Page 29 of Cash

“I mean it.” Jules nodded. “I wanna take care of you. So, let me take care of you, baby boy. I ain’t gonna fuck this up.”

“I need…” Brick floundered for the right words. “I need to think about it, okay?”

“If you wanna walk, hey, fine, but I’m still watchin’ out for you until my work is done.” Jules held Brick’s chin. “Got it?”

“Yes, sir, Daddy sir.” Brick saluted.

“Good boy.”

Okay, now that had no right to be so sexy.

Brick knew he was doomed. Hopelessly and utterly doomed.

They got up, took turns in the bathroom, and Jules put on a fresh dark blue suit with no tie. Having nothing else to wear, Brick wore the borrowed sweatpants and his pajama top. He was ready to bolt down the sidewalk to get this walk of shame over with, but it wasn’t so bad with Jules beside him.

Fuck it.

Let people see him.

Brick carried his pajama bottoms under his arm with his head held high, falling into step beside Jules as they walked back to Brick’s house. A cursory glance revealed none of his neighbors were out and about at this early morning hour, and he didn’t see anyone over at the funeral home either. When his foot hit the first step leading up the porch, he froze.

The door was closed, but Brick could see the damaged frame and where part of the glass in the window beside it had been broken from the guy in the ski mask trying to force his way in.

All at once, Brick was hit with a flashback of the terror that had come over him last night when that gun had been right in his face. But instead of fighting through it, he found he couldn’t move. His chest was getting tight, it was hard to breathe, and he didn’t realize he was shaking until Jules put a big hand on his arm.

“Hey, I got you,” Jules urged. “We’re just gonna take it one lil’ baby step at a time, okay? Ain’t nobody in here, and if there is, I’ll fuck ’em up.”

“Okay.” Brick took a deep breath. “Uh, would it be tremendously fucked up of me to ask you to go first?”

“Nope. Come on.” Jules took Brick’s hand and patiently led him up the porch steps. He took Brick’s keys and unlocked the door, and then he stepped inside.

Brick watched Jules roam around the house through the open doorway, and he gulped when he saw Jules had that big gun out again. He wasn’t sure if that made him feel better or worse, but he was glad Jules was armed at least, should anyone be hiding in there.

His own gun, wherever it was, was as useful as a paperweight.

Jules returned, his weapon put away now, and he offered his hand to Brick. “All clear.”

“Thank you.” Brick took Jules’s hand and squeezed it. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Jules led Brick in and then shut the door behind them. “If anybody should be apologizin’, it’s me.” He paused to slip out of his boots and put on the monster slippers. “Shit, sorry for that too. I forgot.”

“It’s totally okay.” Brick rubbed his hands together. “I’m actually gonna go grab a shower real quick. I feel disgusting.”

“Well, you look fuckin’ hot.” Jules reached for Brick’s hips, drawing him in close.

Brick smiled, and he let his hands slide up Jules’s chest. “That’s very sweet, but I feel like I have to rinse all the criminal funk off me.” He paused. “I mean, except for yours. Your criminal funk is fine.”

“Good. Because I’m fully intendin’ on puttin’ some more on you later.” Jules winked. “Provided that thinkin’ you’re planning to do goes my way.”

Brick really wished he had a better reply than laughing nervously. He couldn’t resist going in for a hug, and he told himself it was only because he was still feeling a tad traumatized. Jules’s big arms were safe and comforting, and relaxing his head against Jules’s broad shoulder was, well, relaxing.

The kiss that followed, however, he had zero defense for.

Half of Brick’s brain had apparently gone ahead and made its decision.

After peeling himself away before things got too heated, Brick hurried upstairs for a shower. He stood in the hot spray for much longer than necessary, and he tried to get a handle on the half of his brain that had betrayed any and all common sense.

Jules was a criminal. End of story.