Once they were finished, Mason left Jesse sitting at the bar drinking his coffee while he cleaned up the dishes. With his back turned at the sink, Mason said, “It seems as if there’s something on your mind.”

  Jesse smirked. “You’re intuitive as hell.”

  “That’s a compliment to a cop, y’know.”

  Jesse sighed as he sat there with both of his hands wrapped around the hot mug. He frowned when he thought of the nights he’d been so cold he was afraid he’d never regain the sensation in his hands again. It was crazy the things he’d taken for granted before this experience changed him forever.

  “I do have something I need to talk to you about,” Jesse started.

  “Sure.” Mason dried his hands on a dish towel, then slung it over his shoulder. “I’ll listen to anything you want to tell me.”

  Mason had a way of not making Jesse feel pressured and that whatever he said he could trust him with the information. Mason cut the lights in the kitchen, and they took their drinks to the living room. There was a large television in front of the sectional, with a gaming console and some stereo equipment on the stand, but Mason didn’t bother with any of that. He started a fire and turned on a dim lamp that sat on one of the end tables. Once he saw that he had Mason’s full attention, Jesse went into the entire story of how he’d really gotten stuck on the streets and become homeless.

  He began with telling Mason exactly why he left home, after his uncle came into his bedroom again and his aunt thought it was best if he left instead. Even told him about her still collecting his mother’s insurance checks that he was the beneficiary of. Once he got to Worm and why he was in jail, Mason’s expression changed, and a deep crease formed between his brows.

  Jesse hurriedly put his mug down on the coffee table in front of him. “I knew nothing about his dealing drugs. If I did, I certainly wouldn’t have come.”

  “I believe you, I do. That’s not it. I mean, if your friend was busted for having a big operation, then that means…”

  Jesse filled in where Mason trailed off. “It means he’s pissed off some really angry narcotics detectives, and they’ve been leaning on me to get Worm to talk. Supposedly he knows about some big shipment or at least who’s receiving it.”

  “He does?” Mason sat up.

  “Yeah, he does.” Jesse lifted his chin. “And I’m going to help those detectives get it out of him. Worm’s not a bad guy. He just makes stupid decisions without thinking of consequences. And if I tell Worm even a fraction of what’s happened to me out here these past few weeks, and how the same narcs that he’s holding out on are the same ones that saved his best friend’s life, I know he’ll do the right thing.”

  Suddenly, Mason lurched forward and pulled Jesse into a bone-crushing hug. He was surprised but he still wrapped his arms around Mason’s neck. “You have no idea how relieved I am to hear this.” Mason pulled back and gently touched his cheek. “I assume the narcs you’re referring to are Godfrey and his team.”

  Jesse nodded. “Most police know about them, huh?”

  Mason chuckled. “Uh, yeah. They’re pretty well-known.”

  “Do you know them?” Jesse asked in a way that Mason seemed to easily pick up on.

  “I know them as my friends. But I’m not in that department or have any knowledge of their cases. No one does actually. I’m a patrol officer. God’s men are detectives.” Mason touched Jesse’s hands. “If you want to go talk to them, I can take you to their office.”

  “Ellis, I just wanted to be honest with you and not have secrets, but I still don’t want you getting involved.” Jesse shook his head vehemently. “Next thing you know, Internal Affairs will be breathing down your throat thinking you had something to do with this.”

  Mason hid a grin behind his fist. “You’ve watched a lot of police dramas on TV, haven’t you?”

  “This isn’t a game. I’m serious, Ellis. I need to talk to Lieutenant Godfrey right away.”

  “I am too.” Mason gave Jesse his cup back and pecked his slack lips. “Relax. You’re fine. Besides, Day doesn’t allow his husband to go to the office on Sundays. I’ll take you to talk to God first thing in the morning.”

  “Those two are married? Well, that I didn’t expect.” Jesse groaned when he thought of how God had towered over him. “Even with knowing that, I’m still not exactly getting the warm and fuzzies from those guys. They’re so intense, but also… pretty cool, I guess.”

  Mason nodded. “That’s a good description. But I promise you can trust them. They are really good men. The officers with spouses and families get to go home safely because of God’s team making the sacrifices that they do. His task force goes head-to-head with men most cops are afraid of.”

