“Fuck!” Mason gripped Lucky’s hips, his fingers digging in hard enough to leave bruises. “You’re going to drive me out of my damned mind, you know that?”

  Lucky’s smile was wicked, but the vulnerability in his eyes betrayed him. “That’s my plan, Cowboy. Drive you so crazy that you will never be able to walk away from me.”

  “I need you to understand that I won’t walk away from you, Lucky. I want to stay. With you.”

  Lucky swallowed hard, his eyes glassy, but only for a moment before he blinked, and the vulnerability was replaced by heat. He started to move in earnest, bouncing on Mason, alternating between undulating his hips and fucking himself on Mason’s cock. It felt fucking incredible, and Mason planted his feet on the bed so he could thrust up when Lucky came down.

  “Oh fuck!” Lucky cried out, his mouth open in ecstasy, and his brows furrowed as Mason grabbed hold of Lucky’s asscheeks. He leaned forward, and Mason drove into him over and over, the sound of skin slapping against skin filling the room along with their panting breaths. The noises Lucky made as Mason fucked him, pumping up inside Lucky as far as he could, were driving Mason crazy.

  “God, I love that I can do this to you. Make you look like you’re about to fall apart in my arms,” Mason said, breathless.

  “Only you,” Lucky replied. “I only want to feel you, no one else, and I don’t want you to do this with anyone else. Fuck them. You’re mine, Mason. Only mine.”

  “Fuck! Oh God, yes. That’s all I want. Fuck. I’m gonna come, Lucky.” Mason lost all rhythm in his thrusts, and he plowed inside Lucky, his orgasm raging through him. Sweat dripped down the side of his face, their bodies slick as they moved frantically together.

  “Yes, please. Come inside me. I want you to leave a part of yourself inside me. I want to feel you with me wherever I go.”

  Mason roared out his release, his muscles strained as he came inside Lucky, his hoarse cry joined by Lucky’s as he spurted across Mason’s chest, his body shivering as he branded Mason, reminding him of his words. He’d called Mason his.

  Lucky collapsed on top of Mason, and Mason wrapped his arms around Lucky as they steadied their breathing. He slipped his fingers between Lucky’s cheeks, groaning at the feel of his come.

  “You’re very proud of yourself right now, hm?”

  Mason’s smile was ridiculous. “Yessir, I am.”

  Lucky’s huff was sweet, and Mason kissed his temple, hugging him close. He loved holding Lucky to him, loved his weight on him, their bodies pressed together. As their bodies cooled, Mason rolled them over to unstick himself from Lucky, who grunted his disapproval at having Mason get up, but he needed to get them cleaned up. As soon as he did, he was back in bed, under the covers with Lucky in his arms. The fact Lucky hadn’t needed prompting, that he pressed his body against Mason’s the instant he was in bed, made Mason’s heart skip a beat.

  The room was so quiet, for a moment he thought Lucky was asleep when Lucky’s soft-spoken words caught him off guard.

  “I’m afraid.”

  “Of what?”

  “I’ve lived my life waiting for things to be taken from me. It’s the world I was raised in. If I had something good, it was only a matter of time before it was gone. Nothing is forever.”

  “You’re right,” Mason replied gently. “Nothing is forever. But you have people in your life who love you and would never leave you by choice, right? Ace, King, Red, the guys, your family.”

  “Yes, this is true.”

  “I want to try and be one of those people. I know maybe that’s not what you want to hear, but I want you to give us a chance.” Mason held his breath as the room went quiet again.

  “Yes.”

  Lucky’s reply was so low, Mason wasn’t sure what he’d heard was an actual reply, or if he’d just heard what he wanted to hear. “Yes?”

  “Okay.” Lucky pushed himself onto his elbow to look down at Mason, their eyes meeting in the soft moonlight. “I want you in my bed, and in my heart. Don’t hurt me, Mason.”

  Mason’s heart soared at the words, and he couldn’t keep the huge smile from coming onto his face. He laughed when Lucky rolled his eyes. “What? I’m happy.”

  “I’m happy too. Also, next time, maybe I get to fuck you?”

