Eros

Chapter 4: America

Angie's cruise ship docked and her insides quivered. In fact, she was on a high the entire trip with Eros alongside her. She enjoyed the quiet dinners they shared. She enjoyed the dancing. She enjoyed the quiet walks on the starboard at night. Though he hardly spoke a word to her after his mysterious kiss, she enjoyed him entirely.

All but for one thing.

He liked girls too much. He kept his wide eyes on them. They would notice and make their way to him. Girls of all ages. Even the married ones.

Angie nibbled her nails. She understood how it felt to bask in the presence of someone like him. She did every day and every night, though she ordered an available cabin for him. Right next to hers.

She sighed. "So, where will you be staying?"

Eros turned to her, the salty breeze ruffling his hair. He shrugged. "Where do you live?"

Angie blushed. She couldn't help but think that he was a lost soul trying to find his way around. He never did say what he was running from, but it didn't seem to matter anyway. She turned fully to him. Though he was a few feet away, her heart stopped just by looking at him. She cursed how easily flustered she became. "I, I. You mean you don't have a place?"

He looked away, his expression enigmatic. "It does not worry me."

"Well, I—not too far from here. Uh, I could ask my dad if you could live in the guest house until the school year is out or whenever. Will you be going back after I graduate? How long do you plan to stay?"

His stare made her nervous. After a long while passed, he lifted a shoulder. She was glad for the clothes Eros had changed into, though she never once saw his luggage. His rippling muscles would've left her a mumbling idiot. "I am unsure." His focus turned distant and he swung his eyes into the hazy blue distance. "I do not know."

"Oh, well, I don't think my dad would mind. You can stay as long as you wish." She flipped her hair until it hid half of her face. She watched him through the strands. Holding her breath. Would he agree? That was as forward as she's ever gotten with any person. There was something about him that made her feel she could trust him implicitly. Though he screamed sex machine, there was something very . . . innocent about him. She couldn't quite place him.

"Really? You would do that for me?" Eros' smile glittered across his face. His shoulders appeared relaxed, his hands splayed on the railing.

Angie's breath caught.

"Good." He nodded and turned away.

Angie stared after him, her mouth open. That was easy. "Eros? What are you going to do on the meanwhile? I mean, you are still in still school, aren't you?" She couldn't help the natural reaction of taking him in. Feeling a bit disconcerted . . . She really didn't know anything about him.

He turned a blank face to her. "A university of learning?"

She laughed at his formal way of speaking. "I-I guess. I thought you were—wait, how old are you?"

Eros smiled, his eyes lighting up. He shook his head. "The same age as you."

"Seventeen?" It was as if a ruthless fist had jabbed her in the stomach.

"You are shocked."

"Well, uh . . . No. No, of course I'm not." She gazed at the Statue of Liberty and wondered. "So, I thought maybe you could—uh, I mean. Well, I'm sure the dean will be okay with a new student though school is almost done with, if you wanted. Maybe."

"Angie, that would be most generous of you."

Her face heated and she couldn't hold his gaze. "Well, it's nothing, really." A hot thrill shook her. Though it was uncommon for a foreign exchange student to come when school was practically done, she had no worries. None at all. Mr. Greek god would be bunking in her home and her father wouldn't have a care.