Page 8 of Nate

Kevin sat up and breathed in deep, really feeling it in his lungs. He swung his arms back and forth across his chest. “Sure. I mean, you’re giving me your expertise free of charge. No reason I can’t return the favor.”

“Thanks man. That’s decent of you. We’ll have to set something up.” Nate looked at his watch. “Break’s over. Time for your second set.”

Kevin lay back down and picked up the dumbbells again. When he went to lift up into his bridge, Nate’s hand settled on his lower back to steady him. His shirt had fallen away and the warmth of Nate’s palm touched his skin. Kevin looked up into Nate’s gray eyes. Nate touched him a lot as his trainer. It was always impersonal, professional. But for some reason, the way he touched him now felt ... different. And the way he watched him, there was something in his expression. Something hot. Kevin blinked and the expression was gone. Or maybe he’d imagined it.

He tried to put the weird moment out of his head so he could focus on his workout. Except, when Nate pulled away, his hand slid across Kevin’s damp skin, making his spine tingle. He swallowed hard, trying not to let that small touch affect him. It’d be pretty embarrassing, especially with the position he was in.

Nate smiled slightly. “C’mon Kevin, let’s go.”

Kevin flushed and brought the weights up.

“One.”

∞∞∞

Nate held his hand out to Kevin. “Great work this week. You picked up on everything pretty easy. You’re not as klutzy as you think.”

Kevin smiled a little as he accepted the handshake, obviously pleased at the praise. “Thanks. It’s gone a lot better than I expected.”

Nate realized he was still holding onto Kevin’s hand. He reluctantly let him go. “See? I told you there’d be no scary drill sergeant yelling.”

Kevin laughed. “Okay, you were right. Thanks again. I really appreciate it. And I was serious about helping you out with an app. I’ll need a few weeks to work you into my schedule, but I can definitely hook you up.” He bent to pick up his water bottle. “Same schedule next week?”

“Yeah. And be sure you take care of your body like I told you so you don’t get too sore.”

“I will. Thanks, Nate.”

He walked off to the locker room, Nate watching him go. After a week in Kevin’s company, Nate liked him even more. He’d maintained his professional distance, not wanting Kevin to be uncomfortable. Except for today’s little slip. His hand had landed on the warm skin of Kevin’s back by accident. Instead of immediately pulling away, he’d left it there for a few moments, teasing himself with the urge to caress the smooth skin under his palm.

And he hadn’t been the only one affected. He’d seen desire in the dark eyes looking up at him, recognized it in the flush that hit Kevin’s cheeks as he slid his hand across his back. Nate wanted to see those eyes looking up at him in private, where he’d be able to do a lot more than briefly touch Kevin’s skin. Kevin was definitely attracted to him. Now Nate just needed to find the right way to approach him.

“Ooooh, you like him.”

Nate turned in surprise at the raspy voice in his ear. It was his friend Gage, standing there in gym shorts and a ratty T-shirt. “Damn, Gage. Quit sneaking up on people.”

“I didn’t sneak up on you. You were so busy drooling over Boy Wonder you didn’t notice me walk up.”

Nate didn’t bother to deny it. “I’m assuming you’re calling him Boy Wonder because of his T-shirt.” Kevin had been wearing a T-shirt with the classic Robin character on the front. He’d worn a different comic tee to each of his workouts this week. Nate liked the way he always matched his tennis shoes and the bands he held his dreads back with to his tees. Today’s had been yellow to match Robin’s cape.

“Yeah that. Which explains why you’ve been playing comic book movies on the wall all week. And because he looks like a boy. His mama pack his lunch before he came to the gym?”

“Shut up, Gage. He’s twenty-four, only five years younger than us.”

“Baby face then. Whatever. Joseph is prettier.” He looked over to where Joseph was working at the hamstring curl machine.

Nate grinned. “Subtle change of topic, man. How are things going with you two?”

Gage grinned too. “Fucking amazing. He’s got me on lockdown.”

Nate was surprised at that statement and the happy grin that accompanied it. Gage was notorious for his dedicated avoidance of personal attachments. “You like it?”

“I love it.”

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