Chapter 32
CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO
Mateo
Florian and I order dinner from the room service menu when I return.
“You didn’t have to wait for me,” I tell him. “Most of the others went to have dinner.”
“But not you,” Florian says.
“You’re an excellent fake boyfriend.”
Florian nods. His eyes turn to the bed.
It’s one bed.
Of course it’s one bed. I was supposed to be the only person in this room.
Daniela was hardly going to call the hotel and say that they were adding a second person to the room and that we were going to sleep “I Love Lucy” style in two twin beds side-by-side.
“I could ask the hotel to send up pillows,” Florian says.
“Yes.”
He lifts up the hotel phone.
“Or—”
He turns to me.
“We’re friends,” I say.
He nods, but there’s a wary expression on his face I don’t like.
“Forget it.” I smile. “It wasn’t important.”
“Tell me, Mateo.”
“It’s fine—”
He sets the phone down. “What were you thinking?”
“Well, we don’t need to build a pillow wall. We don’t have any secrets now.”
“Oh.” He glances at the bed, analyzing it. “Very well.”
“Excellent. Most people sleep without pillow walls.”
“Then we shall be like most people.” Florian removes the strip of blanket that lies on the foot of the bed and holds it up. “Why is this here? It is too small to be a real blanket.”
“It’s to protect the bedding from shoes.”
Florian’s eyes widen. “Some people wear shoes on the bed?”
“Sometimes, maybe. Not to sleep. Hopefully.”
Florian scowls and deposits the strip of blanket onto a nearby chair. “That is terrible.”
I grin.
Florian unzips his suitcase, then unzips mine which is sitting right next to his.
He removes his plaid pajamas and a toiletry bag then he goes to the bathroom. The door shuts behind him.
I hop off the bed. I open my not nearly as well packed suitcase, then find some sweatpants and a t-shirt to sleep in. I strip off my clothes, and —
The door opens.
Florian’s eyes widen, then he inhales sharply, and slams the door. “I am sorry!”
“It’s okay, Florian,” I say quickly. “We’re sharing a room. It’s completely fine.”
“You were—”
I glance down.
Oh.
Well, I am completely naked.
“It’s cool,” I tell him. “Besides, you must see naked people all the time in the locker room.”
He opens the door a crack. “They’re not you.”
“You mean they’re more fit and muscular and—”
The door opens all the way. Florian steps into the room. He is scowling, Prussian soldier style. “You are beautiful, Mateo.”
My breath catches. “Yeah?”
He nods. His eyes find my cock. I really should have put on my sweatpants by now.
“You have a beautiful cock.”
“It’s, uh, not that big,” I say.
Most people don’t look at my cock in wonder.
I shift.
Most people, to be honest, look disappointed. Most people have dildos bigger than me.
Florian looks up, startled. “It is perfect. You are perfect.”
“Florian,” I say.
Because he shouldn’t say things like that. Not when we’re not really together. Not when he doesn’t mean it.
“It is straight—”
“Oh, now you like things straight.”
Florian’s eyes jolt open, then he erupts into giggles. “No, no, Mateo. I only meant—” He does some sort of hand movement.
I raise an eyebrow.
“You match my ruler, I mean. No wobbles.”
“I hope you don’t—”
His eyes round again, then he shakes his head furiously. “No, I do not do those things with rulers.”
“Because you are German,” I say. “Germans like order.”
“You have learned too much about Germany,” he says. “How do I make you forget?”
“You could try kissing me.”
His eyes widen.
My eyes widen.
“Sorry,” I say quickly. “I know that’s not what this is—”
He places a finger over my lips. “It is fine, Mateo. I will try kissing you.”
He eyes my lips tentatively.
I want to tell him he doesn’t need to do that.
I want to tell him it doesn’t matter.
But more than that, I’m curious if he will kiss me.
I want him to.
Desperately.
And then he pulls me toward him, enveloping me in his arms and his expensive cologne scent. Our chests press together. His gaze dips to my lips.
My heart speeds up. He’s going to do it. He’s going to—
His lips brush against mine. Delicate, tentative, achingly sweet.
Then we are kissing.
He picks me up and leans me against the wall. His hands explore my face, and his lips continue to explore mine with reverence.
Finally, he withdraws. “Like that?”
I stare at him. “You are a great kisser.”
He smirks. “I am an athlete.”
I give a startled laugh, then I wrap my arms around his neck again. He gives a pleased gasp, and this time, I kiss him.