would give his boy anything he wanted from this point forward. There was no greater gift to him than how Mateo had run into his arms and had stayed there since the rescue. And he didn’t mind living on a mountain with goats.
‘So long as we go to Athens every now and again. You know…for the shopping.’ Mateo had giggled after he said it to show that he was kidding. Christos hadn’t been when he’d promised they’d go once a month, if that was what he wanted.
Mateo got up from his chair in order to sit on Christos’ lap. This easy physical intimacy was reassuring, although Harry and Ric had warned that there could be a breakdown at some point, once the reality of what he’d been through came to the forefront of Mateo’s mind. No matter… Christos was ready to deal with anything.
They sat quietly for a few minutes, sipping their drinks and caressing each other to bring about a slow arousal. “You know, I was never in doubt that you’d come for me.”
Christos tried not to show his surprise at the sudden mention of what they’d been through mere weeks ago. “Good. I hadn’t had much time to prove my devotion before you were taken.”
Mateo curled into him even closer. “Yes, you had. You just didn’t realize it. I love you, Christos. I was…”
When he didn’t finish, Christos encouraged him to continue. “What? You can tell me anything.”
Mateo’s chest rose and fell on a deep breath. “I was afraid you might not want me any more after Dracul had me.”
Christos put his glass down so quickly that it toppled over. He squeezed Mateo hard enough to make him squeal. “Never! You did what you had to do to survive and I was praying the whole time that you were. Knowing how smart you were about surviving was the one thing that kept me on my feet and moving forward.” He didn’t confess that he’d worried Mateo wouldn’t want him afterward. The boy didn’t need Christos’ insecurities on top of his own.
They snuggled silently some more before Mateo spoke again. This was the night for it, apparently, and that was fine with him. The boy’s question, however, startled him.
“Do you think the world will ever believe that Annika is real? That you’re real?”
“I expect so.” He didn’t add that a movement behind her had already started.
“Can we like…hide out up here? I don’t think I can deal with that drama.”
“Absolutely.”
“Good. One more thing?”
“Name it, Agἁpi mou.”
“Will you drink my blood and let me drink yours? I want to get stronger and better.”
His heart soared with desire and relief and love beyond measure. “You are already perfect, but I will gladly feed you my strength.”
With that pledge, he stood with Mateo in his arms and took him to bed.
* * * *
Dafydd, Ric and Idris
“Not too far, Idris. Oh, he’s fearless, that one.” Dafydd fretted until his son stopped in the shallow water to dip his plastic pail.
Ric rubbed his back. “But, see? He’s behaving.”
Dafydd leaned into his man’s side. Such a nice, solid presence. It had helped him recover twice now from the trauma of his captivity. He knew for a certainty that Ric would always be there for him and that he could weather anything because of it.
It was a glorious day, bright and warm. The beach in Ogunquit was filled with families, like their own. “I love it here,” he confessed.
Ric embraced him closer as Idris trudged back up to fill the moat around the castle that he’d constructed. It was remarkably detailed, considering the toddler’s little hands. Dafydd knew this was only the beginning. His son was rapidly maturing and they couldn’t hide his oddity from human children much longer. Then again, maybe Annika’s revolution would make that unnecessary. He wasn’t sure he trusted the Queen’s judgment, and for sure he didn’t want his son caught in the middle of whatever she did next.
“Do you think we could buy a house up here?”
Ric looked surprised, then grinned. “Sure, why not?”
“Well, for one thing, your work is down in Boston.”
“Hey, I’m a doctor. I can practice medicine anywhere I want, basically.”
“Oh, but you like pathology, don’t you?”
“I do. But I love you.” He gave him a quick kiss.
It wasn’t as hard as he’d feared to put his recent past aside and embrace the warmth and love of his man again. “I love you, too,” he confessed quietly, yet with all his heart.
“If living here would make you