“Yes. We’ll talk this over if it develops into anything.”
Hayden eyes me shrewdly but remains uncharacteristically quiet. After shaking hands with Dante and wishing him happy birthday, Mason and I take our leave. The night air is cooler and crisper, so I hurry him to the car with my hand hovering over the small of his back. If I close my eyes, I can almost pretend he can feel my phantom touch.
Once we get back home, we go about our separate nighttime routines as usual. But like the other night, I join him on the bed after my thorough shower. Mason’s hair is slightly damp and there are dark smudges under his eyes. Lifting my hand, I trace the air around his jaw, cheeks, and his lips. Red blooms across his cheeks. I pretend the flush is from desire, from need for me. It stirs the deep need inside me to have him, but also to protect him in a way I can’t explain. Even from myself if necessary.
“Soon,” Mason whispers so that I can feel the damp puff of air against the pads of my fingers.
“However long, including never,” I promise him.
Mason closes his eyes with a content sigh. Moments later, he’s sound asleep, and I watch him for a little while before sleep claims me for her own.
CHAPTER 9
MASON
Parker has slept beside me every single night for the past five days. Except for tonight, because he has a very important mission. He’d left in his hot-as-hell mission clothes, including his murder shoes, and he’d given me his gentle smile that is starting to make me sweat instead of calming me down. Now it’s a little past midnight and I can’t sleep.
The bed doesn’t feel right without the gentle dip on his side from his overly warm body. I mean, is his temperature always a million degrees? Not that I hate it because most nights I’m cold. The warmth of his body lulls me to sleep. Without him my body aches from the cold pressing in on me. What will happen when we finally touch? Will I ignite into flames from all this wanting?
After tossing and turning for a while, I finally decided to just give up. I can’t go downstairs because Parker’s wholeyou can’t be downstairs without meorder is still in effect even when he’s not home.
Around one in the morning, the sound of the car pullinginto the garage has me rolling out of bed in excitement. The garage door creaks open when I’m halfway down the stairs. For a second, fear shoots through me, as I worry that it’s not Parker, that it’s the same people who stole Reid. I sink down to a crouch on the stairs, watching fearfully as Parker walks into the shadowed hallway. He’s clutching his side, breathing strangely, and walking with a limp. Fuck.
“Parker?” I call out softly.
Parker startles a little but then finds me crouching down on the stairs. Under his gaze, I stand to my full height, only now realizing I’m just wearing boxer briefs and one of Parker’s larger T-shirts. His nostrils flare at the sight of me and my cock takes immediate notice. Oh.
“Why aren’t you asleep?” Parker asks, sounding oddly out of breath.
“You weren’t there and it felt wrong. I couldn’t sleep.”
Parker swears under his breath, then lifts the hand not clutching his ribs to tiredly rub his face. He looks so exhausted. My heart aches for him, stirring up this urge to take care of him like he so often takes care of me.
“Come on,” I say, holding my hand out to him in invitation.
He looks at my hand and firms his jaw. “Go on. Let me shower and then I’ll join you on the bed. Give me a bit?”
“No.”
Parker’s eyebrows wing up in clear surprise. “No?”
“I want to see why you’re clutching your side like that.”
Parker huffs a frustrated laugh. “Go on. I’ll see you in a minute.”
I wiggle my fingers at him once more. “Come on. You can use my shower, it’s bigger.”
Parker swallows loudly but gives up his fight. It takes himdouble the time it normally does to climb the stairs. I move aside so he can limp into the bathroom under the soft lighting. He glances at me over his shoulder and sighs deeply at whatever look he sees on my face.
“I’m fine,” Parker grumbles, clearly annoyed.
“I’ll decide on that.” I take a step forward, so our bare feet almost touch. “Take your clothes off.”
“Mason.”
“Parker.”
He stares at me. I stare at him.
