by Andrew Grey
“It was a napkin holder in the shape of a carriage. I noticed it because my mom would have loved it. She entertains a lot.” Kyle sighed. “Neither of us saw Mason take it, but he was by the case, and….” Kyle and Billy both swallowed. “We don’t know how he opened it or if he did, but the item was there one minute and gone the next.” He turned and glanced around before leaning closer. “Honest. We thought about it all night. Billy and I went back to get the charm for his mom, and there were a bunch of other people in the store. They were looking over the case and stuff. Billy and I bought the charm we’d seen and then left again. But it’s pretty obvious that the carriage was gone.”
“Did they ask you about it?” Robin questioned.
Billy nodded. “She asked if we’d seen anyone while we were in the store, and we said we weren’t sure. Someone might have come in. Neither of us wanted to get Mason in trouble if he didn’t do anything.”
“But the more we thought about it, the more we think we were wrong.” Kyle sat back, his arms folded over his chest, glaring toward the front.
“What if they figure out it was Mason and they think we were in on it?” Billy asked. “Don’t places like that have cameras and stuff?”
“You’d think so, but maybe they weren’t working. Someone must have had real skill to do that, and they’d likely check that sort of thing.” Robin wondered about Mason, but pointedly didn’t look at him. “Keep an eye out, and I’ll do the same. If he is stealing stuff, then we’ll have to catch him at it. Don’t mention this to anyone, especially not Mason. I’ll talk to Johan so he can watch him too.”
Billy and Kyle both nodded and sat back in their seats. Billy took Kyle’s hand and leaned against him, more relaxed now that he’d shared his secret. Robin turned in his seat as well and messaged Albert. He recapped what he’d been told and informed him of his course of action.
Albert answered for Robin to be careful and watchful. If you see anything, call the police. Do not handle it yourself.
Robin agreed and closed his phone. “We’ll be coming into the city soon. Munich has an amazing skyline, but one feature you will not miss is the twin dome towers of the Church of Our Lady. It’s a symbol of Munich, and quite unique.” Robin cleared his throat and wished he had some more juice with ice. “Johan is going to drive us into the city and drop us off near the Marienplatz. It’s the center of town. Have lunch there and then tour the area. The Glockenspiel will chime at three. Our hotel is on the outskirts of the old portion of the city, within walking distance of many of the attractions. Johan will go on to the hotel, and we will walk there together as a group. Is there anyone who feels like they can’t make that trip?” Robin did his best not to look directly at Oliver, but kept him in his peripheral vision in case he felt uncomfortable. No one spoke up, which was awesome.
Johan entered city traffic and they made their way to one of the major roundabouts at the edge of the city center. Traffic whizzed around them as Johan opened the bus door, and they all filed off, gathering in a group. Johan got off the bus, opened the small cargo hatch, and pulled out a box for him.
Robin opened it and handed out rainbow hats with the company logo on them. “I thought these might help all of us identify one another. There will be a lot of people, so staying together as a group is important.” He pulled his hat out of his bag and put it on. “However, if you do get separated, head to the New Town Hall at three. We will be there for the Glockenspiel. It’s a guaranteed meeting space.”
Johan put the box away and got back on the bus. Robin wished Johan was coming with them, but he had a job to do and so did Robin.
“All right, this way.”
ROBIN LED the group down the shopping street to the main pedestrian plaza. “The Marienplatz is the historic center of the city. The old town hall is at the end, and this”—he turned to the gothic-style building with the tower in the center—“is the New Town Hall.”
“Is that the Glockenspiel?” Billy asked.
“Yes,” Grant answered before Robin could. “It’s depicts a famous Bavarian battle and victory.” Grant turned away. “I’ve heard that it’s pretty anticlimactic.”
Robin had to agree, at least by modern standards. “Think about it. This is a marvel timepiece, and it’s hundreds of years old. Every movement is done mechanically with gears and levers. There are no computers and electronics. If you think about it that way, what you’re going to see is pretty amazing.” He spent some time explaining what the building was, how old it was, and when it was reconstructed. “If you’re here for pride weekend, this entire square is packed and the parade goes right through here.”
“Will we have time to look around?” Margaret asked.
“Of course.” Robin checked his watch. “Go ahead and have some lunch. We’ll meet in front of the Glockenspiel at a little before three, watch it chime and move, and then head out to our hotel.”
Everyone fanned out in all directions, and Robin found a table at a nearby café and decided to get a light lunch. Surprisingly, he felt lonely. Robin had been here on many tours and usually ended up eating and spending a few hours alone. He’d never minded it before, using the time to settle his thoughts and plan the rest of the tour as well as make arrangements for the next one. But today he was unsettled and kept looking around, hoping Johan would simply appear. Of course, that wasn’t going to happen, but he still wished it would.
Robin ordered his lunch and a drink, then sat back as a steady stream of people filed in front of him. He probably should have brought a book or something to pass the time. Still, it gave him some time to—
Robin groaned as Mason pulled out the chair across from him. “What do you want?” Robin asked, letting his annoyance show.
