was Craig’s doing. Had to be.
He eyed him. “Did you sleep well?”
“Sure did. But you know, in the army you learn to sleep wherever you are, whenever you can. This luxurious plane made it easy.”
Alun tried to remember exactly what had happened after he’d come. He was pretty sure he’d simply passed out. He checked Craig’s pants and saw that tell-tale bulge again. “You didn’t get off?” he asked in a whisper.
Craig shook his head, then said, “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“That’s not fair.”
“It is as far as I’m concerned. Besides, even if you’d gotten me off a few dozen times last night, I’d still be hard for you.”
“Oh.” Alun didn’t know what to say in response to that declaration. His cheeks heated, though.
In the next instant, he forgot all about arousals and orgasms, because Val boomed out an order for everyone to get moving and help unload the cargo hold. That reminded him of who was in there. He leaped to his feet so fast that his head swam for a second.
“Easy, there,” Craig said as he steadied him.
“I don’t want to loaf around. We need to do as Val said.”
“Okay, I’m right behind you.”
They disembarked in the dry heat of a Greek mountainside. This was the warrior Christos’ home, and the house, barn, field and even the hangar were beautifully made. He could well understand why the man had often stated how much he longed to return to it. He hurried to help with the unloading and was dismayed to find Val frowning at the trunk.
“What the fuck did we put in here?”
“Oh, that’s mine.” Alun raced over. “It’s got extra…stuff—comfort items mostly, in case we have to survive in the desert.” He turned his expression neutral, having learned well how to lie.
Val shrugged. “Okay. We’re putting everything in the hangar for now, then loading it later into the helos. Do you need help?”
Craig came up. “I’ve got it.”
Val clapped Craig on the back and left them to it. Between them, they carried it into the hangar, Alun leading the way. He headed for the very back corner. It was cooler there and as private as he could manage in the large space that was also occupied by two helicopters. One of them served as a privacy shield as well.
Craig eyed him as they set it down. “Do I really want to know what’s in here?”
“I told you.”
“Uh-huh.” When the man continued to stare him down, Alun understood that he didn’t believe him.
“No, you don’t,” he decided to confess. “But I promise it’s nothing to interfere with the mission.”
“Okay.”
“You believe me?”
Craig leaned over and kissed him on the end of his nose. “I trust you.”
With that he left, and after a short while, the others left the hangar, too. Christos had offered a hearty meal and showers for everyone before they would have to get ready to leave. Alun was desperate for a wash himself, but he couldn’t take care of himself until he’d checked on Annika. He held his breath as he opened the trunk and there she was, curled up the way he’d seen her when they’d left Boston. His hand shook as he reached down to feel her pulse. It was slow and steady, just as she’d said it would be. There was nothing more to be done, so after closing the lid again and latching it, he went inside with the others.
Chapter Nine
“You have a beautiful home. Do I even want to know how it comes with two military-grade helos?”
Christos turned from where he was looking over the cliff in the back of his house and faced Craig. “Thank you, and no, you don’t. I have always thought I’d found the best place on Earth to settle down in. I hadn’t truly realized it until we landed. I almost kissed the ground, I was so happy to be back.” His face fell. “There’s only one thing missing.”
“We’ll get him. It’s only a matter of time now.”
Christos nodded and went back to staring out. “But will he come with me? Can I convince him to join me here?”
Craig scratched the back of his neck. “I don’t know, man.”
He was the last person to give advice. He was still unsure that he’d done the right thing a few hours ago by kissing Alun as if he were the last meal on Earth while jerking him off. That was not how one took things slowly. And although Alun had been very reassuring about it all,