Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 41952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
“Why don’t you sit next to the fire. You’re still shaking,” Mason observed.
Though the distance was minimal, he still took the opportunity to slide his hand into Jesse’s and guide him across the small area rug. Jesse practically slid down Mason’s body onto the thick carpet and sat with his long legs pulled up to his chest. He watched painfully as Jesse slowly extended his quivering hands toward the warmth. Again, Mason felt that squeeze around his heart.
He took the heavy quilt off the back of his sectional and draped it around Jesse’s shoulders. Mason knelt there, rubbing his arms through the heavy material. “I’m going to put your clothes in the wash, and I’ll be back. Are… are you hungry? I have some leftover beef stew I brought from a potluck we had last night. It was pretty good.”
Mason watched silent tears fall down Jesse’s face. He wasn’t bawling, and it wasn’t overly dramatic, but it was as if he just couldn’t hold them at bay. Mason wiped at one with the back of his knuckle. “It’s okay, baby.”
Jesse gripped both of his strong hands around his and squeezed before he brought Mason’s palm to his mouth and placed a delicate kiss in the center. Mason gasped as sparks shot up his arm, almost knocking him on his ass.
“Ellis,” Jesse mouthed.
Mason wanted to lean in and ask for more touching, but Jesse was the one starving… not him. No. Mason was famished for something that had nothing to do with food. “Okay. I’ll heat some up for both of us.”
Jesse
Thank you, Mom. Thank you for sending me an angel. Jesse rubbed his hands in front of the roaring fire and prayed. He thanked the heavens for answering, and he thanked his mom for hearing him. He’d begged for help while underneath that bridge with cars whizzing above his head and angry gang members shouting that they were going to kill him. He prayed for an angel to come save him. He prayed for a miracle.
And then he heard his name. He’d heard Ellis calling for him with panic in his deep voice. And he thought it’d been the sound of mercy. Now he was here in the man’s home—a police officer’s home—wearing his clothes and kissing his kindness. Mason’s touch was so damn gentle, so sweet and loving, that there was no way it could be faked. That’s why he was going to have to tell Mason everything about God and Worm tomorrow. He wanted to make absolutely sure that Mason didn’t get caught up in any of his crap.
He watched Mason move around in his tidy kitchen, warming their stew that was already making his stomach roar embarrassingly. It was a small but modern home with an open floor plan, stainless steel appliances, and recessed lighting. Mason had a bowl of apples atop his breakfast bar, along with an open laptop and several scattered papers. The five-person dining room table was a pretty polished oak and looked unused as if it was only there because it was the norm. He had masculine art on his walls, and the most fascinating was the bookshelves that made up one long wall of his living room. And each shelf was overflowing with everything from fiction to textbooks.
Mason walked into the living room carrying a bowl in each hand. He’d changed into a pair of lounge pants and a long-sleeved cotton shirt that said “You’re getting on my nervous system.”
When Mason noticed him scrutinizing it, he chuckled and said, “My partner, Clark, and I participated in an MS charity marathon last year. And for it, I got a scraped knee and this kick-ass T-shirt.” Mason snapped his fingers. “Oh, something to drink. Do you want some water or something warm?”
“Water is fine,” Jesse said. His pride was taking a serious beating, but his momma also didn’t raise no fool. He’d be an idiot to refuse anything Mason offered. Anything.
Jesse was careful to remember his manners and not inhale the stew, but he still finished well ahead of Mason. Neither of them had said much while they ate. The only sounds he heard were the crackling of the firewood that challenged the thunder and gale force winds outside. He caught Mason watching him, and Jesse wasn’t exactly shy about watching him back. When they were finished, Mason took the bowls and placed them in the empty sink. Everything in his house was so neat and clean, yet it still had that cozy, lived-in vibe. A place Jesse would call a home, not a house.
Mason took the quilt from around Jesse’s shoulders, and he suddenly realized that for the first time in weeks… he felt warm. He took Mason’s outstretched hand and got to his feet, standing close enough to kiss him, but he didn’t dare.