The Ocean Walk - 3. The Ocean Walk. Part 3

The Ocean Walk. Part 3.

In the tent they talked, but Joel noticed that Jarrad was quieter than usual.

"Is everything all right? You haven't stirred me all night."

"Um. Can I give you hug Joel? You had me so scared last night."

"Sure. But it should be me giving you the hug, for looking after me."

"I'll go first."

Joel felt strong arms round him and then warmth as their bodies pressed together. He thought of how Jarrad had expressed his feelings with a hug when they reached safety after the long swim and wondered if this was the same sort of thing. Oh no. Joel felt the same reaction he'd had last time starting as well. What was Jarrad going to think if it happened again? He tried to put it out of his mind in hopes it wouldn't happen, but steadily he felt himself reacting more and more.

"Jarrad. We'll have to stop. This is so embarrassing."

"No way. I haven't finished my hug yet. Is that weapon of yours coming to life?"

Joel felt Jarrad press against his groin, starting another rush of sensation. Oh God. That really did it. Joel had to wriggle his body away because he'd become so hard he had to adjust himself. He made a bit of a struggle but then Jarrad's arms just tightened more and Joel knew he couldn't escape.

"Don't worry about it. I'm not going to let you go till I feel you completely relax. And then it's your turn to hug me back."

Joel shrugged in his mind. This impossible creature holding him wasn't giving him any options anyway, so relaxing was more sensible than struggling. After a moment more Joel felt the closeness of Jarrad pouring through him and suddenly didn't care. His own arms tightened now and the hug became more and more important.

"Man. Joel that's better. I knew we'd get to have a proper hug eventually. And I won't even be able to stir you about your murder weapon either."

Now it was Joel who wondered what Jarrad was talking about.

"What do you mean? I can't imagine you not stirring. You're a super stirrer."

"You're a pretty good hugger Joel. It's my turn to say I'm getting embarrassed, except I'm not really. Are you going to let me go or what?"

With a shock Joel realised what was happening and couldn't help laughing.

"This is too much. No way. This is payback and insurance rolled into one."

The hug continued for a short while till Jarrad wriggled his body and Joel felt the Eiffel Tower pressing strongly against him. Hell. What to do now?

"Don't panic Joel. You can let go now."

"Ha. You started this. So what if I keep hugging for as long as you have?"

"I like your hugs Joel. So it won't worry me."

Joel thought that that would be right, so he let go and things went quieter.

"Jarrad? Do you go hiking very often?"

"Stacks. Whenever I get the chance. I stick near the beach in the summer, but I like the mountains as well."

"If you're ever looking for someone to go along, you could let me know because I'd love to come with you."

"Right. Will you come on my next hike, and the one after that and the one after that?"

"Oh. When will they be?"

"Joel. You're amazing. You're too gentle sometimes. I mean you can come on a hike with me any time you like."

They talked about different hikes they'd been on and Joel started to feel sleepy. When he rolled on his side, Jarrad snuggled up against him and put his arm across, the way he had when they shared the sleeping bag. Joel was used to this now and started to doze off, but when Jarrad's hand moved away from his chest and rested on his stomach he started to come awake again. Joel gave a silent laugh. Here we go again. A repeat of the other morning. He felt himself boning up, and just when he was feeling relieved that Jarrad hadn't moved his hand any lower, that was exactly what happened. It was now a total repeat. Joel felt himself get harder and harder and Jarrad's fingers seemed to be making little random movements. It was too much and Joel felt his boner twitch against Jarrad's fingers. Just when he was about to move Jarrad's hand away he froze in shock.

Jarrad was awake.

Joel's heart started thumping when Jarrad's hand slipped into the top of his jocks and started a very gentle squeezing. He nearly jumped up by reflex, but realised that he didn't have anything to worry about. As the seconds ticked away, Jarrad's actions gradually became more definite, till Joel couldn't help giving a gasp when his jocks were slipped down and his straining boner taken fully in hand. Joel felt Jarrad tug at him till they were facing each other and then a soft voice spoke in his ear.

"Would you like to explore the Eiffel Tower Joel?"

"I want to say yes, but I don't know how to."

"All right. Give me your hand and we'll do it together."

