THE DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE

CHAPTER2.3DAMSEL IN LOVE

George hated the strained family relations, the killings in his family for power, the betrayal, and scheming; he didn’t want any part of it. Right after his training at age twenty, he was taken back into the palace, but it was a nightmare. The huge walls with guards present and high security protocols were just for show; the evil inside the walls was too much. He slept better with the wolves out in the wild than in the palace with his family. His parents treated him like a stranger. A tool specifically trained to stabilize their royal power. A monster with a leash. All this added up to his trauma after he joined the Malicia, a group of trained combat mercenaries. It was only after the damage had been done that they realized it, but it was already too late. Since then, he has been going around the world secretly, training, but that was just a reason he needed to keep away from his toxic family.

''Wow.'' Sam cheered, very delighted with the view. The lake was beautiful. He couldn’t believe he had not discovered such a great site.

''This spot is great.'' He murmured under his breath, excited. Water flowed in small amounts from up the mountains and into the lake.

The serene environment kept the water clean and clear, and the sky’s reflection makes it appear gorgeous. One could easily see the pebbles in the lake. The trees curved in towards the lake, making it look like a magical lake deep in a historical forest. The air carried a light smell of pine trees. The summer heat was suffocating. And cool water against his skin was exactly what he needed.

Sam walked to the lake, stripped off his white shirt, showcasing his young body with silky white skin, unaware of the young man whom he’d disturbed from his rest, staring lightning streaks at him. He kept his white shorts on and moved near the lake. He walked on the small bridge-like path made of wood leading towards the lake.

He then pulls his long, golden hair back and ties it into a bun, revealing his starlight ocean-blue eyes that glistened with the light's reflection on the lake.

His young teen body looked godly under the bright sun's rays. George could not utter a word as he was stricken mute by the young boy’s beauty, which caused him to have an unexplainable attraction towards him. With his back to him, George could outline his curvy figure. Even at just fifteen, Sam was already a beauty. He froze, unable to move. He kept on gazing at the boy, feeling a foreign admiration fill his heart. And for just that moment, George forgot his identity as a youthful smile showed on his face. It was his first time getting attracted, and he couldn’t interpret the desirable emotions he was feeling. He had subconsciously mumbled, ''He is beautiful.''

Sam took off his sandals and jumped into the lake with a splash ''Whoosh!''.

''Aaah.'' He exclaimed delightfully. ''The water is just the right temperature. '' Very satisfied, he yells out happily.

He swims around enjoying the water for ten long minutes, splashing and splattering the lake water, before he notices the handsome young man under the umbrella tree. The distance between them did not dull his appearance. Even from afar, his great body and godly appearance couldn’t be hidden.

''Who is he? What is he doing there? What if he is a Peeping Tom? ''Countless thoughts crossed his mind.

The area was isolated. In a sense, no one should have been there, but he was, and with his stunning looks, Sam would have remembered him if he’d seen him before, but he was not a soldier and not one of the guests at the hotel; he could only be a stranger.

George kept away from other soldiers; his private living quarters were a distance away from the others, and even his training time was arranged for him alone. When he used the field or the firing range, the others were scheduled to do something else.

Sam suddenly felt curious and wanted to know who the man staring at him was. It felt like someone was peeping at him, and he wanted to know who had the audacity. A little arrogant, as his father had complete power at the base, he started swimming back. He was planning to give George a scolding, which was forgotten as he was turned speechless by the turn of events.

Swimming back in a hurry, he suddenly feels a sharp pain like electricity shocks through his knee joint and can’t hold himself afloat.

''Oh no, a cramp, not now, not now,'' and he silently prayed, fearing for his life.

He frantically waved his small hands on top of the water, reaching out for an invisible force to hold him up, and unable to call for help as the water kept entering his mouth. And before he could even cry for help. George had already noticed his despair and was swimming towards him like lightning.

George was panicked as he ran towards the lake. He was watching the boy when he saw his small hands waving frantically in the air. He stripped off his shirt, exposing his perfectly sculpted abs, bolted towards the lake, and then jumped in. He’d been training in the scorching heat, hence the brown-tanned skin, giving him a mature appearance.

He swam so fast like he’d been training his entire life for just that moment. George got to Sam on time just when he was about to go under, and pulled him into his arms.

In shock and frightened, Sam instinctively wrapped his hands around George’s neck. The act was very innocent, but George got riled up, his eyes darkened, the electricity within him surged faster and faster; that was his first time being so close to someone. That’s when he felt it, something he had never experienced before. Sam's small hands holding so dearly around him made him feel needed and important. Mostly, as he was saving a life, not taking one. For once in his life, he connected himself with something good and pure. Everything happened so fast that it felt like time stopped as invisible thoughts went through their minds. George gently held him in his arms and took him out of the lake.

As much as George’s dark eyes caught Sam’s attention, so were his eyes towards Sam. George was intrigued by Sam’s starlight, ocean-blue eyes. It appeared like small stars were twinkling in Sam’s eyes, illuminating an unfamiliar, beautiful glow when the sunlight reflected upon them. In that second, they are both lost in the eyes of the other, feasting. Openly admiring each other. Frozen at that moment. Sam felt so small in his arms. How can someone so young have such mature eyes? Sam questioned subconsciously. He kept holding onto George, making the atmosphere between them warm and intimate.

''Will you keep holding onto me?'' George utters, snapping Sam back to his senses. His gorgeous eyes left Sam speechless. Sam flushed all over at the comment, his face turned red. He looked away awkwardly, a little ashamed of himself.

''Are you okay?'' George asked, his voice full of concern.

''Yes, I am okay.'' He should have been shaken after what just happened, but he wasn't. He was more aware of the butterflies in his stomach.

''Good, no swimming unattended again, okay?'' George scolded Sam sternly, but Sam couldn’t hear him. Still lost in his thoughts. George couldn’t imagine what would have happened to the boy if he hadn't been there.

His brows tightened, gazing into Sam's eyes to see if his command was being taken seriously.

''Yes''. George breathed out relieved, satisfied with the answer after the boy uttered softly.

Sam felt embarrassed as he felt his voice break. He couldn’t even make one correct sentence. He had been at the fort for some time now, and the soldiers were mostly shirtless. He couldn’t explain why it felt so different this time. Holding onto George felt so right that he had forgotten to let go, making the tension between them thicken for like an eternity.

''Put me down.'' He stammered, looking up at George shyly. George lowered him down gently; he kept gazing at Sam, making him even more speechless.

''Thank you.'' he murmured. His voice was barely audible, but George heard him.

''You are welcome,'' George answered coolly, quite satisfied with himself. He had just saved a damsel in distress. Embarrassed, Sam quickly put on his shirt, turned around, and ran off without looking back. George smiled at the disappearing figure. For the first time, he didn’t dislike someone who seemed to have deliberately approached him.

Sam couldn’t sleep that night. He lay back in bed in a delightful state of drowsiness, his eyes half open, staring at the ceiling in his room. He was thinking about George’s dark eyes and how he stared back at him. His cheeks turned scarlet at the thought, and he pulled up the blankets shyly, covering his face.