Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2019 20:26:59 -0400 From: RJ Subject: Greek Getaway, Chapter 6 Greek Getaway by RJ This multi-part fiction involves sexual contact between a man and a father/son duo. If you are offended by themes of incest, do not read. THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHAPTER IN THE SERIES (for the foreseeable future). If you have any questions or comments about this piece, want to know about any of my other works, or just want to reach out, please don't hesitate to email me. A list of my works, including links and descriptions, can be found here: https://bit.ly/2S5IYDI If you would like to be added to a mailing list to receive emails when my stories are updated, let me know which stories (if not all) you would like to receive emails for. Please also consider donating to Nifty if you can: http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html ~ CHAPTER 6 ~ I know exactly where this painting is located. It's just a matter of going through the motions. Dimitri chuckles a bit when he sees that I'm on a mission but doesn't argue when I hold his hand and tug him past classic Van Goghs and Monets just to get to one small painting near the back of the fifth floor. When we finally make it, I'm happy to see that no one is in front of it. Now it's just us. "Here we are," I say, pausing and gesturing towards the painting. Dimitri smiles, looking at it before glancing at me. "Here?" "You showed me your favorite painting when we first met," I say, smiling and reminiscing about that fateful day at the museum in Athens. "Now I want to show you mine." I feel like my favorite is almost objectively better than "Girl from Megara", but I don't offer that opinion out loud. I just want to see what he thinks of Rene Magritte's "The Lovers". He laughs when he realizes why we're here. "Oh I see," he says, pulling me into him a bit more. "What was it you said? 'Why is this your favorite?'" "You left out the skeptical tone," I say with a chuckle. He nods, grinning. "Well, this one is honestly understandable," he says, giving the painting a good long look. "It's beautiful. Haunting, even." "It's always spoken to me," I comment. Without looking at me, he says "What does it say?" I bite my lip. "I don't know," I lie. He chuckles. "Yes you do." He puts his arm around me, pressing his fingers gently to my side. "Tell me." I sigh through my nose. "That it's hard to love fully," I say quietly. I see Dimitri turn his head towards me, but I keep my eyes fixed on the painting. I've always felt that truth about me resonate when I look at this painting. Something about the soft shrouds covering the two lovers' faces while they kiss establishes a sense of distance between them. Whether or not they want it to be there. Admittedly, I don't turn towards Dimitri because I'm afraid of what his expression will say. If he'll exude worry. And I don't want him to worry, because I feel like I'm as invested in what we have as I can be. I just hope it's enough for him. "I understand," he says, turning back to the painting. I will myself to look at him, rubbing his back gently. "Hey." He turns towards me and I lean up to kiss him gently, smiling as I do so. And I'm pleased to see that when I pull back, he's smiling too. "There are plenty of other paintings that I like," I say. He smiles gently, and I'm relieved to see that he's not bothered by my comment. "Guess you owe me the grand tour." I laugh. "I can't speak for that long," I say. "It's only fair," he says, smiling. "I've gone on enough tirades about art. Now it's your turn." We spend a couple hours at the Museum of Modern Art, taking our time going through a few of the sections and seeing what emotionally draws us. And it brings back all those good feelings I had in Greece. I get attention, affection, inspiration, relaxation, deep conversations. I'm treated to excellent sex when we're back at my apartment. It's like I'm on vacation all over again. Since I took time away from anything and everything work-related, I was solely focused on the Castellanos. We spent most of daylight out and about, gallivanting through Central Park, perusing local (and expensive) restaurants, walking through Brooklyn and Harlem just to see how they differ from Manhattan, laughing through the Museum of Sex, and spending time at whatever interesting thing we came across. One night, we hit up a bar that I knew I could sneak Nik into -- one that was more of a club than anything else. Nik was desperate to see how American clubs compared to what he's used to. I'm not much of a dancer, but seeing Nik in a club was like seeing him in his element. He was vibrant, flirtatious, fun, and sexy. And he gained the attention of a surprising amount of young (and a few older) men. Dimitri and I mostly watched and laughed, staying towards the edge of the crowd as we held each other, touched each other, and danced slowly amongst ourselves. The next night, I took them out to their very first drag show, which they got an absolute kick out of. They got to meet a few queens that I'm friends with. Unsurprisingly, both of them were very popular amongst the queens. They fawned over their good looks and two of them practically screamed when they found out they're father and son. I'm sure a few of them were thinking the same thing: "What if they fuck each other?" I just smirked at their reactions. If only they knew how close they really are. Other than those two outings, though, our nights have been relatively low-key. Seems both of them are keen on doing what we did in Greece: relaxing. Unfortunately there aren't really beaches around for Nik to show off at, but we have fun camping out in my apartment, watching movies and swapping stories and eating junk food. I usually hate hosting because I feel wholly responsible for the entertainment and mood of my guests, but these two are so easy going that I am completely fine. They both go at length to assure me that we could be doing nothing but enjoying each other's company and they'd consider this a successful vacation. It's a vacation for them, sure. But I do have to go into work. The thought is almost painful simply because I don't want to waste time apart from these two. I've even been ignoring Ned, who's been messaging me regularly, asking me how I'm doing or if I want to link up. I responded only once, vaguely saying "I'm with someone" -- kind of a dick move on my part, but I couldn't be bothered enough to offer much more of an explanation. Ned knows about Dimitri as simply "the man from Greece," from what little I've mentioned, so I don't really want to go down that road with him just yet. And I've been fine with my decision. I thought if I'd put off answering anyone in the "real world," I could really enjoy this mini-vacation of mine. And I have. But I also have people counting on me. And Lord knows there's plenty on my agenda. "I should get going," I say, checking the time on my phone with a sigh. We got here early enough to hit most of the exhibits, but I really need to check in at work. I made a promise. Dimitri smiles sadly. "Already?" "Yeah," I say. "Well... I'd love to see your studio." "Really?" I ask, surprised. I hadn't even thought of that. "If that's okay," he says quickly, holding my hand. "I'd love to see what you're working on." I laugh a bit. "You'd see me at my most stressed, that's for sure." "Call it passion, instead," he