Joel put felt his hand guided till it was resting on Jarrad's boner. It was so big and so hard. What should he do now? As if his thoughts had been read he heard Jarrad speak softly again.

"Just do whatever I do. Okay?"

"Okay."

Joel gasped again as Jarrad's fingers started tracing, and his feelings got so strong it was a few moments before he started doing the same thing. He stopped straight-away when Jarrad made the strangest moaning sound but then he realised it was the same sort of thing as his own gasps. Joel's fingers resumed their movements and as his nervousness receded, the impressions started to pile into his mind.

What a strange feeling it was to hold someone else. Jarrad felt so solid somehow and when his hand moved even lower, Joel marvelled at the smooth texture of the sac he was now lightly squeezing. Jarrad's hand moved and started it's own squeezing. With each burst of pressure Joel felt himself try to harden even more and a kind of tightening in his groin. The feeling was so overpowering that Joel couldn't stop himself from pressing up into Jarrad's hands with each squeeze. With a sudden guilty feeling he realised he wasn't doing the same back to Jarrad. He started to but was soon lost in the flood of sensations again.

"Oh. Jarrad. Faster. It's too much."

Jarrad's hand clasped likely round Joel and started quickly rushing up and down. He held his thumb so that it pressed on the head with every stroke and in a couple of minutes Joel felt like every atom of energy was concentrated in one area of his body, and trying to escape as he clenched and pumped. Of course he didn't really faint, but for a moment he certainly wasn't aware of much. When Joel recovered his wits he was lying with Jarrad's hand still holding him. For a while he just lay there with the feeling of Jarrad's body pressing tight against him.

"I'm sorry Jarrad. My feelings took over and I couldn't concentrate on you."

Joel reached for Jarrad and this time he did everything himself. The Eiffel Tower got a really thorough investigation again till Jarrad started making his moaning sounds and Joel started the same loose grasp, and thumb pressure action that Jarrad had used on him. Jarrad was just as quick to climax and surprised Joel with a great yell. Jarrad collapsed too, but when he recovered he rolled on top of Joel.

"I've got you now. You're never going to get away from me."

Joel didn't particularly want to get away, and felt himself getting hard again from all the strong warm muscles pressed against him. He wrapped his arms round Jarrad and hugged him as tight as he could.

"Um. Jarrad. I hope you don't want to get away from me either."

"Joel. You're amazing."

Joel didn't quite know what Jarrad meant, even though it did make him feel good, but he hardly thought about it because Jarrad's hands had started moving again. During the next couple of hours Joel felt barrier after barrier crashing down as he explored every inch of Jarrad and felt his own body responding to a similar investigation. Jarrad soon had him laughing and relaxed, and all his embarrassment and nervousness disappeared with the actions, soft murmurings and intimate teasing. The Apollo rocket was named as a companion to the Eiffel Tower, and christened in their own way, before Jarrad caused a blast off, as he laughingly described it. In the morning Joel woke with his usual boner. Yes. Jarrad was holding him and with a kind of thrill, Joel realised that he wouldn't be sneaking out for a quick wank this time. With a laugh to himself he realised he did need to go out for a leak, but when he came back he just replaced Jarrad's hand then watched himself grow hard again.

"Ha. You didn't do that the other morning."

Joel started at the sound of Jarrad's voice, leaned over to give him a kiss, and then the words sank in.

"You were awake then?"

"I'm pretty good at pretending to be asleep."

"What? ...When?"

"I was awake a few times when you thought I wasn't. If you lie on top of me, I'll tell you."

This only took moments and their bodies were pressed close.

"Okay. Tell me."

"Um. Hold onto me too."

Joel grabbed one of Jarrad's ear lobes and pressed his fingernail gently into it.

"Kinky stuff now Joel?"

"Tell me."

"Um. Promise me you won't wear any clothes today then."

"All day? All right."

"And let me do whatever I like to you for half an hour."

"Okay. I will. So are you going to tell me?"

Two hours later they had to get out of the tent. It was too hot with the sun shining on it and they hadn't had any breakfast yet.

"Jarrad. You still haven't told me when you were pretending to be asleep."

