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7

RAIN

“Here she is.” Opening the cat crate, Rain stepped aside and a few seconds later Mouse’s tiny head popped out. She took her time sniffing the air and looking around before confidently strutting about like she owned the place.

Arms crossed, Mason tracked her while she wandered, curiosity in his gaze. Honing in on it, Mouse padded over and plopped down at his feet, blinking her large golden eyes at him before letting out a small squeak. She was a natural-born flirt, just like her dad.

Mason’s face softened, his lips twitching in the hint of a smile, and he crouched down, reaching out. His hand hovered as if he were unsure, but he seemed to push through, patting Mouse on the head, and Rain could hear her purrs from across the room.

“What’s her name.”

“Mouse,” Rain grinned, loving how she angled her head, and Mason immediately obeyed, giving her scritches around the ears. “When I found her, I thought she was a mouse and she was almost small enough to be one, so it stuck.”

“Is that all you have?” He gave Rain’s backpack a sidelong glance.

“Yeah.” Placing the crate next to a bag of cat supplies and food, Rain averted his eyes. “Since I’m between places I’m keeping a lot in storage.” But he probably didn’t have anything left if Gage had removed the bedroom door.

Rain could always buy new clothes; however, now that he had a real place to sleep, he’d been thinking about some nostalgic items he’d left behind as well as the SD cards from his security cameras. Once he settled in, he’d make a plan to grab them.

Done with Mason’s strokes, Mouse tottered off to explore the surrounding area so Rain sidled up to him.

“Am I the only subject in your show? Or will this be a model house?” he teased.

Mason’s eyebrows rose a bit. “Just you. It’s not my show. It’s an exhibition with eleven photographers. I’m one of them.”

“Ah.” For some reason, being the sole subject pleased Rain and he smiled up at Mason, enjoying their size difference. He didn’t care who the rest of the photographers were; however, he did have one important question that he should’ve asked yesterday but he’d been too overwhelmed by his luck to prod at it.

“When is the exhibition?”

“It opens in early December and runs for a month.”

“Can I stay here for free until then?” That would be more than enough time; after this, he’d be able to get a decent place and some furniture.

“Yes.” Mason’s affirmation had Rain doing a little hop, clapping his hands in joy. “Pick a room upstairs.”

Rain’s joy dissolved and he pursed his lips.

“Is your mind going, old man? We’ve been over this.” Stepping intimately closer, Rain enjoyed how Mason went stiff, clenching his fists. “I’m sleeping in your bed.” Running a finger along Mason’s stubbled jaw, he smirked and then quickly backed away, grabbing his things and strutting downstairs in the same confident manner as Mouse.

Dark and cavelike even during the day, Mason’s bedroom felt like a step away from the world, a secret refuge, somewhere Rain might feel almost safe, which was a big step up from safe enough. Relaxing into the space, he placed his backpack on an empty shelf above a few camera cases and checked the lock on the door. A simple push button. He’d have to scan the apartment and the house, maybe change some of the security.

Footsteps had Rain looking up and he blinked before bursting into laughter.

“Is this normal?” Mason stepped into the bedroom and pointed at Mouse, who was perched on his shoulder like a tiny void, eyes closed, content and purring. “She climbed me.”

“I think she likes you,” Rain grinned, booping her nose. Flouncing over to the bed, he sat on it, wanting to test the mattress again. “By the way? You never answered my question. Where did you learn to fuck like that?”

Mason’s famous frown was back. “I didn’t learn.”

Pulling his hair back over one shoulder, Rain snorted. “Well, you weren’t a virgin.”

“I’ve had sex before, just not often. It’s usually boring.” Turning his head to the left, he stared at Mouse and patted her head again.

“Usually?” Rain’s grin was slow. “So, it wasn’t boring with me?”

Mason dropped his hand.

“No.” The word was sterile, devoid of emotion, yet it only spurred Rain on. What was it about this man?

“You’re such a flirt.” Standing, he booped Mouse again and then stood on his toes, putting his lips a millimeter away from Mason’s and he stilled like a statue, his gaze glittering. “I wish I could interrogate you more but I have a long shift today.”

The words hung around them but Rain couldn’t break away, that hypnotizing gaze holding him fast, along with the sage undertone in Mason’s scent. It was everywhere in this bedroom but much stronger up close, and Rain wanted to bathe in it. Why was his heart beating so fast? He’d only meant to flirt but he seemed to be gaming himself. Either way, he didn’t have time to bend over so he should stop teasing.

Reluctantly stepping back, he let out an internal sigh of relief as Mason started and left the room without another word, Mouse still on his shoulders. Busying himself, Rain unpacked his uniforms, hanging one of them in the closet and laying the other out.

Marci had asked him to put in a few extra hours and he’d jumped at it, even if it meant missing Ollie’s release-from-treatment party. While guilt lurked in the background, he had to put himself first, and he vowed to text Tommy and apologize again on his way to work.

Once he was showered and dressed, he wandered out of the bedroom to find that Mason had set up Mouse’s things; he’d even placed the litter box in the laundry room, and Mouse was curled up outside the darkroom, happy, fed, and quietly waiting for Mason.

Shocked, Rain stared up at the small light that shone above the door, telling him that the room was in use. He’d been through a slew of men in the last few years but he’d never met somebody like Mason. If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t have agreed to model, or move in, or bring Mouse, but Mason was different in some inexplicable way. Rain wanted to know more about him, what made him tick, and why he had such an effect.