suggests with a grin. "Passion it is, then," I say with a laugh, locking our fingers together more tightly. "I haven't seen you too stressed out before, though," he comments. I just laugh. "It's the job..." He frowns slightly. "You never seem too excited about it." "I know. I'm sorry," I say. "It's just... the culture of the fashion world sucked all the joy out of fashion for me. I miss creating for the sake of creating. Or just for a client. You know?" "I completely understand," he says, smiling. "Maybe you should consider doing something else." I snort. "Like what?" "You're an excellent painter," he reminds me. "An artist in general, really. Go back to that joyful place." "So you mean Athens," I say, remembering how that's what really reinvigorated my artistry. He laughs. "I certainly wouldn't be upset about that." Then he pulls me a little closer. "Just think about what about the job actually matters to you," he says. "Make that your focus." I get little fantasy images of me having my own studio in Athens, right near Dimitri. Or a boutique of some sort. "What a dream that'd be," I say sarcastically, implying that that won't happen. "I just don't want you to be so stressed." "I'm never stressed out around you, at least," I add. He smiles and leans down to kiss me gently. Just a quick one, but it's sweet and endearing. "I love you," he says. I almost say it back. My body even lurches a bit, trying to get the words out. But they get caught in my throat. He must notice my small struggle because he relieves me of having to say anything. "Mind if I come by later? I'd like to see more of the exhibits." "Of course," I say. He still has plenty of art to sift through, so I hug him tightly and bade him farewell. I feel almost embarrassed with myself as I walk away from him. It should be so easy since it's how I feel, but clearly I'm holding myself back. "No!" I groan. "No, no, no, no. It's all wrong." Something's off. I keep switching models, accessories, adjusting the hemline or details on the arms, but it doesn't feel right. "It looks perfect to me, Benji," Stefano says, playing with his (as he calls it) "French-as-fuck" moustache. "It's not perfect," I say with a heavy sigh, apologizing to the model for the millionth time but asking her to step out of it. "You're too anal about the details, baby," he says, stroking my back. "The garment itself is stunning." "I guess," I say, though I'm unconvinced. This is one of my most ambitious works. More avant-garde than I've ever gone before, but in immensely subtle ways. And because it's so ambitious, and for a runway so prestigious, I need it to be perfect. It's going to be the final piece in the collection and I want my runway to end with absolute stunned silence as they watch this understated piece glide down the catwalk. An interpretation of the tuxedo mixed with the evolution of the black dress. It has to be the right model, the right hair style, the right makeup, the right shoes... everything matters. But Stefano is always the voice of reason. "The garment is the hard part, and it's perfect," he says, smacking his lips with his fingers. "The rest will fall into place. Take a break from it. You've been staring at this thing for over two hours." "I already took a break from it," I say, rubbing my forehead. This mini-vacation with Nik and Dimitri has been "the break". Coming in, I thought I'd have a fresh perspective on it, but I'm still stuck. I've driven myself to a migraine, I think. I can feel it start coming on. Just when I'm thinking about grabbing some Excedrin, my assistant comes bustling into the room. "Ben!" she says, adjusting her skirt as she walks. "You have a visitor." Instantly I cheer up. I feel lighter. Stress-free. And when I see Dimitri turn the corner into the room, looking around, I almost squeal. I thank my assistant and make as calm-and-collected a beeline as I possibly can towards him. He notices me and smiles widely, opening his arms and taking me in once I get to him, and I hum against his chest. "Hey," I say. "Hey," he says back, chuckling. I pull back and let him kiss me on the lips. "Enjoy the MOMA?" I ask. "Yes, it was wonderful," he says, smiling brightly. "I enjoyed some of the contemporary art, which is not my usual interest." "Definitely makes you curious," I say. "Absolutely." He nods a little and then smiles. "Speaking of curious... What's going on here?" He points his chin across the room, towards where I was just working. "I'll show you," I say, linking my arm in his. "Have you gotten in touch with Nik, by the way?" I ask as we walk. "He's mostly sleeping," he says with a smile. "Seems last night really did him in." I laugh a bit, blushing slightly and patting his chest. "You should have went easier on him," I say lowly before we get closer to the group. Stefano is eyeing Dimitri with great interest. I have no doubt he'd try to flirt with him on some level, so I introduce Dimitri as my boyfriend to eliminate that possibility. He certainly looks disappointed for a moment but stays on his best behavior as he shakes Dimitri's hand. I introduce a few of the models as well before gesturing to the piece I'm still working on. "And this," I say, gesturing to the dress that's still on one of my models, "is my latest piece." Seeing Dimitri's response gives me all the confidence I need about the garment itself. "Wow," he says softly, mostly to himself, stepping closer to the model. "May I?" he asks, and when she nods, moving her hair out of the way, Dimitri steps forward and inspects the dress closer with his hands. "This is exquisite," he says. "You think so?" I ask, smiling. "To be honest, I didn't think you were THIS talented," he says with a smile my way, and I laugh. "Thank you," I say, rubbing his back as he steps back to look at it from a different angle. "It's almost coming together." He peers down at me. "Almost?" I nod. "Something's missing. Here, look," I say, hooking my arm in his and heading over to the racks where the rest of the collection is hanging. "This is the feeling I'm going for," I say, letting him leaf through the outfits. "Hm," he says, pulling out one that seems to speak to him. "This one seems especially androgynous." "Yeah, that's--" And then I pause. Androgyny is a big part of this collection. Mixing classically feminine and masculine elements throughout each piece. But him saying that out-loud sparked something. An idea so simple I'm surprised I didn't think of it before. "Oh my God," I say to myself before grabbing Dimitri's hand and tugging him back towards the model. "Stefano!" I shout. "I have an idea!" As I hear the rapid clicking of Stefano's heels come closer and closer, I put my hands together, glancing at the model. "Thank you for bearing with me, dear, but I'm going to have you step out of this again," I tell her, standing behind her to undo the hidden zipper. "What's your idea?" Stefano asks. "I'll show you," I say, biting my lip as I carefully undo the zipper. I hold the dress up as she steps out of it, and then I turn to Dimitri. "I need a favor." He seems eager to help. "Sure. What is it?" I hold the dress up. "Put this on." Dimitri laughs, but Stefano gasps, theatrically clutching his chest like he always does. "Inspired," he whispers. "This could work!" "Am I missing something?" Dimitri asks, looking between us. "Just trust me," I say, smiling at him. "Pretty please?" I give him my best