"I'll tell you one time. When you nicked out of the tent for a wank."

"You were awake then? Well you had me tricked."

"Well I had to take things slowly so you'd get used to it. You're awfully shy you know."

"I'm not that shy."

"Yes you are. It's cute."

"I don't believe you said that. Cute?"

Joel crumpled under Jarrad's hug.

"Yes. Cu- tie! You've got the dreamiest eyes I've ever seen. You look like you're thinking about something important all the time."

"Hmm. I can't believe my ears are hearing you talk like this. When are we going to get our breakfast?"

"See what I mean. That's cute."

"Asking when we're going to have some breakfast is cute?"

"It is when you do it."

It was Joel's turned to laugh.

"You're mad. You're a maniac. Ha. You're a sex maniac."

"So are you."

"I suppose so. When are we going to have our breakfast?"

"That's cute."

"Ah. Help. Trapped underneath a maniac."

When Joel got out, all naked as he'd promised, he organised some food and went slightly red when Jarrad stared at him all the time.

"See. You are shy."

"It just feels different now that we're out of the tent."

"Hey Joel. Do you know what I feel like eating right now?"

"Ha. Well you'll have to wait. What are we going to do today?"

"Let's see. There's half an hour when you have to let me do whatever I like, and then you made me promise to let you take some photos of me."

They finished eating their food and headed to the beach for a surf. Putting sunblock on each other was so effective that another hour disappeared before they actually reached the water. Jarrad was full of so much laughter and life. Every few minutes Joel would feel himself hugged or held, pulled over or pushed under, or have a smooth wriggling body jumping up to be carried piggyback till a wave tumbled them into the water. Joel had his time on the beach where he gave himself to Jarrad to do whatever he wanted, and it extended for much more than the half hour of the previous night's promise.

The rest of the day was spent in laughter and activity, rest and passion. It was strange, but special, to feel Jarrad's hands roaming over his body while he lay with his hands behind his head. He didn't move while Jarrad tickled him and he didn't move while Jarrad's fingers teased him hard then experimented to find ways of making him feel good, but then he did move when Jarrad wanted him to.

After their evening meal they walked slowly along the beach, their shoulders touching while they talked, Joel often getting squelched by an impulsive hug. In the tent their passion peaked again, and Joel marvelled at the way Jarrad, with his powerful body, would nestle against him like a playful puppy.

For two more days they was so engrossed in each other that they stayed at the same camp-site, but then something clicked and it was time to move on.

"Hey Joel. Will I make some coffee? We should get up."

"Um. Not yet. I don't want you to move for a while."

Joel was feeling too good. Jarrad was lying with his leg resting just below Joel's groin, his head on his chest and his hand moving in little patterns on Joel's stomach.

"What's wrong with your hand?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"It just seems to be stuck in one place, that's all."

The hand went higher and moved smoothly across Joel's left pectoral muscles.

"There. How's that?"

"Hmm. Nice. But try somewhere else."

"I know what you want Joel. Okay."

The next thing, Joel's side was being tickled, causing him to jerk his body against Jarrad in a reflexive attempt at escape.

"Is that what you meant?"

"Not really. But it's waking me up that's for sure. Okay. Now somewhere else."

After trying a couple more places, Jarrad's hand moved to exactly where Joel wanted it.

"Hmm. It took you long enough. Now leave it there."

"Hey. What about me? How come I'm missing out?"

"Jarrad. What an insult. I let you do what you like to me, and you say you're missing out."

Jarrad's hand moved more definitely till Joel started making some happy noises, then stopped and lifted off.

"Time to get up Joel."

"Tease."

Joel rolled over on top of Jarrad and started tickling his lips with the end of his tongue.

"You've got fantastic lips you know. Are we still going to get up?"

"Um. We should."

Joel moved his hand and started doing what Jarrad had been doing to him.

"I suppose so."

Jarrad's arms wrapped around and held tight, making Joel laugh, and postponing the coffee once again. When they did set off they had the long sandy beach to follow, and apart from a couple of stops to try the surf, they spent the rest of the day getting to the next camp-site Jarrad started off wearing his speedos, but after their first stop he left them off.

"Come on Joel. You too. I like watching the way you flop around when you walk."

