50. Chapter 50
Mano’s face was flushed, his gaze burning into Ody’s. Then he crashed their mouths together.
Ody melted into the kiss before he could stop himself. Weeks of tension, frustration, and wanting hit him all at once. Mano was kissing him like he couldn’t stay away anymore, like all his walls had finally cracked open, and for one reckless second Ody wanted to lose himself in it completely.
Mano’s other hand slid down to Ody’s jeans, fumbling with the button. He broke the kiss and looked at him. “Strip.”
Ody stilled, staring at him. “Mano… you’re drunk.”
The tattooed hand around his throat tightened just enough to make Ody’s breath catch. “I said strip,” he said, his voice low. “Do as I say. Now.”
Heat rushed up Ody’s neck, his fingers curling loosely around Mano’s wrist. “Not so tight,” he rasped.
Mano’s grip loosened slightly, but his gaze stayed dark. “What was it you said earlier?” he sneered. “That I can’t fuck? You want me to show you I can fuck?”
Ody’s breath quickened, his lips parting.
Mano’s gaze dropped between them, burning. “When you run your mouth like that, you better have the balls to back it up. You said I moan like a bitch,” he went on. “Let’s see who sounds like a bitch now.”
A shiver ran through Ody as Mano stared down at him.
Mano grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at him. “Didn’t you say I turn you on?” His thumb brushed slowly across Ody’s lower lip. “Huh, mikre?” he murmured. “Isn’t that what you said?”
Ody’s eyes fluttered shut for a second. A shaky breath slipped past his lips as heat curled low in his stomach.
God, hearing Mano say things like that so openly was wrecking him.
“Mano, you’re drunk,” he whispered, finally forcing himself to look at him again.
“Please. Not now.” He pushed weakly against him. “I don’t want you to forget this.”
He wanted Mano fully aware of what they were doing. And that was the problem. He had never felt Mano want him more openly than tonight, his usual defenses blurred by alcohol. Some selfish part of Ody ached to give in to it.
Mano caught his jaw and crushed his mouth against his. Ody almost gave in. Heat rushed through him, dizzying and overwhelming. But he forced himself to think past it.
Mano’s weight shifted clumsily for a second. Ody took the opening, twisting out from under him and pushing himself off the bed. His feet hit the floor as he stepped back, watching Mano.
“It can’t happen like this,” he said, his breath uneven. “It’s so hard for me to resist you, but this is wrong. You need to rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Before Mano could answer, Ody rushed out of the room.
Mano slumped back on the bed, his gaze lost in the empty space ahead. For a long moment he didn’t move. Then a sudden wave of nausea twisted his stomach. “Shit…”
He stumbled to the bathroom, barely making it before dropping to his knees in front of the toilet.
His body heaved as he threw up, the bitter taste burning his throat.
When it finally stopped, he stayed there for a moment, breathing hard with one hand braced against the wall.
His head throbbed, and his mouth tasted like acid.
Slowly, he pushed himself up and rinsed his mouth at the sink. The mirror caught his reflection. Flushed face. Glassy eyes. Hair a mess. He looked wrecked.
Fragments of the night flickered through his mind. Ody beneath him. His hand around Ody’s throat. “Not so tight.”
Mano went still. The memory hit him like a punch. He walked back into the room slowly, like the air had turned heavy around him. That was when the full weight of it settled in. How forceful he had been. How hard Ody had tried to stop things before they went further.
He sank down onto the floor beside the bed and buried his face in his hands. “What the fuck is wrong with me…”
Ody grabbed his phone and texted Anna. I think I’ll stay at the hotel tonight. I can’t keep going back and forth. Besides, we have a long drive tomorrow and I need some rest
Anna: Is everything okay with Mano?
Odysseus: All good don’t worry. Just enjoy yourself
Okay. Get some rest
He set the phone aside and pulled the sheet over himself, staring at the ceiling as Mano’s face kept flashing through his mind.
The last morning on the island arrived with blaring alarms.
Mano’s head felt like stone when he opened his eyes, but at least he was sober now.
“Mano, you good, man? You were wasted last night,” Antony said when they met at breakfast.
Mano glanced at Ody who kept his head down, focused on his plate.
“I’m fine,” he said, heading to the buffet.
At the table, he kept sneaking glances at Ody like he wanted to say something.
But Ody never looked up. Not once.
Mano’s stomach twisted.
After breakfast they returned to their rooms to pack. Soon they were outside loading their bags into the cars. They still had an hour before their ferry to Piraeus.
Mano carried his suitcase across the parking lot. Antony was already opening the trunk of his car. For a moment Mano slowed. Then he turned and walked toward Ody’s instead. “We’re riding with them,” he said to Ranya.