puppy-dog look and instantly know that he'll do it. He sighs but smiles. "Fine," he says. "Should I...?" "What are you wearing underneath that?" I ask after realizing he's gesturing to his loose sweater and pants. "Just my underwear," he says. I bite my lip. "It's fine. Strip." He looks around a bit. Sure, there are a fair few people here, but most of the models are already half-naked, and no one here cares. Plus, Dimitri is Greek. Nudity is the least of his worries. He strips down to his underwear methodically before I have a couple people assist with the tuxedo-dress hybrid. I have to make a few adjustments in order to fit him in, and even as we get it over his body, I couldn't possibly zip it up. But still, we can get an idea of what it would look like when fit to someone his size, and as soon as I step back, I know I made the right decision. "This is it," I say softly. I feel Stefano's energy practically radiating beside me. "I think I know what you're thinking." I smirk a bit, not taking my eyes away from the dress. "Yes?" "Half male models, half female. Split the garments." As always, Stefano's spot-on. "Exactly." "It's a risk," he says. "You'll step on some toes." "Good," I say. I'd rather step on toes and make statements than do anything cookie-cutter. "Can you handle the models?" I ask Stefano. "We'll need someone slimmer than Dimitri, but--" "Already on it." Then he claps his hands as if bringing everyone to attention. "We have work to do, ladies!" he cries out dramatically, and starts delegating duties. I merely smile and head over to Dimitri, who looks a bit uncomfortable even if he's smiling too. "Thanks for putting this on for me," I say with a laugh. "It's a bit warm," he says, chuckling. "Here." I go around and help him carefully out of the dress. He fans himself off a bit before adjusting his crotch. Of course I give myself a good long look at him before hanging the dress and then watching him put his clothes back on. "And thanks for continuing to inspire me." He laughs a bit as he pulls on his shoes. "All I did was put on your dress." "It was enough," I say with a smile, pulling him in for a kiss. He almost falls over as he still tries to put his final shoe on, and we laugh against each other's lips until I feel his arms wrap around me and hold me so comfortably close. Dimitri ends up staying with me for the next few hours until I feel like I've done enough today. He doesn't do or say too much, nor gets in the way. He says he just likes "observing my creative process." It's a little intimidating at first having him here, but in no time, that familiar comfort comes back, and his presence keeps my stress at bay. Though I'm antsy to get back home after a while. Eventually I leave Stefano and the others to handle any end-of-the-day details before I pack up and lead Dimitri out. He suggests we walk to my apartment -- a substantial distance, but it allows us time to talk and for me to really flesh out what I want for this collection. I'm not surprised that he seems interested, but it's so refreshing to explain my art to someone who's not in the fashion industry whatsoever. He's just an artist. Plain and simple. By the time we get back to the apartment (with takeout), Nik is awake, walking around in only an oversized button-up that he found at a little thrift shop downtown. Underneath, he's naked. I can tell when he lifts his arms in excitement upon our arrival. "Finally!" he says, and his smile gets wider at the sight of the bag. "And you brought food!" I chuckle a bit, setting the takeout on the counter. "Have you been waiting on us long?" "Not really," he says, smiling as he comes over to peer inside the bag. "I just like complaining. What's this?" "Pork fried rice for you," I say, pulling out the box for him, and he licks his lips before taking it. "You know me so well," he says with a chuckle, leaning over to kiss my cheek before taking a seat at the table and rushing to dig in. "What about me?" Dimitri asks, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around me. I chuckle slightly. "I have a few things for you," I tease, pushing back against his groin. I can feel his smile when he leans in to kiss my neck before he turns me around and starts kissing me deeply. Very sensually, too. I moan slightly against his lips, gripping his shirt as the kiss gets a little more heated. He must have been holding this in. Now that we're in private, he's letting it out. "Ahem!" Nik says, and we break the kiss to look at him. "You're blocking all the silverware." "Oh." I laugh and we shift to the side as Nik rolls his eyes to reach the drawer I was up against. "You two are the worst," he says, pulling out a fork and pointing it at us. "The worst." "Sorry," I say with an amused smile, pulling away from Dimitri. I gesture for him to sit down as I get the rest of the food. "Don't be sorry," Nik says as he sits down. "Just make it up to me properly. Preferably in the form of fellatio?" I laugh. "Not at the dinner table." "Why, I wouldn't dream of that," he says playfully before glancing at his father. "How was Benji's studio?" "Quite nice, actually," Dimitri says. "I put your dad in a dress," I tell Nik as I set Dimitri's food in front of him. Nik almost chokes when he laughs. "Really? Did you take pictures?" "I didn't even think to," I say, laughing. "You're killing me, Meeks," he says, pouting before going back to his food. "I would love to see him bring out his more, er... feminine side." "He was quite pretty, I assure you," I say with a smirk towards Dimitri. "Anyway," Dimitri says with a laugh, trying to switch topics as he mixes up his lo mien, "what'd you do all afternoon?" Nik shrugs. "Slept," he says, taking a big forkful of rice into his mouth. "Took a nice long bath too. And did some reading. Oh!" He looks at me as I sit down at the table with my food. "Some man came by today." I squint. "Who?" He shrugs. "I don't remember his name," Nik says. "He was handsome, though. Big guy. Kissed by fire." He must mean Ned. What other ginger would (and has) just showed up at my front door? I wince slightly at the thought. The hell was he doing here? Probably looking for me. Once Dimitri and Nik got here, I've been ignoring most people -- him included. All of his texts have gone unanswered. I guess I should find it sweet that he came to check up on me, but for some reason, I only feel annoyed. "Did he say anything?" "Just to call him when you get a chance," Nik says, unbothered by it. I should probably at least text him that I'm alive. But do I want to see him? No. "Okay," I say simply. Wanting to put Ned out of my mind, I change the subject. "So, still up for painting tonight?" "I don't really want to use my hands, guys," Nik says. "Just use brushes, then," Dimitri suggests. Nik can do as he pleases, but I want to use my hands like Dimitri does whenever he makes art. He says it makes the art much more personal when there's nothing between you and the medium. So I'm excited to try it out. We finish eating, sharing in small conversation until we're all full. Dimitri and I clear the table and stack some of the dirty dishes in the sink before I feel his hand on my back. He says that he's going to shower quickly before they start painting, and within half a minute, he grabs a change of clothes, a spare towel, and disappears into the bathroom. Once the door shuts, I hear Nik say "So... about that