Page 44 of Sinful Crimes for the Artistically Inclined
“It’s guarded at night. Inside and outside. And the guards don’t have a key. That’s kept around the bishop’s neck at all times. And that guy… He’s a dick. It just isn’t possible to get in there after he locks it up, so we go in the daytime with the tourists. The Catholic community here is incredibly small. If we time it right, we shouldn’t run into too much trouble.” Joe took a bolstering breath at the end of the plan and looked up from the map. “What do you think?”
Percy leaned forward, going over the map as though he were carefully considering, then he suddenly fused molten eyes with Joe’s, declaring with his deep, soft voice, “I think you’re so beautiful I could die”.
“Damn it!” Joe leapt out of his chair and began folding the maps.
Percy ran around the table to him. “Why are your eyelashes so long? Do you have any idea how spectacular you are?”
Joe’s eyes flared through those long eyelashes as he lowered his voice to a harsh whisper. “Would you please take this a bit more seriously? Gaddafi will have your hands if you touch me.”
Percy grinned. “It would be worth it.”
“I’m going back to my room.”
“Kiss me.”
“No.”
“Kiss me once.”
“No!” Joe shoved his belongings into his bag and threw it over his shoulder, then turned back to face his lover, following close behind. “Why aren’t you even worried about this?”
“Because I know you’ll crack,” he replied simply.
Joe stepped close, softly fuming. “It’s one night. You’re insane if you think I can’t resist you for one night in a country where they’ll kill me if they find out.”
Deftly, Percy reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a key. “This one is yours.”
“What?” Joe asked, looking him over, then regretting it, as the sweat had broken out on Percy’s chest and Joe wanted so much to lick his neck and taste that sweat.
As though the key were nothing more than a takeaway coffee, Percy said, “I got an extra. In case you wanted to come back tonight.”
Joe snatched the key. “What were you thinking?”
“I said it’s for my wife.”
“Percy…” Joe shoved the key back into Percy’s pocket. “I will meet you at four o’clock at the cathedral. Don’t let anyone know you know me, study your maps until then, and be ready.”
Percy’s smile deepened. “One kiss.”
“No. Goodbye.”
Joe turned to leave, then stopped as his eyes were drawn to the thermostat by the door. He turned back to Percy, inflamed. “You turned it up? That whole time you turned the temperature up just to get your shirt off?”
“Did I?” Percy moved closer, knowing confusion on his handsome face as his body brushed against Joe’s. “You know me and electronics. I’m hopelessly lost without you.”
“And what?” Joe said. “You think because you take your shirt off, and you’re all hot and sweaty, and here, in my way, I won’t be able to resist you?”
Percy stepped closer still, his chest against Joe’s, the heat from his skin bringing Joe out in goosebumps. “Kiss me.”
Joe shoved Percy back against the wall and pushed his lips hard against Percy’s. Their tongues met forcefully as Percy wrapped his arms around Joe’s waist, crushing their bodies together. Joe felt the sweat on Percy’s top lip as he kissed him, breathed in his delicious scent, kissed his cheek, bit his earlobe, kissed his neck. Percy let go a deep breath by Joe’s ear, sending a sharp tingle down his spine. He pulled at Joe’s belt and Joe slapped his hand away. “You’re impossible.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“I’m leaving.”
“I love you.”
Joe failed to suppress his smile as he took in Percy’smischievous grin, his blue eyes sparkling, perfectly smug in his expectation he could hold Joe with nothing more than that. Joe kissed him lightly again, then shoved him out of the way. “You’re going to get me killed. I know it.” And with that, he wrenched the door open and left, only to discover about five minutes later that Percy’s key had somehow found its way back into his pocket.
