Page 60 of Jacked
“Slater,” he repeats my name with an unmistakably flirtatious purr, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it into his locker too.
My gaze drops briefly to his bare chest. He’s got muscles for days, but his chest is waxed bare. If the hair on his legs is anything to go by, he’s probably nearly as furry as AJ when he lets it grow naturally. What a travesty. What a waste. I had no idea I had such a strong opinion about body hair, but give meallthe fur, dammit.
I turn away from him and step out of my pants, and Eric lets out an appreciative whistle. Thiscannotbe proper gay locker room etiquette, can it? I laugh and shoot him an awkward smile, then unzip my bag and pull out my shorts. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him still watching me, his task of changing on hold apparently as he leans shirtless against the lockers.
“You’re here a lot,” he says conversationally.
“Yeah. I’ve seen you around before too.” As soon as I say it, I know it was the wrong move. His smile widens and I fight the urge to cringe. Okay, I need to let him down gently before I say anything else that he interprets as flirting.
I reach into my bag again while I try to work out the best way to tell the guy I’m not interested. My hand lands on the tank top I packed and my heart flutters, a giddy grin spreading over my lips. I had the wild impulse this morning to snag one of AJ’s when I was packing my gym bag this morning. I figured if he thinks it’s weird, I can just play it off as an innocent accident. But right now, it’s giving me the idea for the perfect escape from this whole awkward encounter.
I pull the tank over my head. I’m swimming in it compared to AJ. I don’t have the massive pecs to fill it out or the insanely broad shoulders, but the wide sleeves and plunging neckline are still slutty as hell, even on me. In the background, I hear the sound of the locker room door opening and closing again. I’m not sure if it’s someone coming in or going out though.
“What do you say to grabbing a drink after we work up a sweat today?” Eric leans in a little closer with a flirty smirk. “We can properly hydrate before we work up another one.”
“Thanks, but one of the trainers here is actually my boyfriend.” The lie is meant to get me out of this situation without hurting Eric’s feelings, but the wordboyfriendon my lips feels like a shot of adrenaline straight to my veins. I don’t want to rush things and I’m positive AJ isn’t anywhere near ready for anything like that but, fuck, I want it to be true.
Maybe it can be one day? I don’t mind waiting for him.
A flicker of disappointment crosses Eric’s face, but to his credit, he takes the rejection in his stride.
“He’s a lucky guy,” he says, then finally turns to finish getting dressed.
I slip on my sneakers and when I look up, AJ is lingering at the end of the aisle, glaring daggers at Eric. How long has he been there? Did he hear me refer to him as my boyfriend? Oops. I take my time tying my shoes until Eric leaves.
“Sorry,” I say to AJ as soon as we’re alone. I rake my fingers through my hair to push it out of my face, my footsteps echoing off the tile floor in the otherwise quiet locker room. “He was hitting on me and I kind of panicked about how to let him down gently.”
AJ doesn’t say anything. His eyes flicker to the tank top I’m wearing.Histank top. Do I need to apologize for that too? I bite my lip and stop just an inch in front of him, not sure if I can touch him the way I want to while he’s at work.
He lets out a rumbly laugh and closes the last inch of space between us, pressing his chest to mine, thighs to thighs, noses bumping.
“I’m having a bit of a caveman moment,” he confesses with another chuckle. “I came in to see what was taking you so long and I heard him asking you out for drinks. I was ready to beat my chest and growl at the guy to back the fuck off. But then you called me your boyfriend and you’re standing here wearing my clothes. I’m having a hard time not throwing you down on the bench and doing some very gay things to you.”
I can’t decide whether I want to laugh or moan, either way the sound gets lodged in my throat as AJ drags his fingertips lightly over my bicep, leaving goose bumps in his wake.
“That ball game I mentioned? It’s a date.” He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing and his eyes burning into mine. “I mean, I was trying to ask you on a date. Is that okay?”
My heart leaps and my stomach flutters wildly. I nod and don’t try to fight the smile stretching my mouth so wide it hurts.
“Yeah, that’s okay.”
“Good,” he murmurs, tilting his chin and catching my lips in a soft, slow kiss.
It’s nothing like any of the other hungry, desperate, horny kisses we’ve shared so far. In spite of his flirting, I don’t think AJ is a “fucking in public” kind of guy. No tongue, no groping hands, just our lips finding a sweet rhythm that feels endless in the best way.
“Dude, we’re going on a date,” I say with a grin. “That’s so gay.”
He snorts a laugh. “It’s pretty fucking bisexual.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
SLATER
I pullon my favorite well-worn Dodgers jersey, then run my fingers through my hair and tug my cap on.I have a date with AJ. I grin to myself and double-check the stock of lube and condoms in my bedside drawer for later. I really don’t need to double-check anything considering I bought both fresh just a few days ago, but it settles my jittery nerves to make sure I’m good to go for theafterpart of our date.
I don’t know who felt weirder, me or Cas, when I called him up yesterday to ask about the best way to get myself in fuck-ready condition back there. I had no clue how much prep it took to get ready for anal sex, but if that’s where things go tonight, my ass is officially so clean you could eat out of it. And I’mreallyhoping AJ wants to.
My cock swells immediately at the thought of AJ’s hot, wet tongue on my hole. I groan and adjust myself. Fuck, do I want to ride that man’s face. I chuckle quietly and fan myself to try to get rid of the heat rising into my cheeks. Wholesome baseball date first, debauchery and face riding later.
