Page 76 of Obsessed

“You know what, Ollie?” Rain smiled, proud of who he’d become. “I am.”

20

MASON

Masonwasgladhe’dtaken a cab to the show. The night had been a whirlwind and he’d gone too long without sleep, leaving him in zombie mode. Still processing, he barely remembered the ride to Tristan’s apartment, where Rain gathered Mouse and his things.

“No pets,” the driver barked as Rain tried to get into the car with the carrier but Mason pulled a few bills out of his wallet and thrust it in the man’s face. The cash was quickly snatched out of his hand and a half hour later they were dropped off in Gran’s driveway.

It sounded silly but the minute Rain set foot in the house, it felt like a home again. While Mouse had behaved throughout the car ride, she began mewing loudly once she hit familiar territory, sticking her paws through the holes in the carrier. Putting it down, Rain unlocked it and she squeezed out as soon as the door cracked open, immediately running to Mason and climbing him.

“Hi, Mo- Ow.Ow!Wait.” He pulled her free before she got to his shirt, placing her on his shoulders; she’d gotten so big that Mason could wear her like a stole. Her purr vibrated against him, warm and comforting, and she knocked her small skull into his temple as he reached up and scritched her ears. “Yes, I know. I missed you too.”

The last few hours had been wonderful for both his career and his heart, and this sweet girl was the cherry on top. Her pure love had joy bubbling up inside him and before he knew it, he let out a laugh.

“That is my favorite sound,” Rain declared, his gaze holding a few clouds which wasn’t surprising after the encounter with his mother. At least she wouldn’t be living in the same town anymore, that was one point in Rain’s favor, and the other was that Mason had sworn to protect him.

Still grinning, Mason’s second laugh got swallowed up by a yawn.

“I hate to say it, but you look like you’ve been awake for a year.” Drifting over to him, Rain stood on his toes, running fingers through Mason’s hair and giving him a full-body shiver. How had he become so addicted to someone’s touch? It was definitely witchcraft but he had no complaints.

“I can’t remember the last time I slept,” he admitted through another yawn.

“Then we should go to bed.” Snatching Mouse from his shoulders, Rain held her in his arms like a baby.

Holding back another yawn, Mason nodded and Rain bumped his arm affectionately, putting Mouse down. She strolled into the bedroom, the two of them right behind her, and as Rain quickly unpacked a few things, Mason got ready for bed, the two of them falling into their routine as if there’d been no interruption at all, their companionable silence filling the room with comfort once again.

Sliding under the quilt, Mason held his arm out and Rain snuggled up against him, fitting perfectly, his head right under Mason’s chin, and a strange sort of happiness washed over Mason; it took a moment for him to recognize it as contentment. He’d felt it before, during the first few years he’d lived with Gran, and it would soon become a familiar feeling because Rain had chosen to stay by his side.

“I love this room.” Rain let out a satisfied sigh, his voice soft, and that was the last thing Mason heard as his exhaustion caught up to him and he slipped under. When he finally woke up alone, it was close to noon.

Rubbing a hand through his hair, he looked around, wondering if Rain moving back in had been a dream, but before he could panic Mouse stuck her foot in the air and licked herself loudly on the end of the bed, bringing him back to reality.

The door cracked open and Rain peered in.

“Great, you’re awake! Stay right there.” And then he vanished.

Getting up, Mason quickly visited the bathroom and brushed his teeth, barely making it back onto the mattress before Rain strolled back with a tray of grapes, cheese, toast with butter and jelly, and a steaming cup of coffee.

“Good morning! You slept for so long I knew you’d be hungry.” Rain climbed onto the bed and Mason wished he could thank Rain; he wished that he could say anything, but his entire existence had narrowed down to the fact that Rain was wearing one of his shirts. It was a simple black cotton T-shirt with the Olympus logo on it, and Rain had bike shorts on underneath, but it kicked Mason’s brain offline anyway. He had to concentrate so he didn’t choke on a grape.

“Good morning.” Mason managed to get out, picking up the coffee. “Thank you very much. For breakfast.” He took a few sips, enjoying the rush of caffeine. “I like your shirt.”

“You’re welcome, and you’re right.” Rain leaned in, kissing him softly. “It’smyshirt now.”

Mason nodded. “You can have anything that’s mine. You already have my heart.”

“I didn’t know you could flirt.” Pink tinted Rain’s cheekbones.

“Is that flirting? I was telling you the truth.” This time, he knew what he was doing and as Rain’s blush deepened to red, Mason’s fingers twitched, wanting to grab a camera, but he kept them locked around the mug.

“Oh. Kay.” Rain flailed his hand, cutely embarrassed. “You uh, you have my heart too.” He said it bashfully, without any of his lascivious bravado, and it was intoxicating.

Gently putting the tray aside, Mason gestured and Rain instantly sat across his lap. Mouse trilled as if she were jealous.

“It’s my turn now, babygirl,” Rain told her, staring into Mason’s eyes. Drawn together, they kissed slowly, their tongues sliding against each other, and Mason’s core rumbled with happiness until Rain slowly pulled away, anxiety on his face.

“So, um…” he rubbed his swollen lips. “When I was at Tristan’s I started working on myself, on what happened to me as a kid, and I want to…can we take it slow? I’m trying to figure out who I am and who I want to be, and now that I’ve been doing this research and pulling everything apart it’s…it’s a lot. Urgh, I wish I could explain this better.” He held up his hands. “It’s not forever. I-”

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