blowjob..." When I turn around, I see that he's grinning at me. I roll my eyes, pretending to be annoyed. "Didn't you jerk off today?" "Of course I did," he says casually. "Twice." "So what do you need me for?" "Stop pretending like you don't wanna fool around with me," he says cheekily. I smirk slightly. "You can't wait for your dad?" "I could, I suppose," he says, scratching his jaw. "But where's the fun in that?" Then an idea sparks in his head. "I bet you can't finish me off by the time he gets out." I snort a bit. "You really wanna take that bet?" "He takes short showers." "How many times have we slept together?" I ask. "And you still underestimate me?" He just shrugs, so I point him to the bed. "Go." He giggles slightly before hurrying over to the bed, his shapely ass coming into view whenever the shirt flutters up. He hops onto his back with a sigh, looking at me in waiting. I lick my lips slightly. Game on, kid. I come over to the bed as he lifts up the shirt enough for his cock to be perfectly on display for me. It's has a slight fullness to it, so he's definitely already getting hard. As I climb onto the bed and get between his legs, I take a moment to admire it. Pinkish head. Neatly trimmed pubes. Completely clean-shaven balls. I chuckle slightly, reaching my hand over to stroke that smooth sack gently. How does he have the patience to man-scape so meticulously? Even his father only trims his bush down at most. And we all know I do nothing to maintain my body hair. Still, sometimes it's nice to go down on a smooth boy. I lean my face in and nudge my nose, lips, and facial hair against his sensitive groin. He groans softly, spreading his legs a little wider for me. I dart my tongue out and run it over that supple skin of his before dragging it slowly up his (quickly hardening) cock. Looking up at him through my glasses, I take him into my mouth and suck gently. But I have a goal: get him off as fast as possible. So it's time to up my game. As he stiffens in my mouth, I reach up under his shirt with one hand to nudge one of his pressure points: his nipples. He grunts once I start tweaking one of them, and I grin slightly as I pick up the pace, sucking gradually faster. He's squirming already, but I have a free hand, and I use it to spread his legs a little more and tease my finger from his balls to his taint. And then lower. I hear a sharp inhale from him as my index finger prods at his equally-smooth hole -- just as I take his cock down to the hilt. Now he's got his fingers in my hair, tugging a bit as he whimpers his little heart out. I wonder how long it's been. I can still hear the shower running, so probably not much longer than a minute. I've got to work a little harder... I take him in deep strides, bringing him into my throat every time I bob back down. He starts to move his hips in time with my movements, and we find an excellent rhythm pretty immediately. I look up when he grabs my hand and moves it from his nipple to his lips and starts sucking on my thumb. That makes my dick throb in my pants. Fuck. Is it a diversion tactic? To try and distract me from the bet? I'm not sure. He's not even looking at me. His eyes are closed as he nurses on my thumb, and my dick almost hurts being trapped in my underwear. Focus, Benji. The shower just shut off. Shit. I let Nik suck on my finger, but I focus way more intently on his cock, moving my other hand to the base and stroking him with both my hand and my mouth. His moans intensify as I speed up, the slurping noises I'm making only getting progressively louder until finally, he's about to cum. He pushes my hand away from his mouth and uses both hands to trying to push my head away -- but I stay still, practically grinning as I milk him. As soon as that first burst of cum shoots out of his cock and into my mouth, he gives up trying to resist, and I slow down, lapping at the cum with swipes of my tongue and gulping his load down as I receive it. He rests against the bed as he catches his breath, and I pull off with a smile. "I know we didn't discuss terms of the bet," I say, "but I think I won." "Damn you, Meeks," he says before chuckling breathily. I notice his cock is still leaking a bit of cum, and I give it a squeeze to get those last few drops out. "You're welcome," I tease. Just then, I hear Dimitri whistling as he steps out of the bathroom, cleaned up and dressed in pajamas. He grins slightly at the sight of us. "What's going on here?" "Just proving my worth," I say, letting go of Nik's member and sliding off the bed. Nik just waves me off and I laugh before turning to his father. "Ready to paint?" While Dimitri helps me with the paints and supplies, Nik helps himself to a selection of brushes that I have stashed away and retires to the table to work on something on his own. Dimitri and I, however, have bigger plans. We roll a large sheet of poster paper I recently bought out onto the floor, pinning it down with a few books. "What should we paint...?" I ask, watching Dimitri start to pour out a few tubes of paint into small bowls. He shrugs. "This canvas is pretty big. So we have to think big." "Do we?" I challenge, arching my eyebrow. He looks at me before grinning. "Fair. Think small, then." I run my fingers through my hair, staring at the blank paper before I hear something get knocked over, followed by Nik swearing. I look over, smirking slightly at the fussed way he tries to clean up the paint he spilled on the table. Then I get an idea. "Why don't we paint Nik?" Dimitri looks at his son. "Yeah?" "Just his face," I say. "Nice and big." He laughs. "I've never painted a subject that... close." It'll be quite blown-up, but it'll be a fun experiment. "First time for everything," I say, coming over to him and dipping my finger in the yellow paint he's holding. Painting with your hands is a total blast. It's not that I doubted Dimitri before, but he was completely right when describing the intimacy of it. Physically shaping the paint across the canvas feels so different than using a brush. It's much more difficult, that's for sure, especially due to the lack of real precision. But it's still interesting to combine both our styles into one painting. When we take a step back from it about halfway through, we realize Nik is looking more like a surrealist version of himself, and we both chuckle a bit, hoping he doesn't get offended. Then we hear a knock on the front door. I thought I misheard it, because who the hell is knocking at my door so late? I don't get random visitors, and I'm not expecting anybody. But then someone knocks again, louder this time. I pause, glancing at Dimitri, who just gives me a "You gonna get that?" sort of look. I grab the paper towel roll and wipe off as much of the paint as I can before heading over to the front door and pulling it open. "Kissed by fire" is back again. I blink in surprise. "Ned?" "There you are!" he says, looking me up and down. "I've been trying to reach you for days." "Are you okay?" I ask, automatically assuming he's hurt before I remember all he's probably been trying to do is hook up again. "Me? Yeah, I just... You haven't been responding to my messages," he says. Just then there's the sound of one of the paint bowls tipping over, and I hear both Dimitri and Nik laugh. Ned tries to poke his head in but I block his view. "I've been busy," I tell him. "Clearly," he mutters bitterly. Then he lowers his