Rowan's Journey to Manhood

In the previous chapters…

Rowan, a pale guy with many sexual inhibitions due to the abuse he suffered in the past, embarks in a long journey to a mature sexuality, helped by the men and boys living in a big house named “The Cove”. Charlie, a 19 y.o. playful boy, teaches him the joyful side of sex. Barry, an oversexed worker who looks alike Rowan’s abusive stepfather, scares him. During a dramatic night, Rowan reveals to Kale, an Hawaiian school counselor, his past and then they make love. Beau, the blond leader of the Cove, experiments Rowan’s ‘power’ to block a man’s ejaculation until he begs to cum. Hendrick, the house young cook, lets Rowan discover how sweet and pleasurable can be anal sex when, after many years, the guy yields his ass to the redheaded boy. Then, in an sexually intense night on a deserted beach, the Native American Wahkan discovers how deep are Rowan’s fears and inhibitions. Hendrick has a furious argument with his master Stewart and decides to leave the Cove; but Kale convinces him to stay. The man and the boys of the Cove talk about Rowan and think he seems to come from another century. Wahkan allows his boy Chayton to assert his manliness by yielding him his virgin ass. 

Synopsys (*** Spoiler Alert! ***)

Rowan confronts Hendrick and explains he can’t love the boy the way he’s loved back; Rick is sad, but understands. Kale offers to Rowan to watch one of his intense bondage sessions, and surprisingly Rowan ask to get into the action, discovering the pleasure of giving total control of his body to another man. He also experiments the delicious torture of post-orgasm torment.

Additional downloads (PDF)

• Cast of Characters with images
• The Cove – Floor Plan
• Book 01 (Chapters 1-10) with bookmarks
• Book 02 (Chapter 11-16) with bookmarks

 ≈ ROWAN IS SHOWN THE ROPES ≈ 

~ «It’s just Barry!» ~

Rowan completed one last inspection round of the quarry while the sun was rising in the sky, signaling the end of his work shift. “Day-O! Day-O! Daylight come and we want to go home!” – he sang softly, sniggering to the image of himself “work all night and drink rum”. He was happy!

He felt like he was walking on air, picturing himself making love with the glorious, handsome Beauregard, giving to him all of himself, without holding back anything, and submitting defenselessly to his powerful manliness. 

But his feet suddenly fell back on the ground when he saw his stepfather opening the big gate and coming in, looking at him. «It’s not him, it’s Barry…» – he forced himself to think – «It’s just Barry… He won’t harm me…».

Barry opened completely both doors of the heavy gate and looked at Rowan. He took a couple of steps toward the guy, smiling, but he stopped and frowned when he realized that Rowan, with a frightened expression, was walking backward away from him.

«Damn!» – the worker thought angrily – «He don’t let me even say ‘hi’, goddammit!». “Well, know what?” – he grunted under his breath – “Fuck you, golden boy!”

But he didn’t mean it, and he knew well. By now, Barry had fully understood how fragile the guy was and how much he suffered in his life, and he felt a strong, protective affection for him. But the guy’s headstrong refusal to have anything to do with him always felt like a stab in the back.

The worker sighed and raised his hand, as to wave goodbye to the guy, but it looked much more like a dismissive “can’t-care-less” gesture. Then he turned around and headed to the office, giving way to Rowan to quickly sneak through the gate.

~ More than friends ~

Rowan ran all the way home, holding the now empty lunch basket. When he arrived near the house, he avoided the main door, that he never used, and climbed down to the beach, using his key to unlock the basement door.

When inside, he threw himself on the bed with a contented sigh. It was Wednesday morning, and he longed for Sunday to come, so to go to Paul’s matinée: he was used to go to that ramshackle cinema almost on a daily basis and he missed the kind old man and his delightful movies [1].

A thought crossed Rowan’s mind and he smiled: he would go to the cinema with Hendrick and will introduce him to old Paul! He jumped off the bed and rushed upstairs, to the kitchen, where Rick was preparing the breakfast.

“Rowan!” – the boy exclaimed with a wide smile – “You’re back!”

Rick left what he was doing and ran to hug his friend. It was more than a friendly hug, and Rowan reciprocated with affection, though a part of him felt a bit uneasy, thinking back to his nightly pondering about the nature of his relationship with Rick.

The boy clearly loved him, but Rowan wasn’t sure to feel the same for him, and this made the guy feel a bit insincere. “Have you eaten everything?” – Rick asked with enthusiasm – “Oh! I’m sorry for that silly bag, I will find another one as soon as possible!”

