Chapter 10
“That guy’s staring at you,” Thom said. “He’s pretty cute. Maybe too young though.”
With a grunt, Gray racked his barbell and looked up at Thom, who was standing above him. “Are you spotting me or checking out men?”
“I’m not checking anyone out, but the way he’s eye fucking you is impossible to miss. I can’t not notice.”
“Try harder.” Gray arched off the bench, unracked the barbell, and went back to his set.
“Incoming,” Thom said under his breath.
“Hi! Gray, right?”
“For fuck’s sake,” he muttered. “Busy,” he said more loudly.
“Oh, right, sorry. I’ll wait.”
He finished his set, but he was distracted by Thom’s chuckles and the stranger’s hovering. Once he was done, he sat up and wiped his forehead with the bottom of his T-shirt.
“What’s up?” he asked as he rose from the weight bench and finally looked at the man beside Thom. He was licking his lips and focusing on Gray’s stomach. Or maybe it was his shorts. Either way, that answered Gray’s question. “I’m not interested.”
He turned and started walking away when the stranger grabbed his arm. “Wait.” He came closer and looked up at him. “I’ve seen you here before and I’ve been meaning to talk to you but I haven’t worked up the courage.” He smiled shyly. “Until now.”
Damn it. Thom was right, he looked pretty young and he seemed like a decent person. Gray hadn’t ever been accused of being sensitive, but he wasn’t looking to humiliate someone either. He shook off his frustration at his interrupted workout and extricated himself from the stranger’s hold.
Gentling his voice, he said, “Good on you for shooting your shot. Seriously. Keep it up. But not with me.”
“Oh.” He looked down at the floor, hair flopping over his face and shoulders hunched.
Gray felt as if he’d just kicked a puppy.
“Hey, listen, it’s not personal. I’m sure next time you approach someone, he’ll be thrilled. Don’t give up.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I mean it.” He awkwardly patted the guy’s shoulder. “I have a boyfriend.”
“You do?” he looked up, his expression suspicious. “I thought you were single. Like super single.”
“I’m not. I’m super not.” He waited a few beats. “You good?”
“Sure, I guess.”
“Alright. Have a good workout.”
He walked toward the dumbbells and Thom followed. “I think you broke his heart.”
“I'm confident he wasn’t focused on his heart when he came over.”
“True.” Thom huffed. “Hey, were you giving him an excuse to let him down easy or were you talking about Jack with that boyfriend thing? Because I half thought you guys were playing around the other night to mess with Kevin.”
“We aren’t playing around. Jack’s finally ready for something serious.”
“I know, but Gray, do you actually want something serious?”
He turned to the side and looked Thom in the face. “With Jack? Absolutely.”
Thom shook his head. “I would have put money on you staying single forever. You were the confirmed bachelor of our group and suddenly you’re a completely different person.”
“I haven’t changed; you just read me wrong.”
“Fair enough.” Thom nodded. “Fair enough.”
They finished their workout without more interruptions and then Gray drove back to Jack’s house.
He walked inside and put back the garage door opener he had borrowed when he went to the gym.
“Would it freak him out if I programmed it to my car and made myself a door code to the house?” he asked himself. “Probably.”
Patient. He could be patient while Jack caught up to the feelings Gray had long had. “Jack?” he called out. When he didn’t get an answer, he headed toward the workout room, assuming Jack was taking his morning run. He was right.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He leaned against the doorway and admired the view. Jack was on the treadmill wearing only sneakers and a pair of running shorts. Remarkably small running shorts.
“I’m sweaty.” Jack pressed a couple of buttons and the treadmill slowed and eventually stopped. “And out of breath.” He picked up a towel that was draped over the handle and wiped his face. “This isn’t my best look.”
“Mmm, I beg to differ.” He dragged his gaze from Jack’s face to his feet. “I like you sweaty.” He smirked as he walked over to him. “And out of breath.” He took the towel, wrapped it around Jack’s nape, and tugged him close. “Reminds me of last night.”
“Gray,” Jack sighed, his breath ghosting over Gray’s lips.
They came together, the kiss soft and sweet, just like the man sharing it with him.
“I could get used to this,” Gray whispered once they separated. “Morning kisses and weekends here with you.”
“Me too.”
“Good. Then we’ll make it a recurring event.” He gave Jack another quick peck. “Every weekend from now on.”
He had come over after work on Friday and planned to stay the weekend again. If it was up to him, he wouldn’t go back home come Monday, but while he had been in love with Jack for years, from Jack’s perspective, they’d only been dating for a few weeks. That was too soon to broach the topic.
Jack leaned into him and met his gaze. “Really? You want to spend every weekend here?”
“’Course. I always want to be with my boyfriend.
