Page 45 of Blue Gold

“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.”