Clay #2
By the time Niles called the end of the session, easing everyone into more comfortable, cooldown positions, I was barely aware that my body had stopped its protests.
In fact, I was feeling up to a lot more and debated staying after everyone left.
The room was used for a lot of things, but there were recorded guidance sessions if people wanted to do yoga without the group.
Chatter began once Niles called the end to the session, reminding everyone to wipe down their mats. I watched him gravitate toward Isaac, and I found myself doing the same.
“That was impressive,” I said before Niles could say anything. “Where the hell did you learn to move like that?”
Isaac looked at me with a flicker of surprise before he smiled softly. “You’d be surprised at the tricks I’ve learned in my life.”
I grinned. “I don’t think I’d be too surprised.”
“Behave,” Niles chided as he stepped forward, looking Isaac over. “He’s right, though. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say you were better than me.”
Isaac ducked his head as he wiped his mat. “I wouldn’t go that far. You’re good. You have excellent control; your motions were a lot more measured and intentional than mine. I just kind of go on autopilot.”
Niles squinted. “How long have you been doing yoga?”
“Oh God, years,” Isaac said with a laugh that was easy and yet controlled. “I substituted for one of my teachers years ago, only a few times though, so don’t get too excited.”
“Hell, you could guide one of our sessions if you’re ever feeling up to it,” Niles said, grinning when Isaac gave him a startled look.
“No, I’m serious. If there’s anything I’ve learned over the years, it’s that having someone new to guide people can really help.
Sometimes it gives them something interesting, like hearing someone else. ”
“You can just say you want a break from trying to make everyone groan and complain because you want them to become human pretzels,” I told Niles with a snort.
Niles waved me off. “Ignore him. If he feels like he’s not getting enough attention, he starts acting out.”
“Excuse me?” I asked with a scowl.
Isaac chuckled. “Wouldn’t it be better to give him attention so he doesn’t escalate?”
“Absolutely not,” Niles said. “That just encourages him. The best thing to do is ignore him, otherwise he learns he gets attention if he starts acting up.”
“Or perhaps you could give him little doses of attention when he wants it, but not when he’s being obnoxious. That way you can make sure he knows he’ll get attention when he’s behaving, but otherwise will get ignored.”
“That sounds like an awful lot of work when ignoring him is far easier.”
“Is it?”
“I’ve found it to be.”
“Excuse me,” I interrupted with a huff. “You’re talking about me like I’m not standing right here. You’re also talking like you’re trying to raise a toddler...or train a dog.”
“Actually, what I’m suggesting works quite well on cats,” Isaac explained, and I scowled when he smirked. “It’s how I taught my cats not to use their claws or get rough when I’m playing with them. When they’re doing it correctly, they get the attention they want. If not? I just walk away.”
“Being compared to a cat in training is not, in fact, making me feel better,” I said with a sigh.
“Why not? It kind of works,” Niles said with a laugh. “Especially when you think about how horny tom cats can be.”
“Niles is just mad that he couldn’t sleep with me because he works here, and was my Guide at one point,” I said with a smirk.
Not that I actually believed that for a minute, or at least..
.not completely. Niles was one of those rare guys where I had no idea who he was into, if he was even into people sexually.
For all I knew, he could have had a giant crush on me and held it back so well that it was undetectable, or was so uninterested in sex that it completely threw off my radar.
“I have had Clay recommended for psychological testing because I’m convinced there’s some disconnect in his brain,” Niles said, giving me a sharp look. “Now, I know Isaac is new, but can I at least trust that you’ll behave if I leave you alone to go talk to a few of the other guys?”
“I don’t think you have to worry about me,” Isaac said with a chuckle. “Fending off horny men is something I have experience in.”
“Good to know,” Niles said with a snort. “Just spray him with a water bottle if he doesn’t figure out how to tone it down.”
“I’m not a fucking cat,” I called after Niles as he walked off. “Asshole.”
“You bring out a certain side of people, don’t you?” Isaac asked as he walked over to the rack and draped his mat over it.
“What side?” I asked, wrinkling my nose.
“The kind that invites people to give you shit,” he said with a laugh.
“What can I say? It’s part of my charm, I guess,” I said, hanging my mat next to his. I glanced over and grinned when I saw Logan had made his way over. “Well, howdy, Logan, have fun?”
