Chapter 27 - Intimate Affairs and Dancing
Callum had the night off from The Vault on Friday because it was closed. Tony was having work done on the lighting grid, so they were shut all weekend. Callum knew about this in advance and had arranged a dinner at his with Sophia, Jack and Rosie.
Julian would be there, and everyone was keen to get to know him better in a social situation.
Callum doubted Jack would come. He had returned to the gym the day after their argument but was still giving Callum the silent treatment.
He also had a half-day holiday on the Friday, so he had disappeared off at lunchtime.
Jack was incoherent, rambling away, telling Callum he was sorry for being an asshole and that he loved him, but not the same way Julian loved him, more like a brother.
Telling Sophia that he loved her, not like a brother, but with proper love, and that they should be together and make sweet love.
He told Julian that he needed to love Callum and save their gym.
Everyone could see just how drunk Jack was, so no one took any of it too seriously as they cajoled him to drink glass after glass of water, followed by strong coffee.
Jack did sober up. He went off to the bathroom and vomited loudly, which in a small apartment echoed through the walls.
“Oh my God, what do we do? He’s been sick!” Julian’s face was a picture.
“We flush, Julian, that’s what we do. We flush and clean up,” Callum laughed as he hugged him tightly.
Julian seemed panicked, like such a thing had never happened to him in his life, but he then saw the funny side of it and started laughing, declaring, “This is real life.”
Callum went to sort Jack out and clean up. Jack now declared he felt much better and fancied some curry. They dished him some, slightly concerned with the effect it might have on him, but he was okay and kept it down.
The Tiramisu was delicious, Sophia’s family recipe was declared a triumph, and a good evening was had by all.
Everyone loved Julian, who was funny and entertaining. Callum reflected afterwards that he’d never seen him so relaxed and having fun around other people. The side of him he always saw sometimes got pushed away by the Titan when in company, but he was not present tonight.
Sophia ordered an Uber, promising Rosie and she would make sure Jack got home okay and they headed off, leaving Callum and Julian to clean up.
Callum washed plates, whilst Julian dried, and they soon had the place tidy.
Julian stayed over, instantly spooning up against Callum in their normal position, which of course led to arousal, kissing and more.
Then, wrapped tightly together, they drifted off.
***
Saturday 22nd February 25
Saturday, Julian broke new ground, involved in something completely different.
Callum and Jack were hosting an event at The Iron Works as part of a larger community drive. They had agreed to host fun gym sessions for children from the local area.
As soon as Julian had heard about this, he offered his services. “Yes, you could maybe pass as a fit guy,” Callum joked, squeezing his huge arms.
The gym looked great. They’d decorated outside and in the reception area with balloons and banners for ‘Brooklyn Lives’, supplied to them by the organisers.
Callum had devised a programme where small groups of five kids would do different exercises at different bases to mark their printed gym card, and if they did every exercise, they would win a prize.
Callum, Jack, and Julian, along with a few other members who helped out, manned the bases, and the whole event went smoothly.
Julian had never seen anything like this and was impressed by how organised it was, and how much the kids seemed to enjoy it.
He got quite involved and spoke to many of them about their schools and whether they knew how good exercise was for them.
Most were fixated on how big Julian’s muscles were, and what they needed to do to look like him when they were really old.
Callum overheard this and started calling him old man, which made him laugh and frown.
The event really brought home to Julian just how important the community was to Callum, and he could see what was behind his drive to push the gym towards the community fitness hub that he wanted to do. He felt proud of him.
After they had given prizes, awarded small medals and certificates, and cleared up, the day was declared a huge success. Callum and Jack were happy with how the local area had supported the event and that their planning had paid off.
As people were thanking them and heading off, Julian vowed to himself that he would find a way to help them achieve their goals.
He discreetly texted Kerry and asked her to set up a lunch meeting with Jack and Callum the following week to have a proper discussion. It was time to sort The Iron Works.
That night they went back to the penthouse, and Sunday was a walk in the sun, brunch, a lazy day.
They listened to music again, loudly. Whilst Julian worked on his laptop, Callum educated him on the UK pop duo Erasure, whom he was obsessed with.
There were two songs in particular that he loved: ‘Hideaway’ and ‘Fingers and Thumbs’.
As he told him about the group and what he loved about their songs, he danced his way around the penthouse, much to Julian’s amusement.
‘Callum’s Cheesy Europop Playlist’ also contained other upbeat dance songs and several Eurovision Song Contest entries that he’d discovered.
All cheesy, all poppy, all happy and upbeat.
Julian watched him with amusement. Callum had so much life it just couldn’t be contained. He felt quite content.
Around dusk on Sunday, Callum finally completed his Lego trainer to applause and mock tears. Julian opened a bottle of champagne, and they drank it by the window in a manly embrace.
The unit by the windows now boasted three distinct items. On one side, a framed New York street photo and on the other, a large Infinity Gauntlet with glowing stones, and a Lego Adidas shoe: ‘the Titan and the Trainer’.
***
Thursday 27th February 25
Callum met Julian as usual at his office, and they did a particularly punishing routine on his obliques and quads. Julian moaned as Callum put him through his paces, so Callum kissed him in the places that ached to take away the pain.
“Stop it, otherwise we’re going to the suite, my sweet!” Julian said. Callum stopped. They needed to focus on the training.
Things had calmed between them as they’d settled into their relationship. They were now able to be in the same room without getting aroused, well… most of the time.
They showered together, which was something they always liked to do. During this, they would let nature take its course, which often led to some fun.
Callum got dressed in his leather gear, something Julian loved to watch.
He especially loved it when Callum had to try and squeeze his genitals into the metal cock ring, a task almost impossible when you’re even slightly aroused.
Julian would usually delay getting dressed or just happen to be looking hot in his new Calvin Klein white briefs that Callum had persuaded him to purchase.
He’d accidentally massage his own pecs with that dark, sexy look on his face, resulting in Callum getting a semi, causing a real struggle.
They both laughed at this even though it sometimes made Callum late, but at least he had Ben now to drive him, which was quicker.
“See you later, old man,” he said, giving him a nice long, lingering kiss.
“Hey, less of the old man, you cheeky bugger,” Julian replied, smacking him hard on the arse of his leather shorts. He was still wearing the ones that Martha had fixed. He’d not had a chance to replace them.
He met Ben downstairs, sitting up front in the Jeep.
“I don’t know how you do it, Callum,” Ben said, eyeing up Callum’s shorts and harness under his open coat.
“I just love dancing, and I can earn $100 a night in tips on top of my pay, so the money helps.”
“But you’re Julian’s boyfriend, Callum. You know you’ll never want for anything.”
“I know, I know,” Callum replied, “but I just enjoy it; it’s a hobby.”
Ben dropped him as normal and said he’d wait for his text later.
In the club, Cal got himself ready, Leo oiled him up and ‘glittered’ him. It was a special event night where men and women were permitted, normally being a men-only club.
The theme was ‘Shiny, Suits, Sophia was in a skintight, glossy red leather dress. They made a striking couple.
What the hell were they doing there?
Callum suddenly felt very hot. How would Julian react to seeing him do this, the thing he’d been scared to even share with him at first? Were they now secure enough in their relationship that he would accept this and not have an issue with it?
They worked their way through the crowd around Callum’s podium until they were at the front, against the low Perspex wall, which was filling with dollar bills. Callum winked at Sophia, who in turn winked back. She put her arm around Julian and kissed him on the cheek.
Callum decided to give Julian a show he would never forget.