  “You make them sound like heroes.”

  “Because they are.”

  Jesse leaned into him until their lips were teasingly close to each other, only a hair’s breadth away from connecting. “Then how come you’re not on that team?”

  Mason

  Mason licked his lips in anticipation of Jesse’s kiss. “I hadn’t really thought about joining his task force. Me and Clark work our beat well and our community loves us. That’s enough for me.”

  “Mmmm.” Jesse moaned salaciously, sealing their mouths together. The few hours it’d been since he had a proper taste of Jesse were a few hours too long.

  Jesse straddled Mason where he sat in the L shape of the sectional. He dropped his head to the back of the couch and gripped Jesse’s hips. “Fuck.” He stroked every piece of Jesse he could touch, searching out his supple skin beneath his heavy sweater.

  Jesse ground his ass on Mason’s lap as if he suddenly felt lighter, freer. God, Mason hoped he did that for him. It sounded as if Jesse had been carrying a load that was far too heavy for one man’s shoulders, even one as mature as Jesse. He needed help with the burden that’d been placed on him, and Mason swore—whether they became an item or not—that Jesse wouldn’t have to bear it alone any longer.

  Jesse licked a searing path up Mason’s throat, flicking his tongue over his Adam’s apple before biting on his chin. “You’re driving me crazy,” he confessed.

  Jesse unbuttoned his pants and slid his zipper down enough for Mason to see the start of his dark brown pubic hair as he sucked passionately on Mason’s neck.

  “Oh damn.” Mason canted his hips. “And you’re not wearing underwear.”

  Jesse’s body took on a sultry rhythm all of its own. “Touch me, Ellis.”

  Mason bit his bottom lip to keep from cursing filthily as he molded his hands over Jesse’s smooth globes. He loved he wasn’t as hairy as him, and he loved the way his gun-roughened hands felt gliding over Jesse’s velvety skin. His cock was hard and making a damp spot in his gray sweats from Jesse’s treatment. He panted heavily in Mason’s ear, his long, nimble fingers fumbling with the drawstring of his sweats when a loud bang sounded on his front door. Mason had just enough time to yank Jesse behind him before his door was shoved open.

  “Knock, knock. Don’t shoot!” Clark yelled his usual greeting while peeking his big head inside of his home. When his partner’s eyes landed on him, his smile fell and a perfect o formed on his lips before he put his hand up in apology. “Oh shit. I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know you had comp—”

  Jesse was righting his clothes when his sergeant squinted at his face and recognition seemed to dawn on him. Mason put his hand up in an effort to hold him off, but it didn’t work.

  “Have you lost your fucking mind?” Clark came the rest of the way inside and slammed Mason’s door hard enough to break one of the glass panes at the top.

  Jesse flinched at Clark’s gesture, and Mason put his hand on his cheek to get his attention. “Jesse. Can you give me and my partner a second?”

  “Yeah, sure, of course.” Jesse nodded and hurried past Clark’s menacing scowl. “Sorry, excuse me.”

  Mason hated how unsure Jesse looked when he turned the corner, like Mason was about to tell him he’d made a mistake and he had to go, when that couldn’t have been any further from the truth. Jesse wasn’t going anywhere. Not until Mason got him to God safely and out of this messed-up circumstance.

  “Why’d you send him away? What? You don’t want him to hear the truth?” Clark set the six-pack of beer he’d brought with him on the breakfast bar and spun on Mason, but he was already there in his face. “You can’t be shacked up with a homeless kid you randomly plucked off the street. Are you insane?”

  “First of all, I sent Jesse away because he’s only seen one side of me.” Mason closed the few inches between them. His jaw clenched and his teeth bared. “And I don’t want him to see me lay your ass out if you don’t calm down and lower your motherfuckin’ voice in my house.”

  Clark narrowed his eyes, but his tone was a lot calmer. “What. Are. You. Doing?”