“Everyone else took off, and I saw you here alone.” Mason waved, and the server came over. He placed an order, and Robin tried to remember if Mason had always been this rude. Or maybe he’d been blind to the behavior. “You’re the only person I really know in this group.”
“So why are you so determined to act like an ass?” Robin had had enough of being polite and trying to be professional, letting Mason’s behavior run off his back.
“What happened to you?” Mason leaned forward. “You used to be so nice.”
“I learned that my boyfriend of five years was a dick of epic proportions, and not in a good way.”
Mason flinched.
“You hurt me badly, Mason, and now you expect me to throw open my arms and welcome you back into my life as though nothing happened.”
“We should be able to be friends,” Mason countered, thanking the server for the drink when he brought it.
“And why is that? Because whatever guy you left me for has skipped away and you’re alone?” Robin stopped speaking when the server brought him his lunch. “What if I don’t want to be friends, Mason? What if what I want is for you to leave me alone? Are you prepared to do that? Because if you want to be friends, then you need to act like it, and that means respecting my wishes.” He sighed softly and picked up his fork. “You always thought what you wanted was good for me, and if it wasn’t or if I pushed back, you pressed and badgered me until I gave in.” He took a bite of the potatoes. “Sometimes you need to learn how to back off, and you should start now.”
Mason turned to the tables around them. “Should I leave?”
“No. The place is packed, so eat your lunch. But give me some space.” He ate slowly, feeling better than he had in a while because he’d been able to say his piece to Mason.
“Don’t you think it hurts seeing you with him?” Mason asked as he stared at his beer glass.
“Everything isn’t about you,” Robin answered. “Not to me, not anymore. I’ve learned something in the last few months, and it’s become very clear in the last week. Sometimes things aren’t about you, but about the other people around you. I like spending time with Johan.”
“You know he’ll hurt you,” Mason commented. “He’ll have to go home after the season, and so wil
l you. Do you think he’ll take you home to meet the family?”
Robin shook his head. “He already has. His mom is wonderful, and his family and mine have a lot in common. I don’t know what’s going to happen between us after the season or after this tour, but a friend would think positively and wish us well, instead of spouting venom and jealousy.” Robin returned to his lunch. He refused to rush and allow Mason to think he’d gotten to him.
“We all know the two of you sleep in the same bed every night. The rooms you’ve been sharing only have one bed. It’s pretty common knowledge through the entire tour group.”
Robin ignored him. Mason was fishing for something, but Robin wasn’t going to let Mason get to him anymore.
He finished his lunch and signaled the waiter. He asked for his bill in German, and when the waiter brought it, Robin paid in cash, thanked him, and got up. “Enjoy your lunch,” he told Mason cheerfully, and walked away. Damn, that felt good. There was no need to get angry or upset. Just putting his back to him said more than anything else.
He saw Billy and Kyle wandering through the square. He waved and strode over to join them.
“I didn’t get anything yesterday at the Christmas store,” Billy said, pointing to a Christmas shop.
“Don’t. If we can get moving in the morning, then after we visit the castles tomorrow, we can stop in Oberammergau. It’s where they have the Passion Play every ten years. The town is beautiful, and they have a couple of very nice shops that are much less expensive than here in Munich.” That reminded him, and Robin pulled out his phone. He messaged Albert to ensure they had ticket reservations and to find out what time they were. Albert messaged back that they were scheduled for eleven and to pick them up at the usual place. Which meant they needed to be moving by eight to ensure they arrived in plenty of time to navigate the town and for everyone to make the ascent up the hill. “We’re good for a stop on the way back.”
“Awesome,” Kyle said, and he and Billy wandered off to meet Grant, Oliver, and Javier.
At a little before three, Robin gathered everyone in the middle of the square.
“Where is Mason?” Billy asked, looking around.
Robin shrugged and shook his head. He wasn’t going to try to keep up with him.
The Glockenspiel began running—the knight slayed his opponent, and then the king awarded his laurels. The whole running took less than a minute, and when it was done, the clock chimed the hour.
“That’s it.” Everyone turned toward him, and Robin saw Mason join the back of the group as though he were trying not to draw anyone’s attention. “Let’s head this way, and we’ll get out of this area. Make sure you have a good hold on everything.”
They left the heavily touristy area, and Robin wound them away from the main streets and into more quiet neighborhoods. “I love Munich. It’s a city with real charm if you know where to look for it. This is an area of town that was quite affluent. Many of the houses have been converted to apartments or, like the one we’re staying in, a hotel.” He gathered them all on the sidewalk and pointed. “Just down there a block or so is the Oktoberfest grounds. You can wander through if you’d like to take a look.” Robin led the way up to the hotel, where Johan had parked the bus. They went through the process of unloading and getting everyone’s room assignments. “Dinner is in the hotel dining room at six thirty.”
Robin climbed the stairs with his bag, settled into the chair in the room, and pulled off his shoes and socks to wriggle his toes. He sat back and closed his eyes, then jumped slightly when Johan touched him. He relaxed instantly when Johan gently rubbed first one foot and then another.
“Did you overdo it?”
“No. I was pretty good. And I had things out with Mason.” Robin groaned as Johan eased away a day’s worth of tension in a few minutes. “Billy and Kyle think Mason is stealing.”
