46. Chapter 46
The kiss was soft. Gentle in a way Mano didn’t know how to handle. Nothing like the desperate one on the beach or the frantic one in the bathroom stall.
His chest felt tight under Ody’s weight, his heartbeat loud enough that he was sure Ody could feel it through his shirt.
Ody’s lips moved slowly against his, unhurried, like he had all the time in the world. Mano had never been kissed like that before. And somehow, that scared him more than anything else.
When their lips finally parted, Mano couldn’t look away from him, breathing unevenly. “You need... to go.”
“That eager to get rid of me?” Ody smiled. “I make you come and you kick me out just like you do with your girls?” he teased.
Mano’s cheeks flushed, his gaze darting away. “S-stop talking like that,” he mumbled.
Ody bit his lip, eyes playful. “I love it when I make you blush like this.”
“I-I’m not blushing. I don’t even know what that word means,” Mano muttered, keeping his eyes on the wall.
“I love how you’re all tough and intimidating with everyone... but with me you’re sweet and shy.”
Mano snapped his head toward him. “Cut it out, mikre. And I’m not sweet or shy. If I wanted to, I could pin you down and prove it.”
“Then why don’t you?” Ody smirked, leaning over him, trapping him under his hands.
“B-because... I’m not... yet…” He stopped mid-sentence. The rest of the words stayed trapped in his throat. Admitting he still wasn’t ready to touch or kiss Ody on his own felt impossible. But Ody got it. He had felt the same way not long ago.
A soft kiss landed on Mano’s forehead, catching him off guard. Just like back then. Thirteen years ago, when his mother used to kiss his forehead goodnight.
“It’s okay. I’ll wait. Until you’re ready,” Ody said. “Although, if I’m being honest... I don’t really mind having you underneath me.”
Mano’s fist landed instantly on Ody’s shoulder. He laughed, rubbing the spot. Then his gaze settled back on Mano. “Can I ask you something?”
Mano raised an eyebrow.
“How many women have you been with?”
Mano exhaled and looked away. “I don’t remember.”
“Oh, that many, huh?” Ody let out a nervous laugh. “What, like one a week?”
“I don’t know. I lost count.” He shrugged.
“And you’re the same with them as you are with Ranya?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean... are you just as rough with them? Do you tie them up and dominate them like that?” Ody asked, the thought clearly bothering him.
Mano looked at him, not in the mood to discuss it. “Only if they ask for it. Not all of them are into that.”
“And the ones who aren’t?”
Mano’s jaw tightened. “What exactly are you asking, Ody? You wanna know how I fuck them?”
“Yeah,” Ody blurted.
Silence stretched between them. Ody didn’t look away. His eyes stayed fixed on Mano, burning with a tension he couldn’t hide, like the idea of Mano with someone else made something twist violently inside him.
Mano noticed the tension in his eyes. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Fine,” he said. “Usually they’re under me. Sometimes on all fours, sometimes on top. But I’m still in control.”
He noticed the smile forming on Ody’s lips. “Interesting.”
Mano frowned. “Why?”
“Nothing. Nothing,” Ody said. “One more question.”
“Oh come on. You know I hate being interrogated,” Mano groaned.
“Have you ever watched gay porn?” Ody asked.
Mano’s eyes widened. Color rushed to his face so fast it almost looked painful. He stared at Ody like he had just been slapped.
Ody’s lips slowly curled into a smile. “So... is that a yes or a no?”
“The girls will be back soon. Time for you to go.” He got up from the bed, shoving him toward the door.
Ody chuckled under his breath. “Come on. Tell me. Have you?”
“Thanks for the pants. See you at the restaurant,” Mano said, practically forcing him out the door.
Ody turned back to him with a grin. “At first it’s a shock, but then you get used to it. You know what I like?”
Mano grabbed the door handle. “Shut up and get out!” He shoved him outside, but not before catching the beginning of Ody’s next sentence.
“When he’s got the other guy under him—”
The door slammed shut. Mano stood frozen, eyes wide, heat creeping up his neck. He’s completely insane!
Meanwhile, the girls were having a very different kind of evening. After their massages and beauty treatments, they returned to their rooms to do their makeup, while the guys got dressed and met them in the hotel lobby.
Ody’s eyes went to Mano. He was wearing the gray pants. A smile spread across his face before he could stop it. Mano glanced at Ody’s outfit and lowered his head. They were both wearing dress shirts, Mano in white and Ody in deep burgundy, with black trousers.