"Me? You flop a lot more than I do."

"Ha. How do you know that? Have you been watching?"

"Maybe."

This was a joke between them because while Jarrad was longer, Joel had a larger, tighter sac which caused him to jut forward more. Joel loved watching Jarrad. His skin had darkened to a deep tan with all the sun, and Joel was fascinated with the way the muscles moved all over his body with every step.

After fifteen kilometres of trudging along the sand, it was a welcome change to see more rocky coastline and cliffs approaching. The maps came out for a closer look and showed that they should be able to keep to the coastline and after three of four kilometres of rock scrambling and beach walking they reached a small bay with a freshwater creek running into it. They dumped the packs and had a swim to freshen up.

"Hey. Look. Let's check that out."

A hundred metres from the creek they could see an opening in the twenty metre rock face.

"Wow. It's neat. Let's camp here tonight."

It really was interesting. Arching back into the rock was a natural cave with a dry sandy floor. Several large rocks jutted up and the view looked directly out at the ocean.

"Grab all our gear Joel. And I'll see if I can catch something for our tea."

Joel organised everything, collected a pile of driftwood for the night's fire, then went to join Jarrad.

"They're being stubborn Joel. I've only caught one small one. I'll try for another ten minutes then give up."

No sooner had he said this than the line jerked and a second fish was landed.

"Hey. It must be you. As soon as you arrive we catch a good one."

Joel laughed at this nonsense even if it did make him feel good, and then even more when Jarrad pulled in another one.

"See. It's the biggest yet and it's that kind we like most. That'll be plenty now."

It was a real night to remember, sitting at the entrance of the cave in the dying light while the fish cooked, and then close together while their small fire flickered against the darkness.

"Stand up Joel. Next to the camp-fire Wow. It makes your skin glow. Do a fire dance for me."

"What? I can't dance."

"You can for me. Go on. I want to see you moving."

Rather self-consciously, Joel started to sway and jump around, then relaxed as he saw the encouragement of Jarrad's flashing smile and glinting eyes.

"Wow. You look terrific. Now just stand still while I wait."

"Wait? What for?"

"So I can see you in the firelight. You know what for. You won't take long."

When Joel saw the way Jarrad was looking at him, the blood rushed through his body.

"Oh my God. I can't cope. Come nice and close Joel, so I can see if you're real."

Jarrad's hands were real and Joel insisted that Jarrad stand next to him.

The two bodies made a slow dance as they twisted and moved against each other in a long embrace.

"Don't let me go Jarrad. Hold me all the time. I think I'm going to burst."

Jarrad's hand moved from Joel's back to hold him in front.

"You mean you're close?"

"No. But you've got me so hard I feel like iron."

"Wow. Now I know why they call it a bone. Is this how you want me to hold you?"

"It wasn't. But don't change now."

"Don't move. I can feel your heartbeat. It's amazing."

Joel stood without moving but the feelings from Jarrad's hand got stronger and stronger till he couldn't take it any more and he had to start moving.

"I can't help myself Jarrad. You're making me feel so good."

"Do you want me to do it for you?"

"Can we lie down? I want to be on top of you."

In moments Jarrad was on his back. Joel lowered himself so their bodies were moulded together, chest to chest and groin to groin, then started pushing himself backwards and forwards into Jarrad's encircling hand. His dance of passion built with an accompaniment of groans and sighs, and murmurs of encouragement from Jarrad, till his feelings exploded and he shuddered his release. Joel relaxed all his weight onto Jarrad for a few minutes, making a few slow movements into the hand still holding him. Jarrad stirred him about the flood and the mess he'd made, then without a word being said they reversed their positions for Jarrad's turn. He moved more quickly, more aggressively than Joel, but he also loved to slow down and muck around, telling Joel what to do and how to hold him before he got going again. This time he gave his funny kind of yell and pressed forcefully while a new area of warm liquid grew between them. Joel held him tight while he recovered.

"How can anything feel like that Joel? It has to be something to do with you because it so much better than when I do it by myself. I think you must give off special sex-rays."

He gave Joel a long, gentle bite on the shoulder and then another one on his neck.

"Is it all right if I eat you? You taste really nice you know."