  “Mmm, how long until next time?”

  Lucky chuckled as he lay his head back against Mason’s chest. “When we can both move without wincing, maybe?”

  “Sounds like a date.”

  “No, a date sounds like you taking me out to dinner and maybe a movie, or dancing.”

  “Dancing, huh? I think I’d like that. See you moving this gorgeous body on the dance floor. ’Course that means other fellas are gonna be wanting a piece of this,” Mason said, fondling Lucky’s ass.

  “They can want it as much as they like, but they won’t be getting it. It’s already taken.”

  “And if I have my say, it’s going to be taken in the shower, on the couch, in my bed—”

  “In my bed.”

  Mason wasn’t going to argue with that. “Yeah, you got that big fancy house on the beach. Ooh, sex on the beach.”

  “No way, Cowboy. Sex on the beach is not sexy. Sand gets all up in places it shouldn’t be. Not pleasant.”

  Mason chuckled. “I’ll take your word for it.”

  “I have a pool. Sex in the pool.”

  “Now we’re talking.” Mason rubbed Lucky’s asscheek. “Your ass is going to be in a permanent state of soreness.”

  “And what? You think you’re going to walk away scot-free from all this sex?”

  “Are you kidding? I expect fierce retaliation. No mercy.”

  “Just remember, you asked for it,” Lucky mumbled, his voice laced with sleep.

  “Can’t wait.” Mason closed his eyes, a smile plastered to his face. He’d never felt so… light, like the chains that he’d been dragging for so long had finally been removed. He was under no illusion that life with this amazing man would be easy, but Mason had every intention of doing right by Lucky. This was his chance to have something he never thought he’d have, so he wasn’t about to give it up without one hell of a fight.

  “You two are on a roll.”

  King sat behind his desk, looking pleased as punch, and Mason had to admit he was a little pleased right now. When he and Lucky showed up for work first thing Monday morning—after a night of driving each other wild in Lucky’s bed—King called them into his office. Mason had been uncertain, but Lucky had reassured him. They’d agreed to wait before announcing their change in relationship status to the rest of the Kings, seeing as how Mason might be returning to Major Crimes soon. He’d received a call that morning from his lawyer stating he should be receiving a response any day now. The thought didn’t make Mason as happy as it should, but he brushed that sentiment aside for now.

  “I got a call from Sienna Scott, her agent, and her father. All of them singing your praises. You make a pretty good team.”

  Mason smiled. “Thanks, King. ’Course, I have one hell of a boss.” Mason winked at Lucky, who rolled his eyes.

  “Yeah, yeah. Thanks, King.”

  King turned his attention to Mason. “You seem to be fitting right in.”

  “You fellas have a damn fine company,” Mason said. “I’m honored to be a part of it, even if it is just temporary. It’s been a real pleasure.”

  King nodded. His phone beeped, and he pressed a button to accept. “Yes, Jay?”

  “Ace is here, sir.”

  “Send him in.”

  The door opened, and Ace walked in, huge smile on his face when he saw them. He tipped his imaginary hat before moseying over. “Well, if it ain’t Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.”

  Lucky tipped his head as he studied Ace. “Have you been messing with Red’s aromatherapy oils again?”

  Ace narrowed his eyes. “No.” At Lucky’s arched eyebrow, Ace scrunched up his nose. “Maybe. Look, if he didn’t want me messing with them, he shouldn’t leave them lying around.”

  King let out a snort. “If you need a key to get to the oils, they are not lying around.”

  “How come everyone gets their own blend but me?” Ace planted his hands on his hips, looking affronted. “Even Lucky has a blend.”

  Lucky grinned at Mason. “I do. It’s very pleasant. Bergamot, orange, spearmint, and ylang-ylang.”

  “See. Very pleasant. And me? No pleasant. Nothing. What the hell?”

  “Are you bitching about the oils again?” Red asked, joining them. He shook his head at Ace, his frown deep. “Damn it, Ace. Stop breaking into my drawers and touching my stuff.”

  “Those are definitely words no one wants to walk in on,” Jack said with a shudder as he stopped beside Red. “Do I even want to know what’s going on?”

