...Sean was left standing with Spyros. He couldn’t help himself. He put up a hand and touched Spyros’s cheek.
“It’s not safe to do this,” Spyros said. “Later. I promise you.” He covered Sean’s hand with his own for all too brief a moment and inclined his head toward the front of the house. “Let’s go.”
He drove an old Citroen that looked to be in great shape.
“It is,” Spyros said when Sean commented on it. “I’ve hardly driven it since I was on active duty for so long. You make me so glad to be a civilian, Sean.”
Sean grinned, accepting the compliment.
Spyros drove him around the southern part of Akrata, showing him the remains of the ancient city of Egira with an outdoor amphitheater. The city had been destroyed by Roman soldiers in 280 BC. They then went on and built some magnificent structures of their own during their occupation of Greece, some of them still standing. Spyros told the history of the Peloponnese well, pointing out ancient monasteries still in use.
“We’re just in time for morning prayers,” Spyros said, pulling mountain apples from a tree and pulling Sean to a grassy knoll beside him. They chomped their fruit, listening to the haunting chants wafting down the slope. Spyros pointed out ancient temples, churches, a medieval fortress.
“I think I hear a mountain stream,” Sean said.
“Yes, you do. Right behind the monastery. We’ll go swimming one day. It’s wonderful. I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid.”
Spyros had brought him to a cherished childhood spot. It touched Sean in ways he barely understood. “I wish I’d known you then.”
Sean blurted the words, but didn’t regret them. He wanted to see and hear it all, but most of all he craved a kiss, just one single kiss, from his sexy tour guide.
He leaned back, staring up at the sky. Sunny, with a chance of happiness.
As if Spyros, too, could no longer contain himself, his face moved over Sean’s. Sean sat up, holding the man’s head in eager but trembling hands, and kissed him. He’d been so afraid of another man’s touch for so long and now…he had it and it felt wonderful.
Spyros explored Sean’s mouth with his tongue, his face rubbing against his. It was an endearing gesture.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, against Sean’s mouth. “I like how you taste. I like how you feel when I hold you and kiss you.”
Wow.
Sean wanted to sink to his knees and scream gratitude to God and all the benevolent spirits of this ancient city. He felt their presence. He felt their endless support.
“We’ll be late for lunch,” Spyros said, standing and holding his hand down to Sean, who was thrilled to see the man sporting a whopping boner.
Oh…boy. I can’t wait to touch that!
They drove to the restaurant. Spyros’s driving was a little erratic now.
“See what you do to me? I’ll make you pay for that later.”
For a second, Sean was shocked. Montgomery had said something similar, but it had not had pleasant connotations. Sean had to stop thinking about the guy. He’d had so much therapy he should be over it. And he would be...with a little more time...