Arthus and Nico

Written By venus on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 | 12:19 AM

I've followed these French men since 2011 (they were still in college, I later learned). The openly gay couple has been together for nine year, starting as a amateur photo subjects and since becoming buffed-up designers of intimate underwear. In the meantime, they've appeared in sex videos that have been viewed more than 7 million times (make that "more than 7,000,002"; I had an exciting "inspection" yesterday).

Nico, at left, and Arthus

Their underwear is, like them, quite revealing. Sold under their own brand, PetitQ ("billed as the smallest underwear in the world)," the products are available from online retailers and in brick-and-mortar shops in the 18 countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Canada and Australia. The offerings include everything from body suits to micro-underwear that involves more craftsmanship than cloth.

Among PetitQ's models are such luminaries as Benjamin Godfre and, in one video, Cody Cummings, who is described as recently retired.

As entrepreneurs and vacationers, they spend five months every year in the States, chiefly in South Florida. Last year, The Gaily Grind interviewed them on their business activities and possible wedding plans.

"I guess people follow us 'cause of our free spirit," the couple said. "Especially when it comes to photos and videos."

They's been spending a lot of time at the gym. In fact, when a friend sent me a photo of the couple, I didn't realize that the stud was Arthus. Nico is no wallflower at the gym, either.

Marriage is on their list. France recently became the 14th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, replacing civil unions that were in place since 1999. In France, same-sex marriage isn't as controversial as same-sex adoptions, they said. When Americans saw televised scenes of protests in the streets following enactment of the gay marriage, most of the fuss was about adoption, according to Athus and Nico.

"Of course we'll get married some day, especially since we want kids," the pair told the Gaily Grind. "Despite all of our photos and videos online, we don't really like to be the center of attention in real life and we don't want the straight wedding that all of our straight friends had. We have been to picture-perfect weddings, and we want something different. We'll figure this out."

In the meantime, here are a few photos of Arthus and Nico, individually and together. Enjoy!