  “Second of all. Jesse is a grown man… not a kid. We’re both consenting adults. And being with a man—regardless of his living situation or social status—will not violate the integrity of my badge. And I suggest you don’t imply it again.” Mason walked around Clark and took one of the beers out of the bag and twisted the cap off. He handed it to his partner, who seemed to take forever before he accepted it… but he did.

  Clark sat down heavily on one of the stools. “Of all the men in Atlanta, Mase… why that ki—”

  Mason glared.

  “Why that guy?” Clark asked. “I mean, I know you’ve been a little hard up to get some action, but this is a bit extreme even—”

  “Are you trying to get decked?” Mason barked a shocked laugh.

  Clark put his hands up in defense. “I’ve just never seen you act so reckless or throw caution to the wind.”

  “That’s true,” Mason agreed. “I usually see something I want, and I sit back and overanalyze and question it for so long that ends up slipping through my fingers.” He clapped Clark on his broad shoulder. “Not anymore, man. I told you this year was going to be different.”

  “So, you’re a couple living together now?” Clark took a long swallow of his beer. “After knowing him for five minutes.”

  “He’s staying here until he gets on his feet.” Mason squeezed his eyes shut, getting frustrated. “And no, we’re not a couple, but I like him, Clark. And I want to get to know him.”

  “How old is he?” Clark hissed like it was a dirty little secret.

  “He’s almost twenty-five,” Mason said boldly.

  “For fuck’s sake. He’s almost ten years younger than you.”

  “And tall.” Mason smirked slyly—that was the part he really liked—and Clark almost spit his beer across the countertop. And just like they had for the last four years of being partners, they quickly squashed their disagreement and had each other’s backs.

  “Shit. I do kinda owe you one for whatever you said to Erlene last week. She asked if she could come over yesterday, and she made a really nice lunch… then, um… she ended up having to stay because of the storm.”

  Clark’s smile was innocent, and his cheeks turned a ruddy color under his stubble, and Mason couldn’t’ve been happier for him. For them. “I told you, buddy—the new year is ours. No more of this lonely, brooding shit and Sunday nights on my couch watching ESPN.”

  Clark waved him off. “Well. If your beau’s gonna be around a while… I guess I should meet him.”

  “Thanks, man. You’re going to like him.” Mason called for Jesse. “You’ll see. He’s not at all who you think he is.”

  Jesse

  It was a tense few moments as he answered Mason’s partner’s multiple questions that he seemed to fire off one after another. Once he seemed satisfied that Jesse had nothing to hide, he actually loosened up and became a pretty funny guy. Actually, Clark was the reason why he and Mason were pulling back into his driveway at almost midnight after visiting downtown Atlanta.

  Jesse had complained nonstop about his negative experiences in Atlanta from the moment he stepped off the bus, and Clark had insisted Mason take him out and show him some of the city’s highlights. And boy did he ever. Mason showed him the beauty of Atlanta and all of her surroundings from the gondolas of the twenty-story SkyView Ferris wheel in Centennial Park.

  Mason cut the engine to his SUV and turned to face him. “Did you like that?”

  “I did. Thank you. So much.” Jesse couldn’t stop smiling if he tried. Being out with Mason and experiencing the city through his eyes was already swaying him that maybe he could make a life for himself here. Away from the drug dealers and crime. Walking down the street with Mason made Jesse feel safe, as if he walked with his own bodyguard.

  Downtown was bustling with nightlife; even late on a Sunday night people went in and out of the bars and restaurants lining both sides of Marietta Street. Mason pointed out some of his favorite local eateries, but since they were still full from dinner, he promised to take Jesse to get the best lo mein at Hsu’s in Peachtree Center real soon. Jesse hadn’t missed the way Mason drove him by some of the nicer elementary schools, noting that some of them were hiring for the summer session. He’d seen enough to make him think that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad here.

  “If you let me take you on a proper date, I’ll show you all the museums we have here, the aquarium, and we still have some time to see the Botanical Gardens Winter Wonderland light show if you want.”

  A laugh bubbled up and overflowed from him, and the only explanation he had for this amazing feeling… was Mason.

  “Okay, maybe the Winter Wonderland does sound a little cheesy.” Mason turned away. “It’s kind of a family thing to do anyway.”