“Don’t you dare!” – Rowan laughed – “I love it! And your food was delicious…”

“…But? I see a ‘but’ coming…” – Rick replied with a light frown, while his eyes lowered to the table and his hands nervously went back at work. “I can’t hide you anything, can I?” – the guy admitted – “But the food has nothing to do with it... Look at me, Hendrick. Come on, stop what you’re doing and look at me.”

Rowan turned around the small kitchen table and took Rick’s face in his hands, kissed him on his lips and gazed deep into his eyes. “I can’t lie to you. I love you, Hendrick, you know it’s true, it’s written in my eyes. We are bound, and nothing can change that. But I sense that your feelings are more than that, and this scares me, because the last thing in the world I’d want to do is hurting you”.

“Now you are scaring me…” – Rick replied, uncertain, taking Rowan’s hands in his own. “You’re right, what I feel for you is more than a friendly affection. We’re more than friends, more than fuck buddies…”

“…but we’re not lovers” – Rowan concluded on Rick’s behalf. “Hendrick, I though all night long about this, and I have to be honest with you: I love you, very much, but I’m not in love with you”.

Rick looked at his friend with affection tinged with resignation: “I knew it. I wish I could be as clear-minded as you, but I’m not sure to know what I exactly feel for you. I thought I was in love with you, and partly I am, but there’s something different, too. When you asked me to make love to you I felt like… don’t laugh, please… like a master showing the joys of sex to his virgin boy…”. Rick lowered his eyes, embarrassed.

Rowan opened his arms held Rick in a long, tight hug: “That’s exactly what I felt! You see, Hendrick, you took me by hand and helped me facing one of my greatest fears. Of all the men, only you could do it …and I loved you for that. I felt safe with you, I felt protected and loved. I don’t know what is like being someone else’s boy, but I guess it’s a bit like how I felt when we made love.”

“And I want to feel it again” – Rowan continued – “I hope you will take me again by hand and show me again… the joys of sex!” – he giggled – “Though I must confess one thing… I’m not virgin!”

Both guys burst into laughter and hugged again. The nature of their peculiar relationship was still uncertain, but the bond between them was strong.

~ An intriguing offer ~

In that moment, Kale entered the kitchen with a sleepy face and wearing only his underwear. “Good morning, sir!” – Rick said, respectfully, parting from his friend. “Good morning, sir…” – Rowan echoed. Both guys scanned lasciviously from head to toes the almost naked body of the Hawaiian counselor, staring beyond any socially acceptable limit at his semi-hard cock bulging under the tight boxer briefs.

“Oh… Sorry guys, maybe I should go wear something…” – Kale said, noticing the guy’s eyes pointed on his private parts. “No!” – both youngsters exclaimed in unison. “I mean…” – Rowan added, embarrassed – “…your current attire doesn’t bother us…”. “Not at all!” – Rick concluded, with a smile.

“I see…” – Kale said with a mischievous smile – “Now, Rowan, while Rick finishes preparing the breakfast, can we have a word in the privée?”. “The Butler’s room!” – Rick corrected [2]. “The Butler’s room…” – Kale conceded.

Rowan and the counselor moved to the adjoining room and sat on the sofa. “You told me a lot about yourself” – Kale said – “and it’s fair I tell you something about me. You see, I have peculiar sexual tastes… I love strong, powerful men and I like to be… dominated by them. I like to be tied up and worked over, even with dildos and, occasionally, whips. Does it sound scary to you, Rowan?”

“Actually… not” – the guy confessed, with an uncertain grin – “Charlie once told me about a guy they tied up and forced to cum over and over, and I wondered…” – Rowan left the sentence unfinished.

“That’s good, because I wanted to make you an offer. Today I don’t have to go to work, and I feel very horny, so I was thinking to involve Beauregard in one of my bondage sessions. I love being at his mercy, all tied up and ready to take whatever he wants to dish at me.”

“Now, Rowan,” – Kale continued – “since we first met you have faced many of your fears and you have overcome most of them. I was thinking it’s about time you face another one, coming from your stepfather tying you on the bed. Don’t worry: I will be tied up and worked over by Beau, not you. I’m just asking you if you’d like to watch. Charlie will be there too.”

“It sounds scary… and intriguing!” – Rowan replied, in a whisper. “But aren’t you and Beau disturbed by having us watching your… games?”

