by Andrew Grey
“Okay,” Johan agreed, and Robin did a double take. He’d expected Johan to fight him on it. “You will go down to dinner, and I will excuse myself after I make sure Mason sees me in the room. Then I’ll return upstairs and check things out. You are too visible—everyone will wonder where you are. I’ll come back down when I’m done.” Johan took Robin’s hand.
“Johan… I-I….” He stammered a little to get his thoughts together.
“How are you going to get into his room?” Johan asked, and Robin had to admit he hadn’t really thought of that. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine, and I know how to take care of things.”
Robin narrowed his eyes. “How will you?” he questioned, and his only answer was a knowing grin that set Robin’s belly fluttering. “Johan….”
“I promise I’ll tell you all about my sordid past later tonight.” He leaned closer, kissing Robin. “I hope that doesn’t change your mind about me.”
“What, that you have some mystery about you?” Robin snickered. “I think I like knowing there’s something sordid about you. At least I know you aren’t so damn perfect all the time.”
Johan tugged him closer. “Come on. We need to get ready to go downstairs, and I have a little caper I need to get ready for.” Johan pressed him back on the bed. “I need to be relaxed and stress-free.”
“Oh, you do?” Robin teased. He could get used to the way Johan set about relieving stress. Especially as Johan’s hands slid up under his shirt, fingers lightly plucking his nipples as he kissed him hard. This he could really get used to.
ROBIN WALKED into the simple but clean and rather bright hotel dining room. He purposely chose a seat where he could see Billy, Kyle, and Mason. They had given him some quizzical looks when he sat down, and Robin wondered how he would communicate to them the change in plan. Johan had joined him as well, but as soon as Mason took a seat with his back to Robin’s table, Johan had quietly left the room. Robin hoped Billy saw him. If nothing else, Billy was talking a mile a minute, and whatever he was saying seemed to have captured Mason’s attention, which was about the only thing that kept Robin from biting his fingernails down to the damn quick.
He did his best not to constantly look toward the doorway as a server took drink orders, while another set bowls of various salads at each table. The conversation level died down as people began eating.
Grant rushed in and sat across from him, startling Robin, who hadn’t realized he was missing. Shit, he hoped Grant hadn’t seen anything.
“Where’s Johan?” Grant asked, and Robin hoped Mason didn’t hear him.
“He remembered that he needed something at the Apotheke, so he rushed out to get there before they close.” That seemed like a good excuse, but he knew he was probably pushing it at this hour. Hopefully anyone listening wouldn’t know the difference. “Did you enjoy the day?”
“I did. It was great seeing all the Roman-era things. I had done some research so I knew what was in town, but it was stunning to see it all in person.” Grant smiled and filled a plate from the bowls of carrot, potato, lettuce, and cabbage salad. Robin took a little himself, stifling the instinct to glance at the door. He had to remember not to draw attention to Johan’s absence.
“I think you’re going to love tomorrow, then. The history on display at Eltz is really stunning. Are you studying history?”
Grant nodded. “I’d like to become a professor and teach at a college.” He took a bite of carrot salad and set his fork down. “But all I seem to do is memorize facts and spew them back on command. It’s all my mind is good for. History is supposed to be more than that, though, and I seem to never know how to contextualize it.”
Robin didn’t know what to tell him, but he felt he needed to say something. “To me, history is about the people. Today we saw the Porta Nigra and learned that there was no mortar used in its construction. So the men who built it had to be very skilled and precise, using tools and skills from two thousand years ago. Every block cut by hand, every iron clip forged by a man with a fire and anvil.” He smiled. Robin definitely had Grant’s attention. “All of the buildings we’ve seen and marveled at were built by men like us. They lived their lives and did their best to support their families. The funny thing that a lot of people forget is that even the great artists, who loved what they did, were trying to make a living too, just like the rest of us.”
“You know, that’s a pretty cool way of looking at things.”
“We like to think that everything happens for a reason, and most things do. But sometimes not for the reasons we like to think. There were originally four Roman gates to Trier. Only the Porta Nigra survives, because the interior was converted into a church. The others were carted away, stone by stone, to build other things over the centuries. So sometimes things come down to us through the centuries almost through no fault of their own. It doesn’t mean the Porta Nigra was any better or more important than the others. Someone used it for a church, so it was preserved.” Robin ate his salad and did his best not to fuss and worry.
When Mason stood and set his napkin on the table and turned to leave the room, Robin wondered how he could pull out his phone and message Johan without being obvious. He realized he couldn’t and had to sit still, talking to Grant about God knew what because his head was somewhere else completely.
Billy turned and shrugged, looking worried as he too glanced at the door. There was nothing Robin could do except fret, and from experience he knew that was never good for him. Robin just had to eat and pretend that everything was okay.
“Sorry. The run took longer than I expected,” Johan said, striding into the room and taking his seat at the table. He drank some water and filled a plate with salad before digging in. Apparently breaking into hotel rooms was hungry business. Of course, there was no way in hell Robin could ask him if his snooping had been a success, so he ate as well.
A thump from the floor above made Robin jump. Johan patted his leg under the table and continued eating as though he hadn’t heard anything.