Joel liked Jarrad's bites. They made him feel kind of tingly. Jarrad sat up and reached for his towel.

"Gosh you make a mess Joel."

"I'm sorry. It's the effect you have on me. I lose all control as soon as you touch me."

"Idiot. It's my mess too."

"Hardly enough to notice."

Jarrad used his towel and then moved forward to sit on Joel's stomach with a bit of a bounce.

"My God. Squashed to death again."

"Serves you right for being cheeky."

"Cheeky? All I did was agree with you and now you're turning me in a pizza base."

"You can tip me off if you don't want me to."

"No. I like it."

"What about when I squish you?"

"That just makes me laugh."

"So why do you like it then?"

"It makes me feel close to you. Like you want me."

"Of course I want you. ...You've never been with anybody before have you Joel?"

"Not really."

"Not really? What does that mean?"

"Um. I had a friend when I was about fifteen, and I touched him one day when we were sunbathing at his pool. He got hard, but then he jumped in the water and after that he never spoke to me again."

"Well, he wasn't much of a friend. No wonder you're so shy Joel. And you've never touched anyone since have you?"

"No."

"And now you want to know about me but you're too polite to ask. Well I've been with a couple of girls and a guy from my surf club. It was fun but they all wanted me because I'm so good-looking. That's what they went on about anyhow."

"But you are good-looking Jarrad. I've never seen anyone who looks as good as you do."

"Well I have, and I'm sitting on him so he can't get away."

"Don't be an idiot. I'm just ordinary."

"You don't look ordinary Joel. You look great. But I can see what you look like on the inside as well and that's how I know you're so special."

Joel didn't know what to say to this, but once again Jarrad had made him feel great.

"Of course if you want to worship my beautiful body I won't make any objections. Hey. What are you doing?"

"Well you've already got one swollen head. I'm going to give you another."

"Hmm. Seems more like worshipping to me."

Joel moved his hands slowly up Jarrad's legs, but just as they neared his groin he grabbed at his sides and started tickling him. This led to a slow wrestling match with some fairly intimate moves.

"You're a cheat Jarrad. I can't move when you're holding me like that."

"It's good isn't it? But you don't want me to let go anyhow."

Eventually they snuggled close and Jarrad said they had to get to sleep.

"I've got a big day planned for you tomorrow and I don't want you worn out by all the rude things you do."

"What's happening?"

"You'll find out."

"How do you expect me to sleep now that you've got me wondering? Hold me the proper way and then I might be able to."

"The proper way? What do you mean?"

"Like you always do."

"Tell me."

"Snuggle up against me on your side. Yes. That's it. Reach your hand over and touch me on the stomach. Move it slowly down and hold on to me."

"Hmm. This is nice. But isn't it waking you up?"

"Only for awhile. And you have to be holding me the same when I wake up."

"What if Eiffel Tower springs up?"

"Press him against me so I know he's feeling happy."

"Like this?"

"Yes. Hmm. He really is feeling happy."

"Joel. We don't have to go to sleep just yet."

In the morning, when they eventually got up Joel found he was going on the surfboard.

"It's been there every day and you've never used it once. I want to see how good you are."

"I've hardly done it Jarrad. I can stand up but I usually fall off straight-away"

"Well let me have a look at you. You've had me puzzled, because you spend so much time in the water and I know you've got better balance than I have."

Before long he had his surfboard freshly waxed and Joel dressed in the wet suit.

"Don't you pee in it. I'm the only one who is allowed to do that."

Joel was feeling worried because the board seemed so short, but Jarrad kept him going.

"You'll get used to it. And the waves here are great for practising with."

Joel could hardly even get to stand up at the start, but Jarrad was out in the water with him and showed him closely how he did it, and after twenty minutes Joel was surprised at how well he was going.

"Joel. You learned all by yourself didn't you? You could be just as good as me if you want to."

After an hour they went ashore and relaxed. Jarrad was shivering and Joel had had enough for the moment.

"We'll go back in the afternoon, when the water has warmed up. The more practice you get at catching the waves the better, and I'll show you how to stand as well."

