Gemotions

The scent of chlorine and sunscreen hung in the air. He was poolside, relaxing, when his husband, Mark, walked over, a towel slung over his shoulder. He sat down, and for a moment, he just looked at him. Then, with a playful grin, he said, "Shalom, honey."

He stared at him. The effort, the imperfect pronunciation, the sheer audacity of it, sent a jolt of pure energy through him. He was a long way from home, and hearing the words from Mark's mouth, with his accent, and his easy smile… it was intoxicating.

His mouth felt dry. He wanted to drag Mark back into the water, to keep him close. The sun was hot on his skin, but the heat emanating from Mark was far more intense. "What... are you doing?" he managed to say. Mark simply smiled, and the smile was like a physical touch.