A Bid For Love

it.
    "Whoa. Ash, look." Scott pointed off the starboard side as they left the harbor. Asher looked over at a beautiful multi-level villa seeming to rise right from the sea, hugging the steep curve of the point, all pink and gold stone against a lush backdrop of lemon trees and bright flowers. The lower levels had been designed for tidal flooding, and the sight left visions of long-ago smuggling and pirate booty playing tag in his mind.
    "It's gorgeous." The dream overran reality. "I'd love a place like that for us."
    Scott snorted a little, something that felt out of place in this peaceful setting. "Yeah, pretty dream. If I manage to win the tri-state lotto without breaking my Gamblers Anon deal by buying a ticket."
    Asher considered his lover for a long moment, realization dawning. Scott never considered any wealth Asher might have hidden away. The monetary advantages of them as a couple just never occurred to the other man. "Or if my investments survive the current economy."
    "Hm?" Scott pulled out of his thoughts and came to stand behind Asher at the helm. Asher couldn't be sure Scott had even heard him. It didn't show in the warm embrace or the nuzzle of warm lips over the nape of Asher's neck. "It's okay, honey. I'm happy to dream a while here. It sure is a pretty setting for you, though. You need me to raise the sail yet, or can I just stand here and snack on you?"
    "Snack all you want." Asher leaned back a bit into strong arms. "I've never been an hors d'ouvre before." He chuckled, still half immersed in his fantasy. A boat of his own so he could take Scott sailing whenever he wished. A bit of a garden in a place where winter never came. He sighed in pure contentment at the feel of soft lips on his neck. "I like that."
    "Me, too. God, you're gorgeous." Scott nestled his chin against Asher's shoulder, silky hair caught in the brisk breeze and tangling with Asher's own. "I feel like I could stay here forever with you and never look back. It's too right."
    The most pleasant shiver Asher had ever experienced worked its way up from his toes. So Scott felt it, too. Lord, just how in sync were they? "It is exactly too right. It's perfect." To flee the world and stay here...God! "It's tempting." They could, perhaps...
    Scott's deep sigh tickled Asher's cheek. "Aw, darlin', we'd probably go nuts inside a month with nobody to chase. And you said you've got family stuff to uphold or...whatever. Don't know as I'm cut out to sell T-shirts and rent out boats." A fresh kiss teased his throat again before Scott let go of him. "Come on. Let's see what this little filly can do with a brisk wind and two daring seamen."
    The play of muscles across broad shoulders appealed more than the boat at the moment. And right now, the "family stuff" seemed impossibly distant and unappealing. He'd far rather sail the calm azure of the Mediterranean with Scott. "As you will..." A sweet endearment nearly slipped from his lips. He wanted to call Scott "sweetheart" and "dearest" and a dozen other things.
    The urge multiplied when Scott pulled up a wonderfully overdone salute and grinned from amidships. "Hoisting the sail, Cap'n!"
    "Sweetheart" got more appealing every second.

    * * * *
    The pretty desk clerk's eyes went wide as they came back from dinner, dressed to the nines. Scott grinned and just gripped Asher's hand tighter. "I love it when a plan comes together."
    His sweetheart's brow ruffled in a frown. "Why does she keep staring at me that way? It's rather...disconcerting."
    "Because she's the one who helped me seduce you last night, darlin'. I told her all about the man who has my heart hog-tied." He eased those frown lines with a kiss, then leaned close to Asher's ear. "So she's probably got all sorts of naughty little visions going on about what we did, and didn't invite her for."
    Asher blinked rapidly as color from more than their day sailing brightened his face. "I..." He closed his mouth and waited a moment before trying again. "You told her about me?"
    For a man known for lauding his effect on the fairer sex, it sure was cute to watch Asher blushing over it now. Scott smiled and led them over to the desk. "Yep. Told her all about the man I work with who knows art, fine food, and culture, and still gets weepy over courtside basketball tickets. I had to have her help to make the evening just right, didn't I?" He blew a kiss at her. "Perfect, sweetheart. Everything worked out perfect."
    " Belissimo !" Her smile would tempt if Scott