In the beautiful, sunny beachside resort of the Hotel Adelphi, Theo lounged by the pool, catching a tan. He had not long finished swimming and water beaded on his smooth torso. His abs were hardly a washboard. He had been training a lot in the gym, but too many lip ups with late night snacks had held him back. For the first time in a long time, Theo was completely relaxed, and could feel the pressures of the past months lifting from him. This holiday had been a great idea, and he had been glad that his friend Kaz had invited him to join her. Kaz had gone out exploring today, and he had been more than happy to stay by the pool and soak up the sun.
He had been dozing by the pool for a few hours, tanning in the early afternoon sun when he first noticed the bronzed Adonis emerging from the pool. Theo liked to look, but he was certain this guy was straight. He was more thank comfortable letting the girls stare at his rippling abs and pecs, and the significant bulge in the tight swimming trunks he was wearing. Whilst Theo initially labelled the guy as a complete poser, he couldn't help but stare, feeling a familiar tingling in his nether regions. He picked up his book and continued reading, but kept finding himself peeking at the guy, who had taken a lounger a few spaces away from his own. He was slightly downhearted, although he'd never admit it, to seem the guy being very close with the girl on the lounger next to him, taking time to massage suntan lotion into her back.
Kaz reappeared at dinner time and joined Theo in the restaurant. "I was out in the old town and bumped into some other guys from our hotel. They were thinking of heading out to this great little club in town, and asked if we'd like to join them," she suggested.
"Perhaps not tonight," replied Theo, "I'm pretty tired from being out in the sun all day, I might just have a rest in the hotel bar with my book. Don't let me stop you going, though."
"Are you sure? One of them was really cute and I think he swings your way."
Theo sighed inwardly. Kaz had been constantly trying to set him up ever since he broke things off with Eric. He wouldn't mind so much, but her taste in men was generally atrocious. The last blind date she had roped him into was with an orthodontist who did nothing but talk about teeth.
"Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll pass. I just fancy a quiet night."
"Ok then, but don't wait up for me, I'll probably be back late."
They finished dinner and went back to the room for a while before Kaz headed out. Theo grabbed his holiday reading, a spy thriller he was keen to get to the end of, and headed to the hotel bar. He ordered himself a beer and settled down in a quiet corner in an armchair.
He had been reading for quite a while, and was nearing the climax of a dramatic chase scene through the Swiss Alps when he was interrupted.
"Do you mind if I join you?"
"Pardon?" Theo looked up from his book to see a tall, slightly tanned guy with short dark hair and glasses. He, too, was holding a book.
"Do you mind if I join you? This seems to be the only quiet spot in the bar."
"Of course." Theo gestured to the empty armchair across from him.
The guy sat down and made himself comfortable, and Theo returned to his book. He was still captivated by the book's climax, in which the spy and the villain fought on a perilous cliff edge before the spy pushed the villain to oblivion, but he couldn't help stealing a few glances at his new companion over the top of his book. Something about the guy seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. The guy was quite well featured, with a smooth jaw and a well-formed nose. He was reading a book called Wicked Heart.
Theo finished his book and decided to head over to the bar to get himself another beer. Out of courtesy he turned to the mystery man.
"I'm just headed to the bar, would you like anything?"
He looked up from his book. "Yes please, could I have a gin and tonic?"
This time, Theo noticed a faint hint of a Spanish accent in his voice.
