Monday morning, Mason called his boss to say he’d be working at home that week due to a family situation. She was very understanding. He had a meeting Wednesday afternoon that he’d go in for, but other than that, none of his projects required him to be in the office.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Heather and Travis to be in his house when he wasn’t there. Well, actually, that was exactly the problem. Mason didn’t know them, and unfortunately, Rhy didn’t know them all that well, either. Plus, their parents’ mental condition was questionable. After everything Rhy’s siblings had suffered, who knew what their psychological state might be?

Mason just wanted to be cautious.

Plus, he wanted to help his puppy acclimate to her new home. A week should be enough time to get a sense of whether everything would be okay there without him.

By the time he had showered, Heather was making omelets. The scent of bacon filled the kitchen. This might actually be nice, having company around, people to look after him.

“I walked Dora,” Heather said. “She’s a good girl, sweet as can be. Is it okay that she’s out of her crate?”

“Yeah, that’s just for overnight. Breakfast smells good.”

“Thanks. I’m sorry about us barging in here like this. We meant to barge in on Rhy, but he’s right, it’s better that we’re here where our parents can’t find us.”

“Are they violent?”

“Not technically. My dad’s got a hunting rifle, but unless you’re a deer, you should be safe.” She met his eyes. “Mase, I know this is weird for you. I wouldn’t be here if I thought it put you or your home in danger. I’m not afraid of what my parents will do if they find us. I just don’t want them harassing us.”

“Who knows,” Travis said as he entered, “maybe they’re happy we’re gone. Maybe they spent last night rolling around in the hundred thousand dollars they’ll save not paying our tuition.”

“And the twenty grand for my wedding,” Heather said.

Mason’s phone beeped. It was a text from Rhy, saying he’d be there around ten. Mason hadn’t really been expecting him. If having Travis and Heather at his house meant Rhy would be coming around more often, then Mason was on board with that.

 

***

 

Rhy took his computer bag out of his truck and slung it over his arm. A yipping in the side yard caught his attention. He walked to the fence. There was Dora all alone, barking and wagging her tail. “Well, aren’t you cute. They letting you explore by yourself already?” He caught sight of Heather at the side door and waved before going in through the front.

He’d woken up feeling more positive than he had in a long time. The sense of helplessness had vanished. He was actively doing something to make life better for his younger brother and sister, the way he’d always wanted to. More than anything, their turning to him showed they still saw him as the big brother they could count on to protect them. That meant everything to him.

As Rhy entered the house, Travis said, “About time your lazy ass got here. I got the tile and thinset and grout mix out of the garage.”

“Start sanding down the walls, then. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Rhy walked over to the dining room where Mason was working on his computer. “One sec,” Mason said, “let me send this email.” After a few keystrokes, he rose and took Rhy’s hand. “It’s good to see you.”

“You, too. Can we talk in the bedroom?”

“Sure.”

Hand in hand, they walked to the master. Rhy closed the door and leaned in for a kiss. Not some little peck, but a deep kiss that involved lips and tongues and hands roaming over bodies. “I’ve missed you like hell.”

“You too.” Mason’s gaze was soft and cheerful. “You seem…better.”

“I feel better. Back in control. I want to take you out for dinner tonight. Away from this craziness.”

“I would love that.” Mason beamed.

Happiness shimmered through Rhy’s chest. “Italian okay?”

“Perfect.”

Rhy took his hand and led him to the bed, where they sat. “I spent the morning trying to figure out the finances. There’s a hundred grand in the trust to split between Heather and Travis. Their remaining tuition comes to about seventy-five total, so that leaves a nice amount for living expenses.”

Rhy brushed his fingers through Mason’s hair, then continued, “That’s a long way of saying there’s money to pay for their room and board while they’re living here. You’re doing me a huge favor, letting them stay with you. I want you to be fairly compensated.”

Mason kissed him. “Anything for you. They’re lucky to have you looking after them.”

“I’m lucky to have them.” Rhy took a deep breath, letting the emotions flow through him, appreciating the happiness that had become all too rare. “Seriously, I feel like a giant boulder has been lifted off my chest. Knowing they’re not living in fear anymore, that they’re free. It’s like, for the first time, I’m free, too. I can go to their graduations. Spend holidays with them. I’ve got my family back, Mase.”

Mason leaned in and kissed him chastely, but Rhy lowered him onto the bed and deepened the kiss. Mason opened for him, and Rhy melted at the velvet feel of their tongues sweeping together.

It had been weeks since they’d kissed like this—far too long. Rhy grabbed Mason’s ass, grinding their cocks together. But now was not the time, even though Mason’s erection pressed against Rhy’s temptingly. Mason was officially on the clock, and Travis was waiting for Rhy’s help to tile the bathroom. Rhy pulled away. “We should save that for later.”

“Unfortunately. So…none of this is making you feel panicked?”

“I feel great.”

“I wonder what your therapist will say.”

Rhy shrugged. “I guess I’ll find out on Wednesday.” He gave Mason a big kiss, then headed out into the hallway toward the half bath where Travis was waiting.

