Page 18 of Lost (Powertools: The Shields 2)

“Yeah?” Knox asked, perking up.

“Of course.” Marcus tried not to think about how much more annoying it would be to spend time with the guy when his muscles were straining, he was glistening with sweat, and they were boosting their serotonin together. He’d have to concentrate to make sure he didn’t drop a dumbbell on something important while ogling Knox.

It had been a long time since a guy caught his interest, and it didn’t happen very often. Of course it would be this one. He must like to torture himself with things he couldn’t have. First, Kennedy and now Knox. Both completely emotionally unavailable. Now with additional landmines of their past relationships to make it even more treacherous.

“Did Kennedy clear you for activity?” Marcus wondered, studying Knox’s chest.

“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”

“But it might injure you. Besides, we don’t operate that way around here.” Marcus couldn’t stand half-truths or mind games. “I won’t lie for you. So if she asks, it’s your balls on the line.”

Knox nodded and sipped his smoothie again. “Fair enough. But if I don’t do something to burn off my nerves or…uh, you know. Like cravings and stuff… Sometimes exercise is all that works to distract myself.”

“Oh.” Marcus stared at his smoothie, trying not to make Knox any more uncomfortable. “Then yeah. Let’s give ourselves a half hour to digest and find you some clothes. I prefer to lift before cardio. Sound good?”

“It does, but don’t laugh when I can’t keep up.” Knox winced.

Damn it. Why did Marcus feel the need to soothe the guy’s insecurities? Was it because he knew Kennedy loved the dumb fuck? Or because it was his job to keep the guy stable enough to be a useful asset to the Shields? Or maybe because there was some sort of charismatic quality to the dude.

Ugh. He suddenly understood why Kennedy hadn’t been able to get over Knox even though he hadn’t found himself attracted to many men in the past. Sure, he appreciated a fine body, and hanging around with the polyamorous friends he’d made in the Powertools, Hot Rods, and Hot Rides gangs had opened his eyes—and his mind—to the infinite combinations someone could find love in, but he never really expected that for himself.

Hell, he’d never dared to hope he’d find more than a hookup, to be honest. But first Kennedy and now Knox were giving him ideas he’d be better off forgetting.

“I’m not the kind of guy who’d make fun of anyone committed to improving themselves.” Marcus crossed his arms to keep his hands firmly by his sides. “I get that what you’re going through is tough and I respect you for sticking it out.”

“The drug thing or the Viper thing?” Knox glanced up.

“Both. And especially the not-hurting-Kennedy-again thing.”

Knox nodded. “Roger that. I never meant to, you know? Me leaving had nothing to do with her.”

Marcus held his hands up. “That sounds like something you should talk to her about, not me.”

A couple hours later they’d finished a circuit on the weight machines and were in a steady jog side-by-side on the treadmills when Knox coughed. He stumbled but kept going, though one hand clutched his chest and his fair skin told the truth he was apparently unwilling to voice. Flushed and bright, sweat pouring from his face, and his breathing labored, he’d had enough.

Marcus looked over and called it. “That’s good enough for me. You done?” Of course, on an ordinary day he’d have the pace set to twice what they’d been doing and could have gone for another thirty minutes while singing along to the radio.

“Thanks for taking pity, man.” Knox doubled over as the treadmill came to a stop, his hands braced on his knees.

“It was a solid workout.” That wasn’t a lie. It just wasn’t as strenuous as his usual, that’s all.

“I feel about as steady as the goop in that smoothie we had earlier. And yet there are parts of me screaming that I forgot I had.” Knox stood mostly straight then. “Mind if I tag along with you every day? I’d like to see if I can do better.”

“With that attitude, I’m sure you will.” Marcus nodded. “Of course you’re welcome to.”

And realistically, they might as well be attached. Marcus was going to be Knox’s shadow the entire time he was living at Shields. The guy grabbed a towel and then chugged some water. When he hobbled a few steps, still hugging his ribs, Marcus asked, “Want to hit the hot tub once your heart rate is back to normal?”

“That might take a year or two, but sure. Yeah.” Knox walked a slow circuit around the room, getting his breathing under control.

Marcus hated to suggest it, but it was technically his job to make sure Knox was okay. “Do you need me to call Kennedy down to check out your wound?”

Knox flinched at that. “Nah. It’ll be fine. Besides, I don’t want her to see me like this. It’s bad enough that she knows some of the shit I’ve been up to.”

On their next revolution around the gym, they turned toward the pool and spa area. James had really thought of everything when he’d designed and built this place for them. They were spoiled, and Marcus loved it. “There’s an actual hot tub, but I’d recommend the jetted cool water version instead. Heat applied in the recovery period after a workout makes it harder for your body to attain parasympathetic activation.”

“I have no idea what that means, but yeah. Sure.” Knox looked around the area with wide eyes.

“It’s not too shabby, huh?” Marcus was proud of the Shields and how they’d grown the business, allowing them to do more good…even if how they achieved those end results often required doing bad things to bad people.

“Not at all, but…where are the dressing rooms? Are there spare suits somewhere?”

“There are towels.” Marcus tossed him one off a giant pile of clean laundry. “But to be honest, most of us opt for skinny dipping when we aren’t swimming laps or haven’t come down here to soak and read a book or whatever on our days off.”

“It’s not like you haven’t already seen my junk.” Knox shrugged and dropped his shorts in a single motion.

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