They soaked up some sun but Joel was restless and after half an hour he found a large feather. He used the tip of it to lightly touch Jarrad's skin, and was watching in fascination at the twitchings and little goosebumps that resulted. The next game was to tickle the large orbs dangling from his groin. A tiny touch would start them moving all over the place, the skin tightening and loosening, then when they settled down he'd give another tickle. When the Eiffel Tower appeared it received nearly all the attention, and Joel watched as it gradually lengthened then went sideways before standing straight up, nice and hard. All the while checking to see it Jarrad was awake, Joel kept the feather moving, more and more till it was continuous. How could he be asleep still? Joel watched Jarrad's balls pull up tight in their sack and then caught a glimpse of the smile being held tightly in check on Jarrad's face.

"Open your eyes or I'll stop. I know you're awake."

The smile grew and dark eyes opened.

"Bully. It was nice with my eyes closed. Hey. What a beauty."

Joel stared.

"Well I know it is. But you're not very modest are you?"

"Ha. Got you. I'm talking about that Pacific Gull's feather. Can I have a look at it?"

Joel handed the feather over and Jarrad had his close look.

"I collect feathers. Not when I'm hiking though because they get wrecked in the pack. This one's in good condition except it's been ruffled on the end. Lie down and close your eyes Joel. Put your hands behind your head. Good. Now. Can you keep them closed and not move till I tell you to?"

"I feel funny but I'll try."

The feather got to work again, but it was a lot bolder and busier this time.

"You're moving a lot Joel."

"Well you're doing a lot more than I did."

"So now you know how nice it feels for next time don't you? Let's get something for lunch."

"What? Are you just going to leave me like this?"

"Come on. I want to see you running."

Laughing, Jarrad led the way back to the cave.

"Funny thing, but I couldn't help thinking of those knights at the jousting tournaments. I could call you Sir Lancelot from now on."

After their lunch Joel had another surprise when Jarrad wanted to know all about his camera.

"You've been taking stacks of photos of me Joel but there's hardly a single one with you in it. When we look at the photos I don't want to be looking at myself all the time, and we are together now."

For the next few hours Joel really enjoyed showing how to use the camera. Jarrad learnt very quickly and they ended up using a couple of rolls of film with Joel being the subject in nearly every shot. Jarrad would set the camera up the way he best understood and then Joel would look at the settings and explain any reasons for changing them. At about three o'clock the camera went away and it was back on the surfboard again for Joel, this time for over three hours with several rest breaks, and he found himself getting quite excited with his improvement as Jarrad coaxed him to do better and better. There was fish again for their evening meal and a short walk in the dusk before their bodies were locked together for several hours of sometimes frenetic, sometimes gentle interplay.

"Joel. I don't want to finish our hike but my new job starts in nine days. How much longer can we stay? I could manage seven days."

"I can stay even longer but I've only got enough food for about four days."

"What if we catch fish every day?"

"No problem then. But we might get sick of muesli and rice."

They talked it all out and Joel felt great because Jarrad obviously wanted to be with him so much. They decided to leave early next morning and hike until they found a really good place to set up for a longer stay.

"How are you going to wake me up Joel?"

"I think I'll sit on you. It'll be a payback for the way you treat me like your favourite chair."

"You are my favorite chair. What if that doesn't work?"

"I'll start tickling then."

"Not in the morning Joel. You know what I'm like. That would be cruelty."

"A special tickle. Like this."

"Oh my God. And I said you were shy. It won't work though. It's so nice I'll pretend I'm asleep so you keep doing it."

"Then you'll make all your funny noises and I'll know you're awake."

"No you won't. It'll be sleep noising."

"Sleep noising?"

"You know. Like talking in my sleep, except it will be noising in my sleep. Oh My God. Joel what are you doing now?"

"Sleep licking."

"In my ear?"

"Well if I'm asleep it could be anywhere couldn't it?"

"Ha. I know where I could expect it from you."

"Where? Here? Or here? Hmm. How about here?"

"Oh My God."

"Jarrad. That's the third time you said Oh My God in the last minute."

"Don't worry about talking Joel. It stops you from sleep licking."

In the morning Jarrad tried to pretend he was asleep but it didn't work.

