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.