voice. "Who was that kid in your apartment earlier?" But I don't answer that question. "Why are you here, Ned?" I'm fully aware of how I sound. Snippy. But once he starts acting like a pouty teenager, I always fire back with a bit of irritation, and I can't be bothered with his antics tonight. "What's that supposed to mean?" he says, sounding affronted. "Exactly what I said. Why are you here?" He squints as if not hearing me correctly. "To check on you." "I'm fine," I say, eager for him to leave. I don't know why his presence is bothering me this much. Maybe because I have a hunch in terms of how he feels about me. "Satisfied?" He falters a bit. "What's wrong with you?" "I have guests, Ned." He scoffs. "Guests." I detect something in his tone. "What?" "Who?" he asks, crossing his arms over his chest. "None of your business, really." "Seriously?" "Seriously." Now he looks mad. "You fucking them or something?" "Again, none of your business," I repeat, though he can infer that means "yes". "So this is how you treat the only person who worries about you--?" But I cut him off. I hate that we're going down this road right now, but Ned has a habit of thinking he's entitled to me. And it drives me up the fucking wall. "Really, Ned?" I interrupt. "You're going the manipulative route?" He blinks. "I wasn't trying to be--" "Everything okay here?" a voice says behind me. I feel Dimitri's hand on my side when he gets close enough and I sigh, opening the door a little more so Ned can see who it is more clearly. "Everything's fine," I say, and though I can't get the irritation out of my voice, I feel comforted by Dimitri's touch. That physical contact probably says a lot to Ned, too, signaling something like "He's mine". And I don't mind being Dimitri's. Not in the slightest. "Who's this?" he asks me calmly, though he's looking at Ned. Ned hops in at the opportunity to introduce himself. "I'm Ned. Ben's closest friend." He puts such an emphasis on "closest" that I roll my eyes. Dimitri, ever the gentleman, smiles politely and shakes his hand. "Dimitri," he says, and leaves it at that. "Did you want to come in?" Dimitri asks. Immediately, I protest. "He was just leaving." "Not until I talk to you," Ned says insistently. "I don't want to talk." "Why not?" God, he sounds like an overgrown child sometimes. "Because! This isn't a good time, Ned," I say with a sigh. "When IS a good time, then?" "I don't know!" Never? "I'm with someone!" He always seems surprised that I have other people in my life that I talk to, or hang out with, or fuck. "All I'm asking for is a couple-- Wait a minute," he says, pausing altogether. I think he's connecting the dots, because he looks at Dimitri differently for a moment. Then he starts laughing. "THIS is the guy you were talking about? The one you met in Greece?" He sizes Dimitri up and clearly doesn't seem impressed. "Christ." I wince slightly, hating the tone he's using. I told Ned vaguely about the man I met overseas when I got back. But I think he assumed it was a done deal, or he at least hoped that whatever happened in Athens stayed in Athens. "What?" I demand. "The fuck is he doing here?" "To see me," I say. Ned squints as if not understanding. "So, what, this is what you meant by saying you're with someone?" I just stare him down, hoping he gets the hint. "Does he even know you?" Ned speculates before addressing Dimitri directly. "I know shit about Benji that'll make your head spin, man." I've had it. I step forward, push Ned out of the doorway, and join him in the hallway before slamming the door shut. If he wants his moment alone with me, fine. He's getting it. "What the hell is your problem?" I say, trying my best to whisper. But I'm too angry to monitor my volume. He looks happy for a brief moment, probably just at the fact that we're "alone". "I just wanted to talk--" "Are you TRYING to make me look bad?" "I'm just being honest." "You're being a fucking asshole, is what you're being," I say, poking him square in the chest. And I know I can get away with it, too. He'd never put his hands on me in that way. "I'm sorry, alright?" he says, but in a deflective way. Not at all genuine. "I just wanted to talk to you." "There is nothing you could say right now that I'd want to hear," I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest. He falters slightly but persists. "So that's it? I get nothing from you?" I scoff. "I really need you to stop fucking acting like you own me." "I never said that--" "It's implied." He opens his mouth to speak before catching himself and taking a moment to realign his thoughts. Suddenly he's calm and collected, and silly me expects him to apologize. It'd be simple. He'd say he's sorry for coming off the way he does and trying to isolate me, and I'd apologizing for ignoring him and being so quick to snap at him. Done and done. But I don't anticipate him saying what he says next: "I love you." I hate that I feel nothing but irritation right now. I think because I just wanted an apology and not a profession of love. I just want this conversation to be over. I want to go back to painting with Dimitri. I want to climb into bed and cuddle with the Castellanos. I don't want to be with Ned, in any capacity. When I don't respond, Ned repeats himself. "I love you, Benji." "I heard you," I murmur, not looking at him directly. God, I feel so uncomfortable. "Are you gonna say anything?" he asks. I say the first thing that comes to mind. "Why did you wait until I was with somebody to tell me that?" I feel like it's a fair question. Why right now? He's blushing now, looking like a mix between embarrassed and angry. "You two can't be that serious--" "You don't know him," I blurt out. "I love him, Ned. That's how serious it is." That shuts him up. He stares at me as if testing my conviction before he puts his face in his hands and sighs. "Fuck," he mutters. Now I'm less angry and more uncomfortable. I don't know what to do. The mood has shifted from argumentative to him accepting his loss, I suppose. Now it's just sad. "Sorry," I say, unsure how to console him in this moment. I'm not good with this shit. Ever. I just scratch the back of my head, looking around awkwardly before saying "I think you should go, Ned." He looks at me briefly before nodding to himself. "Right." We kind of look at each other for another tense moment before he clears his throat, tells me to "enjoy myself", and then turns down the hallway to leave. When he got here, my irritation was through the roof. Now I just feel gross and (I hate to admit) bad for him. Though it's not my fault that he got rejected, it still feels strange. Not something I wanted to deal with tonight. I head back into the apartment and see Nik scurrying away from the door, and now I'M probably blushing. He was listening in, wasn't he? Dimitri is nearby too, smiling to himself as he mixes a couple paint colors. Why do they both look so... happy? Like they have some juicy secret or something? When I shut and lock the door, I come over to Dimitri and rest my forehead on his chest, sighing. "You okay?" he asks. "Yeah," I say tiredly. "Suddenly I'm exhausted." Then I look up at him and notice he's still got that little smile on his lips. "What?" He chuckles a bit. "Nothing." I arch my brow and then look at Nik, who's also smiling in our direction, casually cleaning off one of his brushes at the table. "What's going on, guys?" I