Page 46 of Deep Waters

He wondered again why Harry would not have mentioned it.

Struggling to control his ragged breathing, Antoni turned away from the house and walked unsteadily back towards the town centre.

Chapter Sixteen

Christian watched as Harry swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. He crossed the room with heavy feet to open the curtains. It was still dark. The only light in the room came from the lamp on the bedside table. Christian adjusted his pillow and admired the sight of Harry’s strong shoulders, his powerful back and the high mounds of his butt, those delicious cheeks covered in a light blond fuzz.

“Hm-m,” Harry said, leaning closer to the window.

“Something wrong?”

“Fog. This was not in the forecast. Bugger.”

Christian slid from the bed and crossed the room. He approached Harry from behind and wrapped his arms around him, resting his chin on his shoulder while putting his hands on the furry plain of his lower abdomen. He pressed a soft kiss against the side of his neck before turning his gaze to the window.

A dense cloud of fog filled the harbour. Christian could just about see the orange glow of the streetlights through the grey haze, but the boats and the river beyond were concealed by the eerie blanket. Visibility seemed to be about five or six yards.

“Wow. That’s thick.”

Harry pushed back against him and ground his hips in a slow, comfortable motion. His buttocks were warm and plump against Christian’s hips. “Yep,” he sighed.

“Does this mean your charter is off?” Christian knew Harry’s bookings were in short supply now that autumn was rushing in, but a guilty part of him hoped it would be called off and they could spend the day together.

“It’s too early to say. Coastal fog like this is unpredictable. Sometimes it settles in for the whole day, other times it comes and goes in an hour. I’ll have to go down to the boat and get it ready for my client’s arrival. They’ll likely have set off by now. It might clear up by eight. We can even hold on until nine or ten if it looks promising. I don’t want to let them down. And more importantly, I don’t want to refund their deposit. If I can get them out to sea today, I will.”

“Bummer. There was I wishing we could go back to bed.” He squeezed him tighter.

Harry turned his head for a kiss. “I’d love to, but I need the work.”

“I know you do. I’m selfish, that’s all. I want you to myself.”

“Mm-m, that’s nice to hear. But you know this is only a half-day trip. I’ll be done by mid-afternoon. That should give you time to recharge your batteries.”

“Oh, you think I need some rest time, do you?” Christian scuttled his fingers over his sides, tickling him all the way up to his armpits.

Harry howled and spun around. He crouched over, trying to ward him off. “I thought I might have worn you out.” He could barely get his words out for laughing so hard.

Christian pressed his advantage, backing him against the wall. His hands went to Harry’s hips, and he leaned against him, chest to chest. “I’m not the knackered old thing you think I am.” They brushed their lips together.

“I never said you were old. I just want you well rested, with a hundred per cent energy for what I want to do to you later.”

“Now that sounds like a promise.”

“It is a promise.”

They kissed long and deep.

As much as Christian wanted to take it further, he agreed that Harry’s fee-paying customers were more important.

Harry went for a quick shower while Christian got dressed.

“Want me to make you breakfast?” he called into the bathroom.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m going to collect takeaways from the Seagull. Tom is back this morning and will expect his bacon sandwiches, too.”

“I’d forgotten what a first-rate service you provide.”

“Well, my clients might not make it to sea today, but if I keep them happy, hopefully they’ll move their booking to another weekend rather than ask for a refund.”

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