expression on his face wasn’t angry

He looked almost… sad

“Is that what you really think, Legs?” he asked softly “That we’ve all had it so easy and you’ve had it so hard? You think you’re the only one who’s had a tough life?”

“You don’t know anything about h and scratchy, my throat raw

He dipped his head “You’re right I don’t And you don’t know anything about mine”

“I don’t think that’s really my fault”

His long fingers were laced together, and he raised the at ht The Hildebrands are one of the wealthiest families in town, and you are a Hildebrand Charlotte Hildebrand’s daughter Through and through That’s your legacy now”

He was still speaking quietly, no scorn or hate coloring his voice, and I didn’t knohat to do with it Experience had taught me not to trust the softer side of Mason Van Buren, but I couldn’t figure out where he was going with this

With a decisive nod, he reached forme up too My knees wobbled badly, and the scrapes onwith the movement, but he held my arms to steady me

“You really want to be one of us? A Royal? You really think you can handle being a part of our world, Hildebrand?” he asked, his thuainst the skin of my arms It was a tinyit, but it oosebumps prickle all over my skin, made my nipples harden evenrainbows and cupcakes, you’re wrong as hell”

“I can handle it” My toes curled into the cool tile floor, but that was the only outward sign I gave of ”

A small smile tilted his lips, one that almost seemed to take him by surprise What? Had he expectedto do at this point, but it somehow felt like it was too late for that