 

***

 

By the afternoon, Mason had retreated from the dining room to his bedroom to work. The problem with a bungalow was that he couldn’t go upstairs to escape the noise—there was no upstairs. With his earbuds in and Pandora set to Calm Meditation Radio, he was mostly able to shut out the world.

A little after five, as Mason was turning off his computer, a knock came on the door and Rhy entered. “We’ll be done with the tiling in about half an hour. Then I’ll clean up and we can go to Portobello’s.”

“Show me what you’ve done.” Mason scrambled off the bed and followed Rhy.

In the little half-bath, the new marble vanity was in place. Glossy dark-gray subway tile surrounded it, and the brushed nickel fixtures had been installed. Travis was in the process of grouting the paler gray tiles of the porcelain flooring.

“This looks amazing,” Mason said. “Even better than I imagined.”

Rhy didn’t know it, but Mason was keeping track of every unpaid hour Rhy was putting into the remodeling. Rhy didn’t like the idea, because as far as he was concerned, he was building equity in their future together, not simply into Mason’s house. But Mason wasn’t about to take advantage of Rhy’s generosity. If they ever did split up—and Mason prayed they never would—he’d know exactly how much he owed Rhy.

At least monetarily.

Mason couldn’t begin to measure how much Rhy had improved his life in other ways. Since meeting Rhy four months earlier, he’d escaped the rut of working for his mother’s real estate firm. He’d gotten a job as a graphic artist, thanks to Rhy’s connections. He’d moved out of his city loft and into a house in the suburbs—one that could be their forever home.

If only Rhy would move back in.

Mason tried not to get ahead of himself. They’d made tremendous progress the past couple of days. And even though it was naïve to think that being united with his brother and sister resolved all his issues—it was just as likely to stir up even more—at least Rhy was feeling positive again. At least he was there, instead of hiding up on the mountain.

Recovery from the kind of trauma he’d suffered was a life-long process. He would never be “cured.” The key for their relationship was convincing Rhy to run to Mason, instead of away, when things got bad.

Mason looked around the bathroom again, taking in every beautiful detail. “Does this mean I don’t have to be the assistant anymore? I can help with the design, but I’m no good with power tools.”

Rhy grinned. “If my baby brother weren’t here, I’d say something about how you can power my tool any time.”

“If you want me to finish up this job,” Travis teased, “then keep the lovey-dovey stuff to yourself.”

While waiting for Rhy, Mason went to take the puppy outside. Heather was in the kitchen, unpacking groceries. “Sorry to be taking over the house,” she said. “Rhy wrote me a check from the trust fund so I could set up a bank account. It’s incredibly freeing that I don’t have to answer to anyone for the money I spend anymore.”

“Heather, I want you to be comfortable living here. Consider this your home, at least for the summer. Next summer, after Travis graduates, maybe you two could get a place together—or by then, maybe you could stay in the cabin while Rhy stays here. We’ll work this out as a family.”

Her eyes glistened. “Your concept of family is so different from mine. People supporting each other, like they should. I’ve never had that.”

“You’ve had it with Travis. You two are survivors, just like Rhy is a survivor. Maybe you could come to church with my family on Sunday—or if church makes you uncomfortable, to Sunday dinner afterward. Me and my sisters and their husbands get together at my parents’ house, and there’s lots of noise and laughter. They would love to meet you. My mom will be so happy that you and Travis have reunited with Rhy.”

She let out a breath. “That sounds really nice. I’ve always wanted a family like that.” Tears touched her cheeks, and she started to shake.

Mason encompassed her in his arms. It was nice to see her let down her guard and be vulnerable. She and Travis were carrying a lot of baggage, just like Rhy was. They had a long journey ahead of them. But at least they were finally on the path to recovery.

***

 

Mason took Dora outside. She seemed to know a few commands, like sit and stay. She liked chasing a ball and bringing it back—she was a retriever, after all. Mainly, it was just a joyful thing seeing her run through the grass and enjoy the world with the enthusiasm only a puppy can.

After fifteen minutes or so, Rhy joined them. “There’s no reason anything should be that cute.”

“I know. And the puppy is pretty adorable, too.”

Rhy shook his head but failed to suppress a smile. “You don’t like it when I call you cute.”

Mason kissed him. “You need to get to know Dora. She’s your dog, too. You’re the reason I got a black lab.”

“I know. I’d have waited until we finished renovating the house—”

“Which could take years. And the baby gate seems to do a good job of keeping her out of the places she’s not supposed to go.”

Rhy knelt down and nuzzled her. “I’m not complaining. She’s perfect.”

“I signed her up for obedience classes Saturday mornings. Can you come with?”

“Sure.” Rhy stood up again. “I’m wondering if I can afford to take the summer off, to finish up the renovations while I’ve got Travis here to help. I really want the Azalea Meadows job, but other than that, I’d like for my time to be as flexible as possible.”

Mason smiled, his heart rising. “So you’ll be here, like, every day?”

“That’s what I’m thinking. I’m not ready to move back in, but—”

“That’s okay.” Mason flung his arms around Rhy’s neck. “As long as I get to see you, I’ll be happy. And if you want to take Dora up to the mountain sometimes to keep you company, I’d be okay with that.”

