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Carlos had never been on a boat before, and now he was lounging on the private balcony of a luxury cruise line. There was the tang of salt in the air, along with the fresh scent drifting through the open door from the bedroom behind him. A faint mist rose from the sea and danced across Carlos’ arms.
It was only the beginning of he and Evan’s trip around the Mediterranean. They’d left Lisbon the previous day and were spending the current on the Atlantic. He’d seen the Atlantic before, plenty of times, but it was a completely different thing to be out in the middle of the open ocean. The weather was warm enough that he sat out in shorts and a loose button up. Part of him wanted to fit in with the rest of the people who went on these sorts of things so he’d made sure he had clothes that matched everyone else.
He’d also bought some things for Evan, but that was more for his own enjoyment of seeing the man all dressed up. Speaking of Evan, the man stepped out onto the balcony. “If you would have told me last year that I was spending three weeks on a luxury cruise I would have laughed in your face.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Carlos’ lips as he took his seat. Evan set a glass onto the table between them and sighed.
Carlos looked over the blue rippling waves. “You deserve it though, more than anyone I know.”
Evan ran a hand down his face. “You can’t just say things like that.”
“Can’t I, cariño?” He watched as Evan sucked in a breath. “Come on. Let’s enjoy this; it’s supposed to be a vacation.” A vacation he still couldn’t believe he was on. Even though Carlos was doing everything to act as calm about this trip as possible, he was mentally freaking out. This was a life he never imagined he’d be living, the kind of luxury that he had only ever seen online – this wasn’t real life.
Evan took a long drink from his glass. “I should thank you again.” He gestured over the ocean, “for all of this.” His head shook lightly. “We’re going to Greece? We’re docking in Monte Carlo? That’s just absurd.”
Carlos stood and made his way behind Evan’s seat. He leaned over and wrapped his arms around the man’s shoulders. He pressed a trail of kisses over Evan’s neck, soaking in the laughs that erupted from his throat. Evan was the most wonderful man in the entire world, the most perfect partner he ever could have asked for – to be with him was heaven on Earth. “All thanks to the Louvre’s wonderful donation.” There was the tiniest hint of guilt in his stomach when Carlos thought about what he’d done along with the others, but in the end it had brought him all sorts of wonderful things. That couldn’t be so wrong.
Evan’s shoulders shook as he laughed. “I’m not so sure they would view it that way.”
“Their loss.” Both of them took a few more moments to soak in the sun before retreating from the balcony. Though it would be nice to lounge in their room all day, taking plenty of time to really enjoy the king sized bed, there was plenty to do on the cruise ship. “Bet I could beat you at paddle.”
A smirk rose on Evan’s face. “You’re terrible at paddle.”
“Maybe you can help me practice then.”
*****
Seville was absolutely gorgeous. The architecture was phenomenal, though maybe Carlos was a little biased given they were in his home country. It was the first time that Evan had visited, and Carlos was going to make sure that he gave the man the tour of his life. Sure, there were guided tours and all that nonsense, but there was nothing quite like going with a local. Even better when the guide happened to be your boyfriend.
They stood in front of the Catedral de Sevilla, necks strained as they stared up at the towers. “My mom took me here once when I was twelve. We were visiting my grandparents at the time.” It had been a great trip and the last time he’d seen his grandparents before they passed. He wouldn’t bring up that detail though; Carlos didn’t want to bring down the mood.
Evan looked absolutely awestruck. “Imagine living here and seeing this every day.”
Carlos brow furrowed. “You say that like you didn’t study in Paris of all places.”
Evan shrugged. “I guess I just got used to that.”
Carlos slipped his hand into Evan’s. “Then I assume it’s the same for the locals.”
They strolled through the streets of Sevilla together, popping into stores that Carlos wouldn’t have given a second glance a year ago. He took every opportunity he could to spoil Evan, whether that was with gifts or compliments or touches. The touches had to be careful, especially in some of the later countries they would visit, but he made sure to give Evan as many as he could. He watched as Evan’s eyes lingered over rows of beaded bracelets. There were dozens of colors from white to emerald to silver to rose. Some of them had bear charms that he noticed Evan grinned at while others had little gold hearts.
Carlos peered over Evan’s shoulder. “Which ones are your favorite?”
“Is this you trying to trick me into letting you buy something for me, again?”
Carlos could practically hear the eyeroll in his voice. “Maybe.”
Evan leaned against him. “What if we got a matching set?”
The thought caused a shiver to run down Carlos’ spine. “We could do that.”
“I’m paying for yours then.”
“Alright then.”
Evan picked a pair of beaded bracelets with little gold bear charms, one in pink and purple, the other green and blue. “These would go well together.” He held up the pink one to Carlos’ wrist. “This one goes with your skin tone better.”
