35. Chapter 35
When Mano finally headed back toward the pool, the voices reached him before the water did. Laughter, splashing, Ody’s voice loudest of all. As if nothing had happened upstairs. As if he hadn’t left Mano pinned against a wall with his pulse racing.
He forced himself forward anyway.
“Come on, Ody, stop splashing me,” Anna whined, laughing.
Mano stopped a few steps back from the pool. He stared at Ody with a tight, angry look that he never noticed.
“Babe, come on in. The water’s perfect,” Ranya called out.
He stepped closer to the edge and dove cleanly into the pool. He surfaced with a short breath and shook water from his hair. His gaze locked with Ody’s. The annoyed look in Mano’s eyes deepened when he noticed the small, smug smile on Ody’s lips.
Ranya wrapped her legs around Mano and placed her hands on his shoulders. She pulled him in for a kiss while Ody watched from a distance.
Mano opened his eyes mid-kiss. Over Ranya’s shoulder, he glanced at Ody again, then shut his eyes and kissed her harder.
Ody’s smile disappeared. He turned away before anyone could see the shift in his expression.
“Cannonball!” Steve shouted and leaped into the water, sending waves everywhere.
“Steve, you idiot.”
“Dude, you almost landed on me,” Antony joked.
Mano swam to the edge and rested against the pool wall.
Ranya approached him with a mischievous grin. “I wish we were alone right now,” she murmured, her hands sliding to his chest.
“Is your mind wandering to dirty thoughts again?”
“With you, always,” she teased before kissing him again.
“Get a room!” Steve shouted and everyone looked their way.
“Leave them alone. They have their own thing,” Antony said.
Ody watched the couple for a moment. Then he looked down and blinked slowly, trying to reset his expression.
“Babe, look. I tanned a bit,” Anna said, showing him the lighter patch of skin on her shoulder.
“You did,” he said, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her into a kiss.
“Danae, our turn,” Steve said.
“Christina, come here,” Antony added, and the group burst into laughter.
Steve glanced at Ranya and Mano. “You guys are one step away from climbing on each other.”
“Wow, how could you tell?” Ranya shot back before shifting her attention to Mano. “Do you want to come back here alone one night?” she asked, her intentions very clear.
“Do I even want to ask why?”
“Oh, come on. The pool is nice,” she said with a playful pout.
“Other people swim here.”
“We’ll just make out.”
“Fine.”
She grinned and pulled him into another kiss.
An hour slipped by, and eventually they all climbed out of the pool to get ready for the night out. Mano grabbed his towel and dried off his muscular body. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Ody watching him. Mano paused, smirked, and Ody quickly looked away.
Christina checked the time and Ranya suggested they head back inside.
Mano slipped into light blue jeans and a white button down shirt. When Ranya stepped out of the bathroom, she stared.
“Wow. You look insanely sexy in that shirt,” she said, sliding her hand across his chest.
“Are you ready?”
“Just putting on lipstick.”
Ody and Anna reached the lobby first. The other couples arrived soon after. Mano and Ranya were last.
“There they are,” Anna said.
Ody looked up from his phone. His breath hitched. Mano had never looked that good. The white shirt hugged his body, outlining his muscles just enough. His gaze ran from Mano’s chest up to his eyes. Mano was already looking at him.
Ody wore gray tailored pants with subtle stripes, white shoes, and a fitted shirt.
The four of them walked to the car and settled into their seats. He typed the restaurant’s address into the GPS, as light music filled the quiet car. The girls in the back chatted, while the two boys in front stayed silent.
They parked and met the rest of the group at the entrance. The restaurant had large glass windows overlooking the sea and the glittering lights of the island.
They sat at a long table and Mano took the seat next to Ranya, directly across from Ody. The two of them exchanged the quickest glance before Ody looked down at his menu.
Light chatter filled the table while they waited for their orders. Ody kept sneaking glances at Mano, who pretended not to notice but felt every single one.
“Mano, do you work out?” Antony asked, drawing the table’s attention.
Mano leaned back in his chair. “I used to do kickboxing and Krav Maga. Now I just hit the gym.”
“It shows.” He gave him an impressed look. “How often?”
“Depends on my schedule. Four to six times a week.”
“Weight lifting?”
“Mostly weight lifting and calisthenics.”
“Do you have a personal trainer or work alone?”
“Alone.”
“Do you really see Mano working with others?” Steve asked, smirking.
Mano shot him a sharp look.
“Why not?” Antony said.