“Not at all! It adds to the sense of submission and humiliation, which is the main point of the game, as you call it. It’s settled, then! See you in an hour in my suite” – the Hawaiian concluded with a lustful wink.

~ Anxiety ~

One hour later, Rowan knocked on Kale’s door. He had showered carefully, as usual, but for some reason he felt the need to wear his best underwear and clean clothes. “Come in, Rowan! That way…” – Kale said, opening the door and pointing to the second room of the suite.

The guy stepped into the room and looked around astonished. The walls were almost completely covered with mirrors and there were many ropes hanging from rings and rails bolted on the ceiling. More ropes, leather stuff and other things that Rowan didn’t recognize were scattered on the floor and on a low chest of drawers placed along a wall.

When he lowered his amazed eyes he realized that in the room there were Beau, Kale and Charlie, looking at him and smiling at his astonishment. “Oh!” – Rowan gasped, looking at Beau, beautiful as a blond god, naked except for a pair of jockstraps that perfectly encased his gorgeous cock and balls. “Goo.. Good morning… sir! I… I..” – the guy stubbled, his head spinning for the emotion.

Rowan looked around and realized that everyone was wearing jockstraps. “I think I’m a bit overdressed… Maybe… I… I should…” – he babbled, trying unsuccessfully to unbutton his own jeans with his trembling hands.

“Let me” – a melodious voice said. Beau knelt in front of Rowan and placed his hands over the guy’s. “Does this room and the ropes make you nervous?” – the man asked, misunderstanding, perhaps on purpose, the reason of Rowan’s anxiety. “You can go away, if you like, or keep your clothes on. No one will ever force you in any way”.

The guy looked down at the blond god and his serene beauty, his confident attitude won his uneasiness. “I’m fine, sir. But I’m afraid I don’t have a jockstrap”. “It’s not required to wear jockstraps” – Kale laughed – “but if you want, take these!” The counselor handed to Rowan a fresh clean jockstrap he took from a drawer. “I you feel uneasy, you can wear them in the adjoining room”.

Without any hesitation, Rowan dropped his pants and underwear and put on the jockstraps. Again, his eyes widened, feeling for the first time the strange sensation of having his manhood firmly held in place, but his butt completely exposed. “Funny, uh?” – Charlie laughed, nudging him and peeking at his ass – “and… gorgeous, too, I say!”

This last comment made everyone laugh, setting a playful vibe. “Now, if you and Charlie take a seat, Beauregard and I will set everything up” – the Hawaiian suggested.

~ A bold choice ~

The boys moved to the sofa next to the door and Kale stood in the middle of the room, under some hanging ropes. He raised his arms and Beau quickly tied them to a hook fixed to the ceiling. He then turned around the bound man and threw his arms around him from behind, pressing his bulge on Kale’s bare ass. His eager hands stroke the Hawaiian’s tanned skin, pressing on the firm pecs and scraping the washboard abs.

Kale moaned when he felt the prying hands squeezing his nipples and manhandle his growing bulge trapped into the tight jockstrap. Finally, Beau’s fingers sneaked into the waistband and pulled down the jockstrap, revealing the bound man’s long semi-hard cock.

The blond god took a long rope from the floor and tied it to Kale’s right ankle; then he bent the leg at the knee and tied the ankle to the thigh, forcing the counselor to stand on his left feet. Beau passed the other end of the long rope into a ring on the ceiling and gently pulled down, forcing Kale’s bent leg to raise in the air.

The boys gasped softly, when they realized that the elaborate bondage had made Kale’s man hole totally exposed and vulnerable, and made his cock and balls easily accessible. Kale was trapped, with his most private parts at the mercy of Beau… and anyone else, for that matter!

The tanned counselor looked at Rowan, and asked him to come closer. “Do you see the loose end of the rope around my wrists?”. Rowan nodded. “That is what we call a ‘safety knot’: I could easily pull that rope and I’d be free in a matter of seconds” – Kale explained. “And we also use a ‘safe word’, a word that, once spoken, immediately stops the action, no matter what. Do you understand what does it mean, Rowan?”

“I would say that if you panic or have any urge, you can quickly and safely get out of the game” – Rowan answered. “Exactly! And this is because no matter how harsh the play may look, we want to do it. If one changes his mind, everything stops. Here at the Cove no one – I repeat no one – will ever force you to do something you don’t want”. Beau, standing behind the tied up counselor, nodded convincingly.

