Bound by Greed

Chapter 5: The Morning Walk

Noah Carter wasn't the type to check his phone before getting out of bed. But that Sunday morning, he found himself rolling over, thumb swiping across the screen with a groan he didn't quite understand. His muscles were pleasantly sore from yesterday's long workout, yet his mind felt strangely alert.

Maybe it was the sleep.Maybe the sunlight.

MaybeNo. He knew exactly what it was.

Yesterday, he had come back from his trip ready to dive back into work. Instead, he kept thinking about one person.

One short interaction.

One face that had stuck with him...and stayed stuck. Elliot Laurent.

That boy no, that man did something to him. Something Noah didn't want to name yet.

He shook his head, sat up, and scrubbed a hand through his short coils. Get a grip, Carter.

He was 27. Grown. Stable. Focused.

He didn't get flustered over clients or gym-goers especially not someone who looked at him like Elliot did, with equal parts challenge and curiosity.

But it was Sunday morning. Noah had things to do.

And something told him Elliot was already awake.

By 9 a.m., Noah was at the gym. Sundays were slower, calmer, quieter just the way he liked it. He stood behind the front desk, scanning the entry logs on his tablet, sipping his black coffee, when the familiar soft chime of the entrance bell rang.

Noah looked up.And froze for half a second.

Elliot walked in with a light step, wearing fitted black gym shorts and a loose cream tank that dipped just enough to reveal the curve of his collarbones. His hair was tied in a half-up style, glossy under the gym lights. His skin had that effortless glow that made Noah think sunlight followed him around like a loyal pet.

Their eyes locked. Elliot smiled first slow, warm, almost shy, but edged with teasing confidence.

"Morning, Mr. Gym Owner," he said.

Noah's heartbeat kicked up. He tried to play it cool. "Morning, Laurent."

"You remember my name." Elliot raised a brow.

"I remember good form," Noah replied. "And bad attitudes."

"Oh?" Elliot smirked. "Which category do I fall under?"

"Both," Noah said. "But I'll let it slide."

Elliot laughed soft but full, the kind of laugh that made the room warmer.

"Are you here to work out or just to annoy me?" Noah asked.

"Can't I do both?"

God. Noah bit back a smile.

Elliot scanned himself in but lingered instead of walking away.

"Um...would you mind spotting me again today? I don't have a trainer here yet."

There it was again that flutter Noah couldn't control.

"Yeah," he said casually. "I'll come find you."

Elliot nodded and walked off with that soft sway Noah pretended not to stare at.

Pretended.

He finished at the desk, exhaled slowly, and went to join him.

Warm-ups.

Light weights.

Morning sun through the high windows.

Elliot focused, but Noah caught every stolen glance, every shy breath when he corrected his posture.

Every little blush.

"You look like you didn't sleep much," Noah said.

Elliot blinked. "Yesterday was...a lot."

"Oh? Big night?"

A smirk. "Busy day before the night, actually."

"What kind of busy?"

"A shoot."

"A shoot?" Noah repeated. "Photography?"

"Professional."

"And...you're not gonna help me out here, huh?"

"You could ask better questions," Elliot teased.

"Oh, okay." Noah crossed his arms. "What do you do, Elliot?"

"I model."

Silence.

"You're...a model?" Noah repeated.

"Yes, Mister Carter."

Everything made sense the posture, the beauty, the poise.

"Damn."

Elliot smirked. "Good or bad?"

"Good. Very good."

After they finished, Elliot grabbed his bag.

"Thanks for spotting me. I won't keep bothering you if you're busy."

"Elliot," Noah said, warm, "if I didn't want to help, I wouldn't. I tell the truth."

Elliot's smile softened. "Good."

Then

"Where do you live?" Noah asked.

Elliot blinked. "A few minutes away. Why?"

"I'll walk you," Noah said simply. "It's nice out."

"Well...if you insist."

"I do."

They walked in sync without even trying.

"So tell me about this shoot," Noah said.

"It was...a big opportunity."

"You do good?"

"I think so. Maya said I did."

"Maya?"

"My agent. Manager. Friend."

"You deserve people rooting for you."

Elliot looked genuinely touched.

"And then she dragged me to a club," Elliot added.

"So that's why you're tired."

"I am not tired."

"A cute kind of tired."

Elliot almost tripped.

Noah pretended not to see.

Noah caught Elliot's wrist gentle, warm.

"Come on," he said.

Elliot blinked. "Where...? "

"Coffee."

"You're very sure of yourself."

"I am. Especially when I want something."

"And what do you want?"

"To sit with you."

Inside, Noah ordered for them matcha oat latte for Elliot, almond-milk latte for himself.

They sat by the window. Alone. Filtering sunlight between them.

"So," Noah said. "You're a model."

"Yes."

"Full-time?"

"Yes."

"Agency?"

"Lumina."

"That's big."

"You sound surprised."

"I'm impressed."

Noah leaned back in his chair, watching Elliot stir his coffee with absent elegance. "So," he said casually, "be honest... am I finally allowed to follow you on i********:? Or is that strictly VIP access?"

Elliot paused mid-stir, a slow smile tugging at his lips. "Why do you want it?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"Because," Noah said, chin resting on his hand, "you're... interesting. And I want to see more of you than just the fifteen minutes the universe allows me at the gym."

Elliot gave a soft laugh. "Mm, that was smooth. A little too smooth."

"I'm desperate," Noah admitted lightly, grinning. "Help me out."

Elliot pretended to think, then finally lifted his eyes. "It's @elllaurent."

Noah's smile widened, warm and boyish. "Perfect. I'm following you right away "

"And I'm blocking you the second you like my old posts," Elliot teased.

Noah laughed loud, genuine, amused. "Okay, noted. No deep scrolling. For now."

Elliot flushed.

Noah take a look at phone the Elliot with a smile he leaned in.

"So...a dress, huh?"

"Yes."

"And you rocked it."

Elliot's breath caught. "You're not weird about that?"

"No. You're beautiful. Clothes don't scare me."

Elliot stared soft, wide, searching.

Elliot murmured, "You're different from what I expected."

"Oh? Expected what?"

"A gym bro. Loud. Cocky. Annoying."

"And what am I?"

"Quiet. Intentional. Annoyingly observant."

"And you like that?"

Elliot paused and replied "Yes."

After they were done with their drinks they began Walking Again...Closer This Time

Their shoulders brushed. Neither moved.

They reached Elliot's building small, tidy, homey.

"This is me," Elliot said softly.

Noah nodded.

Silence hung warm, charged.

Elliot smiled faintly. "I really liked today."

"Me too," Noah said. "A lot."

Another beat.

Elliot stepped back toward the door but Noah gently caught his wrist again, softer this time, thumb brushing once along the inside.

"Hey," Noah said quietly.

Elliot looked up.

"If I leave right now...there's a chance I won't get this moment again," Noah murmured. "So let me ask while you're standing right in front of me."

Elliot swallowed.

"Can I have your number?" Noah asked. Not cocky. Not casual.

Warm. Intentional.

Romantic.

"I Elliot blinked, breath shaking just a little. Then he smiled a small, dazzling thing. "Yeah. Of course."

He handed over his phone. Noah typed his number in, added a little sun emoji, and returned it.

"So you don't forget who I am," Noah teased gently.

Elliot laughed under his breath. "Trust me, Noah...I won't."

He stepped inside, then turned one last time.

"Have a great day and get some rest"

"See you later Noah «

The door closed.

Noah breathed out only after a full minute.

He's trouble, Noah thought.

But he couldn't wait to make this trouble his.

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