She frowned, glancing between him and Ody. “Did you guys make up?”
Mano didn’t answer. He reached the trunk just as Ody lifted a suitcase. “I got it,” Mano said, taking it from him and setting it inside.
Their eyes met. Ody looked away first. “Thanks,” he muttered, reaching for another bag.
“Leave it to me. I got it.” Mano lifted the last suitcase into the trunk. “Want me to drive?”
Ody hesitated. He still looked tense about last night, but there was also a hint of relief in his eyes. “If you want, from Piraeus to Athens.”
“Okay.” Mano shut the trunk.
When they arrived at the port, Ody and Antony drove the cars onto the ferry while the rest of the group headed inside.
Mano stayed outside on the deck. The wind whipped against his face as he leaned on the railing, staring out at the water. A little later, he heard footsteps on the metal stairs. Ody was coming up with Antony, talking.
As they approached, Mano’s eyes met Ody’s.
“I’ll catch up in a bit,” Ody told Antony.
Antony nodded and continued inside.
Now it was just the two of them.
“Ody…” Mano said. “I wanted to talk to you about last night.” His gaze stayed steady.
Ody’s drifted toward the sea.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me. I mean it.” His jaw tightened. “I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I’d never… force myself on you. I’m not that kind of person. I swear, I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s fine,” Ody said, cutting him off and finally looking at him. “Don’t worry about it.”
Mano searched his face. “Are you… mad at me?”
“No, Mano. I’m not.” Ody’s expression softened.
Mano swallowed hard. “So…” His voice dropped. “We’re good?”
“We’re good.” Ody met his eyes. “Besides, I was the one who started talking shit. I insulted you first.”
Mano shook his head. “That doesn’t excuse what I did.” He looked down. “Last night I just—”
“Last night you just drank too much,” Ody said.
Their eyes met again. For a moment neither of them moved.
Then Mano stepped closer. Too close. His fingers brushed over Ody’s cheek. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, his gaze flickering to Ody’s lips as he leaned in.
Ody jerked back, his heart jumping into his throat as he glanced around the deck. “What are you doing?” he whispered harshly.
Mano went still, the brief flicker of relief in his expression disappearing just as quickly. “Can I see you later?” he asked, his voice lower now. “When we’re back in Athens.”
Ody stared at him, stunned. The same Mano who had spent so long denying everything between them was now asking to see him. “I’ll be home tonight… if you want to come by,” he said softly.
“I will.” This time Mano didn’t hesitate. He meant it. He needed to fix this. To show Ody he could trust him. That last night had been a mistake. That the man he had been then… wasn’t really him.
At the port of Piraeus, Mano took the driver’s seat.
“Let’s drop Ranya off first,” Ody said as they pulled onto the road toward Athens.
“You sure?” Ranya asked from the back.
“Yeah. It’s on the way.”
They stopped at Ranya’s house, and she got out with Ody, who helped her with her suitcase.
“Thanks so much, guys. I had an amazing time.”
“Get some rest!” Anna called from the back seat.
Ranya leaned down to the driver’s window and kissed Mano on the lips. “See you later.”
Ody’s jaw tightened. He looked away and shut the trunk a little harder than necessary before climbing back into the passenger seat.
Mano drove the rest of the way in silence. Outside his building, he parked the car. He and Ody stepped out and walked to the trunk while Anna stayed inside, scrolling through her phone.
Mano opened the trunk and lifted his suitcase out, setting it beside him before pushing the trunk closed. Then he looked at Ody. “Will you wait for me?” he whispered.
Ody nodded and brushed his fingers over Mano’s arm. The touch was brief, but Mano felt it long after Ody pulled away. He turned and headed toward the building entrance.
Ody slipped back into the driver’s seat while Anna moved to the passenger side.
At Anna’s place, Ody carried her suitcase to the entrance. “Thank you,” she murmured, the words sounding a little distant as she leaned in to kiss him.
“Get some rest.”
“You too. We’ll talk later.” She disappeared inside the building.
After the drive home, Ody dropped his suitcase by the door and headed straight for the shower. Then he changed into something comfortable and collapsed onto the couch.
It was July 2nd, and he still hadn’t decided when to go to Patra to visit his family. His mind kept drifting back to Mano. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Around 9 p.m., the intercom buzzed. Ody pressed the button without answering and heard the downstairs door click open. He waited in the doorway of his apartment. Mano stepped out of the elevator and their eyes met.
Ody moved aside to let him pass. “Do you want something to drink?”
Mano shook his head. “Better not.”
