Liability (Suncoast Society #33)(87)

Mason found the remote and turned it off as he coaxed Kim back up and kissed her. “Such a good girl.”

“Thank you, Master.” She plopped onto the bed, right between them.

“Did that egg wear you out?” Mason asked.

“Uh-huh.”

He snuggled against her side. Tonight he wanted her in the middle. He and Cole both draped their arms over her. “Not going to go take it out, huh?”

“Too tired,” she muttered.

Mason practically giggled. Last time she’d fallen asleep with it in, he and Cole had awakened her the next morning by starting it on the lowest setting and slowly increasing it until she awoke moaning and squirming in the middle of the bed.

He met Cole’s playful gaze.

Cole winked, and Mason winked back.

Yep, same wavelength.





Chapter Thirty-Two


Cole had just finished cooking dinner when the doorbell rang. He rushed out to answer it, catching Mason’s eye where the man had apparently left the bedroom and settled on the couch without permission.

“I thought I told you not to get up without help,” he said to Mason on his way past.

“I didn’t want to bug you. I got it.”

“You fall and hurt yourself again, you’ll end up in a rehab facility. Then what are we going to do about kinky showtime, huh?” Mason had lost his balance the day before in the shower. Fortunately, he and Kim had both been home to stabilize him and call 911.

Which Mason had insisted they shouldn’t call, but they ignored him.

Well, Cole ignored him while Kim was once again left smiling and shrugging at being overruled by Mason’s husband.

Six hours later they were home again after radiology scans showed Mason hadn’t hit his head or done any worse damage to himself than he already had, just some bumps and bruises.

So Cole had ordered him to use the walker for the next several days, and not to get out of bed without someone helping him.

Which, of course, Mason was busy ignoring.

Damn Dom.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and Cole was off from work until January second. Cole pulled up short to find Tony Daniels at their front door.

“Hey, come on in.”

“Sorry I didn’t call first. Just got off work. I won’t be long. How’s the patient?”

Cole closed the door behind him and led him through to the living room. “You can ask him yourself.”

“Hey, Tony.”

“Hey, slacker.” Tony grinned as he walked around the couch and leaned in to hug the man. “Good to see you up and about. Sort of.”

“Yeah, sort of.”

Tony settled into one of the chairs. “Real quick, and hate to put you on the spot like this, but can you work?”

“Doing what?”

“Well, for now, you’d be working under me as a DBA. Not exactly the pay you were at, I’m sure, but I have an opening I’m hiring for and they haven’t posted it yet. No one in the department or in any of my other departments wants to post for it. I can bring you in as a probationary hire.”

Mason didn’t look exactly happy. “I guess I don’t have much of a choice right now.”

“The good news,” Tony added, “is that in a few months I’ve got another guy who’s going to be leaving. One of my supervisors. Two levels up from what you did before. You’d be eligible to post for that when it’s available. Probably still less than you’d like to make, but honestly? You’d be the front-runner in terms of experience and skills.”

Cole stood behind Mason, behind the couch, and rested his hands on his shoulders. “He’ll take it.”

Mason looked up at him. “Do I get a say?”

“You already said. I’m just emphasizing.”

“You don’t even know if I can do the job.”

“If Tony says you know how to do the job, who am I to argue?”

“My husband has spoken,” Mason joked.

Tony grinned. “Amazing how that happens, huh?”

“So when do I start?”

“Technically, you have to interview first.”

“When is that?”

“Right now.” Tony smiled again. “And you need to talk to HR, but I told them the circumstances and that you’ll call for an appointment.” He pulled a business card out of his pocket and handed it to Mason. “Mandy’s already gone for the day. Call her first thing on the twenty-sixth and set it up. And get me a copy of your resume, ASAP.”

They heard the front door open, followed by Kim’s voice. “Is that Tony’s car?”

“Yeah,” Tony called out. “Hey.”

She popped her head around the corner. “Hey, you!” She started toward him for a hug, then hesitated when she spotted Mason sitting there, and she froze.

Mason laughed. “Of course it’s all right, pet. I told you, Tony and the gang, they’re fine.”

She swooped in for a hug as Tony stood. “Staying for dinner?”

“No, just wanted to get the gold-bricker back on his feet.”

“Huh?”

“We’ll fill you in later, pet,” Mason said. He held a hand out to Tony. “Thanks, man. Guess after all these years, I end up working for you again, anyway.”