Mason returned a few minutes later, his face red, eyes darting around the room.
“What else have you found fascinating so far?” Robin asked Grant, pulling him into a conversation.
“Well, I guess I was surprised by how fast the Renaissance spread northward. Most of us don’t think of people traveling that far in their lifetimes, but Dürer was a contemporary of Da Vinci, and they were both doing amazing things, so the ideas must have traveled pretty swiftly. I hadn’t realized how quickly.”
“Why is that?” Robin asked.
“Boats,” Johan said. “People used boats. A lot faster than over land.” He continued eating, and Grant nodded as though he had his answer. “Though the farther north you went, the longer the ideas took to spread.”
He and Grant then went off on further discussion. It was interesting watching Grant’s expression as it went from surprise to awe as they talked as equals. Johan was so much more than just a bus driver. Hell, if this were ancient Greece, Robin figured Johan could be Aristotle or Plato. At least he could be one of their contemporaries.
The servers brought plates of schnitzel and fried potatoes, setting them in front of everyone, as Robin studied Mason from the back. It was pretty clear to Robin that he was trying to appear relaxed, but his back was rigid, and the way he fidgeted in the chair indicated he desperately wanted to be somewhere else. Robin glanced at Johan, who shrugged and continued talking and eating.
“Maybe I can come back here when it’s time for my dissertation. I would love to do some original research here.”
“That would be very interesting. There are a number of libraries and repositories that you could get access to if you have academic credentials,” Johan explained. “A lot of the professors here have colleagues in the US that they are close to. So you need to make connection there, and hopefully you can meet someone who can help open doors for you.” Johan finished his salads and ate the rest of his dinner slowly.
Dessert was a s
mall dish of ice cream. Robin picked at his, his leg bouncing under the table. Finally Johan was done eating and pushed back his chair. Robin did his best not to appear anxious and left with him. He expected Johan to head upstairs, but instead he left the hotel, and Robin followed him.
“I did not want the walls to have ears,” he said. Sometimes his use of Americanisms was adorable. Johan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. “I believe these are what Mason stole today.” He opened it. “We need to check with Billy, and then I thought we can look up the address and send them back. I did not actually touch them with my bare hands, but from what you told me, these have to be them.”
“What are we going to do about Mason?” Robin asked as they continued walking.
“I don’t know. That bag of his was full of small stuff—silver pieces, some gold, coins—whatever it seemed was small and he could lift. The man must be some kind of gifted, because there was a lot of it. His luggage had stuff in it too, but I heard someone on the stairs. These were right in the bag, so I grabbed them. I probably should have left them, but you said that Billy told you he thought Mason had taken the rings. At least the merchant here in Trier can get them back.” Johan sighed. “They’re a small business, and this kind of loss could set them back for months or mean their entire selling season is for nothing.” Johan paused and turned to him. “We can probably come up with some way to send this back once Billy has had a chance to confirm if this is the stuff Mason took from the store.”
“What if he doesn’t know?” Robin asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t think of that. All I did was think we could get this back to the store so they don’t suffer.” Johan swore softly in German. He put the box back into his pocket, and they walked back toward the hotel.
“I agree. We can come on Burg Eltz that way and take the road along the river for the best view,” Robin said as they approached the front, in case anyone was listening.
They headed upstairs together, and Johan continued down the hall to Billy and Kyle’s room and knocked on the door, while Robin entered the room he and Johan shared. He sat on the edge of the bed, listening for any sounds from Mason’s room. He thought he heard him moving around, but he wasn’t sure.
Johan returned and sat next to him, wrapping the box in paper and using his phone to get the address. Then he left the room without saying anything.
Robin listened once again and nearly jumped out of his skin when someone knocked sharply. “Yes,” he said quietly through the door, fear rising in his throat. It would have been best if Johan hadn’t touched anything and had just reported back what he’d seen. Now Robin was as jittery as he ever could remember being.
“Robin.”
He swallowed hard at Mason’s voice. “Give me a minute,” he answered, moving through the room, trying to sound busy. He pulled off his shirt and cracked the door open, peering through, letting Mason see that he might be naked. “What’s wrong, Mason?” he asked as innocently as he could. Maybe he and Johan should just call the police and let them deal with the whole mess. “I’m about to clean up and lie down.”
“I wanted to ask you something. Can I come in?” Mason pressed.
“Now isn’t a good time. Like I said, I’m going to clean up. Is there a problem with the hotel or the tour?”
“No… it’s….” Mason glared at him, and Robin smiled as though he hadn’t seen it at all.
“Can it wait until morning? We’ll have plenty of time to talk on the bus or when we’re out and about. I’m really tired, and I need some rest so I can make sure the group has a good time tomorrow.” Hell, he wasn’t above playing up his condition if it would get Mason to leave him alone.
“Mason,” Johan said, and Robin angled so he could see him coming down the hall. “How can I help you?” Johan stood behind him, and Mason seemed to lose some of his assurance. “Robin is going to rest, but if you need something, I’ll try to help you.”
“No. I can talk to him in the morning.” Mason brushed past Johan, who came into the room and locked the door.