ask, confused. Clearly I missed something. "Don't worry about it," Dimitri says. "Don't fuck with me," I say, not wanting to get irritated. Nik generously speaks up. "You may or may not have dropped the 'L' word," he says. "The 'L' word?" I ask, confused. But when I turn back to Dimitri, it hits me. I said it, out loud, to Ned, that I love Dimitri. They must have overheard me, especially if Nik was listening in. Suddenly, I feel a slew of emotions. Panic, excitement, embarrassment, relief. And of course, Dimitri just stands there with his knowing little smile, as calm as ever. I laugh slightly through my nose. I said it. I said it, and I meant it. I think this sudden realization has opened me up in some way because I feel lighter. It came from my lips so effortlessly, without a second thought. Can I say it to his face? I smile nervously, licking my bottom lip and taking a breath before holding onto him and finding that little phrase escape my lips just as easily. "I love you." His smile grows wider before he practically drops the small bowl of paint in order to wrap his arms around me and kiss me deeply. I moan against his lips, throwing my hands around his neck as warmth surges through my body. I can feel his appreciation, his adoration, his love. Maybe his relief, as well. And it all feels so good. I don't know if I want to laugh or cry. Nik makes me laugh though. "Grooooss," Nik drawls before chuckling and clapping playfully as he watches us, and I break the kiss to let out that laughter. "Do you mind?" I ask. "Sorry," he says, giggling softly to himself. "But one question: do I get to call you Papa, now?" he teases. I roll my eyes. "Fuck off, kid," I say, going back to kissing Dimitri. He hums against my lips, snaking his hands up my shirt to hold onto my back as he pushes his hips against mine. There's the slightest grinding motion before one of his hands slides down to grab at my ass, and I can't help but smile against his lips as he adds a little bit more tongue. This isn't just playful kissing. This is him initiating foreplay. "You're getting paint all over him, Dad," Nik says, and I laugh against Dimitri's lips, breaking the kiss. Good thing I'm wearing my painting clothes. I pull back to try and assess the damage, but Dimitri ropes me back in for more kisses. With one of his hands, he holds the back of my head, curling his fingers into my hair and keeping his lips planted firmly on mine. I let out a little moan into his mouth, standing on my toes as he keeps me in place. Then, he moves his lips to my neck, kissing softly up to my ear. "Do something for me?" he asks. I swallow. "Anything." I feel his facial hair tickling my ear as he nuzzles into me slightly before saying "Fuck me." My groin twitches with need. That has so many implications. He's abandoned his usual "make love to me" for something more visceral. And I get the impression that he means he wants me to be the top tonight. This is new territory for us, so I look up at him to make sure that's what he meant. "Really?" "Yes," he says, licking his lips before giving me a sweet kiss. "Wait, did I hear that correctly?" Nik blurts out, and when I look over, he's pretending to dig something out of his ear. "Are we switching things up?" He grins at us. "Maybe," Dimitri says, sliding his hand towards my groin and making me grunt gently. "You won't last a minute," Nik says, crossing his arms over his chest. "I can barely handle Big Ben. And if I can barely handle it, no way YOU can." "A challenge I'm willing to accept," Dimitri says with a half-smile before looking at me. He hooks his fingers into the front waistband and tugs me right up against me. "I want you." I grin. Though it doesn't happen nearly as often, Nik sometimes tops his father. So I know Dimitri has at least some experience with bottoming. But Nik is right -- Nik is pretty experienced in that department and it takes him a bit of time to find a proper rhythm on my dick whenever I fuck him. So I'm nervous for Dimitri, but if he wants it, he can have it. He grabs at the hem of my shirt and tugs it up over my head, tossing it to the floor before running his fingers down my torso. His hands aren't too wet with paint now so I let him touch me as he pleases, stroking the hair on my body before he picks me up suddenly. I gasp in surprise, laughing and clutching onto him. It's unlike Dimitri to manhandle me like this, but I like that I was caught off guard. He carries me to the bed and we fall onto it with a laugh, him on top of me. Within a few seconds, his lips are back on mine as he gets between my legs and grinds gently against me. I keep my fingers in his hair, moaning softly against his lips as I start to stiffen up in my pants. Dimitri breaks the kiss and looks back towards the table. "You joining us?" he asks Nik. Nik chuckles. "I haven't decided yet," he says, though he's rubbing himself from under his oversized shirt while he watches us. "Suit yourself," Dimitri says before kissing my lips once more. Then, he makes his way down. As he does, I grip his tee so that I can pull it off of him, leaving us both shirtless. He kisses down my happy trail, making my hips raise a bit as he gets closer and closer to my crotch. They're a simple, thin, loose fabric (that I find comfortable without underwear) that just gently hold onto my hips, so all Dimitri has to do is tug. I lift my ass up to let him strip me down completely, my semi slapping back against my stomach with a heavy smack. After he tosses my pants to the floor, Dimitri eyes me up and down, licking his lips slightly and just sitting in place, absolutely still. "What?" I ask after a few moments. He looks up at me and smiles. "Just admiring you," he says, making me blush before he moves onto his hands and knees and leans forward to kiss the head of my cock. I moan softly, quickly getting harder from his teasing licks and kisses and nuzzles. Once I'm nearly there, he reaches over and wraps his fingers around to base to lift it up towards his open mouth. I moan once inside, closing my eyes and relaxing my body. His tongue works slowly as if savoring the taste or something. Whatever he's doing, it feels almost soothing, in a weird way. Like a massage after a long day. He gives my balls a gentle caress as well as he bobs up and down at a slow and steady pace. Suddenly, after a minute or so, Dimitri moans and my cock slips from his mouth. When I open my eyes and look down, I'm treated to the sight of Nik behind his father, face-deep in Dimitri's ass. I lick my lips, quickly reaching down to stroke myself as Nik, with his eyes closed, laps repeatedly at his dad's hole. He must be getting him ready for me. I can't help but feel appreciative. Once Dimitri gets used to the sensation a bit, he goes back to blowing me, focusing more on what he can handle as he works up and down. Now he's moaning gently, too, sending soft vibrations through my manhood. I glance up towards Nik, who has pulled back and is now teasing Dimitri with a finger. From this angle I can't tell if it's inside him or not, but regardless, my cock is throbbing. Nik notices me looking and gives me a cheeky little wink before going back down with his mouth. A minute later, Dimitri slowly pulls away from my cock, climbs up over my body, and kisses me deeply. I wrap my arms around him, even giving his ass a little squeeze before he rolls us over. I find myself on top of him