Page 37 of Troubled Skies (Blue Skies #3)

eighteen

Ren

All Adrian had told Ren when he stepped into the shower the previous night, was that their adventure had been sorted, Sylvie was an absolute miracle worker, and that Ren needed to be awake at five in the morning.

After that, Adrian wouldn’t tell him a thing about what they were doing or where they were going except that Rigo was on board with it.

Even when Adrian was drifting in the afterglow of an orgasm that had had him practically mewling with pleasure, all he’d done was giggle and tell Ren to be patient.

Then he rolled over and fell asleep before Ren could ask him a second time.

Now Ren stood on top of the Acropolis as dawn broke across Athens, but instead of looking at the view, he was staring at Adrian and thinking how incredible the man was, how beautiful.

Thousands of years of artifacts, civilizations come and gone, the past reduced to these few structures, and all of it paled in comparison to the man who stood by his side, his fiery hair rivaling the rosy fingers of dawn as she pulled the dark shades of night from the Athenian sky.

For all Ren had seen and done in his life, all the places he had traveled, all the things he had experienced, Adrian had managed to stun him with something so extraordinary he struggled to put into words how he felt.

“C'est incroyable, chéri.” Ren reached out and pulled Adrian into his arms. “Mon trésor. Tu es magnifique.”

Adrian grinned at him. “I don’t know what all that means, but I think you like it.”

“I do, poussin, very much. And I like you as well.”

Ducking his head, Adrian pushed Ren away. “You’re missing the show,” he said.

It was on the tip of Ren’s tongue to say that Adrian was all he wanted to look at, but he also knew he’d be foolish not to watch as the Parthenon emerged into the light of day, its marble columns rose-colored from the rising sun and slowly changing to their iconic golden beige as the sky above them transformed to bright blue.

For as many times as Ren had visited Athens, as many times as he’d stood on this very spot on tours arranged for whichever delegation of dignitaries he was part of, he’d never experienced the Acropolis like this. It stunned him that Adrian had been able to gift him something he’d never done before.

As the sun continued to rise in the sky, their guide from the Greek Ministry of Culture led them around the Parthenon.

Ren had heard and seen most of this before, but watching Adrian’s first encounter with the site was mesmerizing.

A couple of times, Adrian had caught him staring and blushed as if he’d been doing something he shouldn’t have, but Ren quickly disabused him of that by kissing him and telling him how adorable he was.

“Not sexy?” Adrian pouted.

“You are always sexy, poussin, and I adore watching you whenever you are so enthralled.” And because he was quickly becoming unable to resist, Ren bent his head and kissed Adrian again.

And as was also quickly becoming usual for them, the simple affection of a quick kiss transformed into something with promises for when they were once again alone on the yacht.

“Alas,” their guide said, having caught on to the fact that his guests were no longer paying attention. “There is no temple for Aphrodite at the Acropolis. But perhaps that is for the best as we might not otherwise be able to finish our tour before the crowds arrive.”

“Our apologies,” Ren said. “Please, proceed.” As they resumed walking, Ren leaned over and whispered in Adrian’s ear, “You are a siren, poussin. I forget myself too easily when I am near you.”

Adrian looked up at him, his emerald green eyes alight with mischief. “Sorry not sorry?” he asked with a shrug.

In response, Ren took hold of Adrian’s hand and placed his attention firmly on the guide with a shake of his head.

An hour later, they were descending the hill to the car park as the first tourists were beginning their ascent.

The sight of so many people with cameras was a concern, but Ren trusted that most of them were more interested in the ancient buildings rather than staring at him long enough to recognize him.

As if reading his mind, Adrian bumped shoulders with him. “Are you worried about paparazzi?” he asked, and it both touched and reassured Ren that Adrian was aware of the threat.

“Comme-ci comme-ca. It is a risk, oui, but I am not so recognizable. You did not know who I was, poussin, non? So, I am not terribly concerned.”

“Good,” Adrian said. “Because I’ve got something else I want us to do, and it’s going to require you to be a bit more exposed.”

“I am intrigued,” Ren said. “But, I should warn you that if it requires public nudity, Rigo will not be happy.” He glanced over his shoulder at the bodyguard who was several paces behind them, his assessing gaze fixed on each person they passed.

“Is he ever happy?” Adrian asked.

“Oh, oui. I have even seen him laugh. Especially when he is with Sylvie.”

“Really?”

“I swear, poussin, but it is a secret.”

Adrian mimed locking his lips.

