Chapter 14 Daniel
DANIEL
Excitement kicked me out of bed, and I snuck into the bathroom while Claudia was still deep asleep.
Going over everything that had happened yesterday, from spending the morning with Elliot at the farmer’s market to the tense conversation we’d had right here, in this bathroom, it was no wonder I could hardly sleep.
My heart was eagerly racing in my chest, and my stomach churned with the pulsing need to see him again as soon as possible.
Therefore, I skipped shaving and quickly brushed my teeth before I put on my jogging clothes and went outside.
The sun had yet to rise, making it a bit chilly, although it quickly got better as I began running.
I wanted to go and see Elliot smoking his cigarette right away, but too nervous to face him so soon, I’d decided to do a few laps before.
After all, it was only yesterday that I’d admitted to myself that I was, without a doubt, in love with him.
And while it had been a slow descent—a journey I’d dragged out for as long as I could—it was a fall nonetheless, and my heart was now captivated by this French prince.
Around the third lap, my body was all warmed up. I used my shirt to wipe beads of sweat from my brows when I remembered Elliot’s words from yesterday, and then, in an impulse that was unlike me, I took off my shirt and tucked it in the waistband of my shorts.
The kiss of the wind blowing on my chest made me feel exposed, yet I sucked it up and continued running.
There was no reason for me to be ashamed of my body, given the work I’d put into staying in shape.
Claudia often encouraged me to “show off”—her words, not mine.
However, it was only after Elliot mentioned that he would also like to stare at me that I felt the eagerness to get naked.
Spotting the guesthouse from afar, I increased my pace.
By now, the first rays of sun were already painting the sky in bright hues of red, and I knew how divine Elliot would look in this lighting.
But as I reached my regular spot, I was sad to find out he wasn’t out on his porch.
My heart fell as disappointment washed over me.
Until now, he’d never skipped his morning cigarette, but the day after he learned I loved watching him, he decided to skip it.
Had I mistaken yesterday for something else?
Could it be that what I thought was him reciprocating my feelings was nothing but pity?
But just as I began sinking into my typical pessimism, the glass sliding doors of his porch opened, and Elliot walked out, a big smile on his young face.
“Bonjour, Daniel,” he greeted me with a wave.
In seconds, my mood changed, and happy he was here, I first looked over my shoulder to check the coast was clear before I ran closer to him.
Elliot bent over the porch rail, and for a moment, it felt like we were recreating a scene from Romeo and Juliet.
Only the porch he stood on wasn’t at all high, and only a few steps separated it from the ground.
“Good morning,” I finally greeted him back, a bit out of breath, as I watched him tuck a cigarette between his lips.
“Are you done with your running?”
We spoke in French, of course, as we always did.
“No, I still have a few more miles left.”
Elliot lit up the cigarette, his eyes traveling along my naked torso as he slowly blew out the smoke. “You know, it’s been a while since I last exercised. How about I join you?”
Excited, I answered way too fast. “Of course.”
“But promise me you’ll run slow, okay? I doubt I’m as fast as you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll match your pace,” I said, feeling confident.
“Super.” He smiled and took another short drag before blowing out the smoke from the corner of his lips. “Let me get ready,” he said, then put out the cigarette in an ashtray and walked back inside his room.
Noticing he’d kept the sliding door open behind him, I climbed the steps to his porch and was ready to tell him when I stopped in my tracks.
From behind the curtains, I got a glimpse of Elliot’s body as he stripped off his clothes.
My initial thought was to turn around and give him privacy, but once he pushed his sweats down his thighs to reveal his glorious backside, I couldn’t look away.
Firm and perky, with two dimples of Apollo right above it, his ass was a work of art.
What was more, his skin was paler there, and just thinking of his body being kept away and hidden like a lost treasure made me weak in the knees.
I could almost imagine smoothing my hand from the arch of his back all the way down to his round globes.
But imagination wasn’t enough, and I wished to see more, so much more.
As if my prayers were heard, Elliot turned around, and I got a quick glimpse of his dick.
Nestled in a garden of dark pubes, neatly trimmed, his cock was a work of art.