now, and I kiss him once before getting between his legs. Nik only pulled Dimitri's pants off enough to expose his ass, so I strip Dimitri down before anything else. Then, I lie down on my stomach, head between his thighs. I kiss his balls before going a little lower, and he lifts his legs for me enough to get to his hole. It's already wet from Nik's spit. I smile as I drag my tongue across his most sensitive area, eliciting a deep moan from him. I can see him reach down to grab at his cock, stroking it slowly, his knuckles nudging my forehead. But Nik takes care of that. I see him swoop down and take the head of his father's cock into his mouth, sucking eagerly. Perfect. I keep my focus on Dimitri's hole, making sure I make him feel totally relaxed and opened up. I lick enough to get my tongue into him, and I hear him grunt as I wiggle it around and dart it slowly back and forth as if gently tongue-fucking him. I think Dimitri enjoys the dual sensations. His hand is in his son's hair as Nik expertly works his manhood over, taking it deep as saliva drips down the shaft. I slide my tongue up across his hole once more before replacing that muscle with a finger. I tease his hole in circles as I get on my knees between his legs, making him spread a little wider for me. Then, I push my finger forward. It sinks in easily enough, and I lick my lips feeling how warm he is inside. I work it back and forth before adding a second and watching his face to make sure he doesn't feel any discomfort. Nik pulls off of Dimitri's cock and switches over to mine for a brief moment, just sucking gently on it a few times. When he pulls off briefly and looks up at me, he asks "Should I grab the lube?" But Dimitri speaks up. "Uh... Yeah," he says, and we all chuckle softly. Nik hops off the bed and grabs the small bottle from the nightstand and then tosses it to me. I go through the motions of lubing up my cock before adding some directly to Dimitri's hole, getting him good and prepped before I close the cap. As I stroke my slick cock between Dimitri's legs, I bite my lip a bit. I don't top very often, so this is a special moment. Especially considering who I'm about to do it to. I glance up at Dimitri, and when he notices me looking, he smiles in that calm, reassuring way of his before nodding gently. I get comfortably between his legs, lifting them up so that I can penetrate him at the easiest position. I glance down at the head of my cock resting so gently against his fuzzy hole, and I lick my lips. Here goes... I reach down, grab myself, and push forward. The head slides in easily enough, and Dimitri doesn't make a sound until I start inching deeper into him. "Oh, fuck," he says with a laugh, making both Nik and myself laugh along with him since he's not one to curse often. I bite my lip, gently working myself a little deeper as Nik watches closely. "Doing okay?" I ask. "Yeah," he says shortly, sounding like he's tensing or holding his breath. "How's it feel?" "Enormous," he says, and I chuckle a bit, looking down at my cock trying to stuff itself into Dimitri. I've taken some pretty big dicks in my day, so I know that it's all about breathing and relaxing. I try to rub his legs in a soothing manner. Maybe that'll help. When I look down again, I see I'm maybe halfway in. And God, it looks good. So different from Nik, who keeps himself smooth. Now I'm fucking a man. MY man, no less. I close my eyes for a moment to soak in that strangely all-encompassing sensation you get when you're inside someone. The warmth, the comfort, the eroticism. It all blends into bliss. I start gently thrusting my hips, rocking slowly back and forth. Dimitri arches his back a bit and groans, his fingers nudging against my midriff as if half-telling me to stop. I watch his face as I work back and forth, very deliberately working myself in just a hair deeper with each thrust. Soon though, Dimitri expels a heavy breath. "I can't do it," he says, grimacing. I halt my thrusts. "Want me to stop?" I ask. "Please." I'm a bit disappointed, but I understand. Bottoming isn't easy, especially if you don't do it often. I carefully remove myself from him and he exhales with relief, looking at me apologetically. "Sorry." I smile. "Don't apologize." "You did better than I thought you'd do," Nik teases, grinning. "Two minutes instead of one." "Ha ha," he says sarcastically before he smiles and glances at my cock. "It's just... Wow," he says, reaching forward to nudge my boner. "I know," Nik says, taking a gander as well. I feel both admired and embarrassed to be ogled at by the both of them like this, so I switch gears. "Maybe less looking and more getting off," I say playfully. Nik laughs, concurring before Dimitri grabs my hand and tugs me down next to him. Quickly, I'm roped into deep kisses as he shifts onto his side and holds the front of my body against his. He breaks the kiss lightly to glance back at his son. "Where's that bottle?" "Um... Here," Nik says, grabbing it off the bed and handing it to his dad. Dimitri lubes up his fingers a bit, and I lick my lips, knowing what he's going for. I drape my leg over his hip to give him better access to my hole, and I moan when his fingers make contact and easily slip into me. "Something more doable," he says with a smile. "So I'm more doable?" I tease. "In a manner of speaking," he says, chuckling as he adds a little more lube to his fingers to stroke himself. I listen to those sexy wet noises before I feel him shift into place. He holds onto his cock as he pushes his hips forward, looking for my hole. We move together almost seamlessly, and without much of a struggle, Dimitri slips himself into me. My eyes roll back for that initial penetration, and I clutch onto Dimitri tightly, fully aware that he's staring right at my face as he starts to gently pump his hips back and forth. As hot as being inside of him for a change was, this feels right. Complete. And when I open my eyes and see Dimitri looking at me so intently, I can't help but feel like this is where I'm meant to be. Nik, eager to join the fun, positions himself behind his dad and spoons him. Dimitri pauses his thrusts as Nik lubes himself up and manages to penetrate his father. I watch Dimitri's face. He closes his eyes, shutting the left one a little more tightly before he relaxes and moans, clearly thinking Nik's cock is much easier to handle. I caress his jaw with my thumb, and he opens his eyes and smiles at me a little before leaning in to kiss me. Now the three of us move in unison. It's a tough position to manage, and we have to go slow, but it feels incredibly intimate. I'm sure more so for Dimitri considering he's in the middle. But I like being so close to both of them as we grind, thrust, moan, kiss, and touch each other. No words are spoken. Just heavy breaths and the sound of lips smacking, that cadence only punctured by the occasional soft moan. But as far as I know, we're essentially one unit, gyrating and edging each other to make it last. Once one of us decides to cum, though, the climaxes hit like a domino effect. Nik is the first to go, muttering "I'm gonna cum" before giving Dimitri a few more thrusts and then clutching onto him tightly as he empties his balls. He whimpers a bit with a blissful look on his face as he finally cums. That seems to set Dimitri off, because he grunts and clutches onto me even more tightly without a word, shutting