“What did he want?” Johan asked, his eyes raking over him.
Robin felt his usual instinct to cover himself. It would take some getting used to before he felt comfortable being bare in front of Johan. Slowly he relaxed his arms. “He said he wanted to talk, but the desperation and panic in his eyes made me shiver. I was running out of excuses to keep him out.”
Johan narrowed his eyebrows. “Why are you shirtless?”
“I tried to convince him that I was about to take a shower, but he was still being pushy.” Robin moved into Johan’s arms. “Until you came.” He hugged Johan tightly. “This is really unnerving, and I’m sorry I got either of us involved.” He closed his eyes, resting his head on Johan’s chest before pushing away.
“What are you doing?”
“Cleaning up, in case he’s listening.” Robin stepped into the bathroom and closed the door. He undressed and readied himself to get into the tub.
The bathroom door opened and a naked Johan came in, stepped into the tub, and lowered the plunger. The tub filled, and Johan settled in the water, stretching out, and guided Robin between his legs.
“See, isn’t this a lot better?” Johan purred into his ears, dripping water over his chest. “Just lean back and relax.” Johan wrapped Robin in his arms, washing and holding him.
Robin quickly grew comfortable and relaxed, stretching out as much as he could, lightly running his fingers up and down Johan’s legs. “I can’t really remember the last time I took a bath. With the surgeries and scars, I had to be careful about getting them wet for a long time, so I took quick, careful showers instead.” Robin chuckled softly. “Not that I ever had anyone to take baths with. Mason never took a shower or a bath with me. Not that I’d have been really keen on that prospect anyway.”
“Hey. You’re beautiful, and that’s all that matters. The rest of it—Mason, your body issues—remember, I see you for you.” Johan leaned forward to capture Robin’s lips in a deep kiss. “It’s just you and me, and Mason is part of the past. Let’s keep him there.”
Johan washed him slowly. There was an undertone of desire, but little overtly sexual about his touches. This was just being together, held, quiet—loved. Robin closed his eyes, reveling in the tenderness of the moment. He sighed softly, letting Johan take care of him until the water grew cold.
Robin climbed out and wrapped himself in a towel, leaving the bathroom. He pulled on some sleep clothes before lounging on the bed to watch television for a little while. Johan joined him a few minutes later, and they sat together, with Robin curled close to Johan, happy and content…
Until he realized they weren’t alone.
Chapter 7
ROBIN STIFFENED from a doze, knowing something was wrong. Johan breathed deeply next to him and the room was quiet, but still, something wasn’t right.
“Where is what you took from me?”
The light on the table clicked on, and Robin blinked at the sudden brightness as Mason stalked over to the bed. “What are you talking about?” Robin asked automatically, rubbing his eyes and forcing his brain into gear.
“You took something from my bag, and I want it back. Now.” The panic rising in Mason’s voice said plenty about his state of mind.
“And what would that be?” Johan asked with a seemingly clearer head than Robin’s.
Robin pulled the bedding upward to cover himself and Johan, using it like a shield. “Mason, what’s going on?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. I know you left the dining room when I wasn’t looking and then came back, and I know you were in my room. Do you think I wouldn’t have a way of knowing?” Mason came closer, and Johan leaped out of the bed, his body taut and as ready to strike as Mason. As they squared off, Robin tried to figure out how he could get to his phone on the bedside table without Mason seeing him.
“We don’t know what you’re talking about. I had to go to the drugstore to get something before
they closed, and if you have a guilty conscience, that isn’t our problem. But it does beg the question of what you’re so defensive about and what you’ve been up to.”
“My business is my business.” Mason glanced toward the door, probably trying to figure a way out of this. Johan stepped away, giving Mason the out, but he didn’t take it. “And it would have been best if you two had stayed out of it.”
“Mason, we don’t know anything,” Robin said, his legs quivering. “You need to leave now.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I get what I came for,” he hissed, pulling a knife. It wasn’t big, but it gleamed in the reflected light and definitely gave Mason the advantage. At that moment Robin wished he’d taken Albert’s advice and just called the police and been done with it. But Johan had recovered the rings, with the best of intentions, and they wanted to get them on their way back before calling the police. And now everything was a mess and both of them were in danger…. God, he’d been so stupid. If Mason could get into locked cases, he certainly could get into their hotel room. Robin most definitely didn’t think like a criminal, that was for sure.
“But we don’t know what you want,” Johan pressed and stood still, in only a pair of light blue sleep shorts.
“Just go before you cause even more trouble,” Robin added, motioning to the door. “This is ridiculous.”
“No.” Mason stepped forward, waving the knife. “I know you took them, and I want them back. Just give them to me and I’ll be gone. Neither of you will see me again, and you can tell the tour whatever you like. Just hand them over.” His eyes were wide, his pupils dilated.
“I can’t give you what we don’t have,” Johan explained, trying to sound reasonable, his leg shaking a little. Robin was scared half to death for him. This situation wasn’t going to be able to stay the way it was for very much longer.
A knock on the door made them all jump.
“Are you okay?” Billy asked through the door.