“But what is it you have planned next?” Ren asked, then laughed as Adrian mimed being unable to speak.

“D’accord. Then I shall guess. Is it skydiving?

” Adrian glared at him, then shook his head.

“Non. So, I suppose hang gliding and parasailing are not options as well. Perhaps you have arranged a massage at one of the local hammams? A drag brunch at a hookah bar?” Ren continued to make progressively more absurd guesses until Adrian was laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

“How many of those are things you’ve actually done?” he gasped out as they reached their car.

“Perhaps forty, maybe forty-five percent.” Ren pretended to consider. “Maybe as much as fifty-five.”

Adrian shook his head. “Get in the car, and I’ll tell you.”

Once they thanked their guide and settled into the back seat of the rented sedan, Rigo pulled out of the parking space.

“So, if it is none of the things I guessed, where are we going, poussin?” Ren asked, then reached out and took hold of Adrian’s hands because he’d started worrying at his fingers again. “Wherever it is, I am sure I will enjoy it because I will be with you.”

“Well…” Adrian bit his lower lip, and Ren was suddenly filled with dread that this was how Adrian was going to say goodbye to him.

“You must tell me, Adrian. Please.” He gripped Adrian’s hands tighter, his own growing cold as he felt fear claw at his insides. “Even if you are telling me I will be returning to the yacht alone, I want to know.”

Adrian’s eyes widened. “I’m not leaving, Ren.” He grinned. “Though I was going to make this a challenge and that my going to the Maldives depended on how well you did.”

Now Ren’s entire body went cold, and he stared in confusion as Adrian smiled.

“But I’m not going to do that,” Adrian said. “I’m enjoying myself too much to want this to end yet.”

Ren closed his eyes. “That is good to hear, poussin. But now that you have tortured me, and my poor heart may not recover, I need you to tell me what we are doing.”

“So, first, Rigo is okay with this idea, and he’ll stay with you.”

“That is good to know, but still not enough.” Ren opened his eyes as Rigo pulled the car into a parking space on the street.

Adrian was grinning at him again. “In Malta, you showed me your version of being a tourist, now it’s my turn to show you mine. We’re going to the Monastiraki Flea Market.”

“I thought you did not want to do any more shopping,” Ren said, and Adrian laughed.

“Your idea of shopping and going to a market are two very different things, Your Highness. But I have ulterior motives.” Adrian dug his wallet out of his pants and handed Ren a twenty euro note.

“We’re going to play a game. You’re going to take this money and find me the most ridiculous, idiotic but incredibly romantic thing you can.

” Pulling another twenty euro note out of his wallet, he waved it in Ren’s face.

“And I’m going to do the same thing, and then we’ll surprise each other with what we found. ”

“But if I see what you are buying for me, won’t that ruin the surprise?”

“It would, but we’re not going to be shopping together. You’re going to go with him,” Adrian nodded toward Rigo who was still sitting in the driver’s seat. “We’ll both have an hour, and then we’re going to meet up at a restaurant for lunch and drinks. Rigo knows where to bring you.”

Adrian finished with a triumphant toss of his head, obviously quite pleased with his idea.

“You are all right with this?” Ren asked Rigo.

“The risks are minimal,” Rigo responded.

“That is not reassuring.”

Rigo shrugged.

“Do you accept this challenge?” Adrian asked.

“Only twenty euros?” Ren asked, holding the bill with two fingers as if it might be contaminated.

“Only twenty euros. And you’re not allowed to use your credit card or a money app or anything else. Just that bit of paper.”

Ren turned his attention from the currency to Adrian and gave him a sly smile. “Challenge accepted, poussin. Is there a special prize if I win?”

Instead of answering, Adrian leaned closer to him. “I was thinking we’d both be winners tonight,” Adrian whispered and laughed as Ren tried to grab him for a kiss, opening his door and stepping out of the car. As he walked away, Adrian called over his shoulder, “I’ll see you in one hour.”

Ren watched him walk away, quickly swallowed up by the crowd that was making its way through the gate beyond which Ren could see colorful stalls that had been set up in a large plaza. He turned to Rigo.

“I suppose we should get to it, then, n’est-ce pas?”

An hour and five minutes later, Ren glanced at his watch as Adrian was guided to his table. “You’re late,” he said as Adrian took his seat. “Does that mean I win your challenge?”

Adrian laughed. “No. You still have to show me what you found.”

“I will show you mine, if you show me yours.” Ren leaned closer and placed a kiss on Adrian’s cheek.