his eyes as his cock throbs. I can feel him pumping his load into me -- a strange sensation that always makes my toes curl from the sheer sensuality of the act. Since Dimitri's been casually toying with and stroking my cock all throughout this final phase, I follow closely behind, third in the race, my breathing hitching as I push forward and shoot my load between us. Dimitri keeps a firm grip on my cock and strokes me more intently as I cum, really milking the orgasm out of me until I collapse with a heavy sigh. There's a soft moment of general quiet where we're all just catching our breaths. I don't know who laughs first. Probably Dimitri. He just shakes slightly with a little chuckle, and then Nik joins in with a louder laugh, causing me to join in. Nothing's particularly funny, but here we are yet again, laughing after the three of us have sex. This has happened a few times, and I can't exactly pinpoint why, but it feels good. Joyous. Freeing. Appropriate, somehow. And then, Dimitri cuts me off mid-laugh with a sweet, deep, longing kiss on my lips before mouthing the words "I love you" across them. I smile, holding onto him tightly. For once in my life, I can say them back. I can be honest and truthful, and feel everything I've wanted to feel when I say "I love you too." Hearing the trunk slam closed makes me twitch, and I sigh heavily when Dimitri glances over at me. "Don't look like that," he says. Suddenly I don't know what to do with my arms, so I'm just crossing them over my chest -- not something I normally do, so I'm pretty uncomfortable. "I can't help it," I say. He smiles a little, stepping back onto the sidewalk to stand in front of me. "Summer's not that far away, Benji," he reminds me, smiling softly. "I know that." Might as well feel like an eternity though. Their vacation is over (too soon), and Nik has to go back to school and Dimitri has to return to his job, and we won't reunite until mid-summer. We have it all planned out, though. I'm going to fly back to Europe and we'll have a (what Nik so cutely referred to as) family getaway. Nik suggested Spain, Dimitri France, and I either Austria or Iceland. Our final destination is still to be determined. "So cheer up, love," he says, stroking my arms. But I can't cheer up. I know exactly what will happen when he and Nik hop into their cab and go back to the airport: I'll be right back where I started. It's not the loneliness that will hurt, because I can handle being alone. It's the fact that life here is simply not satisfying. I have the stress of my job to look forward to while I fend off all the different Neds that try to rope me down, all while remembering how perfect life gets when the Castellanos are around to remind me of the important things. Maybe Dimitri was right. I need to focus on what aspects of my New York life actually matter: creating art... and being in love. Nik leans against the cab casually, a hand in his pocket. "Just ditch this dirty city and stay with us," he suggests. And this isn't the first time he's said that either. And now that I'm saying goodbye to them again, it's really hitting me: what if I did? What if, once I'm finished with this collection and have watched it walk the runway, I say a permanent goodbye to the New York scene? I've already abandoned it once, when I first fled to Greece and met Dimitri by chance. Maybe that was a sign -- not that I believe in signs, really. But the all-encompassing sadness and dread I felt when faced with the fact that I'd be trading peace and inspiration for that all-too-familiar New York stress is definitely an indicator of something. Maybe I'm just not fit to stay here. Maybe I'd prosper better mentally elsewhere, working in a little studio or boutique like I briefly let myself daydream about. And I'd be near two people who love me. Who I love back. "He has to stay," Dimitri tells Nik. But do I? Until the fashion show, sure. But what about after? Nothing. I have nothing holding me back here. Nothing I'd care about leaving, anyway. Sure, I have plenty of friends and peers I'd miss seeing regularly. But this is the fashion world. As Stefano always says, "Fashion is global..." What if I showed up in Greece midsummer and stayed? Would I have a place in their home? I almost laugh to myself. I already know the answer to that. "Maybe," I say vaguely. Dimitri arches his eyebrow at me curiously before I divert his attention. "C'mere," I say to Nik, beckoning him over. "I want a group hug." I have to think about this, really think about leaving the States. There's a lot to consider logistically, too. But God, wouldn't that be lovely? If my getaway became my hideaway? Nik smiles and wraps his arms around us both, squeezing the three of us together. I hug them tightly, closing my eyes and relishing in the contact for half a minute. Then Nik speaks up. "I'm gonna miss you, Meeks." "And I you," I say with a smile. We pull back and Nik straightens out his shirt. "I'd give you a nice, sloppy goodbye kiss, but... I'll give you that honor," he adds to his father, grinning. "The cab driver might think we're weird otherwise." I laugh. The cab driver has been eyeing us a bit, so it's probably best I don't lip-lock with them both in the middle of the street. "Fair point." "Simple cheek, then," he says, leaning down to peck my cheek quickly and then give me a little wave. "Until the summer!" Then, blowing me another kiss, he hops into the backseat of the cab, waiting for his father. I expel a deep breath, trying my best not to cry as I look up at him. He's smiling down at me, and I remind myself that this isn't goodbye forever. We'll reunite soon enough. Maybe permanently... Boy, he'd consider that the happiest surprise. "I love you," I tell him before he can open his mouth. "And I'll miss you." He chuckles a bit. "I love you and I'll miss you," he repeats back to me, lifting his hand to the back of my head and kissing me. He keeps it soft and tender, and I wrap my arms around him to keep him right up against me. I want to memorize this moment. Everything I'm feeling, from the fluttering in my chest to the slight itch near my ankle. Everything about this moment is perfect and I want to remember it as such. When he pulls back, he strokes my face lightly with his thumb before smiling. "Until the summer," I say, mocking Nik. Dimitri laughs. "Until then." He leans in for one more much-quicker kiss before finally pulling away, turning towards the cab, and hopping into the passenger seat. I watch him close the door and, as the driver starts to pull out, they both wave at me. I smile and wave back, feeling a tear run down my cheek. Ugh. I was hoping I wasn't going to cry. Who would have thought that I'd become such a sap because of them? I suppose I'm better off for it. I had almost given up on ever loving someone the way that I love Dimitri, and having that love be reciprocated is just... magical. Feeling like I'm part of a little family (as weird and crazy as it is) brings me the brightest bit of joy. As the cab veers around the block and disappears, I'm happy that I don't feel their departure as heavily as I expected to. All I am is excited for the future. I'm excited to be reunited with them in just a few months' time, relaxing on the beaches and frolicking through the cities and painting nude on the roof of their apartment as we soak in the Grecian sun. That's bliss to me. So until then...