My throat dried at the same time my temperature rose, and I could feel my arousal growing at the erotic sight molding before me.
To calm myself down, I reached down and grabbed my dick over the thin fabric of my running shorts while my mind filled with inappropriate thoughts about all the things I would love to do to him.
I knew the proper thing was to look away, but it was simply impossible—all I could do was keep staring at his gorgeous cock and divine body.
Everything about him was beautiful and elegant, from his long legs to his defined muscles, all perfectly sculpted to emphasize my fantasies or my worst nightmare.
I was Eve, and he was my forbidden fruit, which I yearned to taste so badly I was willing to sin.
And oh, what a sin would that be. I had absolutely no doubt there would be no return after taking a bite, and I nearly made that mistake and walked into the den of the monster.
But thankfully, right before I took the first step, Elliot disappeared further into the room, probably to get dressed.
It was my sign to back out, and quickly, I got off his porch and went back to the trail, where I waited for him until he joined me.
“Tell me the truth. When you said you’re not fast—” I paused for some air. “—you lied, didn’t you?”
Jogging ahead of me thus far, Elliot effortlessly turned around as he began running backward. “And why would you think that?” he teased, a slight smirk on his flushed face.
The fact that he was practically skipping after eight miles said it all.
“Maybe because I can hardly keep up while you look like you can run twelve more miles?”
Usually, I’d have more strength than that. But considering his faster pace and the amount of power I put into not staring at his ass the whole run, it was no wonder I was exhausted.
“Fine.” Slowing down, he moved to run by my side. “I’ve jogged for nearly my entire life.”
“So that’s what… ten years?”
He slapped my arm in return.
“Ha-ha, very funny.” He rolled his eyes. “We both know I’ll be twenty on Saturday.”
That’s true. His twentieth birthday was in two days, and I was already counting the minutes to give him his present.
“So you used to run a lot back home?”
“Yes. I loved running in the fields around my village. Besides, it wasn’t like there were many other options…”
“I’m curious about that village of yours—”
My words were cut short when Elliot stopped running, and confused, I did the same.
Standing with his back to me, he was staring ahead at the ocean, his dark hair swaying with the slightest breeze.
“Isn’t it just beautiful?” he asked.
Resting my hands on my knees while catching my breath, I nodded. “Yeah, sure.” I checked the time on my watch. “We’d better get going. It’s getting late.”
Instead of listening to me, Elliot began walking down to the shore.
“Did you hear me?” I called after him.
“Yes.”
I frowned. “So where are you going?”
“To swim.”
“What?” My brows drew closer.
While I was still processing his words, Elliot had already begun stripping out of his clothes. My nerves kicked in, and I quickly followed him down to the beach, in time to catch his shirt, which he threw over his shoulder.
“Hold on, just a second—” I circled him before he could push down his shorts.
“What?” he pouted.
“What do you mean, ‘what’?” I nervously smiled at him while looking around the empty beach. “We’re in public. You can’t just strip naked.”
Elliot looked left and right before meeting my eyes. “But there’s no one here.” He shrugged. “Besides, I’m not stripping naked. I’m just going to swim.”
“Without your clothes.” My eyes darted down his body and up.
“You worry too much, monsieur,” he said in half French, half English.
I pushed his shirt into his chest. “Come on, put it back on.”
“No.” He crossed his arms, and I gaped at his answer.
“What do you mean ‘no’?”
He pointed over me. “You’re shirtless, too.”
Realizing he was right, I coughed. “Well… yes, but for entirely different reasons— Hey!” I quickly bent down and grabbed both his hands before he could take off his shorts. “Could you please just stop stripping?” My heart was in my throat with how fast it was racing.
“Why? I have a beautiful body.”
Still holding him tight, I sighed. “I-I’m not denying that, but you can’t just get naked out of the blue.”
“Why not? It is just a penis.”
Caught off guard, I nearly choked on my tongue.
“D-dear Lord, Elliot. We’re in public.”
“What public? It’s only you and me here… And I would love to see your penis.”
My whole face heated, and embarrassed, I had to look away. “For heaven’s sake, could you please stop saying that word?” I finally let go of him.
