Page 97 of Sapphire Spring

“It wasn’t for me,” Mason said.

“But you got…emotional.”

“Yeah, that was about not wanting to leave, though. Youknow, like, not wanting to do something I knew was good for me because it mighttake me away from you. It was about being afraid you wouldn’t stay.”

“Sokind of like what I was afraidof tonight. That it would all be over if I didn’t sleep over.”

“Yeah. Sounds like it.”

“Why are we both afraid the other’s going to bolt if itstill feels like we can’t get enough of each other?” Naser asked.

At first, Mason didn’t seem to have an answer, then he sawChadwick’s horrified expression after he’d yelled at him, saw the contempt inhis father’s eyes as he’d practically lunged at him the other day in theoffice. It wasn’t the fear that he was going to run, or that Naser was going torun. He feared the specters that stalked the perimeter of the little worldthey’d built together. Deeper than that, he was afraid he wouldn’t be strongenough to stand up to them if they ever truly encroached. Yeah, he’d shoutedChadwick down that night. But he hadn’t come out to the guy and wasn’t preparedfor what might happen when he did.

“I don’t have an answer,” Naser finally said. “I guess Ijust wanted to put that out there.”

Mason did have an answer, but it scared him. And the thoughtof saying it aloud shamed him.

“Maybe we’re both afraid because it’s…real.” At first, thewords filled Mason with pride. They were truthful, but truthful and the wholetruth were two different things. The former was like the first blush of lighton the horizon; the second was a full-on dawn.

“Like…dating real?” Naser asked. His tone had the samebreathy quality that had entered it right before he’d come, which somehow madethis simple question feel just as full of sensation.

“More than that…I think.”

Silence followed. Silence that teemed with implications andfears.

“Tomorrow,” Naser finally said.

“What’s tomorrow?”

“You’re going to be inside me.”

Mason wanted to curse, but he was too breathless to attemptit.

“Sweet dreams, MasonWorther.”

“Goodnight, Naser Kazemi.”

Mason hung up, convinced he wouldn’t be able to sleep awink, but the wordtomorrowushered him into dreams of Naser that werebecoming reality day by day.

26

When Mason’s eyes popped open the nextmorning, he felt like a kid on Christmas Day.

He hadn’t been this excited for a planned sexual event sincehe was a teenager. It felt tantamount to losing his virginity—the prospect ofbeing inside a man he’d slept next to, made food for, snuggled with for hours,talked with late into the night. On top of that, he’d be doing it stone-coldsober, feeling every inch, hearing every gasp. Fully present for the bliss.

After his shower, he made the mistake of trying to help planthe evening, texting Naser various ideas for romantic restaurants before Naserhad texted back.

Dinner after. Don’t make me explain why. It’ll ruinthe mood.

That’s when he got the message. For Naser to fullysurrender, he’d have to control the schedule.

He beat his father to the office and was still readingthrough a detailed and increasingly contentious email thread between theVistana foreman and the landscapers at Green Mountain when the man appeared inhis door. He wasn’t sure what had captured his dad’s attention. Maybe Mason’sbrow had furrowed during the long read. Or his dad still wasn’t used to findinghim at his desk bright and early and with no hangover to hide.

“Problem?” Pete asked.

“Shipping delay on some of the river rocks they’re going to putaround the guardhouse at Vistana. The landscapers think the vendor’sexplanations are fishy, and the foreman’s digging in. It’s the third deliverydate this vendor’s busted by weeks.”

“Fishy?”

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