They headed toward the cars, and on the way there, Anna’s gaze landed on Mano’s pants. “Babe…” She looked at Ody. “Don’t you have pants just like those?”
Mano’s eyes flicked to Anna, then quickly to Ody.
“Uh... yeah. They’re mine. I lent them to him for tonight.”
“Oh! No wonder they looked familiar,” she said with a small laugh as she slipped into the back seat.
“Are you driving, or am I?” Ody asked, twirling the car keys around his finger.
Mano snatched them from him and headed straight for the driver’s seat. Ody smirked before climbing into the passenger side. During the drive, Ody took over the music, scrolling through songs as he picked what to play.
When they arrived at the restaurant, everyone got out of the cars. Ody lingered behind, letting Mano walk ahead first. Mano kept moving, unaware of the way Ody’s eyes instantly dropped to his well-built backside. Damn. My pants look so good on him…
They walked inside and took their seats at a large table. Their eyes met. Mano looked away first.
Menus opened as the group discussed drinks and placed their orders.
A moment later, Mano pushed his chair back. “Gonna use the bathroom.”
The waiter brought the first round of drinks, and Ody turned to Anna. “I’ll go wash my hands real quick.”
“Alright, babe,” she said, barely glancing at him as she continued her conversation with Christina.
Ody spotted the men’s restroom and walked in.
Mano glanced over his shoulder just as he finished washing his hands.
A faint smile appeared on Ody’s lips as his gaze slowly traveled from Mano’s head to his feet.
It stopped at one particular spot, the curve of his glutes as he stood sideways at the sink.
“What do you want?” Mano asked, noticing the predatory look on his face.
“Nothing,” Ody said casually. “Just admiring.”
“W... what?” Mano blinked, turning off the faucet.
“You should wear tight pants more often.” He stepped closer.
Mano instinctively stepped back. “Didn’t you come here to wash your hands?”
“Yes... and no.” His eyes never left him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mano asked, growing more uneasy as Ody inched closer.
Just then the door swung open. Both of them turned. A man walked in and headed straight for one of the stalls.
Mano mouthed the word, “Leave.”
Ody simply shook his head, the smirk still on his lips.
Mano placed a hand on Ody’s chest and pushed him back, but he just pulled out his phone and started typing.
Mano watched him, confused, until Ody lifted the screen for him to read.
In half an hour you’ll get a call about something important. You’ll need to go to an ATM
“What?” Mano whispered, frowning.
Ody typed again. We’ll say it’s urgent. I’ll drive you
Mano’s eyes flicked from the message back to Ody. “You’ve lost it, haven’t you?” he glanced toward the stalls.
Ody just grinned. “Half an hour.”
He turned to leave, but Mano grabbed his wrist. “Are you out of your mind?”
The sound of a toilet flushing cut through the tension as the stranger stepped out of the stall. They waited in silence while the man washed his hands. Then the door swung shut.
Mano turned back. “Can you tell me what the hell—”
Ody shoved him straight into the last stall. The door banged against the divider as they stumbled inside.
“What the hell are you doing?” Mano hissed, eyes wide.
Ody locked the door and turned back to face him. “I want us to go for a drive,” he said. “Just the two of us.”
“Ody, have you lost your mind? Our girlfriends are right outside.”
“I don’t care.” He stepped closer. “I just want to be alone with you.”
Mano just stared at him.
“Come on,” Ody said. “Don’t shut me down. We leave in two days.”
Silence stretched between them. They were standing too close, the tension between them turning the cramped stall unbearably small.
“Ody... no,” Mano said under his breath. “We can’t just leave like that.”
Ody reached up, brushing his fingers against Mano’s neck. “Just a little while,” he murmured. “You don’t want that?”
Mano swallowed. “I-I’m just... if something goes wrong and they figure it out…”
“Nothing will go wrong. Don’t you trust me?”
“If by some crazy chance we get caught—”
“We won’t.” Ody leaned closer. “Say yes. I can’t sit across from you all night and pretend I’m not dying to touch you.”
That did it. Mano blinked fast, his breath catching. Ody was too close. The scent of his cologne filled his lungs.
Fuck.
“If this goes sideways,” Mano muttered, “I’ll kill you, mikre.”
Ody’s grin spread instantly. “Nothing’s going sideways, big guy. Half an hour.”
For a moment neither of them moved. Then Ody reached up, cupped Mano’s face, and kissed him, just once. When he pulled back, their faces were still inches apart. Then he unlocked the stall door and stepped out.
He returned to the table and slid back into his seat. “Oh, nice. The appetizers are here,” he said casually, grabbing his fork.