“Which one?”
“T-that word.”
“Penis?” He searched my eyes, and unwillingly, I nodded.
“Yes. That.”
“Do you prefer cock? How about phallus? Wait, what do you Americans call it? Oh, yes, dick?”
Now he chooses to speak English?
Elliot seemed amused by my reaction, given his smile, while I attempted to keep it cool. I wasn’t such a prude, as I cursed and swore myself… but having him speak so vulgarly put me on the spot.
“Fine, I’m willing to stay in my briefs,” he suddenly said.
“That’s great—”
“If you’ll join me.”
“Huh?” I glared at him.
“In there.” He pointed over the water. “I want you to come swim with me.”
Shaking my head, I waved my hands in front of me. “There’s no way I’m going for a swim. The water is cold, and it’s already this late—”
“Okay.” Elliot shrugged, and the next thing I knew, his marvelous ass was exposed for anyone to see.
“Alright, alright!” Panicked and without lingering on his naked skin, I moved to hide him away from the world. “I’ll go swimming with you. Just please put on your underwear.”
“Yay.” Elliot beamed while clapping his hands.
Sneaky little weasel.
Once his ass was all covered up, I glanced over my shoulder to ensure we truly were alone before I took off my gym shorts.
“Check out those briefs.” He whistled, causing my cheeks to flare.
“T-they’re comfortable.”
“They’re sexy, too.” He winked, and suddenly, I understood how exposed women felt under the gaze of a man.
It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy his attention—on the contrary, I enjoyed it way too much, to the point I feared my excitement would be shown. The white boxer briefs he wore that clung to his firm ass also didn’t help my unfortunate situation.
Still hesitating, I watched him run into the water from the shore.
His long legs stretched with each step in an almost effortless way as his feet barely touched the sand, making him look light and carefree—as a guy his age should be.
Hypnotized, I observed him jump into the water, diving headfirst. I wasn’t surprised when he surfaced, calling out about how cold the water was.
And while I enjoyed this moment, it also came with great fear of someone passing by and seeing us.
And yet, my desires to dive in and join him were greater than my fears, and so I did.
The ocean was indeed freezing, and I shrank once my toes touched the water.
But Elliot’s voice calling me to hurry up gave me that last push I needed, and without thinking twice, I jumped in.
As the sea enveloped me completely, I felt as though I’d been baptized once again.
I was sure of it once I resurfaced, and my first sight after opening my eyes was Elliot standing before me, hair wet and pushed back from his divine face.
He smiled at me, and at that moment, all I heard was angels singing.
“Refreshing, isn’t it?” he asked while my full attention was set on a single drop of water that lingered on his skin, right next to the beauty spot under his left eye. Like a diamond in the rough, that small drop challenged me to steal it.
“It is,” I said, slowly moving my hand to wipe it away.
Holding his breath, Elliot closed his eyes and allowed me to.
His plump lips seemed redder because of the cold, and his skin paler.
He looked like an angel who’d fallen from the heavens, and not leaning in to kiss him was almost a crime.
Every part of me yearned to touch him, and so I gently stroked his cheek, savoring the pleasure of having him lean into my touch.
The only thing I missed was the blueness of his irises, which was even deeper than the ocean.
Then, as if reading my mind, he opened his eyes and stared right into my soul, turning me into nothing but a servant at his feet.
The next thing that happened was even more marvelous: Elliot leaped in.
With his hands on my shoulders, he leaned close until our faces were an inch away, and his sweet breath fanned against my lips.
My heart was beating loudly in my ears, enough to quiet down my growing fear.
Hoping no one but God was here to witness us, I closed the fair distance until my lips grazed his.
There was nothing intrusive about this touch, which could hardly be called a kiss, and yet it was the deepest kiss I’d ever experienced.
Unable to control myself, my hands moved to his waist, and I grabbed him tightly right before I pulled back.
Elliot let out a soft sigh while stroking his nose against mine.
“We better get back,” I said, even though I didn’t want to.
Pressing his lips together, he nodded. “Yes.”
Without speaking, I grabbed his hand and tangled our fingers together before carefully leading us out of the water and back to our safe haven.