Page 35 of The Chameleon

He ran toward it, head down, trying to avoid stepping in any puddles as he ran.

Ooof.

Matteo’s body collided with something solid, causing him to stumble backward out into the rain.

A quick-moving hand reached out and caught him, pulling him back under the safety of the awning.

Before Matteo even had a chance to register what was happening, he was pulled close against the stranger’s body. Rough and firm hands held Matteo in place as the mystery man spun them around so that his knight in shining armor was now standing with his back out in the rain.

Staring into the man’s gentle brown eyes, Matteo couldn’t believe that this total stranger was voluntarily allowing himself to get wet while making sure that Matteo stayed dry.

Who does that?

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that someone was hiding under here,” Matteo shouted, struggling to be heard against the crashing of the rain.

The figure before him smirked, giving Matteo a heated gaze.

“No need to apologize. It’s not every day that a handsome man comes barreling into my life.”

Blushing, Matteo couldn’t help but smile back. The man was a tiny bit shorter than Matteo, with rugged good looks and long dark hair, which was quickly getting soaked by the falling rain.

“Here, come in a bit. You’re getting soaked.” Matteo laughed, pulling the man closer toward him. His back was already pressed up against the wall, but he wasn’t letting this handsome hunk of a man get soaked on his behalf. Plus, he didn’t mind feeling the man’s chiseled chest pressed firmly against his own.

The man chuckled. Even with them standing this close, the poor guy’s back was still being rained on.

“It’s a small price to pay to keep that gorgeous face of yours dry and out of the rain.” Their faces were just inches apart.

The man wrapped his arm around Matteo’s waist and pulled them closer together. There was something about the way he held Matteo, firm and confident, that made Matteo’s dick take notice.

The man was protecting him.

Holding him close to ensure that he was safe and out of harm’s way.

Matteo felt butterflies. He had never been held before in such a protective, possessive manner. He wasn’t going to lie—he was kind of loving it.

“I’m Matteo,” he finally announced, smiling at the mysterious stranger like a blushing schoolgirl.

The rod in Matteo’s pants thickened when the man holding him gave him the dirtiest smirk he had ever seen.

“Hey, gorgeous. I’m Ares.”

And with those four little words, Matteo was hooked.

The rain continued around them for the next forty minutes, but Matteo didn’t notice. The only thing that existed was the intriguing, burly man pressed firmly up against him.

Breathing in each other’s air, they passed the time by chatting and getting to know one another.

Matteo talked about his travels and how he was on a trip to explore the lesser-known regions of Spain and Portugal. He wanted to get to know the people and experience different cultures and regional customs.

Ares, in turn, explained that he was visiting as well, having rented a cabin for a few weeks, and was using the opportunity to learn Spanish from a local tutor.

Once the rain stopped, Ares asked Matteo if he would like to join him for dinner. They grabbed a couple of bowls of paella, a simple rice dish with vegetables and chicken, from a tiny woman who looked to be pushing a hundred. For a meager old broad, the woman certainly made an incredible dish!

Sitting on a fallen log, the two enjoyed their rustic dinner, not caring that their asses were wet from the rain or that the sun had set ages ago. It was just the two of them sitting under the stars, getting to know one another.

It was one of the best dates Matteo had ever been on.

Not wanting the evening to end, Matteo asked Ares where he was staying.

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