Kale looked deeply at Rowan and asked: “Now that you know how it works, what do you think about it?”

The pale guy didn’t answer immediately; he looked again at the safety knots, then at Kale’s exposed cock and ass, and gazed again into his eyes, while his hand ran down to man’s cock, squeezed gently his balls and went further down to tickle his vulnerable hole. Kale gasped for the unexpected, but gentle assault to his intimate body parts, and Rowan could spot in the counselor’s eyes a deep desire, an unspeakable joy at being at someone’s mercy.

“I want to do it. I want to know how it feels” – Rowan said, firmly.  “Are you sure?” – the Hawaiian asked – “I invited you here only to watch, I didn’t expect…”

“I want to do it” – the pale guy repeated, looking bravely at Kale. He took one step back and stood in front of the bound man, raising his arms.

“OK, then” – Beau intervened, tying Rowan’s wrists in a similar fashion as Kale’s. “Remember that you’re tied with the safe knots, and the safe word is ‘thunder’. If, for whatever reason, you need to stop and go away, just say ‘thunder’ and you’ll be free and safe in seconds”.

~ Two helpless captives ~

The blond man turned to Charlie, who was still sitting, speechless, near the door: “Charlie, come here, please. I will work on Kale, and you will do exactly the same to Rowan. Do you think you can do it?”

Charlie nodded, excited to be part of the action. Copying what Beau had done to the Hawaiian, Charlie embraced Rowan from behind and sensually played with his nipples, his pecs and abs; he massaged the bound guy’s bulge until he felt his cock stirring, and then slowly lowered his jockstraps to the ground.

Beau came closer and tied Rowan’s left leg the same way as Kale’s right leg, so that the two captives were the mirror image of each other. Then he took a jar of lubricant an placed it on the floor. He dipped two fingers in it, and Charlie did the same.

The man and the boy, from that moment on, acted in unison. Beau circled Kale’s anus with his wet fingers and massaged it kindly, and then pushed two fingers inside. Rowan stifled a gasp when he felt Charlie’s fingers gently force open his exposed hole, just like Beau’s fingers were forcing open Kale’s anus..

The intruding fingers became three, and they pushed deeper and deeper, loosening and widening the warm holes. The bound guys writhed and moaned, looking at each other and sharing their helpless pleasure.

After some more deep massage, Beau withdrew his hand and took from a drawer two identical dildos, handed one to Charlie and they greased them with plenty of lubricant. Copying the blond boss, Charlie placed his dildo on Rowan’s ass and applied a gentle but firm pressure. “Relax” – Beau said to Rowan – “Let it in. Desire to feel it inside you, yield your entire body to your master…”

Charlie suddenly felt the dildo slide into the guy’s chute, and started pushing it deeper and pulling it almost out, just like Beau was doing to Kale. Instinctively, Rowan tried to protect his ass against the invasion, but his legs and arms were tightly tied, and for a moment he panicked. He gasped with fear and his ass had an involuntary contraction. “Aaaahh!” – he shut his eyes and cried out for the sudden pain.

Kale intervened: “Relax, Rowan! Look at me… Look at me!”.  Rowan glanced at Kale, tied like him and with an identical dildo up his ass, and the lust he spotted in those slanted eyes soon calmed him down. Charlie stood in front of him and gently moved Rowan’s long black hair from his forehead and said kindly: “I can stop anytime, you know it. Just say the safe word.”

Rowan nodded and Charlie resumed the intimate massage with the dildo. Beau reached Kale’s cock and started wanking it, and Charlie did the same to Rowan. In few minutes, both bound guys were writhing in pleasure, moaning loud, without ever breaking their eye contact.

“Can you feel it, Rowan?” – Kale said, guiding with his voice the pale guy through this new, exciting and frightful experience – “We’re bound, helpless, our most private parts are exposed. We can’t protect ourselves in any way. We’re totally at the mercy of these men! They own us, they can do to us whatever they want. We can’t do anything but submit to their will!”

“Yes! Owww… Yes!” – Rowan moaned. He felt it! He felt the excitement of being totally helpless! This was pure ecstasy, and had nothing to do with his hideous stepfather tying him to the bed. He was scared, back then, but now he understood that the restraints themselves were nothing to be frightened for. Being at the mercy of such trustworthy, beautiful guys almost made him scream for the sense of relief and joyful excitement.

