Gone Away by Elizabeth Noble Read Free Book Online Page A

front of him and faced Mason’s father. “Mac, I made a mistake, and I wanted you to know I’m sorry for what happened.”
    Mason narrowed his eyes and studied him but didn’t say anything. Mac scoffed and waved one hand at Riece, then turned to Mason. “Who the hell is this and what is he talking about?”
    “He’s a friend, from college, remember?” Mason patted Mac’s arm, and Riece realized he did that to make sure he had Mac’s attention.
    Twice more during the time they were there, Mac asked who Riece was and then snapped at Riece for hurting Mason. When Mac asked Mason who he was, Mason said, “You’re getting tired. How about I take you back to your room so you can rest up before dinner?”
    Walking slowly while Mason pushed the wheelchair, they made their way back to Mac’s room. Right before they were ready to leave for the day, Mac grabbed Riece’s hand and gave it a shake. “Study hard and don’t pay any mind to my son when he’s a jerk. He’s that way sometimes.”
    Riece smiled and nodded. “I’ll do that, sir.”
    “That was nice of you,” Mason said as they walked back to his Jeep.
    “I was only being honest.”
    “Yeah, I know. You always are,” Mason said. “I appreciate you coming with me to see him. Thank you.”
    Riece took Mason’s hand and squeezed lightly but didn’t say anything further as they settled in the Jeep. Their drive back to Riece’s hotel was quiet and subdued. When they pulled into the parking lot, Mason put the Jeep into park but didn’t turn off the engine. Riece was dearly hoping he’d be invited back to Mason’s house, but deep down Riece knew that wasn’t going to happen. At least not yet. There was nothing preventing him from extending the offer he was hoping to receive.
    “Do you want to come up? We can order room service or get a pizza or something?”
    Mason offered him a small smile and shook his head slightly. “I’d better get back. I’ve got some stuff to do at home. Thanks, though.” He leaned across, took Riece’s chin in one hand, and kissed him softly. “See you in the morning?”
    Riece nodded and wasn’t ashamed to let his disappointment show. “I’ll be ready.”
    “Call me if you need anything,” Mason called after Riece as he climbed down from the Jeep. He turned and waved at Mason, then watched him drive away.
     
     
    MASON BOLTED upright in bed, ran his hands through his hair, and shuddered. Gulping in giant breaths, he pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. The thin T-shirt and boxer shorts he wore were drenched in sweat.
    Flicking on the light, he swung out of bed, heading for the bathroom. During the nights he’d spent with Riece, he hadn’t had so much as a hint of a nightmare. Maybe all the sex had left him too exhausted to let his subconscious do much overtime. Or possibly it was simply the fact he had the warm body of a man he cared for—loved—in bed with him providing some kind of assurance or security. Usually it was Mason who provided the protection and haven to others. He didn’t consider he’d ever be the one needing emotional shelter. Ever since they’d first met, Riece had had a calming and stabilizing effect on him.
    Every time he dreamed, he had the same nocturnal visions. A man standing at a cave opening, raising a weapon, and firing, the sound of multiple gunshots, then blood. Too much blood, bright red and spurting out of the man to cover the ground. Somehow Mason’s subconscious refused to grasp the fact that he’d contributed to another man being rescued and a very grateful family reunited.
    Mason tugged off his shirt and tossed it into the hamper, his boxers joining it a second later. A nice warm shower would help him relax and possibly get some more sleep tonight.
    He’d told the therapist he was seeing about Riece. The man had agreed that Mason should make an effort to spend time with Riece—if nothing else, to bring some closure to their past. He probably wouldn’t have condoned