For a moment neither of them spoke. Ody sat down on the couch first. Mano followed, leaving a small space between them.
“Did you rest?” Ody asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
Silence settled over the room.
“Mano…” Ody said at last, turning toward him. “I want to talk about the beach fight.”
Mano kept his eyes lowered.
“I was upset with you for the way you spoke to me in the room,” Ody continued. “Then we fought about the radio, and I said some stupid things. I didn’t mean any of it.” He paused. “I was hurt.”
Mano didn’t respond.
“You said what we have is nothing more than a fling,” Ody added.
Mano’s gaze finally lifted for a second, then dropped again.
“For me it’s not like that,” Ody said. “It hurt when you said it. I know how you treat women. And hearing you talk like that made me think you saw me the same way.”
“I don’t.” Mano lifted his head, the words slipping out before he could stop them. A second later his gaze dropped again.
“I realized that from what you said when you were drunk,” Ody continued softly. “You’re afraid I’ll leave you and go back to Anna?”
Mano swallowed but didn’t answer.
“You think I’m just playing with you?”
That made Mano look at him. “I’m not going to ask you for anything,” he said. “But if one day you get bored of me and end this…” He trailed off and exhaled.
Ody watched him in silence. He knew Mano’s past. Losing his parents so young had left scars that never really healed. Even now, at twenty-three, he was still afraid of getting too close to anyone. Afraid of being left alone again.
Ody shifted closer on the couch. “I won’t get bored of you.”
Mano shook his head. “You don’t know that.”
“So you’d rather not go after what you want?” Ody asked. “Keep me at a distance so you don’t risk getting hurt?”
Mano let out a frustrated breath. “That’s what I’ve always done. For years.” His eyes lifted to meet Ody’s. “So why the hell can’t I do it with you?”
“Because you want me.” He slid his hand to the back of Mano’s neck and leaned closer, his thumb brushing slowly over the spot.
Mano tensed beneath his touch.
“Just like I want you.”
His breathing deepened under his touch. “No…”
“Still denying it?” Ody murmured. A faint smile touched his lips. “After everything that happened yesterday? You would’ve devoured me if I hadn’t stopped you.”
Mano leaned back against the couch, heat rushing to his face. “I—I did that because you said I wasn’t a real man…”
“I said stupid things,” Ody replied. “I know exactly the kind of man you are. You’ve proven that to me more than once.” He leaned closer. “But I like it when your defenses fall when you’re with me. I like seeing you let go.” He closed the distance and pressed his lips gently against Mano’s.
The kiss was slow, deep. Mano’s back rested against the couch as Ody leaned over him, kissing him.
When their lips parted, they stayed close, barely an inch between them.
Ody felt Mano’s warm breath against his mouth. “Those lips…” he murmured.
“Ody… about what happened in the room—”
Ody kissed him again, cutting him off.
“Mmm…” Mano breathed, but pulled back, trying to speak. “Let me explain.”
Ody finally leaned back just enough to meet his eyes.
“I’m still thinking about it,” Mano said, his gaze dropping. “I didn’t mean to be… forceful.”
Ody watched him. “You weren’t. I wanted you so bad I don’t even know how I managed to stop,” Ody continued.
Mano’s breathing turned uneven.
“I just… needed you to be sober.”
“Why?” Mano asked, his voice calmer now.
“Because I wanted you to know exactly what we were doing,” Ody said. “I didn’t want you waking up the next day and telling me you regretted it.”
Mano lowered his head, knowing he had done exactly that.
“But seeing you like that didn’t bother me,” Ody added. “Actually… I liked it.”
Mano stared at him for a second, his expression flickering with something dangerously close to vulnerability.
“You were bolder. I liked seeing you stop hiding from me,” Ody said.
A faint flush crept over Mano’s cheeks. “I thought you liked it when I’m s… shy.”
Ody smiled. “I like both sides of you.”
Mano’s heart raced as Ody leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper near his ear. “I want to see both sides of you.”
Mano’s breathing deepened again as their eyes locked.
“But right now…” Ody murmured. “I want us to try what we talked about on Serifos.”
Mano blinked. “What?”
“I want you to tell me how you like it.”
Mano’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment under his touch. Then he understood. A slow heat spread through him, sinking lower.
Ody’s hand rested against his chest, and Mano could feel his heartbeat quickening beneath it.
His fingers curled against the couch. “Ody…” he breathed.
Ody leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “I want to see that expression on your face again.”
Mano swallowed. His pulse was pounding now, his thoughts tangled between hesitation and desire.
Ody’s thumb brushed slowly over his cheek. “Show it to me.”
Mano couldn’t look away as their eyes locked, heavy with need.