Mason drummed his fingers slowly on the back of the sketchbook…then he nodded. “I’m assuming not tonight?”
“I was thinking maybe after we have the condo back to ourselves? When I paint, I get messy, and I don’t think Homescapes would appreciate paying for the damages to the room.”
Another nod from Mason. “Good call.” He smiled, then laughed, his shoulders shaking. “Youactuallylike looking at me.”
“I thought we crossed this bridge already.” David took the sketchbook back and set it aside, then leaned his weight into Mason so that they had to lay together on the bed, so that David was on top of him, and kissed him like a crashing wave. “I didn’t use the word ‘love’ by accident. And that includes your body.” His hand glided down Mason’s abdomen, down his thigh, and brushed over the slight, growing bulge between his legs. “Every inch.”
Chapter thirty-five
Mason
Itwasonlyafew hours until David would do the final reveal and walk through on the condo and Mason felt like he had to be in about twelve places at the same time. Jake was doing final installation on the shelving units in the master bedroom, Evander was spinning everyone around the condo, placing finishing touches here and there, Ozzy was finishing up the balcony while also sending the contractors up with orders about the rooftop deck every few minutes, and Aras…Aras was actually pretty calm, mostly just helping Evander move things around while he talked to his boyfriend on his earbuds.
Mason was currently helping Robinson do a final test and polish on the fixtures in the kitchen, but he was also trying to figure out what was going on with the robot blinds. “They really shouldn’t be this sluggish.”
“Well, not to be a grump, but I don’t think a little bit slower blinds are going to be a deal-breaker. And Idothink that you’re probably going to figure it out and fix everything.” He cranked the handle around on the pot-filler, turning it off, then pressed it back up against the wall and out of the way. “And that was the last of this job, so I release you from your servitude to go work that Mason magic of yours.”
“Magic. Right.”
“Hey, you found yourself a man withthiscondo and a view of Elliot Bay. If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is.”
Mason snorted and smiled. “Last one of us to find a guy, but sure. Magic.”
Robinson clapped him on the shoulder a couple times. “Don’t get all weird now. Happy times.”
“Iamhappy. Doesn’t mean I can’t give you all a hard time for trying to leave me behind and forever single.”
“Hey, I would have asked if Chuck had a brother if you wanted me to. He doesn’t, but you know.” Robinson nudged him in the side. “I need to go check the guest bath fixtures, then I’m promised to Ev.” He flexed his right arm, showing off thin, wiry muscles. “He needs me to lift heavy things like…cardboard boxes and feathers.”
Mason rolled his eyes and stepped aside, and Robinson strode to the bathroom. It was nice to see him like that, hear him like that. It might well have been the happiest Mason had ever seen him when he wasn’t high, and he’d been coming more and more alive since he got together with Chuck.
Mason…didn’t focus on the blinds. He saw Aras was happy. He saw Robinson was happy. Quinn kept popping up where they were filming to see Jake, so clearly they were doing well enough. And both Ozzy and Ev were a lot more stable and pleasant to be around since they’d gotten back together.
His boys were happy, and when Mason was totally honest with himself, so was he. Happy in a way that he hadn’t been in a long,longtime. He had David to thank for that, and also the very crew he was looking at. They’d gone from only Bunny having a healthy romance to seemingly all of them. And at the same time, they’d found each other again.
A part of Mason’s brain waited for the other shoe to drop. They couldn’t possibly get so many things right, could they? But even at his most analytical, Mason couldn’t sense any danger on the horizon. This all seemed…right.
Except for those blinds. Hedidneed to get those working.
Or maybe not. Maybe everything didn’t need to be perfect to still be good.
Chapter thirty-six
David
Davidfeltmorethana little awkward, blindfolded in the elevator with Eliza attached to his elbow so he didn’t run into anything. This was his own building, heading into his own house. “Honestly, you should let me lead. You’re the guest.”
“I think that wouldn’t be advised.” The elevator stopped and, with a gentle tug, Eliza guided him forward. “We’re just going to have you stop right here and then we’ll get the cameras rolling.”
David nodded, then waited as he heard shuffling and bustling around him.
Then he heard a voice, up close and soft and familiar. “I’m your tour guide, but try to control yourself. I don’t think we have approval to have sex on camera.”
David rolled his eyes, then realized Mason wouldn’t be able to see that. “I have plenty of self-control, thank you very much. But I’m holding you to that modeling contract.”
“Contract? So I’m getting paid?”
David clawed blindly next to him, but Mason got his meaning quickly, grabbing his hand while David leaned his head in closer. “I will certainly make your effort worth your while.”
