Page 3 of Winds of War

Of course, it wasn't true, Van wasn't part of the greeting committee when important guests arrived at The Base. On the contrary, he preferred to inspect the entire perimeter, like always, and occasionally hang out with Tarrin, Ira, Elias, and Abernathy, the inseparable four. However, Spyros found the man infuriating and tended to blame him for everything and anything just to stop thinking about how Van's simple presence affected him.

Without realizing, he licked his lips. Although a few months had passed, the taste of the first kiss he and the tall, muscular guard shared still lingered on them. Closing his eyes, Spyros relived the sensations that urgent, dominating, almost brutal kiss awakened in him. The experience was so intense that the man started to moan softly. Fortunately, he realized and stopped after a few seconds, cursing Van's name.

Today is a great day, and nothing this asshole would say or do could change it, the guard said to himself, his thoughts taking a much more pleasant turn. Finally, after spending almost two years in prison, undercover, gathering information for the special prosecutor Ian Saint-Clair, his best friend Seamus McAtee was released that morning and, most likely, was already on his way to The Base.

No more disrespect and naughty teasings from that arrogant bastard, Spyros thought, a smirk of satisfaction taking over his features. You may be tall and strong, but my buddy Seamus has his own ways of putting you in your place. Suddenly, Spyros froze in place like a deer caught in the headlights as he realized the group formed of Lorcan, Cian, Tarrin, Ira, Elias, Abernathy, Joaquin Montemayor-Fenelli, and Van was heading straight toward him.

“Here you are, the impulsive guard from last time. The one who seemed to hold a grudge against Mister Johnson.” The don-to-be spoke in a friendly voice, giving Spyros a smile. “I hope you settled your differences,” he added with a wink.

“Well...I... yes,” Spyros finally articulated, mentally cursing the forces governing the universe for putting him in that embarrassing situation. “It was a misunderstanding, I apologized, and... Mister Johnson understood my position at that time. I got over the incident, and I hope he did the same.”

“His position was very interesting,” Van replied, a gleam of amusement in his eyes, “and that's why I've decided to completely forgive him. Like I've said before, Don Joaquin, although he is very devoted to his job, Spyros here still has a lot to learn.”

“I'm sure you will be a great teacher for him.” Joaquin nodded in approval, his voice warm and enthusiastic.

“What about leaving the two of you to talk...I don't know...guard stuff,” Fabian Bloom shrugged, visibly amused by the situation. “I also have some urgent matters to attend to, but don't worry, Don Joaquin will be in good hands.” He pointed out to the group of young men and teens accompanying him.

“You couldn't help yourself, could you?” Spyros hissed as soon as Giuseppe Fenelli's grandson and the others were too far to hear him. “I spent these past months regretting that I treated you unfairly back then, even let you do things to me, but you keep humiliating me just because you can. Manipulative, conniving bastard,” Spyros spat.

“Those things you’re talking about...you let me do them to you because you enjoyed every second of it. Admit it, boy. The truth will liberate you,” Van purred in the other guard's ear, closing the space between them.

“Damn you, Evander Johnson.” Spyros tried to push the other man away, but he didn't budge. “You are a fucking pervert, and I don't want to see you anywhere near me,” he continued in a less convincing tone.

“I like a lot when you get in a rebellious mood.” Van smirked. “It makes you incredibly hot and sexy.” He paused for a few seconds, staring intensely into Spyros's ocean-blue eyes. “On the other hand, there's no place for rebellious people here at The Base, and I'd hate to see you kicked out, so I'm just going to have to seriously train you.”

Spyros wanted to open his mouth in protest, but Van cupped his head with both his hands in a possessive gesture, then crushed his lips against Spyros's, leaving the other man no choice than to part them in a halfhearted invitation. Van's tongue invaded Spyros's mouth, probing it, tasting its essence, and twirling around the other's tongue.

That kiss, although rough, demanding, and urgent, had also a kind of sweetness, and that terrified Spyros. There is nothing sweet about this brick-shaped bastard, he thought, but he couldn't stop the shiver of pleasure every time Van's tongue brushed against the inside of his cheeks or when the other gently sucked his own tongue.

A part of Spyros's brain was still fighting against the sensations the combination of tenderness and roughness in Van's kiss unleashed in him. He made an attempt to escape the domination of that skillful tongue and those luscious lips, but it was feeble, and Van pulled him back into the kiss with a low growl, his hands traveling down on Spyros's back.

Spyros decided not to fight anymore, thinking that, if he would surrender, Van would put a stop to the kiss and walk away. The bastard is a predator, he thought, abandoning himself to the possessive embrace. Thanks to the big bosses up in the sky that no one is around, he thought, only to freeze a few seconds later, when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

CHAPTER 3

“Whoa, this is what I call a kiss!” Seamus's enthusiastic exclamation made Van put an end to the pleasant activity he was engaged in and turn his head in the direction the voice came from. “Oh, please, continue. Don't mind us.” He pointed to the man next to him.

“Thank gods you are here,” Spyros said, letting out a long breath of relief. “Now, you saw what this...this...man is capable of.” He pointed to Van, who gave an amused smirk.

“Indeed,” Seamus nodded, a hint of admiration in his voice. “The guy's a damn skilled kisser if you ask me. If I were you, I'd keep a close eye on him, with that hot body and the way he kisses...” He shook his head. “I think I need a cold shower after watching the two of you in action.”

“Hello, you must be Seamus. I'm Van. Happy to meet you at last. Nico talks everyone's ears off about you.” Van extended his hand. “I've been told you are the only one Spyros here listens to. Maybe you can explain to him that I just try my best to do my duty and not steal anyone's spotlight...”

“Of course, you don't,” Seamus approved in a soft voice. “Speaking of spotlight, this is Kieran, my cellmate. Please, show him around when you have a bit of spare time and make him feel at home. He is still a little shy around new people.”

“You can count on me, brother.” Spyros extended his hand in Kieran's direction. “I'll be your cool guide and will answer all your questions, so don't be afraid to ask. I'm sure Van here would love to accompany us, but a very important don is visiting The Base, and my friend here has known him since he was a boy, so you're stuck with me.”

“A don, like in a Mafia family leader?” Kieran's turquoise eyes widened, and he let out a loud gasp of shock. “You didn't tell me about this,” he turned to Seamus.

“That's because he had no idea, and neither did I. With all the craziness this goddamn street war has unleashed, these kinds of visits are no longer planned or announced in advance. Everything is done in great secrecy,” Spyros explained.

“Thank you for such a detailed answer.” Kieran gave the guard a small smile. “I have another question, and I apologize in advance if you find it offensive, but I swear that's not my intention. All the way from the gates to here, I only saw men, some of them holding hands or even kissing like the two of you were earlier.” He winked in Van's direction. “Are there no women here?”

“Of course, there are,” Van said in a gentle voice, his heart melting at the innocence in Kieran's eyes. “There is Miss Nicole, who wants to create a police department of sorts inside The Base; Miss Helen, Nico's mother; Natalina MacNamara, the Boss's niece; and hurricane Elaine, who's also part of the Boss's family, although it is not clear if she's his sister or his daughter.”

“How...how's my Nico?” Seamus swallowed hard, making efforts to push down the lump in his throat. “When that goddamn pile of shit Alexander kidnapped him and the other boys, I thought I was going to lose my mind,” he continued in a pained voice.

“Finally, we get to see the legendary drug lord Nico is engaged to.” The sound of a cheerful girl's voice made the four men turn around. “Hello, new guys. I'm Elaine. Nice to meet you. One of you must be Seamus…” She grinned. “Let's see if I can guess who.”

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