They managed to get on their way by 7 am and had their slowest travelling day yet. The first few kilometres involved making their way along rocky beaches and past small headlands, but then they came to some cliffs and had to scramble up through tea-tree thickets to bypass them. Twice more they had to do this before finally descending to several hundred metres of rocky platform and a sandy beach stretching in the distance.

"Look. The map shows it's only six kms Joel. But it's taken us four hours.

Four hundred metres along the sandy beach they found the creek shown on their maps and dropped their packs for a break.

"Jarrad. Let's stop here. It looks perfect to me. There's freshwater, rocks for fishing and exploring and you've got at least a kilometre of beach for your surfing."

"Not just my surfing Joel. You're going to do more of it than I am. Now let's have a snack before we do anything else. I've got pasta and rice. Have you got anything better?"

"I've got rice too. How about putting sugar and powdered milk with it?"

The afternoon was spent in the surf. Mostly taking turns with the surfboard, but sometimes body-surfing because they could do it together. On the beach they relaxed, wrestled, talked and shared themselves with each other. Jarrad loved lying with his head on Joel's stomach and when they were talking he'd often sit astride and act like he was the boss. At about six o'clock they headed for the rocks to see what the great hunters could catch for their evening meal, and Jarrad was the first one to notice more abalone on the rocks.

"We've got it made Joel. If we don't catch any fish we can just grab as many abalone as we feel like, and look at these. We'll try them tomorrow night."

"What are they?"

"Periwinkles. But most people call them peris. The aboriginal people used to cook them on their fires and you sometimes find heaps of their shells, called middens, in their old camping spots."

"How do you learn all these things?"

"I don't know. It's just interesting to me."

It took half an hour but they ended up with six reasonable sized fish, which Jarrad cleaned and filleted while Joel held the line. They stuffed themselves with the delicious food they'd caught then wandered slowly along the beach while the last light disappeared from the sky and then it was their special time together in the tent. Joel thought about it and looked forward to it all day long.

Yes. It was several hours of sex, but it was more than that because Jarrad turned it to fun, happiness, and a lot more at the same time. As he felt himself getting affected by it more and more, Joel's logical mind couldn't work out what was happening.

"What are you doing Jarrad? It's like you've got some special power over me."

"Aha. So it's working is it? I hypnotise you when you go sleep. That's it. Sleep hypnosis. I wait till you're asleep and my hands make magical passes all over your body while I hypnotise you to be my love slave."

"Ha. I know about the hands all over me bit. I'm not that much asleep."

"Yes you are and when you wake up tomorrow you'll be a different person. You'll throw all your clothes off whenever you see me and do whatever I ask you."

"I don't see what's going to be different about that."

"Well that just proves how well it's working doesn't it?"

"Oh My God. So now I'm a mindless robot am I?"

"Of course. But only on the first level."

"The first level? All right. This I've got to hear."

"Well it all happened on the first day I met you. I took one look at your dreamy eyes and you hypnotised me. I remember it now. I came out of the water and stripped off right in front of you, and everything I've done since then is what you made me do. You even hypnotised me into hypnotising you to be my love slave. You're pretty sneaky you know."

"Oh My God. Did I say I needed to hear this?"

"Joel. That's twice you've said Oh My God in the last minute. You're sounding like a mindless robot."

"Oh My G......Help."

"Joel. I think you'd better go to sleep now."

"This early?"

"Yes. You've had a big day, and besides, I want to make magical passes all over you."

"Oh. I see. All right. I'm asleep."

"Ha. Why am I suspicious about that?"

"Don't worry. Just get on with the magical passes."

"So you want to be under my control then?"

"I can't answer that. I'm asleep."

After the passes, the games continued with Joel happily acting the part of the mindless robot who could only do what he was ordered, till they finally snuggled together in Joel's favourite position, ready for sleep.

The next four days passed in a whirl of activities, adventures, and happiness which set Joel's heart singing. He finished his last roll of film at the cliffs they'd passed to the east, and watched in awe and worry as Jarrad surfed on huge waves which built when the swell came up for a day.

"God Joel. I can hardly believe this. There must have been a storm way out in the ocean to make them this big, and it's dream conditions with this light breeze and the waves coming in so evenly. Are you going to have a go?"