His ass and cock were roughly manhandled and he had no choice but to take it… His captor could give him pleasure or pain, at his will, because Rowan was at his mercy! Yielding control in such a complete, absolute way could be frightening, but no hint of panic crossed Rowan’s mind.

His inner demons were being pushed away and forced to hide, facing the irrepressible sexual pleasure and the trustfully sense of submission that were sweeping Rowan’s soul.

The dildos rammed furiously the two exposed asses, and the bound men’s cock were wanked mercilessly. “I’m close… Please, I’m close…” – Rowan moaned, instinctively knowing that he had to wait for Beau’s permission to cum. Kale, too, felt his groin tense: “Let me cum, sir! Please, I can’t hold any more!”

Beau nodded to Charlie and they worked over the two bound men with greater intensity and passion, pushing the dildos deeper into their captives’ tender depths and tightening their fist around the two engorged cocks.

Rowan and Kale were still looking deeply into each other’s eyes: “Oh, sir! Owwww… sir! We’re about to cum!” – Rowan yelled on behalf of both of them – “Awww… AAAHH!!!”

Both bound guys bucked and flexed their muscles, helplessly bound, when an overwhelming climax shook them. Each cock exploded and bathed the other captive’s torso with jet after jet of hot man juice.

“Oh, shit! Aaaahh!” – Kale screamed, cumming wildly while still the dildo and the fist kept working hard on his private parts, bringing his climax almost to a paroxysmal peak. Rowan, still gazing deeply to the man who was his mirror, knew he was feeling the very same sensations, the same helpless pleasure, the same sense of submission, and felt thrilled to share with him such a powerful experience.

~ It’s not over ~

The twin orgasms subsided, and both men reclined their head on their chest, panting. The two captors slowed down, but Beau looked at Charlie and nodded, compelling him not to stop. Rowan was slowly falling into his usual moment of blank stupor [3], but suddenly realized that Charlie’s hand was still stroking his cock, and the dildo was still pumping into his ass.

Beau set a faster pace, immediately followed by Charlie. Kale gasped loudly, surprised by the unexpected twist imposed by his master: “Jeeeeezzz! Ah! No! No more!”. Rowan was on the verge of unconsciousness and stood still: he was unable to move or say anything, but he did feel his cock and ass savagely overstimulated, in a vicious post-orgasm torment! He stood with his head hanging on his heaving chest, panting harder and harder, until he suddenly snapped up, all his muscles tensed at once and he cried out: “AAAAAGHHH!!! NOOOO!!!!”

Kale, though suffering for the same delicious torture, was alarmed by the loud scream and said with rugged voice: “Rowan! Rowan! The safe word!”

Beau, keeping both captives in constant check, didn’t stop, nor did Charlie. Rowan was bucking and shaking wildly, tossing his head from side to side and screaming out of his lungs: “Oh god! AAAAHH!! It’s too much!!! Don’t… AAAH!!”. Kale was alarmed: “Rowan! The safe word!! I’m going to say it for you!”

“NO!” – the guy screamed, turning to Kale and flashing a fierce glance at him through the long black hair falling on his sweaty face – “I’m at my master’s mercy! He can do to me whatever he wants to me!”

Despite the overwhelming, torturous sensations coming from his cock and ass, Rowan felt strong, invincible… and excited! He was not anymore the scared, helpless kid bound on his bed by his evil stepfather, waiting for a devious, painful punishment: he was a man – yes, a man! – who could gamely take the harsh treatment his master was submitting him to. He couldn’t restrain himself from howling and gasping, but he bravely fought his battle without giving up.

Slowly, the unpleasant strokes on his dick began more and more pleasurable, and the dildo rhythmically pushing into his ass felt much more sensual. His cock, that had never lost its stiffness throughout the entire post-orgasm torture, sent to his mind renewed and stronger jolts of pleasure.

Kale, too, was moaning in ecstasy, now that the refractory period was slowly ending and the harsh treatment he was receiving was becoming again exquisitely sensual. The two captives moaned and writhed, lost in their delicious world of sexual pleasure until once again, their balls tightened and their cocks swelled, under the pressure of the orgasm boiling into their groin.

“Rowan, look at me… “ – the counselor said – “Are you about to cum again, too?”. The guy looked back at him: “Yes… if our masters let us!” – and then, to Beau – “Please, sir! We can’t hold any more… Let us cum!”

Beau, once more, nodded to Charlie, and they assaulted once more the most sensible parts of their prays, brutally fucking them with the dildos and furiously wanking them.

