Chapter 12 #2
“You usually work out in the evenings,” Dominic said, confused.
“Only when I have my favorite evening bodyguard.” Austin winked, almost looking bashful about it.
Then he pushed off the counter, swaggering close in a way that might have been intimidating if he wasn’t a head shorter, and Dominic was, by this point, incapable of being intimidated by this sweet man.
“I’d hate for you to miss a workout just because you’re here with me,” Austin continued. “My home gym is big enough for one more.”
Dominic didn’t know what he was more excited about: finally getting up close and personal with Austin while he was working out or getting to correct his shitty workout habits.
“Fine,” Dominic said. “But we’re doing it right this time.”
Austin made a face. “Uhhh, do I not work out right? Because all of this”—he gestured at his toned body—“begs to differ.”
“Your form is shit,” Dominic said, turning toward Austin’s home gym. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
It took genuine effort not to take advantage of the situation. But no matter how many times Dominic put his hands on Austin’s sweaty body, he reminded himself that he was doing this for Austin’s safety, not to get his dick wet.
For now, anyway. They would have time for that later.
“Slow and steady,” Dominic repeated, standing behind Austin and guiding his arms up into an overhead press, ignoring how his stab wound twinged when he raised his arms too high. “None of that fast shit. You want to draw it out. Really make yourself feel it.”
Austin grunted. They’d been at this long enough for Austin to get up a proper sweat, his skin glowing with a fine sheen that made Dominic want to run his tongue along Austin’s neck.
But he resisted. He’d save that for after he drilled this into Austin’s head. Or until Austin couldn’t take it anymore. Whichever came first.
“Come on,” Austin panted, wincing as he pushed the dumbbells over his head again, slow and pained. “You’ve never wanted to get a set over with?”
“Sure,” Dominic said, putting the slightest pressure on Austin’s arms to help him lift. “But I keep it slow and steady because this is all about control. Working the right muscles, the right way.”
“Control,” Austin said, strained. “Right.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t injured yourself with your shitty form,” Dominic added.
Austin made a noise that implied he had injured himself before and he would deny it if Dominic brought it up.
Dominic grinned and slid his hands down Austin’s arms, pretending he was readjusting to help him lift. He squeezed Austin’s forearms, listening to him gasp.
The dumbbells stilled.
“Come on,” Austin said, arms shaking under their weight. “You seriously aren’t going to call it? I’ve done a million reps.”
“Aw,” Dominic said. “You tired?”
“Yes! I’m not even supposed to be lifting to failure; it’s meant to be a light day!”
“Poor puppy,” Dominic said. He pressed closer, letting Austin feel the pressure of him all down his back. His cock was half-hard, had been half-hard almost this whole time, and Austin’s breath hitched as Dominic rubbed it into the small of his back.
“Five more reps,” Dominic murmured. “And I’ll let you suck my cock.”
Austin let out a disbelieving laugh, his fingers tightening around the dumbbells. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.” Dominic rocked against him, dragging his growing erection against Austin’s spine. “You gonna do what you’re told, puppy? Gonna be good for me?”
Austin shivered against him. He pushed the dumbbells up over his head, his muscles straining with effort.
“Good,” Dominic said. “That’s one.”
Austin heaved them up again. Then again.
Slow and steady, though Dominic knew it was because he wasn’t capable of anything else at this point, and not because he cared about proper form.
In his defense, Dominic had worked him hard.
He couldn’t help it. He wanted to get Austin to this point, sore and aching and genuinely unsure he could finish it, and then watch him do it because Domnic told him to.
Austin pushed the dumbbells up again.
“One more to go,” Dominic coaxed. He ground against Austin’s back. “Come on, puppy. You can do it.”
Austin grunted. Sweat streamed down his face, his teeth gritting as he pushed the dumbbells up. His arms shook, his fingers white around the handles. His arms straightened, the dumbbells high over his head.
“Now back down,” Dominic said, rubbing his lips against Austin’s short hair. “Slow and steady.”
Austin grunted something that sounded a lot like fuck you.
He started to lower the dumbbells back down, trembling with effort.
Dominic waited for him to let them fall the rest of the way, but Austin lowered them slow and steady, just like Dominic told him.
Then he reached the bottom of his press and dropped them to the ground.
They were heavy enough that they barely bounced on the concrete, only rocking back and forth a moment before stilling.
Austin turned to him, chest heaving. “You’re a tyrant. You know that? I’m going to be sore for days.”
“Good. As long as it’s the right kind of sore.” Dominic ran his hands down Austin’s arms, feeling the sweat gather under his fingers. Waiting. Sure enough, Austin started to squirm right on cue.
Dominic thought about pushing him to his knees. He went with coy instead, raising his brows.
“What?”
Austin bit his lip. “You said something about a reward?”