” He took Jack’s hand in his and walked with him toward his bedroom.
“Unfortunately, we can’t hide away here today because, as Thom reminded me at the gym this morning, we have brunch plans.
” He turned and arched his eyebrows at Jack. “Unless you want us to skip it?”
Jack smiled. “We aren’t going to miss brunch.”
“I knew that’s what you’d say.” He gave Jack an exaggerated frown.
“Stop it.” Jack laughed and gently smacked his shoulder. “You like spending time with your friends!”
“Do I?” He was only partly serious. His preference was always alone time with Jack, but their friends were good people.
“Yes, you do.”
“Fine.” They’d made it to Jack’s bedroom. “But you need a shower first.” He pulled him into the bathroom. “And I’m going to help.”
“You’re going to help me shower?”
“Yup.” Gray pushed down his sweatpants and then reached for Jack’s tiny shorts. “I’ll wash all your nooks and crannies.” Once they were both naked, he clutched Jack’s firm butt and pulled him flush against him. “I promise to be really thorough.”
Jack slammed his mouth against Gray’s and tangled his fingers in Gray’s hair. The hunger and passion in that kiss had Gray ready to go in minutes.
“God damn, Jack.” He nipped and licked his way across Jack’s jaw. “You are so sexy.” He took Jack’s hand in his. “Let’s get wet.”
“Okay.” Jack turned on the shower while Gray kissed his shoulders and skimmed his hands up and down his flank.
Once they were under the warm spray, Jack threw himself into Gray, his arms around Gray’s neck, and kissed him again.
“You are the best kisser,” Gray said when they separated for air. He reached for the erection nudging his thigh. “And your dick.” He curled his hand around the thick shaft and moaned. “How can anyone be this perfect?” He looked into Jack’s eyes. “I'm so lucky.”
“Gray,” Jack rasped. “I have never wanted anything as much as I want you.”
Longing and desire shown from the beautiful blue gaze and Gray’s chest felt full to bursting. “You have me.” He nibbled on Jack’s earlobe as he dragged his hand up and down his cock. “Turn around for me.” He gently brushed their lips together. “Palms on the wall.”
Once Jack was in position, Gray poured shower gel into his palm and carefully washed Jack’s shoulders, back, hips, and the curve of his ass. Then he squatted down and cleaned his thighs and calves before moving his way back up, this time curling his arms around Jack to wash his front side.
Though Jack didn’t speak with words, his body had plenty to say. He trembled under Gray’s hands, pushed into his touch, and curled his fingers against the tile, gasping.
Once Gray had finished soaping up Jack’s wiry, strong body, he draped himself over him, slotting his erection between Jack’s firm cheeks.
“Gray,” Jack moaned. He turned his head, his cheek pressed against the tile, his eyes closed. “You feel so good.”
“So do you,” he said into Jack’s ear. Then he took hold of Jack’s cock and started stroking while he thrust against his ass.
“Oh God.” Jack sucked in air. “Oh God.”
“That’s it. Feel good.”
“I do. I do.” Jack pushed back against him, adding to the friction. “I do. I do.”
“Damn, Jack. How do you get me there so fast?” He bit Jack’s shoulder and tried, but failed, to catch his breath. “Want you so much.” His hips moved faster. “You kill my stamina.”
“I'm going to come.” Jack pushed into Gray’s fist. “Gray, Gray, Gray!”
Hot ejaculate shot over his fist and that was it for him. He shook and moaned as pleasure swept through him and he coated Jack’s lower back with his seed.
“Fuck.” Heart racing, he dropped his forehead against the back of Jack’s head and sucked in air. “You’re amazing.”
After a few moments, Jack turned around, wrapped his arms around Gray’s chest, and clung to him. He said something, his voice so quiet Gray almost couldn’t hear it over the water, but then the words registered. “Please don’t change your mind.”
“Never going to happen,” he promised as he held Jack tightly. “I’m all yours.”
***
“So, Gray, I heard you made it onto the barely legal crowd’s radar,” Kevin said within seconds of Gray and Jack sitting down at the table. “That’s a whole new generation for you to corrupt.”
Beside him, Jack stiffened.
“Ignore him,” he said to Jack and handed him a menu. “If you don’t give him attention, he stops.”
That was wishful thinking.
“You made your way through the bars, so now you’re moving to the under twenty-one crowd at the gym?”
That explained Kevin’s latest reason to be insufferable. Gray lowered his menu and glared at Thom.
“Sorry,” he mouthed to Gray and then he bumped his shoulder against Eric’s and said something into his ear.
“What are they talking about?” Jack asked him.
His voice was low, but Kevin was right across from them, watching closely and waiting for an opening, so he swooped right in.