Everyone was eating and chatting when Mano finally returned.
“Babe, try this. It’s amazing,” Ranya said, just as his eyes briefly met Ody’s across the table.
Conversation drifted to other topics as they waited for the main dishes. Ody checked the time on his phone, then flicked a quick glance toward Mano.
The signal.
Mano picked up his phone and opened his messages, pretending to read something. “Sorry, I need to make a quick call,” he said, pushing his chair back as he stood up. He looked calm, but inside he was a mess. His heart was pounding over what they were about to do.
Outside, he pretended to talk on the phone, pacing back and forth. What if someone saw them? What if something went wrong and they got caught lying?
By the time he walked back inside, his expression was tight with frustration.
“What happened?” Ody asked.
Everyone’s attention shifted to Mano.
“My brother’s got a problem and needs me to transfer him some money. I need to find an ATM.”
“I think there’s only one in the main town,” Ranya said.
“Great,” Mano ran a hand through his hair.
“I’ll drive you,” Ody said, pushing his chair back as he stood.
“What? You guys are leaving?” Anna asked.
“I didn’t even get to eat,” Mano muttered.
“Come on, we’ll be quick. You guys go ahead and enjoy your meal,” Ody said, motioning for Mano to follow.
“Alright, see you,” Steve called after them as they left.
They walked out of the restaurant in silence. Ody unlocked the car and got into the driver’s seat while Mano slid into the passenger side, letting out a long breath. “I can’t believe we actually did that.”
Ody laughed. “Told you it’d be easy.”
Mano glared at him. “Easy? You call that easy?”
Ody raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting. “I didn’t expect you to be such a scaredy-cat. Thought you were fearless.”
Mano’s eyes narrowed. “What did you just call me?”
“Payback,” Ody said smugly. “For calling me that when I was scared to get on your bike.”
Mano scoffed and looked away.
“Seat belt,” Ody added with a smirk as he started the engine.
“Where are we going?” Mano asked when he noticed they weren’t heading toward the port.
“Somewhere quiet. No people around.”
“You come up with excuses way too easily,” Mano muttered, staring out the window. “And you lie just as easily.”
Ody glanced at him, but didn’t speak.
“You could lie to me too, couldn’t you?”
“I wouldn’t.” Ody didn’t hesitate.
Mano let out a humorless laugh. “That’s exactly what Anna probably thinks too.”
That made Ody turn toward him. “You really believe I’d treat you the same way?”
“I don’t know,” Mano admitted. “That’s the problem.”
Silence settled between them.
“If she ever finds out,” Mano continued, “do you have any idea what that’ll do to her?”
Ody stayed silent as he pulled into a small overlook above the harbor, the village lights shimmering across the water below. The engine died. “I’ve told you before,” he said, setting the handbrake. “I’m not proud of how I treat her.” He studied Mano’s face. “But you and Anna aren’t the same.”
Mano stared at him. The words didn’t land the way Ody probably meant them to. Not the same. To Mano, that could mean anything. Different. Temporary. Replaceable.
“Right now,” Ody continued, his voice softer, “it’s just us.” He leaned a little closer. “Stop thinking about everyone else for a second. Think about what you want.”
“What... I want?” Mano echoed.
“Yeah.” Ody watched him. “What do you want?”
Mano hesitated.
“You wouldn’t have come if you didn’t want to be here,” Ody said.
“I only came because you insisted! And because you said—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” he cut him off with a faint smile.
“You came against your will.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping.
“Not because you wanted to be alone with me.” He moved in until their faces were inches apart.
“Not because you wanted me to touch you. To kiss you. To whisper in your ear.” His breath was warm against Mano’s skin. “Right, Mano?”
Mano’s eyes fluttered shut, his breathing growing uneven.
“Not because you wanted to pick up where we left off in the room,” Ody murmured. “You came with me against your will. I dragged you here.” He held Mano’s gaze, watching his chest rise and fall.
“That’s how it is, right?” Ody said, his voice low and teasing. “Just like you’re about to do something else against your will…” He paused, letting the silence stretch between them.
Mano shivered.
Then Ody whispered against his ear, “Get in the back.”
Mano stayed frozen, his pulse racing.
Ody stepped out of the car, opened the back door, and slid into the middle seat. He leaned back against the seat, stretching his legs slightly apart, watching Mano with quiet confidence. “I’m waiting.”
Mano didn’t move.
A slow smirk spread across Ody’s lips. “Don’t make me come get you.”