Page 46 of Blue Gold

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.