Destiny or Coincidence (AlanxJeff) VI

Hot bath

Jeff

Alan closes the door of his house behind us, and immediately I feel the intensity of his emotions in the air, like an electric current coursing through me. The atmosphere is charged with palpable magnetism, and the soft murmur of the rain outside only heightens the tension. I swallow hard. This is dangerous. Too dangerous.

I sense him approaching, and on impulse, I turn sharply. The dim light of the hallway illuminates his face, soaked, with strands of hair plastered to his forehead.

"Alan, you're drenched," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, but the tremor betrays my nervousness. "You should take a hot shower. Ideally, a bath would be best, but if that's not possible, a shower will do. Go on," I finish with a gesture for him to move forward.

"But I have one," he replies incredulously, not budging.

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

"I have a bathtub in my room. By the way, it's huge," he says with a mischievous smile. "We could both fit."

I blink several times, unable to utter a word. I knew it; this is too dangerous.

"No, no, no... it's not necessary," I start to stammer.

"How can it not be? You're as soaked as I am. I hugged you too and felt how cold you were—like snow. Between the two of us, you're more likely to get sick. We can share it," he concludes with a predatory glint in his eyes.

"No... I... prefer the shower. Yes, it's more... I'll just head up to..."

"Don't you trust me?" he asks, looking at me intensely as he steps closer—too close for comfort. "I won't do anything... you don't want me to," he whispers hoarsely.

I swallow again. I'm in trouble, I think as he simply smiles and pulls me by the wrist toward his room.

I've never been in his room before. It's enormous; a large king-size bed occupies the center and a small shelf is adorned with miniature cars that seem to reflect his playful personality. The walls are decorated with serene landscape paintings, and a warm light emanates from a floor lamp in the corner, creating a cozy and relaxing atmosphere.

I barely have time to take it all in when I find myself in his bathroom: he's right; the bathtub is monumental. The white marble shines under the light, and steam begins to fill the air as Alan turns on the tap and starts filling it up. He hums a cheerful melody that feels familiar yet elusive. I like seeing him this way—happy and carefree; it's a relief to see him move away from the sad expression he had in the square. But what I don't like is this situation: I'm trembling and unsure if it's from the cold or from... Alan.

I've never been naked with anyone; it's obvious we won't be getting in there fully clothed. I glance toward the door discreetly; I could still escape, right?

But it seems he can read my thoughts. He has left the tub ready and approaches slowly; for me, it's too fast.

"It's best if we shower first; then we can get in and relax for a while."

"What if we take turns?" I ask in a shaky whisper, clinging to hope.

He lets out a small laugh that resonates beautifully in the bathroom and my heart starts racing for different reasons: his laughter and his scent, now much more concentrated here inside, complicate the chaos within me even further.

"Jeff..." he whispers as he gets close enough for me to feel his body heat. His hand gently caresses my cheek tenderly. "I won't force you to do anything. It's for... our health. That's why."

"It's for... that," I repeat, lost in the intensity of his gaze.

"You're... trembling," he whispers even closer. "Don't be afraid; I would never hurt you. Let me help."