“You’ll see. Give it a few days,” Steve replied.
“Steve,” Anna said gently, giving him a small warning look.
“Come on, Mano doesn’t get offended. Right, Mano?” He leaned forward on his elbows, playful but pushing.
“Yeah, whatever,” Mano muttered, dropping his gaze to his phone.
Across from him, Ody watched the irritation flickering through his eyes. He knew that look. And Mano knew he was being watched. He lifted his eyes for just a second, meeting Ody’s.
Ody quickly looked away. “I’ll go wash my hands.” He stood and headed toward the hallway.
Mano stayed seated, not moving. He took a sip of water, checked his phone, listened half-heartedly to whatever Steve was saying. Only when enough time had passed did he push his chair back.
“Where are you going?” Ranya asked.
“Bathroom.” He walked into the men’s room.
Ody was at the sink, washing his hands. When he noticed Mano in the mirror, he quickly looked away.
Mano stepped to the sink beside him and let the water run over his hands. “You like my outfit?”
Ody tensed. “What?”
“I noticed you’re having trouble taking your eyes off me,” Mano said while rubbing his hands together.
Ody shut off the tap and grabbed a paper towel, voice uneven. “Where are you even getting that from? You think you’re that good-looking?”
“Me? No,” Mano said as he shut off the tap and turned toward him. “You’re the one who called me pretty. Twice.”
Ody swallowed and stared at the tiles. Goddamnit, I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” Mano stepped closer. “You were pretty confident in the room earlier. Now you’re quiet?”
“We should get back.” Ody tried to walk past him, but Mano caught his arm. The movement pulled them close, their faces inches apart, the air between them suddenly heavy.
“You started a game you know you’ll lose,” Mano said, without giving him room to move.
Ody’s confidence surged back. “Are you sure about that?”
Mano lifted his chin a little. “What exactly? Who will get flustered first?”
Mano had no idea how different Ody was now. He had crossed lines Mano had not, had seen and done things Mano could not imagine. He wasn’t scared of this anymore. He was ready.
“You’re provoking me again. Careful. You’ll lose,” Ody said.
Mano didn’t know the truth. Ody wanted him. Wanted his mouth, his taste, his body pinned against the sink. He wanted to drag him in by the shirt and kiss him until that smug control slipped. Until he heard the sound Mano would make when he finally stopped pretending he didn’t want this too.
The moment Ody’s words left his mouth, Mano pushed him back against the sink, pressing his body to his and cupping Ody’s jaw as he stared at his lips.
He expected Ody to turn red, panic, and storm out. So why was Ody standing there completely calm, meeting his gaze without even blinking?
Mano frowned. Ody’s eyes dropped to his lips.
Something twisted in Mano’s chest. He pulled his hand back and stepped away, blinking hard. Confusion clouded his face.
How was Ody this calm, this steady? He had been so shy before, especially that time at Mano’s house with only a towel around his waist.
What had changed?
Ody let out a soft laugh at Mano’s expression and pushed himself off the sink. “Two-zero,” he said with a sly grin, opening the door and walking out, leaving Mano standing there full of questions.
When he returned to the table, he sat down and felt Ody’s eyes on him. The moment their gazes met, he looked away fast, suddenly shy and awkward.
Their food arrived, and the conversations eased back into place. Mano avoided looking at him as much as he could, while Ody laughed and joked with the group, perfectly at ease. Mano finished his second beer, and Ody stuck to one since he was driving.
After they paid, the group decided to walk along the harbor. All the couples held hands, except Mano and Ranya.
“Hold my hand,” she said.
“Oh, come on.” He brushed her off, keeping his hands in his jeans pockets.
“Everyone else is holding hands. Why won’t you?”
Mano ignored her. Ranya huffed but let it go, and the group kept walking until they reached the parking lot.
“Do you want to drive?” Ody asked Mano.
“He has a license to drive a car?” Anna asked, surprised.
“Yeah,” Ody replied.
“I’ve been drinking. I’ll drive tomorrow,” Mano said without looking at him, sliding into the passenger seat first.
“Babe, I didn’t know you had a car license.” Ranya said as they drove back. “You should see him on the motorcycle,” she told Anna. “He looks so good, and it’s amazing feeling the wind hit you while riding. Plus, I get the bonus of running my hands over his abs.”
“Ranya,” Mano scolded.
“What?”
They reached the hotel a few minutes later and walked inside together. After a bit of small talk in the lobby, they said goodnight and headed to their rooms.
