Page 20 of Possession

“Hush,” Tomas said, one side of his mouth quirking up in a small half smile. “It’s not a big deal. My sister dropped off a bunch of tamales earlier. I’m just going to go warm some up for you. I’m not going to put together a five-course meal or anything.”

Freshly made tamales from his sister kind of sounded like a big deal, but he wasn’t sure why, really. He nodded slowly and took a step backward, nearly stumbling on the steps. Tomas’s hands shot out, grabbing his elbows and steadying him.

With a stern look, he turned Mason around to face the steps. “Watch where you’re going so you don’t get hurt.”

Mason couldn’t resist looking over his shoulder with a cheeky smile and saying, “Yes, sir.”

Tomas lowered his brows, but his lips twitched, and it was enough for Mason. He hurried up the steps and into his bedroom, looking around at the carnage he’d inflicted on the space.

Twice in the past week, he’d gone down to his car and brought up more stuff. There was still only really the bed, but now he had multiple suitcases open on the floor and clothes strewn about. His bed was also in complete disarray, looking like he’d gotten into a fight with his pillows in the middle of the night.

It turned out he was a restless sleeper when there wasn’t someone else in the bed with him.

He frantically worked to remake the bed and clean up the room, shoving stuff back into the suitcases without really paying attention to what was going where and then closed and zipped them as best he could. Then, he hustled into the bathroom and checked his appearance, fidgeting with his overly long hair and frowning at it. He really needed to get into Ollie’s chair and let him take off the little bit of length that was starting to curl. Vinnie wasn’t even there to appreciate it, so he wasn’t sure why he was hesitating.

Though he knew some of the people subscribed to his channel liked the longer hair too…

The upstairs of the clubhouse was so quiet he heard Tomas’s heavy footsteps before he reached the door and knocked, so Mason was waiting, opening the door a split second later.

Tomas stood there holding a tray with six tamales, an unopened bottle of beer, and a bottle of water. Mason quickly moved out of the way, and Tomas set the load on the end of the bed.

“They won’t be as good since I reheated them in the air fryer instead of a steamer, but I’m sure you’ll still like them. My sister’s tamales are almost as good as my abuela’s were.”

“High praise,” Mason said, closing the door to the hallway and stepping around Tomas to the edge of the bed.

Tomas glanced over at the door and then back at him, eyebrows raised. “Did you want me to stay while you ate?”

“Oh god.” Mason rushed back over to the door and whipped it open. “I’m so sorry. You brought so many tamales that I assumed you were going to eat with me. I’m sure you have much better things to do than hang out with the pathetic guest hiding out in your clubhouse. Please, tell your sister I really appreciate the food, and thank you for getting it for me. I should have said that before. I don’t think I did?—”

Callused fingers slipped over his mouth, silencing his babbling and stealing his breath from his lungs. He stared into Tomas’s laughing eyes, wondering if that salt-and-pepper beard would feel good if Tomas kissed him right then or if it would irritate his skin.

“I wasn’t sure how hungry you were, but I can stay and have one or two if you’d like.” He kept his fingers over Mason’s mouth for another moment, the air around them heating, filling with a delicious tension Mason hadn’t felt in a long time.

When he finally freed Mason’s lips, he couldn’t help but dart his tongue out to taste his bottom one. Then he sank his teeth into it, holding back a moan at the faint suggestion of tamales and cigarettes.

“I don’t want to put you out,” he whispered.

Tomas shook his head, holding Mason’s gaze captive. “You’re not. I’m a grown man. I know how to say no if I don’t want to do something.”

Jesus, why were those words sexy to him? The easy way Tomas carried himself, with such confidence and assuredness,was like an aphrodisiac to Mason, drawing him in, making him weak in the damn knees.

“I do owe you an apology,” Mason said, reaching back blindly and finding the edge of the door and swinging it shut.

“Why is that?”

“For still being here. I swear I’m looking. I just haven’t found anything that wasn’t atrocious yet.”

The corner of Tomas’s mouth tipped up. “Well, as much as it’s ruining my tough-guy reputation, I’d hate for you to have to live somewhereatrocious.”

The gentle teasing was too much for him. He couldn’t handle it. Not when he was already so off-kilter, staying in this place, barely speaking to his other half. He was discombobulated and unmoored. But the second he tipped himself against Tomas’s body, wrapping his arms around his waist and craning his head back to stare up into his surprised eyes, he felt steadier.

He knew in his gut Tomas was the kind of man who would keep a partner safe, protect them, give them support and stability, things Mason had craved since his parents had left him. Since Vinnie’s had told them they had to leave after they graduated high school. Since he realized college wasn’t for him and started bouncing from job to job.

“Mason,” Tomas breathed out as one of his hands gently cupped the back of Mason’s head. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know,” Mason said honestly. “I don’t know anything anymore. Except…”

“Except what?” Tomas asked, his head lowering.

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