“Thank you. That might be nice, actually.” He rested his hands on Mason’s hips. “I should clean up.”

“Me, too. I got a little sweaty out here. Maybe we could clean up together.”

Rhy raised his brows. “In the middle of the day, with Heather and Travis here? I don’t think so.”

“Look, you don’t get to bring your brother and sister here as surprise houseguests, then tell me we can’t have sex because of them.”

“They could overhear us,” Rhy warned.

“In the shower, with the water running? They won’t hear a thing.”

“Sound carries through the pipes. Don’t you know that?”

Mason leaned in and kissed him. “I’ll be vewy, vewy quiet, as if I’m hunting wabbit.”

“You stole that from me.”

“You stole it from Elmer Fudd.”

Rhy’s hands wandered to Mason’s ass. He looked at him with hooded eyes, his pupils large and dark. “Okay, let’s go take a shower.”

A thrill of happiness and desire shot through Mason’s stomach.

 

***

 

Rhy followed behind as Mason entered the house and took off Dora’s collar. “Can you watch her?” Mason asked Heather. “Or should I put her in the kennel?”

“I can watch her.”

“Thanks.”

Rhy tried not to be embarrassed, tried to just focus on the moment instead of catastrophizing about all the things that could go wrong. Worst case scenario, Travis and Heather would overhear them having sex in the shower. His brother and sister were both sexually active. They couldn’t possibly be shocked that Rhy and Mason wanted some intimate time together. It would be fine.

“We’re getting ready for our date now,” Rhy said. “Don’t tear up Mason’s house while we’re gone.”

Mason closed and locked the bedroom door behind them. Wasting no time, he was on Rhy in an instant, kissing him and tearing off their clothes.

“Eager,” Rhy said as his briefs dropped to the floor.

“It’s been two weeks, Rhy.”

“Too long.” Rhy grabbed Mason’s ass and kneaded it in his hands. He backed him against a wall, kissing him deeply.

Mason crossed his arms behind Rhy’s neck, locking the two of them together. Something about this man awakened Rhy’s animal instincts, like a hunter pouncing on its prey. He wanted to possess him, to savage him, to pull at Mason’s hair and rake his nails across that tender flesh. At the same time, Rhy wanted to cradle and care for him, like his most precious treasure.

Their cocks slid together, and Rhy couldn’t wait. He hefted Mason into the shower, grabbing the silicone lube stored there. As the warm water washed over them, Rhy slicked them up and pulled Mason against him. He grabbed both their cocks in his fist and thrust against Mason, their bodies settling into a delicious rhythm.

With his free hand, he found Mason’s hole and slid a slippery finger inside. Mason caught his breath but stayed silent as promised. Rhy sought Mason’s prostate and soon had him begging in soft, murmured pleas.

Mason was beautiful like this, completely vulnerable, his expression open, nothing held back. It was in his nature to trust and to give. Rhy did his best to be worthy.

None of the men Rhy had dated before had been concerned with his well-being the way Mason was. They’d been little more than companions, friends with benefits. He never understood what love could be, until Mason showed him.

With the two of them, it was instant combustion. Rhy always thought love at first sight was a fantasy—but that’s what happened with Mason. From the first moment, chemistry zinged between them. The longer they knew each other, the more powerful those feelings became.

The sex between them was perfect, their bodies responding to each other in an animal way that required no conscious thought. Sensation and pleasure flowed between them without barriers, with a oneness that united them at a soul level.

Nibbling at Mason’s earlobe, Rhy sped up his strokes, and Mason came in his hand. He kissed Mason hard, and Mason ran his hands over Rhy’s flesh, fisting his cock and kissing his nipples. Pressure built in Rhy’s shaft until he covered their two bodies with his seed, which the water gently rinsed away.

As they came down from the high, they quickly showered. Once dry, they dressed up a bit more than usual. Apparently Mason shared Rhy’s feeling that this was a special night, a new beginning for them.

Rhy drove them downtown and parallel parked about a block from the restaurant. They passed by a jewelry store, and Mason’s pace slowed. Rhy had grown used to this. Mason was an artist, and pretty things caught his attention.

When Mason stopped, Rhy realized his gaze was trained on men’s engagement rings. Rhy tried not to laugh. It was a sensitive subject, because Mason’s last boyfriend had freaked out when Mason had done the same thing, feeling pressured, even though Mason had just been admiring the beauty of them. Rhy would have to tread carefully, because he wanted to know Mason’s taste.

He would be buying Mason an engagement ring one day. Everything else in Rhy’s life might be up in the air, but Mason he was sure of.

He wrapped his arms around Mason’s waist, and said in his ear, “Tell me what you like.”

“Oh—it’s nothing. I’m just looking.”

“I know. Does anything catch your eye?”

“I like the one in rose gold, encircled with small diamonds. The white gold version would be more practical, though.”

Rhy nodded and kissed Mason’s temple. “I like the simplicity of them.”

Mason leaned his head back against Rhy’s chest. “It’s too soon,” he said dreamily.

“I suppose. Someday, though.”

“Someday,” Mason echoed, but the sadness in his voice said he didn’t quite believe it.