“Aaahhhh!” “Owww… shit!!” – both bound guy screamed at once, while their cock exploded in a second shattering orgasm, showering each other with thick streaks of sperm. An intense mutual stream of passion, pleasure and pride flew through the captive’s eyes, firmly locked into each other. They could take it all, their masters couldn’t break them. Rowan had not faltered, he had not spoken in panic the safe word. «I did it!» – was Rowan’s last exhausted thought, while his eyes were slowly closing.

Charlie looked at Beau, who shook his head, signaling him to stop. “Charlie, quick, hold Rowan!” – he said, pulling the loose end of the safety knots and setting the guy free. Charlie held him and carefully laid him on the floor, holding lovingly his head.

Beau, still shook by Rowan’s wild reaction and his brave decision not to give in, untied Kale and hugged him tight. “It was unexpectedly intense…” – the blond men said. “You tell me!!” – the Hawaiian replied, stepping back – “I didn’t see it coming! You are a wicked and devious man, you know?”. Then, he pulled Beau to him and kissed him passionately: “You can do to me whatever you want. I’m yours, totally, hopelessly yours… Damn, I wish I didn’t love you so much man… but I do!”

“Ehm, sirs…” – Rowan murmured, rising from the floor – “Please forgive my excessive and coarse reaction. I’m not used to yell so loud, I grant you. I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be silly, there’s nothing to be sorry for! You’ve been subjected to quite a harsh treatment…” – Beau reassured him with an affectionate smile.“Did you like it? How do you feel?” – Kale added.

“It was strange… I felt helpless and powerful at the same time” – Rowan replied, pensively – “I was at Charlie’s mercy, but I felt I could take whatever he would decide to dish at me. I was bound, but the ropes didn’t feel like a restraint: they were more a mean to improve my pleasure. I loved every moment of it… including the moments when I screamed like a banshee…” – he conclude, blushing.

Rowan turned to Charlie: “Now I know what that Adam guy must have felt… You know, the swimmer you told me about [4]. Probably, next time you meet him, he will beg you to work him over again!”

They all burst into laughter; they hugged one more time and then went back to their rooms.

~ Hendrick is restless ~

Rowan rushed down to the basement, feeling badly in need of a shower. But when he opened the door, he found Rick, pacing around the room. “My friend, you look distressed… I mean, what’s up, buddy?” – Rowan said, trying to correct his ‘talking weird’.

“I don’t know…” – the redhead replied – “No, wait, truth is that I know. No one can understand me better than you… You remember what I told you about the life I lived before meeting Stewart, and the… bad experience I had once [5]. That left a… scar in me, and sometimes it hurts again. I don’t know how to explain…”

“I know what you are talking about…” – the older guy replied – “When you suffer a trauma like that, and god knows I suffered it, it just stays there, at the bottom of your heart, and sometimes, unexpectedly, resurfaces. I’ve been dealing with this problem since the day I arrived here at the Cove”.

“And what do you do? What can I do? I need your help, pal…” – Rick said plaintively, holding Rowan’s hands.

“You should do what I’ve done until few minutes ago: re-enact your fears, live again the traumatic events that made you suffer, but with someone you truly trust. His love will exorcise your demons… at least for a while. You did that for me, once, remember?” – the guy concluded, holding Rick in his arms and kissing him lovingly.

“I really wish I could stay with you and… let you do your exorcism again” – Rowan giggled – “but I really have to sleep, or I will faint on spot. And besides… my ass already had more than his share of action, for today…”

The guy laughed at Rick’s puzzled expression: “I’ll tell you everything, but please, not now. I’m really exhausted.”

Hendrick smiled with affection and kissed Rowan on his cheek: “Sweet dreams!” – he whispered, and then left the room.

«Rowan is right» – Rick though, climbing upstairs, «I have to do it…!»

Hendrick felt weird. A turmoil of emotions stirred in his soul… and he was not the only one struggling with deep emotions, in that restless morning. Many things were to be said, in the following hours, and many other had to remain unsaid… though in the Cove a silence could sometimes be more revealing that a speech.

Footnotes and references:
[1] See Chapter 1, ~ A long lost beauty ~
[2] See Chapter 7, ~ The mystery of the privée ~
[3] See Chapter 2, ~ The many faces of love ~
[4] See Chapter 3, ~ A swimmer gets tied up ~
[5] See Chapter 9, ~ Hendrick’s story ~

* * * * * * * *

(End of chapter 16 – Please proceed to Chapter 17)