  Jesse cupped Mason’s chin. “I love Christmas lights. My mom hung them all over our place and on the balcony of our condo every year.”

  Mason smiled, and Jesse’s heart flipped in his chest. “Cool. How about next weekend?”

  “Okay,” Jesse whispered, his eyes falling to Mason’s dark lips. “I’m really glad you did this. I was starting to believe that Atlanta was the gateway to Satan’s lair.”

  Mason laughed, a deep robust sound, and Jesse thought he could listen to him do that all night. “Well, I hope I’ve at least debunked that theory.”

  Jesse ran the pad of his thumb over Mason’s bottom lip. “Oh, I’m maybe about half persuaded. I think I can use a little more convincing.”

  Mason gripped Jesse’s wrist, stopping his teasing, “Then come inside and I’ll see what else I can do.”

  Jesse folded himself over Mason’s back, massaging his firm ass as he worked to unlock the deadbolt on his front door. “What’s taking so long?” Jesse licked the rim of Mason’s ear.

  “You’re distracting me, that’s what.” Mason chuckled when Jesse eased one hand around and cupped his balls, making him groan. “Shit.”

  “Come on, Officer. It’s cold out here. Don’t you wanna be inside under the covers with me?” Jesse flirted.

  Mason got the door open, and they both fell inside the dark house, all frisky hands and hot kisses on any exposed skin they could reach. Mason got Jesse out of his jacket and latched onto his collarbone, making him cry out in pleasure from the heat that shot through his body.

  “Ellis. Your mouth is so hot.” Jesse was pushed against the wall, his hands restrained above his head. “Yes, fuck. More.”

  Mason kept his wrist locked over Jesse’s and used his other hand to pull his leg up on his hip. The way Mason ground his hard cock against his had Jesse seeing stars. He had his head thrown back, his neck arched, when Mason stopped suddenly, letting Jesse’s leg fall back to the floor.

  “What’s the matt—”

  “Shhh.” Mason frowned, his head cocked to the side as if he heard something, but Jesse could only hear his own desperate breaths from what they’d been doing. “My power is off.”

  “What?” Jesse exhaled. He glanced around him, assuming it was darker than usual, but not really sure.

  Mason spun around, securing Jesse behind him, and yanked something from behind his back in a blur. Jesse heard the hammer of a gun cock a split second before Mason’s deep voice filled the blackness surrounding them. “Who the fuck is in my house?”

  “Fast… but not fast enough. Stand down,” said a familiar voice that rumbled through Jesse’s chest. He clutched onto Mason’s arm, unable to keep the panic from his voice especially with Mason pointing a gun.

  “That’s him. It’s God. He’s here for me.”

  Mason

  “Tech, you can turn his lights back on now,” God murmured, and one by one, Mason’s lights came on. First, the one over his stove, then his back porch, and last was the low-watt bulbs suspended over his breakfast bar.

  Mason ground his teeth as he gradually lowered his weapon. “Were you guys just gonna keep listening?”

  “Yes,” several deep, male voices rang out in unison.

  Day was in his kitchen, leaning against his refrigerator drinking one of his beers. God sat at his dining table with his big boots propped on the corner as if he’d been there a while. God’s four enforcers, Ruxs, Green, Tech, and Steele, were in head-to-toe black, all deathly silent and standing in his living room. Motherfucker. Mason had been so wrapped up in Jesse’s sweetness that he hadn’t noticed six highly trained killers in his home.

  God brought his legs down and glared directly into Mason’s eyes.

  Day grinned around his beer. “No, Jesse, he’s not here for you. We’re here for hot lips.”

  A few of the guys covered their grins behind their fists, but Mason ignored them.

  God stood and shoved his chair under the table so hard he might have put a dent in it. “Here I was thinking my team had lost the one good piece of leverage I have on my stubborn, tight-lipped informant, only to find out you’ve swooped in like a thief in the night and stolen him.”

  Jesse was still squeezing his waist, his body trembling close to his, but his voice was strong when he said, “That’s not true. Ellis didn’t know anything until just recently and—”

  “It’s okay, Jesse,” Mason stopped him. He didn’t need him standing up to God, especially not to protect him.

 

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