“Oh my God. Adorable overload. Are they real?” he managed not to squeak it too loudly, but it was a close call.
Sean’s eyes were crinkled behind his mask and Mai was smiling also.
Dr Anong sat him down, positioned his hand and an assistant placed into it the tiniest, cutest, little monkey Aydin had ever seen.
“It’s real,” Dr Anong told him. “She’s a Bengal slow loris. She’s an orphan, about four weeks old, and she wants her breakfast. Will you feel her?”
“Yes. Yes. Oh my God. Yes,” Aydin gushed.
The next few hours were magical.
He learned about the work the rescue centre did. Both with breeding, raising orphans and rehabilitating as many animals as possible back to the wild. But in safe areas.
Saddened that these enchanting little creatures were so in demand in the illegal pet trade, and even more disgustingly, some weird-arse medical traditions.
But hopeful at the work that was being done for them.
They had a few animals that were too used to humans, from being pets, and were now used for education, so he got to have cuddles and some play. Which clearly was what the kids had been so excited about.
“This is like the opposite to your elephants,” he told Sean, while stroking the incredibly soft fur of a lazy, fat, loris.
“Bit smaller. But actually some of our enrichment and rehabilitation techniques are identical.”
“Thanks for bringing me, Sean.”
He had been back helping with the elephants the next afternoon, but that night Sean found Aydin pensive on the porch. Looking into the darkness towards the enclosures.
“Uh, Oh,” He teased as he slipped an arm around his friend’s waist. “Someone’s fallen in love!”
Aydin let his head fall onto Sean’s shoulder as he leaned in to the hug. “I’m worried about Lawan. What if she think’s that I left because she was bad?”
Sean had called Sophon out and asked Aydin to repeat the question. Knowing Aydin might not fully trust it from him.
Sophon rolled his eyes, but he had the same innate kindness and patience as his dad.
“She won’t. All the elephants understand that people who look like you are just visiting. Whether you stay six hours, or six months. They expect people to leave.”
“Westerners you mean?”
Sophon nodded.
“Obviously, I’m special,” Sean quipped. Aydin huffed a laugh. Feeling a little better, even if he didn’t know how he was going to leave.
“She’s nineteen now. You come back for her thirtieth birthday, I guarantee she’ll remember you.” Sean added.
“No way!” Aydin looked at Sophon who nodded solemnly.
“Yea, Dusit says.”
“That’s it. I’ll be here. I’ll bring my partner and the kids. It’ll be a blast.”
“You’ve got kids?” Sophon asked.
“Well, maybe by then. Who knows.”
Still, despite the entire team sending him off, and Lawan giving him her own personal, cheeky, farewell. Aydin had cried all the way to Bangkok, his heart tearing, just a little.
-X
As Aydin was flying a one direction around the world deal, the easiest way had been Bangkok to Manila and then on to San Francisco.
But he was heartily sick of planes by the time he landed.
As he dragged his bags into a cab at the airport, he felt he would kiss Connor’s feet when he got back to New York. Or maybe even his ass. If Connor hadn’t insisted on lie flat seats, he would have broken down a day ago.
Knowing full well he could have gone back to New York from Thailand, but he had always wanted to experience the Folsom Street Fair, and this seemed the trip of a lifetime and the time to do it.
Even better, he had spent a great deal of the past day in the air, flirting with a very cute and very funny steward called Tod.
Tod had some time off in San Fran, as he also was going to the fair. They were both going to crash today, but were meeting for lunch at Pier 39 tomorrow and would explore the city, before going to the main event on Sunday.
The following day dawned bright and sunny, with a fresh breeze.
Aydin and Tod enjoyed a seafood lunch, and spent the entire day laughing. Taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes of San Francisco.
They hired bikes to cover more ground, and ended up in Chinatown, near Aydin’s hotel.
Still grinning from the last joke, hand in hand, they tumbled out of the restaurant, tummy’s full, and by mutual agreement walked the short distance to the hotel.
Aydin eyed Tod as he yawned and stretched in the elevator. Hands above his head, his T-shirt rode up slightly to expose a hint of definition and a scattering of light hair.
Tod was around five-seven and slender. Dark hair and pretty light brown eyes. He seemed to have endless energy, although flagging a bit now, and was so funny.
A compact bundle of cuteness.
Aydin thought that being smaller was probably a benefit when your workplace was in the sky.
Letting his arms drop, Tod caught Aydin watching and grinned. Capturing his hand when they reached the right floor and swinging it as they walked to the door.
Aydin opened the door and held it for Tod. It was a nice room. Not fancy, but clean, and the bed was huge.
They entered, hands falling apart, and Aydin watched as Tod took in the room. “You have more space than me,” he admitted. “Good idea coming here.”
“Why don’t you go and freshen up first,” Aydin suggested. “There’s spare toothbrushes and stuff in there.”
Tod smiled and nodded and disappeared into the bathroom, soon coming out all minty fresh and smiling.
Aydin took his turn and then found Tod sat on the bed, having investigated the mini-bar and poured a couple of drinks.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Aydin took his glass and perched on the side of the bed.
“Thanks for a fun day,” Tod said and they tapped glasses.
“Here’s to a fun night,” Aydin added and Tod snorted a laugh before they drank.
Then they sat for a moment, holding their empty glasses and feeling strangely uneasy.
“Here,” Tod placed the glasses aside and then leaned in towards Aydin. Aydin bent down to meet his lips.
Aydin’s lips were closed and Tod’s slightly open, so it was one of those awkward kisses where one party seems keener than the other. But they adjusted. Over compensated. Adjusted again.
Tod tried to push himself a little higher, to reach Aydin, and his foot slipped on the carpet. Aydin caught him before he tumbled to the floor.
“Shit. Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“Um.” Tod considered for a moment. “Let’s, um. T-shirts, yea? And get on the bed, it might be easier.”
Aydin nodded and they both stripped off their tops before kneeling in the centre of the bed facing each other.
Aydin felt proud as Tod’s eyes skimmed over his slender, strong torso. He didn’t tan, but nearly two weeks of careful exposure in Thailand had made his skin a pretty light gold colour that he knew looked good with his already bright hair.
He murmured appreciation at Tod’s very lovely six pack and reached out to run his fingers lightly over the ridges. Pulling back when Tod jumped and yelled.
“Sorry, I’m really ticklish.”
Aydin grinned and Tod smiled back, then seemed to take a determined breath. Moving closer they lined up again and kissed.
Tod’s mouth was firm, and hot, and the perfect kind of wet without being sloppy. His tongue teased Aydin’s, dipping in and out to taste.