At least Rain didn’t have to worry about leaving Mouse behind, and after sending off another apology text to Tommy, he headed to work.

The only downside to this new place was the location. Since it sat on the rich side of town, it doubled Rain’s commute but he didn’t mind; it was a decent trade for a secure and sexy place to sleep. With his mind occupied by Mason, the walk went by in a breeze and as The Pointe appeared up the street, the chirp of Rain’s phone shook him from his musing.

He checked the lock screen, where Tommy’s reply sat, front and center.

It’s all good, man. You’ll see him at work soon anyway. Of course Tommy understood, which didn’t help Rain’s guilt.

He played with the end of his braid, typing with one thumb. I still feel bad.

It took a moment for Tommy to answer. I told him you’re sorry as fuck and he said you better be (jk) appeared above a picture of him and Ollie giving peace signs, and Rain stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, smiling. Ollie looked vibrant, healthy, and joyful, and Rain couldn’t be happier for him.

I am! But srsly have all the fun while I toil awaaaay. Love u both.

He would tell Tommy about his living situation eventually but since Ollie had ties to Mason, Rain didn’t want things to become awkward. It was a shame that he had no one to share his good news with, and it was also a shame that he’d been gone for quite some time yet his mother was either too oblivious or self-involved to care. If he continued his random visits to her office, appearing just enough to keep her happy, it might be ages before she noticed that he’d moved out, and by then he’d have enough savings and hopefully enough bravery to sever his ties with her.

Rain couldn’t wait to be his own person and that started with gathering the rest of his things.

He had five minutes, ten at most.

Starting his phone timer, Rain darted across the street and around the back of Gage’s house, letting out a sigh of relief when his key still worked. Hurrying inside, he stopped in front of his old room, cringing.

As expected, the door was gone and everything he owned had been scattered across the floor. It looked like Gage had gone on a rampage and while Rain had anticipated it, after staying at Mason’s for a few days the contrast had him staggering.

With a modern apartment in the basement, a cross between an art museum and an antique shop upstairs, and grounds that blew Rain’s mind - including a majestic weeping willow that he wanted to sit under forever - he felt like he’d struck it rich.

Plus, it was nice to live without fear, to not be sleeping with one ear out and one eye open, looking over his shoulder every time the house creaked, second-guessing every action, every word, and worrying about getting sidelined by consequences. In fact, living with Mason was a wet dream come true because both the house and the dick were spectacular.

Stepping gingerly onto piles of torn and dirty clothes, Rain began searching, finding most of the things he wanted. Thoroughly checking for AirTags, he stuffed it all in his backpack, wanting to boil whatever he could. Glancing up, he searched for the more obvious hidden camera, his eyes widening when he found it lying in pieces on top of his desk.

Obviously, Gage had discovered it and decided to send a message, but it had been lost in translation because he hadn’t noticed the second camera. Pulling the camouflaged white button from its hiding space in the blinds, Rain placed it securely in a zippered pocket as his phone began to shout. His time was up.

Leaving just as fast, he turned a corner, diving into the bushes outside the local park and watching. Sure enough, Gage pulled up three and a half minutes later, red-faced and sweating, and he opened his front door so forcefully that Rain heard it slap against the wall. That was enough for him and he took off in the opposite direction, heading toward The Pointe, happy to never see Gage or his house again.

The tension in his shoulders and back eased the farther away he got; he hadn’t realized he’d been hunched over. Straightening, he chose to be proud of himself. Sure, he should’ve taken more initiative when Tristan had announced his hike but he’d been processing the loss of his safety and had to be thrown into the deep end to learn how to swim. Now he had a lifeboat and, for the first time in a while, he also had hope.

Even if things didn’t work out with Mason, he’d gotten a few months’ grace which would help keep him afloat on his own. He didn’t want to continue relying on Tristan because thru-hikes changed lives. While he said he’d be back, he might decide to run off on another adventure and if Rain didn’t want to be like his mother, then he needed to be independent and not anchor Tristan down.

Deep in thought, Rain arrived at The Pointe on autopilot. Although he’d only crashed in the storage room for a month, the wedding hall still felt safe enough, like a home away from his new home, and sometimes he took his breaks on the couch in the back. He’d slowly transported his things to Mason’s house and now it looked like he’d never stayed there at all, but he was pretty sure Marci and Owen had their suspicions.

Walking in through the side entrance, he smiled. “Dylaaan.”

“Sup, Rain?” With a lopsided grin, Dylan leaned back in joy, fist-bumping with enthusiasm. “Head’s up, man. There is some serious eye candy in the kitchen, the new line cook should be an underwear model.”

“ Really. ” Rain nodded as if he were interested but after his morning with Mason he couldn’t care less. That thick cock had been so deep inside of Rain that he was surprised he could walk, and he couldn’t wait for round two tonight.

“I figured you’d wanna know but be gentle, he’s still new.” Chuckling, he gave Rain another fist bump and headed around the building. “Catch you later, Rain.”

“Later…” Rain watched him until he disappeared, feeling off. Of course he did, he’d just left Gage’s house, but a long shift would help him clear his mind, and he strode into the hall, wanting to throw himself into work.

Dylan hadn’t been lying, the new line cook was six foot two with dark eyes, a hint of stubble, and a talent for smoldering. Rain should be sitting in that man’s lap but all he wanted to was go back to Mason’s house, ride that cock again, and sleep with Mouse curled up against his chest.

What the hell was wrong with him? Maybe he was coming down with something.