Chapter Seven
Bentley
Christ, that was intense. After warming up on the treadmill with Alex next to me on his own treadmill, we hung around each other for about a half an hour doing our workout side by side. But when I couldn’t stop staring at him and was terrified of popping a boner, I had to move to the other side of the gym and will myself to keep my thoughts and my eyes off of him. Easier said than done when he’s doing his absolute best to torment me with that body and the beads of sweat rolling down his neck, catching on his exposed nipples before sliding down his toned abdomen. I can’t remember how many times I lost count of the number of reps I’d done and just had to guess. Irritated me like nothing else.
It’s driving me insane that I’m so fucking…aware of him. When did this become a thing? I’ve never been so mesmerized by another man before, and I thought jerking off this morning would have taken care of things, so to speak. Instead I’m finding myself growling while I towel myself off in the men’s locker room and change into my jeans and T-shirt, because I’ve never been more confused in my life than I am when it comes to Alex and the things he’s making me feel, the way he’s making my body react. And I swear I saw him looking at me more than a couple times, too, but I tell myself it doesn’t mean anything.
The most frustrating thing is, I don’t want him to realize that I’m…I don’t know, attracted to him, because if he did he’d probably never want to see me again. And I hate the thought of losing him. He’s quickly becoming someone I’m very much enjoying being with. So I guess, if these feelings persist, I’ll just have to figure out a way to work around them and not make myself obvious, or make him uncomfortable. Because not spending time with him isn’t an option.
“Hey, you ready to go?” he asks, and I blink, realizing he’s standing next to me, fully dressed in dark wash jeans that cling to his slender legs and a black long-sleeved shirt that looks amazing against his caramel colored skin. He runs his fingers through his dark hair and gives me that Alex smile that has my heart tripping a little bit in my chest. Goddamn it.
“Yeah,” I tell him, grabbing my bag. “You wanna come back later this week?” I don’t really know why I’m asking him this except that I must be a masochist, because putting myself through this again is such a fucking dumb idea, but I never claimed to be smart, and like I said, he’s my friend. The best one I have next to Peyton, and I need the companionship. Having a workout buddy is going to be so much better for me than trying to come up with the willpower to do this by myself, and I haven’t really been working out nearly as much as I should have been since I moved here.
“Yeah, how does Thursday sound? We can make it a weekly thing if you want.”
“Sounds good,” I tell him.
“You wanna go out for lunch? There’s a really great burger joint down the road.”
I grin because there’s nothing I like more than a mouthwatering burger. “Lead the way,” I tell him. We came together in his car so I follow him out of the building and into the bitter cold winter air. Even my winter coat isn’t enough to keep me from shivering as soon as we step outside, and I tell myself I need to maybe get some more long-sleeved shirts or sweaters to wear because this Massachusetts winter is kicking my ass.
Fortunately Alex doesn’t mind when I crank the heat to max as we make the short drive to the burger joint. He just chuckles and shakes his head. The rotten little turd is acting like twenty degrees is nothing while I’m blowing on my hands and my teeth are chattering.
“We’ll be there by the time the car warms up,” he tells me.
“Shush,” I reply, waving my hands in front of the vents as if to coax the warm air out faster, and he laughs. “I don’t need your negativity.”
“So I was thinking, maybe after we’re done eating we could go back to your place and you could read to me?” I say as we sit eating our burgers a few minutes later. It’s a fun place, not real big, with black and white checkered floors and red topped circular tables. There's lots of chatter around us as the customers enjoy their food, and the smell of grease, smoke, and onions floats through the air. His face lights up and it makes my heart do that pitter patter thing.
“Yeah?” he says.
I nod. I figure I owe it to Alex to at least try listening since he was kind enough to offer to read to me. Especially since he was willing to try something I enjoyed. Besides that, though, I don't want my time with him to end.
“Awesome. Okay, why don’t we start withLittle Women? It’s a classic.”
“Are those your favorite?” I ask, then take a swig of my drink.
“Probably, but there’s not much I won’t read. Also, if there’s words you don’t understand, don’t feel bad. I had to look up quite a few of them the first time, too.” His blue eyes are shining and his face is slightly flushed, his dark waves falling over his forehead, and I swallow, because he looks…beautiful.
When we arrive back at the apartments I scurry inside the building as quickly as possible, Alex laughing at me as I do. He unlocks his apartment and invites me in. Marble hops down from her spot on top of the sofa and hurries over to me. I crouch down and pet her, and she immediately starts to purr. After removing my coat and hanging it on the hooks near the door I scoop her up. I see her almost every night now, and we cuddle while I watch TV until I’m ready for bed, and then I bring her back to Alex’s.
Kicking our shoes off, we head over to the couch and I settle on it with Marble in my arms while Alex grabs his book off one of his many shelves and sets it on the coffee table.
“I’m gonna make tea, you want some? Or something else?” he offers.
“Just water since your brain isn't screwed on right and you don’t have a coffee maker,” I tease.
He smirks at me. “You have one across the hall, you know. You could go make some and come back, or we could go over there.”
“Nah, I’d rather complain.”
He chuckles and makes his way into the kitchen. I decide I’d rather lie down while he reads so I grab one of the throw pillows and situate it just right before I slide onto myside, taking Marble with me. She curls up against my stomach and I stroke her back.
Alex returns and sets my water glass down. I expect him to tell me to move my feet since I’m taking up the entirety of one length of the sectional, but he just grabs my feet and picks them up, before settling down and letting my feet rest on his lap.
Why is my heart rate picking up again? If that wasn’t bad enough he grabs the blanket off the back of the sofa and drapes it over me, then rests one of his hands on one of my feet as he reaches forward and grabs the book. His hand only leaves for the brief second it takes him to open the book, and then it’s back on my foot, rubbing circles into it absentmindedly while he starts to read.
Jesus, he’s barely touching me and my body feels like a livewire. I’m flushed and way too turned on for the amount of physical contact we’re having. My dick is perking up and I’m starting to be more and more thankful for the blanket over me. I should ask him to stop so I can fucking pay attention because I have no idea what he’s reading, but I can’t make myself because it feels so good. I give massages to people all day every day, but other than Peyton’s hugs, I haven’t been touched since I broke up with Stacy. The more he does it the more my body starts to relax, and my brain turns to mush, even as goosebumps break out all over my skin. God, it’s like some form of exquisite torture.