“It was fine, I guess,” he said with a shrug. “Just wish there was more to do around here than talk and do yoga.”
“Oh, I’m sure I could find something for you to fill the time,” I said, arching a brow.
He sighed. “Really?”
I snorted. “There’s a gym.”
“I’ve already worked out today.”
“No, I’m not talking about you being around a bunch of sweaty men grunting as they pump weights. I mean, that’s a good time, but I mean an actual gymnasium.”
Logan frowned. “What?”
“Yeah, and they’ve got equipment and shit. Some guys have set up basketball teams when they can find enough people, or even goofy shit like dodgeball.”
Logan perked up at that. “Really? I didn’t know that.”
“Start checking the scheduled shit in the system,” I said. “But be careful if you set up a dodgeball tournament.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I’m the reigning champ and I don’t care if you look good in small shorts, I will absolutely wreck you in a way that doesn’t involve my dick.”
“Thanks,” Logan said with a shake of his head and walked off. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Huh,” Isaac said, and I turned to see a thoughtful expression on his face. “Not in everyone, though...ah. Now I see.”
I frowned. “Are you talking to yourself? Do I need to leave you alone so you can have a good time?”
He snickered. “You’ve slept with that one, but you haven’t slept with Cade or Niles, or Luka, for that matter.”
“Luka doesn’t get laid, so why would I be the one sleeping with him?” I scoffed because Luka was another person who definitely threw my radar off.
“Oh, he’s getting laid. I’m not sure if it’s regularly or just recently, but he’s getting some action,” Isaac said, crossing his arms and looking me over. “And so are you. But you’re getting laid differently.”
“Uh, laid is laid.”
“No, it’s not. But now I have a reasonable chance of figuring out which people you’ve slept with, and which ones you haven’t.”
“Huh? How?”
“That ‘charm’ you mentioned? That only seems to come out with people who wouldn’t or haven’t slept with you,” he said with a chuckle. “But that one? He didn’t know how to deal with your blunt comments.”
“You’re, uh, not going to say that out loud around a bunch of people, right?” I asked, looking around the mostly empty room. The few people left were near the door and paying no attention.
“Afraid I’ll ruin your breeding stock?” he asked in amusement.
“No, I just,” I thought about it, then grimaced as I realized I should probably go with the truth.
Isaac seemed like an alright guy, so maybe telling the truth would be more effective at keeping his mouth shut than coming up with another excuse.
“Some of the guys around here aren’t exactly.
..comfortable with people knowing they fuck around with me, or with any other guy for that matter.
I want to get laid, but I’m not going to put them on blast when they’re trying to keep that shit quiet, you know? ”
Isaac gave me a searching look before grunting. “A player with a conscience. Now there’s something you don’t see every day.”
“I’m not a…” I began and then scowled. “I’m not a player.”
“How do you figure?” Isaac asked, sounding more curious than doubtful.
“A player plays to play the game,” I said. “They’re willing to beg, borrow, steal, and lie to get what they want. I don’t lie.”
“Does that include your threat to suck Cade’s soul out through his dick and put it back in his ass?”
“That was definitely not a lie,” I said with a grin. “Again, if you want to call my bluff, be my guest.”
“It’s cute how you keep trying despite being repeatedly shot down,” he said with a laugh.
I huffed. “Look, I’m serious. I don’t lie to people, I don’t keep shit from them that they need to know.”
“And what do they need to know?”
“That I’m horny, they’re hot, I’ll fuck them good, and after that it’s up to them; they can keep coming back, come back once, or don’t come back at all.
But it’s about getting laid for me, nothing serious.
I don’t lead people on, I don’t pretend I like them like they’re going to be my boyfriend.
I don’t promise more than I’m looking for, and if they get any wrong ideas?
I stop sleeping with them because I’m not stupid and I know sleeping with someone who has feelings for you isn’t going to make them magically go away, it’ll do the opposite. ”
“To be fair, I did say a player with a conscience.”
“That’s a slut. I’m a slut, not a player.”
Isaac tipped his head back and laughed, and I watched his Adam’s apple bounce.
“Alright, then consider me corrected, but also chastised properly. I apologize. I shouldn’t have insinuated that you were an amoral person out to get laid at any cost. I will pay proper respect to your slut status from here on out. ”
I grinned. “Thank you; that’s all I want.”