“You’re making me feel all dolled up.” Evan’s touch was gentle against his skin.
“I don’t think you need any accessories to look pretty.”
They made the swap and paid. As soon as they were out of the store they placed the bracelets on each other’s wrist, sliding them on gently like they were precious gems. As if they hadn’t handled actual precious gems before and treated them with far less care.
Carlos kept his hand around Evan’s wrist for a moment. The air was warm and sweet, the moment twice as much so. Evan peered at him through his lashes with a devilish look on his face. “You ready to show me more of the city?”
Carlos’ heart beat heavily in his chest. “Whatever my dear desires.”
Evan held a hand over his mouth as he stifled a laugh; Carlos pulled it away though. He loved Evan’s smile – it was more beautiful than any of the sites they’d seen – and the image of the other covering it was horrendous. “There’s some gorgeous gardens that I think you’ll love.”
“Wisk me away.”
Carlos did just that. He kept a hand upon Evan the entire time, unable to separate himself from the other. He didn’t think he’d ever tire of being so close to the other no matter how much time passed.
*****
In the middle of their trip, Evan planned a seaside dinner for them in Italy, seating built right into the cliffs. Not only were the views immaculate, but the menu was just as fantastic. The two pointed at dishes that they’d never seen in real life before – scorpionfish, asetra caviar, and burrata. They also split a bottle of wine, though that may have been one of the more impulsive decisions.
Carlos swirled the wine in its glass – whatever Alteni di Brassica was – and tried his best not to grin like an idiot. He kept his voice low as he spoke. “How many people here do you think actually know what the hell they’re talking about?”
Evan looked around, the light from the center piece candles dancing across his cheeks. “Not a single one.”
“So we’re all liars then.”
“I like to call it nouveau riche.”
Carlos frowned, though it was more in jest than actual sadness. “Are you saying I lack taste?”
Evan dodged the question by taking a sip from his wine; he pulled a face. “I would have thought a rich person wine would have been less acidic.” He placed the glass down and picked up his fork.
Carlos shrugged. “I think we’ve both well established that the rich don’t have taste.” Part of him wondered if he was really included in that statement. Sure, he was a legal millionaire now, but he didn’t really feel any different than he had a year ago. The best part had been making sure his family was well taken care of first. They deserved to have complete security. Then he’d splurged a little – okay, maybe a lot – on getting this trip together for Evan. Other than that though, he’d mostly been saving it.
Daily life continued as it always had. He still attended university since he loved learning. He still followed grocery sales. It was just now he didn’t have to worry if a surprise charge came up, and he didn’t second guess when he wanted to buy something for his partner or friends. Truthfully, he was only rich in name.
Evan tapped his fork on his plate absentmindedly. “You’re thinking about something rather deeply.”
Carlos blinked a few times as he was pulled out of his thoughts. “Only about how I’m having dinner with the most wonderful man in the world.”
“How cliche of you.” The complement still caused the tips of Evan’s ears to go red.
Carlos reveled in the sight. “What can I say, I like to speak the truth.”
Evan shook his head. “I’m sure you do.”
The two men continued with their meal, getting tipsier by the minute even though the wine wasn’t the most wonderful in the world – Carlos would have been just as happy, if not more, with a cheap bottle from Carrefour. He couldn’t count the number of times he’d bought a bottle from there and split it with Evan and the others as they studied in Carlos’ flat.
Maybe he was starting to miss them a bit.
That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to enjoy the rest of his trip though. A getaway with Evan, hidden from the real world, was just as perfect.
Evan nudged Carlos’ foot under the table, carefully hidden under the tablecloth. They needed to be a bit more careful in Italy, especially in a setting such as the one they were currently in. Evan rested his chin in his hand. His eyes trailed over Carlo’s face, down his neck, across his shoulders and chest.
Carlos almost felt like he was a piece of art being admired. “What’s going on in that lovely head of yours?”
Evan batted his lashes. “Oh, just thinking about what kind of things are going to be happening on the ship tonight.”
Carlos’ breath hitched as he raised his brow. He shifted in his seat. “And what do you think there’s going to be?”
Evan pursed his lips and tapped his fingers against his cheek as though he was in deep thought. “Probably some private events. You know rich people love their secrecy.”
He could already imagine where the night was going to end, and at the moment Carlos was wondering if they should hurry along with their dinner and get right to what seemed to be the main event. He calculated the time it was going to take to get back to the ship and then into their room. Too much was the answer he came up with.
Carlos felt Evan’s shoe push his trouser leg up slightly. “What do you think?”
How anyone ever could have thought Evan was the reserved one must have had a cloth over their eyes. “I think you’re right.”
Their room was waiting for them, but for now they enjoyed their meal just as they enjoyed the rest of their trip. Carlos couldn’t wait to see what else was going to come.