“From people in the group?”
“I think he was going to keep Billy’s money. He found it on the seat, and I caught him but let him think I didn’t realize what he was doing. On the ride here, they told me they thought they might have seen Mason stealing from one of the stores.” He relayed what they’d told him. “And today, he snuck up into the group as we were getting ready to leave. I don’t know if he’s up to something, but he had people to meet in Freiburg. It’s all really suspicious.”
Johan continued rubbing his feet, and Robin sighed. “That’s a pretty huge leap. You were with him for five years. Did you think he was a thief then?”
“No. He traveled for business a few times a year. But he’d always done that for his job. He works for a computer software company, and he had to meet with the various development teams throughout the year.” Though Robin started to wonder if those trips weren’t the cover for some illicit activities.
“Did you ever go with him?” Johan asked.
“No. They were business trips. He and I went on a few vacations together, usually once a year like most people. He took me to New York and Los Angeles. One year we went to Belgium and Amsterdam. It was fun. But I don’t ever remember being suspicious of him. But I am now, and I don’t like it.” Robin set his feet on the cool floor. “What does it say about me if he was? That I was a clueless idiot for the entire five years we were together?”
“No.” Johan placed his hands on Robin’s knees and squeezed lightly. “It means that he could be very good at hiding things.”
“Albert said to keep an eye on him, and if we see anything, call the police. So that’s what I’m going to do.” Robin intended to keep a close watch on him as much as he could without letting Mason know he was being watched. “I told Albert you’d help watch him too.”
“Of course.” Johan stood, and damn it all if he didn’t lift Robin right out of the chair and lay him on the bed. Robin would have protested, but Johan rubbed his shoulders and down his arms, and what Robin was going to say died on his lips, replaced with a deep groan. “Just relax for a while and forget about possible criminal exes and everything else. We have an hour and a half until either of us is needed downstairs.”
Unless someone needed something and knocked on their door. Barring that, Robin could relax, and he intended to make the very most of the quiet time. It wasn’t likely to last forever.
Johan worked his fingers over the top of Robin’s chest, leaning over him. Their gazes met, and Robin couldn’t look away. He licked his lips and cleared his suddenly dry throat. “I….” Nerves bubbled up from inside as Johan’s hands slowly came to a stop and he closed the distance between them, Johan’s lips touching his. Heat built like gasoline thrown on a fire, and Robin wound his arms around Johan’s neck, kissing him harder, deepening the touch as his body went into overdrive.
Robin arched upward, pressing to Johan, needing to feel himself against Johan. Johan tasted slightly of mint and heat, and all male. Robin tugged on Johan’s lips, desperation taking over more quickly than he thought possible. “You’ve been teasing me for days,” he whispered when he pulled back for breath.
“Me? You press that sweet little butt of yours right against me all damn night, and you’ve been driving me crazy. I want you so much.” Johan smiled and kissed him again.
“Well, you drive that bus and I watch you all the time.” Robin ran his fingers through Johan’s hair. “It’s as soft as I dreamed it would be.”
“You could have touched anytime,” Johan whispered, slipping a little closer.
Robin shook his head. “Sharing a bed is one thing, but sharing touches and being together is quite another. I know it probably doesn’t make sense to you, but I didn’t feel like I had the right, I guess.” He tugged gently, the strands of silken hair sliding along his fingers. “I want you, Johan—you’ve got to know that by now—but if you don’t want me the same way, I understand.” It would hurt, yeah. Robin knew that, but… he’d rather have the heartbreak now than once they’d gone too far.
Johan backed away and stood, and Robin figured he had his final answer on the subject. B
ut then Johan tugged his shirt out of his pants and pulled it up over his head, body stretching to his full glory. Acres of golden skin flashed before Robin’s eyes. He gasped as Johan sat back down on the side of the bed, pulling at Robin’s shirt until they fumbled a little to get it off.
“You say the dumbest things sometimes.” Johan wrapped his arms around him and held him chest to chest, guiding their lips together once more.
Robin wasn’t going to argue for a second. This was sheer heaven, skin-to-skin contact, heat to flame, kisses that stole his ability to think. The tour group, the entire world—all of it fell away as Johan surrounded him.
“Johan… I just didn’t want you to think you had to… you know.”
Johan’s fingertips traced along his jaw. “I know I don’t have to do anything. I want to…. I want you.” He pressed Robin back down onto the bed, shifting until he lay right next to him. He drew Robin to him like a moth to flame, and no matter what, there was no way Robin was going to turn away. His entire body thrummed with excitement, blood racing through him, and for a split second, he wondered if the excitement and anticipation would be too much for him. Johan backed away, gentling his kisses, running his hands slowly up and over Robin’s chest.
Robin stilled for a second. Someone touching his scars always sent a weird sensation racing through him. Robin waited for that to happen, but it didn’t, not this time. All he felt was Johan’s touch and the heat that radiated from him with every movement. He tugged Johan down once again and kissed him hard, giving himself over.
Johan’s fingers worked open his belt and then the top of his pants. Robin held his breath, pulling in his belly as the pressure around his waist eased and the fabric parted.