  Ace spun around and thrust his hand in Jack’s face. “Jack, smell my fingers.”

  The sheer horror on Jack’s face had Mason barking out a laugh. They were a bunch of loons, but Mason wouldn’t change a thing.

  “What the fuck, Ace! No. Get away from me.”

  “Smell my fingers, Jack! I need to know if this blend is me.” Ace took off after Jack, who fled from the room like someone lit his ass on fire. Jack sped by, and Ace skidded to a halt, poking his head in the room. “Friday night, Sapphire Sands. Drinking and dancing. Ten o’clock. You too, King.”

  King opened his mouth, but Ace cut him off with a hand up.

  “Nope. If I have to get Frank himself to haul your ass over there, I will. You keep promising him you’ll come by, but you never do. You don’t have to dance. God forbid you cut loose.”

  “Funny,” King drawled.

  “You’re coming with us.”

  “Fine.”

  “Yes! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an Italian to rile up.” Ace turned, shouting for Jack across the floor. “Don’t hide from me, Jack! I’ll get Chip if I have to.”

  Mason shook his head. “Poor, Jack.”

  Lucky snickered. “Don’t feel too bad for him. Where Jack is, Joker is not far, and not even Ace will piss him off.”

  “Oh?”

  “Short fuse,” King offered. “But you didn’t hear that from me.”

  Mason threw his head back and laughed. Holy shit, had King just made a joke? The twinkle in the guy’s blue eyes confirmed it. Joker was the smallest and shortest of the bunch, and he hated being teased about his height. It was a one-way ticket to a kick in the balls.

  Lucky turned in his seat to look at Red. “Why doesn’t Ace have his own blend?”

  “Because he wanted to pick his own scents,” Red grumbled, crossing his arms over his expansive chest. “I warned him about putting certain ones together, but this is Ace we’re talking about, so of course he ignored me. His blend sent everyone into a fit of sneezing.”

  “So, his blend caused chaos? Yes, that sounds like Ace. I would say it was successful.”

  Red chuckled. “Yeah, too successful. I told him to leave it to me, that I had something special planned, but that’s like saying ‘go ahead and do your own thing.’ Anyway, I’ll see you all later. Nice job on the Scott case, by the way.”

  The rest of the day went by in a blur. Even when Mason was at his desk doing paperwork, it was never dreary, as it tended to be broken up by one of the Kings chasing one of the others for thieving something from their office or eating something that didn’t belong to them. Apparently it was a rare occurrence for all the Kings, Jack, and Joker to be in the office at the same time, but if they were, it was usually a Monday morning when everyone was catching up on paperwork. At one point, King bellowed from his office, and everyone’s head shot up.

  “Ace!”

  “What?” came the shout from Ace’s open office.

  “Why in the hell are all the rubber bands neon pink!”

  Ace poked his head out of his office. “Uh, they ran out of the regular ones?”

  King narrowed his eyes. “Really? Are you really going to tell me our stationary supplier ran out of rubber bands and all they had was neon pink?”

  Ace nodded slowly.

  “If I call them up right now, they’re going to tell me that’s all they had?” King removed his cell phone from his pocket, and Ace’s eyes went huge.

  “It was Lucky!” Ace slammed the door to his office just as Lucky poked his head out.

  “That’s bullshit. I don’t order stationary supplies.”

  Jay typed away at his computer, and his printer spit something out. He nonchalantly handed the piece of paper up to King, who took it.

  “Thank you, Jay.” King scanned the sheet, his scowl in full effect. He stormed over to Ace’s office and pounded on the door. “Ace, open the damn door.”

  Ace’s muffled voice came through the door. “Ace can’t come to the door right now, but if you leave a message, he’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Beeeeep.”

  “Don’t make me use my key.”

  The door opened, and King shoved the printout in Ace’s face. “You entered the wrong SKU number, jackass.”

  Ace took the printout. “Hmm, well, look at that. I did enter the wrong SKU number. My mistake.”

  “That’s it?”

  Ace shrugged. “Nothing we can do about it now. Your office needed a pop of color anyway.”

