Guarding His Jewels

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Also laying on his stomach on his towel, the man had appeared to be sleeping. But under his bicep that was stretched forward and beside his head, Ryan caught him blinking and peeking directly at him. Once caught, the man clenched his eyes shut.

Ryan looked him over. The man was physically similar to him in height, fitness, and age, likely twenty-four or twenty-five years old. The bottoms of his large feet, which were the parts of his body closest to Ryan, hinted at athletic power. The man's dark skin had a creamy, smooth tone. He appeared to have a trim beard and thick, dark hair. His most striking feature was a curvaceous rump that Ryan guessed must be a genetic gift, as endless daily squats were incapable of sculpting such pristine lines and shapes.

Ryan pulled his eyes away from the man's backside and realized that he, too, had now been caught snooping. For a minute, the men locked eyes and an intensity materialized. Neither looked away. Finally, the man broke into a large grin, patted the ground in a gesture of surrender, and rolled over into a sitting position.

"You got me," he said to Ryan.

"What?" Ryan asked, cupping his ear, indicating he could not fully hear the man's words.

The man possessed a good-natured look on his face. He mouthed the word "sorry" to Ryan and shrugged.

Ryan wanted to ask him to repeat himself, but instead, awkwardly gave him the thumbs up sign, smiled, and closed his eyes. Before falling asleep he snuck a few more glances in the man's direction.

Ryan's dream was rowdy and jarring. He saw himself in uniform. He was protecting his boss, Pablo, who suddenly struck him viciously in the back with a spear. While Ryan begged for an explanation, his boss just smiled and floated away, disappearing into the fog. Ryan was desperate to remove the invading weapon from his back. It burned him and caused him to panic. Ryan could not reach the spear's shaft and the spear tip was ripping through his muscles.

"No!" Ryan screamed in his dream, pleading for mercy, until the palm of a hand comforted his shoulder and stirred him.

Ryan was startled awake to find everyone nearby watching him with expressions of concern on their faces. Kneeling beside him was the young bearded man.

"Are you okay, my friend?" the bearded man asked him, keeping his hand on Ryan's shoulder.

"What happened?" Ryan asked.

"You were jerking and mumbling in distress," the man answered. "Someone thought you were having a seizure."

"No, I don't think I had a seizure," Ryan responded, "but thank you for waking me."

The bearded man remained crouched at Ryan's side. He said to everyone staring that Ryan was fine and waking from a nightmare. Several people continued observing Ryan to ensure he was able to regain his composure.

"So I put on a show?" Ryan asked the man.

"That nightmare must have been a doozy," the bearded man answered. "You were witnessing an apocalypse?"

"I cannot remember the details."

"Do you need something to eat or drink?" the man asked, motioning toward his backpack by his towel.

"I brought lunch and a protein shake," Ryan answered, "but thank you for your concern and thank you for helping me just now."

"Why don't you sit up and catch your breath?"

Ryan agreed to his suggestion, scooted over to leave ample space for the man to sit beside him on his towel, and introduced himself.

"My name is Damian."

"Please have a seat, Damian."

Damian sat beside Ryan, who buried his toes in the sand and stared at the waves rolling onto the beach.

"I am feeling embarrassed," Ryan said.

"Would you like to talk about your nightmare?" Damian asked. "Would that help?"

"Just help me bury my head in the sand," Ryan laughed.

"You're fine. There is no need to hide. Everyone here just wanted to make sure you were all right."

"I haven't noticed you here before, Damian."

"I am new to the city," Damian replied. "From Santiago."

"Chile?"

"Yes, I came here to work for my cousin. He is a fighter—a mixed martial arts champion—and we are staying in Pacific Heights for a month. What do you, Ryan?"

"Nothing at the moment," Ryan answered. "Besides worry and have nightmares. I lost my job a few days ago."

"What kind of work did you do?"

"Security. I was a security guard and analyst."

"You can get another position," Damian said.

"Nah, I cannot afford this city," Ryan countered, grinding his heels into the sand and frowning. "I thought Los Angeles was crazy expensive, but this place is much worse. I worked hard to get out of Hollywood and now it looks like I am headed back there."

"That's too bad. I need a friend here."

"I do, too. The only friend I had here lured me to move and work here, set me up in a condo on Diamond Heights, and then threw me away and fired me."

"What happened?" Damian asked.

"It is a mystery to me," Ryan answered. "It all came down so fast my head is still spinning. The bottom line is I am out on my ass, humiliated, and realizing I have been an horrendous fool."

"Damn, you are harsh on yourself."

"I deserve it. I deserve the pain."

"Nobody deserves misery. Surely, there is a fix for you."

"I don't want to talk about it anymore," Ryan said. "My pulse is racing from just thinking about it so much."

"Do you want me to go back to my towel?" Damian asked.

His earnestness and light brown eyes were genial and Ryan liked the scent of Damian's body being showered by the sun. The men were becoming at ease with each other. "I hope you stay here," Ryan said.

Damian nodded, fetched his backpack and aligned his towel beside Ryan's towel. While eating their lunches, Damian talked about Santiago and peppered Ryan with questions about lifestyles and working in Los Angeles. They occasionally glanced at each other's naked bodies, but stayed mostly focused on their new friendship. As the afternoon rolled on, they waded together and then traipsed up to the rock barrier that separated the beach areas from the mighty bridge. Streams of fog began reaching for the towers.

"I have only known you for a few hours now, but it seems like we have been close for a long time," Ryan confessed. "Is that too corny?"

"Not if it's true," Damian answered.

"It feels like I was destined to meet you today."

"I am right with you," Damian agreed, putting his arm around Ryan's shoulder. "I also feel something unique and special."

"Even our legs are in sync," Ryan chuckled, looking down as they walked in unison.

"And we are flopping about with synchronicity, too," Damian added, watching their p*****s bounce with each step. Damian, uncircumcised, began to comment on their size difference, but jettisoned that thought as too obvious and pointless.

The men returned to their towels on the beach. The breeze had chilled several degrees and most visitors had already departed. They dressed and began the climb up the slope.

"I want to admit something to you, Damian."

"Please do," Damian said, bumping their shoulders playfully as they rose up the sheer portion of the incline.

"I have been with some other guys before, but nothing has ever been like this at the start," Ryan said. "I don't even share my feelings that easily, but here I am telling you things without any shame. I cannot believe it."

"Our time together does not have to end," Damian responded.

They reached the apex of the cliff and the end of the trail. "Which one is your car?" Ryan asked, seeing the vehicles still lined along the boulevard.

"I got dropped off here this morning. Will you give me a lift home?"

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