“Jesse!”
Ellis! Jesse tried to call out, but his throat was so dry his voice came out as a cracked whisper. He couldn’t recall when the last time he had something to drink. The other day, maybe. Jesse covered his sensitive eyes when the blinding light hit his face. He didn’t need to see his angel to know he was there. Jesse carefully eased down the sharply angled concrete as Mason rushed up to meet him.
“Jesus Christ.” Mason wrapped him in the tightest hug he’d ever had, breathing heavy against his throat like he’d been running a long time. “I thought I was gonna find you dead.”
Jesse fell into Mason’s body and closed his eyes in relief. “Ellis.”
“It’s okay. I got you,” Mason said soothingly, and Jesse felt himself being guided by strong arms and placed inside a warm vehicle.
Mason
Jesse was slouched and shivering in the passenger seat, his eyes opening momentarily when the thunder rolled, only for them to ease closed again. His head lolled to the side and faced him, and Mason’s heart melted. He looked so broken and defeated. Why’d I wait so damn long? He’s been out there all alone. Mason couldn’t resist tucking a long strand of dark blond hair that looked black when wet behind Jesse’s ear. He moaned sweetly and nestled into Mason’s palm, and he knew he was a goner.
Mason pulled up as close as he could to his front door, but the rain was still coming down in thick sheets, and there was no way to avoid getting drenched more. Mason cut the engine, and the overhead light came on, illuminating Jesse’s face. He was almost model beautiful. Long, brown lashes, spiked from the rain, rested on his face as he slept. His lips shivered with every breath he took, lips that were made for kissing and licking. Jesse’s smooth, creamy skin held a hint of a shadow around his lower jaw… or was that grime? My gosh. Even under the filth, Mason saw this man’s beauty… inside and out.
“Hey,” Mason whispered, not wanting to scare him. “Jesse. Wake up. We’re here.”
Jesse seemed to struggle to fight his exhaustion and open his eyes. “Here?” he croaked. “Where’s here?”
If Mason hadn’t been watching Jesse’s mouth, he wouldn’t have heard what he’d asked. “We’re at my house. It’s only two blocks over from the park.”
Jesse glanced out the window, then back to him. He had tears running down his face, or maybe it was the rain, Mason wasn’t sure, and he didn’t care. “Why are we here?”
Mason slowly reached up and stroked Jesse’s cheek, and yeah, those were tears that fell. “I don’t know, honestly.”
Jesse placed his freezing palm over his.
“I just know I had to find you.” Mason shook his head because it didn’t make total sense to him either. “Will you come in, please?”
Jesse bit his trembling bottom lip before he sighed, “Yes. Please.”
Mason put his arms around Jesse as he noticed him limping toward the porch. He quickly unlocked the door and got them both inside. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” Jesse answered. “Just… tired.”
“Okay.” Mason left Jesse standing in his entryway as he observed the open space that was his living room. Instead of making things as awkward as he felt, Mason went to the fireplace and started tossing a few pieces of wood on top of the starter log. “I should’ve got this going before I left… but… I was rushing.”
Jesse continued to stand on the square of checkered linoleum as if he didn’t feel comfortable taking another step. As Mason got the fire roaring, he noticed Jesse fidgeting with his messy hair and fussing with his clothes. Yes, he was a mess, a tall, gorgeous mess. Mason didn’t know why he had such an overwhelming need to protect Jesse, to make him smile at least once, to make him warm. Mason removed his coat and hung it in the closet. He walked up to Jesse and stood only inches from him. “Let me have your coat?”
“No. It stinks,” Jesse mumbled, looking away. He stared at the flames of the fire instead of at Mason.
“Only a little.”
Cute frown lines formed in the center of Jesse’s forehead.
“I was just being honest.” Mason smirked, trying to lighten the mood. “You can sit by the fire and get warm… and I’ll… I can, um…” Mason prayed he wasn’t being insulting. “I can put your stuff in the washing machine.”
Jesse’s sad brown eyes lingered on him until they dropped to his feet. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Mason realized he was staring and jerked himself out of his trance. “Let me get you a sweatsuit to wear while your clothes dry.”
Mason helped Jesse get his sodden clothes off until they were in a pile at his feet, soaking the edges of his carpet. He didn’t care. Instead he tried not to be a creep and gawk at the supple, unblemished flesh Jesse had just recovered with Mason’s clothes.