  “I’m gonna give you a pop of color in a minute,” King growled.

  Mason chuckled and returned to his reports as the two went back and forth. He spent most of the morning doing paperwork, and just before lunch, Lucky gave him a tour of the armory. Mason helped Lucky with an inventory check and listened with rapt fascination as Lucky went through each weapon, what it did, and how to use it. Several of the weapons Mason had heard of but never used during his career in law enforcement. After that they had lunch together.

  Lucky ordered food, and they ate in the breakroom, fending off the guys as they dropped in to try and steal dumplings or eggrolls, but Lucky knew his brethren well, and he confessed to Mason that he ordered extra appetizers for them, despite his bitching. Mason had never felt this at ease at a place of work before. Maybe because he’d never worked somewhere so accepting. No one thought of him as a liability or harassment suit waiting to happen. His coworkers were friendly, greeting him cheerfully. They joked with him, teased him about being the new guy, and were genuinely happy he was there.

  The pressure of having everyone’s eyes on him, waiting for him to make one wrong move didn’t exist here. The Kings expected him to give the job his all, and yes, they were friends, but they were also business men. As growly and gruff as King was, when it came to the employees, he was never anything other than patient. He was firm but fair.

  As the week went on, Mason continued to learn about the company and how it ran. King went through the responsibilities of the different departments, the chain of command, what the different roles were, what they entailed, and how the teams were managed. He mentioned how he’d finally found someone to fill the position of team leader for Lucky’s department, but how the guy would make a better fit in his, so the guys were swapping.

  By the time Friday rolled around, Mason was ready for a few drinks. He’d been run off his feet the second half of the week, joining one King or another on various jobs, everything from answering alarm callouts to smaller protection details and event security. The variety of cases kept Mason on his toes, and he enjoyed working with the different security teams. In the evening, he was put through his paces in a whole other way, a mind-blowing, toe-curling way that involved a gorgeous Cuban man with a sinful tongue and a very healthy sexual appetite.

  Mason hadn’t been to Sapphire Sands in months. Not since the night he’d run into Lucky after making the stupid mistake of hooking up with Oscar. He’d let his anger get the better of him, and because of that, he’d hurt Lucky. It had been an immature reaction he deeply regretted, and he wouldn’t blame Lucky for changing his mind about going to the club with Mason, but Lucky surprised him by being excited about getting Mason on the dance floor.

  Thanks to Ace, Mason held membership to Sapphire Sands, the exclusive, members-only gay nightclub and bar. It had been given to him as a present back when they’d been dating. Club membership was a perk the Kings received, thanks to their security contract with the club and its owner, Frank Ramirez. Frank also happened to be good friends with Colton. Mason liked Frank. He was the “salt of the earth” type. A former firefighter who’d worked hard to build his empire and prided himself on giving back to the community. As terrifying as he appeared in his signature all-black suit, towering height, powerful frame, and chiseled features, he was a genuinely good guy.

  “Who let these troublemakers in?” Frank growled as he approached the private booth they’d all been shown to, his deep scowl giving way to a grin when he reached their table.

  With a big smile, Colton got to his feet and brought Frank into a tight embrace. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you too, Colt.” Frank tilted his head toward Ace. “You keeping him out of trouble?”

  Colton let out a snort. “That’s about as likely as you wearing those sparkly blue go-go shorts your dancers are so well-known for.”

  Frank grunted. “Point taken.”

  “Hey,” Ace protested. “I resemble that remark.”

  Frank shook his head in amusement. He greeted each of them with a handshake and an additional pat to the arm for King. “Well, damn. And here I thought I’d offended you in some way.”

  King shook his head with a smile. “Nah, you know this isn’t my scene, Frank.”

  “I know. But still. I’m glad you came. First round is on the house.”

  Everyone cheered and put in their order with the perky, cute waiter who sauntered over. The U-shaped booth was huge and fit them all comfortably, with enough room to get in and out easily. Lucky had slid in next to Mason as soon as he’d taken a seat and hadn’t objected to Mason putting his arm around his shoulders. Ace gave Mason a knowing look from across the table but didn’t say a word.