Page 32 of Sun, Sea and Spotted Squid

What did that mean? Did he think they were going somewhere too. Sam refused to be the kind of guy who needed guarantees. Desperation had never been an attractive quality. Something about having this muscleman in his bed made him want to know that he wouldn’t lose it. Not for a while anyway.

“Tell you what,” Sam said. “How about I go and get supplies from the baker and deli that you like? I’ll tell the others you’re sleeping and I’m working. They won’t know any different.”

Wolfgang cuddled him tight. “Then we can stay in our own world?”

Sam struggled free. “We can stay in our own world IF you keep the noise down.”

He jumped off the bed and put on the shorts and T-shirt he’d thrown off so readily hours before. Wolfgang stretched, his muscles contracting.

“Don’t move,” Sam said. “You’re so hot. I’ll be as quick as I can.” He kissed him. At the door he glanced over his shoulder. Wolfgang really did look incredible, lying there naked waiting for Sam. With some difficulty, he forced himself out of the door and bounded down the stairs. Almost colliding with Astrid coming out of the kitchen.

“Oh you’re in,” she said, clutching her chest. “How’s Wolfie?”

Instantly Sam’s back was up. What did she know? Had she heard them? Then he realised none of their flatmates knew Wolfgang had been let out of hospital.

“He’s asleep upstairs,” Sam said. “They discharged him from hospital this morning. They said he needs rest. What are you two up to?”

Peering into the kitchen, Sam found Maria apparently burning a selection of vegetables in an alarmingly smoky pan. Astrid went in and took it out of her hand. She threw it into the sink where the cold water produced a cloud of steam.

“We’re going out to dinner,” she said. “Want to come?”

Sam pretended to be tempted. “I’d better not. I promised Wolfgang I’d get him some bits from the shop.”

Astrid winked at Maria. “There will be wedding bells in Squid Towers before long.”

She had no idea how close to the truth that comment was. Whilst Sam had no intention of getting married anytime soon, he could be persuaded to enjoy a wedding night.

He grabbed his bag from the chair. “Come on. I’ll walk with you. Where are you heading?”

“Into the old town,” Astrid said. “Did you see that new waiter at Del Mar?”

Sam shook his head. She was a trooper, he’d give her that. Maria paused by Genevieve and Paul’s door.

“Should we ask them?”

They stopped to listen. Genevieve was wittering on about something or other. Sam imagined poor Paul patiently waiting until she’d finished before he resumed watching TV or whatever they did in there.

“Maybe not,” Maria said, answering her own question.

They set off down the stairs and spilled out onto the pavement. As always people were cramming the tiny street. Sightseeing or going about their daily business.

“I’m heading to the bakery,” he said. “I want churros.”

Maria flicked him on the temple. “They’re for breakfast, you heathen.”

“I want what I want,” he fired back, returning the flick. “See you later.”

Or not.

Walking on air, he bought a few tasty treats from shops on the way to his destination. The woman behind the counter beamed when she saw him walk in.

“Ah. I see you are going crazy for our pastries,” she declared.

Sam felt himself redden. Had he been coming in that much? He patted his stomach and winked whilst making a mental note to keep up the jogging even while Wolfgang recuperated.

Out on the street, he picked up the pace. Firstly because he couldn’t wait to get home and secondly he was being recognised in bakeries.

After buying a bottle of wine from the bar underneath their abode, he jogged up the stairs.