“That was nice. And the food was really good,” Ranya said, slipping off her dress and changing into shorts. “Now you’re sitting there looking all sexy in that shirt,” she teased, approaching him as he sat on the bed.
“Again? We just did it this morning. We’re not rabbits.”
“Ugh. I think I’ll start giving you libido boosters,” she muttered, rolling her eyes.
“My libido is fine.” He started unbuttoning his jeans, but she climbed onto his lap, tilting his focus back to her.
“Then prove it.” She wrapped her legs around him in just a tank top and shorts. “Mm?” She slid her hand between his legs and kissed his neck.
“Ranya… I’m tired,” he said, unwilling to participate.
“Yeah, tired…” she mumbled, pushing him back on the bed. “Then let me do all the work.”
“Oh? You know how to do that too?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
“All you have to do is give me commands.” She pressed another kiss to his neck.
He rolled his eyes. “Of course…”
“Come on…” Her hand moved over him again, eager.
“Turn around,” he said.
She did, shifting her back against him.
“Now grind.”
Ranya moved slowly against him, testing the rhythm.
“Unbutton my shirt,” Mano said.
She turned toward him and reached up to unbutton his shirt, revealing his muscular chest as the fabric fell open around his arms.
“Make me hard.”
“Easy,” she said with a grin, bending down to pull off his jeans.
Mano let out a shaky breath as Ranya took him into her mouth.
“What do you want me to do now?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Can’t you take some initiative?” he said, lying back.
“I thought you liked being in control,” she replied.
He sighed and looked away.
“I’m not great at taking initiative,” Ranya admitted. “But if you want, I’ll try.”
“Forget it. I’m going to change,” he said, sitting up.
“Oh, come on. Why are you ruining it?” she complained.
“Ranya, I told you, I’m tired,” he snapped. “I don’t have the energy to throw you down and fuck you. Because that’s what you want.” He stood and walked away to change.
When he stepped into the bathroom, he stopped short. A faint sound cut through the quiet. A soft moan. He held still, listening.
Anna moaned as Ody pressed his lips to hers. His hand slipped under her bra as he kissed down her chest.
Another moan followed, louder this time, rising with each thrust.
Ody lifted his head. “Quiet,” he murmured near her ear. “They’ll hear us.”
“Mm…”
Ody moved faster, sharper, and Anna whimpered.
“I told you to stay quiet,” he said, his voice low.
“I can’t,” she cried out.
“You can.” He covered her mouth with his hand, holding her there as he kept thrusting deep. “See?” he whispered. “Much better.”
He only removed his hand when he decided she could make noise again.
Mano’s eyes widened. Anna’s voice. Then a deeper voice. Ody’s. He shut the door quickly, jaw tight as something sharp twisted through his chest. He changed in silence, lay down, and stared at the ceiling until sleep finally dragged him under.
The next morning, they headed down for breakfast.
“Good morning, everyone.”
They filled their plates from the small buffet, drifting around the table half awake. Mano grabbed some eggs and yogurt, trying to look casual, but his eyes flicked toward Ody for a split second. Ody didn’t look back. Or maybe he did. Mano couldn’t tell.
They ended up side by side at the buffet, reaching for the same section of the table in tense silence.
“What’s up? How’d you sleep?” Mano asked, his voice heavy and low as he placed two orange slices on his plate.
“Great. You?”
“You had fun last night, huh?” Mano asked, staring directly into Ody’s eyes.
Ody stilled. Realizing what Mano meant, he looked away and added a slice of toast to his plate. “You heard us?”
“When I went to the bathroom,” Mano said. “You weren’t too loud though. You must have gone easy on her.”
Ody looked at him. “Quite the opposite,” he said, matching Mano’s tone. “She was so loud I had to shut her mouth.”
Mano’s expression darkened.
“What about you? You two were awfully quiet,” Ody said. “Boring night, huh? Is that why you went to the bathroom to eavesdrop on us? Don’t tell me you stayed there all night.” A smirk curled on his lips.
Mano grabbed him by the collar, furious. “Say that again.”
Ody laughed in his face, not even trying to break free.
“Hey, hey, guys!” Steve shouted, rushing over.
“Ody?” Anna gasped.
Mano glared at Ody, anger boiling, while Ody smirked like he already knew he had won.
“Come on, guys, what’s going on?” Steve said, trying to pull them apart.
Ody shot Mano one last triumphant look before walking away with his plate.
Mano’s fists stayed clenched. His jaw tightened as he stared at Ody’s back.
That was it. He had just crossed the line.