He’s actually in London again. Holy shit. It’s all I can do to keep from grinning like an idiot and really getting Ethan in interrogation mode. He already suspects far too much. Instead of giving him more fodder, I type back a quick response.
Helloooo posh neighbor
For the record I don’t usually stay here. My father asked me to for the extra security after all the coverage.
Makes sense
Also it’s not far from your flat
I’m listening. Wanna come over? I’ll cook. Zero Michelin stars
Deal
How’s 7pm?
I’ll be there
“Earth to Theo. Let’s go, I’m shutting off the lights,” Ethan calls out from the open doorway and flicks off and on the overhead lights twice. He doesn’t look one bit sorry as I glance up at him fleetingly from my phone. “The party’s over.”
“I’m leaving right now.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, for sure.” At last, I slip my phone away into my pocket and give him a level look right back. “I’m totally paying attention.”
“Sure you are. Out.”
I hurry home to my flat to make sure everything’s more or less in order, trying to look at the flat objectively like a stranger would, a stranger I very much want to make a great impression on. For insurance, I do a quick tidy, followed by a shower. I’ve been out a lot lately, so the good news is I haven’t had a chance to totally demolish the flat since the cleaner was last through. The groceries arrived last night, and in short order, I set to work prepping a curry, washing and chopping vegetables.
When Stefanos texts he’s arrived and the concierge has let him up the lift, I rush towards the entry. At the hallway mirror, I stop short to stare at my reflection and neaten up my hair. I’m in a black shirt, sleeves rolled up, and black jeans. Was that the right wardrobe choice? Too late.
There’s a knock at my door.
With a last deep breath, I open the door. And there stands Stefanos. He gives me a wry smile and holds up a bottle of wine. His gaze is fixed on mine.
“I didn’t want to turn up empty-handed since you’re making dinner. Bad manners. It would cause another scandal.”
Neither one of us could look away even if we wanted to. Stefanos’ skin has a glow that must have come from catching some winter sun. There’s a hint of stubble along his fine jaw. If it was hard to breathe before, it’s definitely impossible now, transfixed. His eyes glimmer.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I murmur. “Manners or no manners, scandal or no scandal, I don’t care.”
I stand back to let him inside. Taking the wine from him, I set it on the entry table. He shuts the door with a click. As I turn, we’re very close to each other. So close I feel the heat radiating from him.
“Let me take your coat…” Talking is also a problem in such close proximity. Best to keep quiet. Instead, I reach out to pull him tight by the front of his jacket.
Some strangled noise escapes Stefanos as he flushes, his gaze still not leaving mine, clumsily catching the side of my face with his hand. And then, I lean in after what feels like a lifetime of waiting for this moment, my head spinning, and brush my mouth ever so lightly against his till he leans into me in response.
Stefanos’ mouth yields to mine, and he trembles with desire. My God, the kiss is way better than I imagined in my recent daydreams, even better than our first kiss in Kerkyra, and he tastes of the heat of summer, the promise of languid days ahead. Stefanos catches my wrist eagerly as we kiss again, his fingers digging into me, but I barely notice. Everything other than him has stopped existing. We kiss each other with want, with longing, with pent-up need. Tasting him is tasting desire itself.
“God, Theo…” Stefanos tries, breathless. He grips my shoulders, gasping, searching my eyes when we at last lift our heads for a moment. But it’s only for a moment.
And of course, I kiss Stefanos again. Everything fires up in an instant as our mouths crush together, greedy for each other. “Mm, yeah.”
Then, there’s no more holding back. No more waiting. Or wishing.
I press him back hard against the wall, bumping the edge of the oil painting that hangs there. But I don’t care. Stefanos sags into the wall, and I keep him in place. My hip leans into Stefanos, feeling him harden against me, and I continue to tease him with burning kisses—and his kisses in return are just as eager.
Another moan escapes him from deep in his throat.