Joel's expression at this made Jarrad laugh.

"All right. I'll let you off this time. I must admit it is pretty scary out there."

Another day they clambered down the cliffs to a tiny cove they'd seen and it was Joel's turn to surprise Jarrad by making him swim 500 metres out to a rocky island.

"Joel. This is kind of spooky. It's reminding me of when I fell in. I'm not used to going out past the wave break and it feels like we're heading for Antarctica."

And the nights. They dined like kings from their fishing efforts, and would laugh as they sat next to each other by the camp-fire making sounds of satisfaction at the delicious tastes. A little ritual started where they collected water from the creek to give each other a wash after finishing their meal. Joel loved the way his skin felt fresh and smooth after the day of salt water, sun and sunscreen, and the assault of comments while Jarrad's hands probed and ministered, had him laughing, excited, and eager for their time together in the tent. Amongst all his happiness there was one cloud and somehow Jarrad sensed Joel was thinking about something.

"Come on Joel. Tell me what's on your mind. You've got that thoughtful mode going full blast."

"Um. It's just that I don't want our hike to be over and am wondering if I'll be able to see you much when it's finished. I mean I can't push my way into your life just because that's what I'd like. We'll be able to do other things together won't we?"

Joel felt a kind of fright when Jarrad didn't move or say anything, but then that was forgotten when a great weight descended on his stomach and his arms were pinned to the pad beneath his head.

"I've never met anyone like you and I can hardly believe you're real sometimes. You don't have to wonder about that."

Jarrad told Joel he had to leave his hands where they were and proceeded to tug lightly on the tiny hairs round his nipples and then trace with his fingers, searching all over for any other places with little hairs, and Joel's attention shifted focus. The next morning, after they'd both had a surf, Jarrad told him to put his runners on.

"Come on. I want to show you something."

Wearing just their runners and red speedos, they made their way to where the beach ended and the rocks started. Jarrad drew a large J in the sand, inscribed another on top of it, then held Joel in a fierce hug. Hugging was a frequent occurrence with Jarrad, but even as he laughed breathlessly in his enjoyment of the moment, Joel was puzzled by the intense and serious look on Jarrad's face. He seemed to be searching for something and then Joel followed till they came to a large rock-face, some way back from the ocean and facing partly towards their camp. Using a hard rock he spent ten minutes scratching their superimposed initials in a large size at roughly chest height.

"Okay Joel. Your turn. Scratch it as strongly as you can so that we've both done it."

Feeling rather good about seeing their initials together like this, Joel put in all the energy and effort that he'd watched Jarrad use. The idea came to his mind of bashing with the rock in his hand instead of scraping, and it had a good effect of making a little spark each time it hit and leaving a deeper pit mark.

"Hey. That's perfect. Now come here."

Jarrad's powerful arms held Joel again.

"You hold me too Joel. And don't let go till I do."

The intense look was back while Jarrad held him without saying a word. Joel felt his heart speeding, a sense of wonder at seeing Jarrad look so serious, and a kind of apprehension at what this was all about.

"Joel. We're together now.

Those letters in the sand will be taken away by the ocean, just like I would have been. But you fought the ocean to help me and won. Then you let me see what you're truly like inside. You're not getting away from me like some letters in the sand washed by the tide. Do you understand?"

A spring of excitement started to well through Joel as he nodded.

"Now. This is so you don't have funny thoughts like you did last night. I want to take the same track as you for as long as our initials are in this rock. Next year, when we come back I'm going to chisel it as deep as your thumbnail. You know what I mean? So can we do that? We're going to do everything together for as long as you want and the more you push into my life the better. No one could make me happy like you do Joel. No one is as kind as you are and no one is as strong.

Will you look after me please?"

Totally stunned, Joel looked at the strange, puzzling creature who was holding him, and as understanding of what he was saying filled his mind, the cloud of the previous night was burnt away by the sunlight of certainty. The serious look in Jarrad's dark eyes disappeared at Joel's smile of pure happiness and as their grip tightened on each other, all Joel could see over Jarrad's shoulder was a promise locked in the surface of the rock.

The End.

I hope you’ve gained some enjoyment from this story.