Chapter Three

Logan

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Logan: coffee date later?

Avery: working today. Want to have a drink after my shift?

Logan: have I told you that you’re my favorite person lately?

Avery: lol not lately

Logan: well you are. Time?

Avery: off at 8

Logan: see you then. Tell matt I’ll walk you home

Avery: okie dokie

Logan: you’re too cute

Avery: that’s what I go for. Cute :(

Logan: cute is good

Avery: cute is for baby animals and toddlers

Logan: fine. You’re too awesomely amazing

Avery: better lol. See you at 8

Logan: <3

Avery: <3 xox

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I tossed my phone aside and glanced at my computer.

I was feeling restless. I was meeting Jay at the gym in an hour and was at a complete loss of what to do. I didn’t feel like watching Netflix and couldn’t game. I was bored, and when I was bored I usually watched porn.

Adam was home, or at least I assumed he was. There was a part of me that felt weird watching porn in the middle of the day with my straight and new roommate home. Even with earbuds and my door locked it seemed strange, and that alone was strange.

I’d never had a problem jerking off before, no matter who was home. I could be stealthily quiet when I wanted to and had watched plenty of porn while my entire family was up and wandering around the house. I’d been doing it since I discovered what my dick was for and how to stream videos online, but right now it felt weird.

Instead I lay back on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

Adam was...different. He seemed like a cool guy, especially when he’d told me he’d deal with any of his friends if they had issues with me. He was a lot different than what I’d assumed all student athletes were like, and I felt a bit bad for judging him.

If there was one thing I was used to it was being judged. When people found out I was gay they expected certain things from me, and for the most part I played it up. I’d had a few bad experiences, one really terrible one, but for the most part I’d been lucky. People accepted what I was, but that never stopped them from judging me based on the fact that I liked dick.

It was a shitty feeling, and I’d done it to Adam.

I’d talked about this very thing with all of my brothers. We were all judged for different reasons and none of us liked it. I guess that’s what made us all try so hard to accept everyone as they were.

Before my parents had adopted Matt he’d been sullen, angry, and determined to show the world his worst side in order to protect himself. I’d seen what a good guy he could be and worked my ass off gaining his trust so he’d let down his guard and open up. People had looked at him like he was a delinquent because he’d bounced around foster families and group homes for a few years before coming to live with us, and his attitude had made people treat him like he was damaged when he was the most sensitive guy I knew.

Jax and Jay had been younger when they’d come to live with us, but they had struggles I would never understand. They were Hispanic and had dealt with a lot of racism over the years. Add the fact they were also adopted and people made snap judgements about them. Jax was a typical guy who cared a little too much about the clothes he wore and his outward appearance, and then there was Jay. At sixteen Jay had gotten his first tattoo and now he had two half sleeves, side pieces and was in the process of getting a back piece. He also had his lip and nipples pierced. People looked at him and tended to think he was an asshole, but he was the sweetest and gentlest guy I knew.

To finish the lot there was me, the gay one.

Thankfully my family had been incredible when I’d come out to them at sixteen. I’d told Matt first, and he’d just hugged me and said it didn’t matter who I was attracted to I was still the same guy he called a brother. I’d told the twins next and Jax had shrugged and made a joke about there being less competition for the ladies, and Jay had asked if there was a guy I was crushing on.

When I’d told my parents they’d said they loved me no matter what, and Dad had even threatened to have a ‘stern talk’ with any guy who hurt me.

I was one of the lucky ones. I knew that, but I still felt alone.

I didn’t actually have any other gay friends. I’d met plenty gay guys since coming to school, had fucked a lot of them, but there was no one I clicked with. I did pretty well in the pick-up department, but not so much in the friend one.

Avery was my best friend, that was one stereotype I fell into, and then it was Matt and the twins. I had other friends, more than I really needed, but they were acquaintances. There were a lot of people I could go out and party with, but no one I could call if I needed help.

After three years of playing a part I was tired. But I didn’t want to think about that now. Right now I just wanted to relax before I went to the gym and punished the fuck out of my body.

* * * * *

“Heading out?” Adam asked when I emerged from my room with my gym bag. He was sitting on the couch playing on his phone.

“Hitting the gym with Jay.”

“A buddy?”

“One of my brothers.”

As I looked at him I could tell Adam wanted to say something more.

“Do you want to come with us?” I offered.

“You don’t mind?”

“Not at all. We’re doing a cardio day, though. I don’t know what your routine is like or anything.”

“Cardio is good. I’m alternating it with weights right now and missed yesterday.”

“Are you one of those who goes every day?”

“Six days during training.” He grinned. “Eight sessions.”

“You go six days a week, and two of those days you go twice a day?” I was impressed. “No wonder you look the way you do.”

“Gotta keep in shape if I’m going to stay competitive.”

“You do that all year?” I asked as he stood and stretched.

As he did his shirt pulled up and I could see a strip of his incredibly toned stomach. The dude had a six pack, and with his jeans slipping below his hips I had the perfect view of the tight V of muscles that started at his hips and disappeared under the waistband of his pants. He also had a pretty defined treasure trail, and my cock twitched as I thought about where it led.

“Not all year.”

I almost jumped when his voice broke into my thoughts. He was staring at me with an amused smile on his lips. At least he didn’t seem freaked at catching me checking him out.

“During the season I go on my off days, and for the next couple months I’m down to five a week.”

“Still way too much work.”

“You look like you hit it pretty regular.”

“I do what I have to.” I grinned. “I’d love to tell you I’m some sort of health nut or sports dude, but really, I just want to look good naked.”

Adam laughed and shook his head. “Different strokes, man. I’m just going to change and grab my stuff.”

“Kay.”

I turned as he headed into his room and mentally admonished myself. Adam was straight, and while he seemed cool with me sneaking the odd glance at him, I had to remind not only my mind but my dick that he was off limits. The last thing I needed to do was make things uncomfortable at the apartment because I couldn’t control my thoughts around him.

I was still having a little chat with my cock about behaving when Adam came back out of his room.

“Want to take my truck? We can pick up your brother.”

“I usually walk and call it a warm up.”

“Good call.” He followed me out of the door and waited as I locked up.

“We’ll meet Jay there. His girlfriend is going to the library so he’s dropping her off.”

“Are all your brothers hooked up?” Adam asked as we headed out of the building.

“All but one.” I smirked. “Matt and Jay got girlfriends last year. Jax and I are the holdouts.”

“Holdouts?” Adam raised his eyebrow as he glanced at me.

“Until last year we’d all been perpetual bachelors. Now two of us are with someone and it’s up to me and Jax to carry on the Robson legacy.”

Adam laughed and slung his bag over his shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll do just fine.”

“So, you’re cool with me bringing guys back to the apartment?” I asked tentatively. This was one conversation I’d been dreading having, but was glad there seemed to be such an easy segue.

“Sure. Just give me a warning if you need me to be scarce.”

“Cool. Same with you—but for girls, I mean.”

“I figured.” He gave me an amused smile.

“Cool.”

Cool? That was the best response I could come up with?

The rest of the walk was pretty silent, but not uncomfortable. I usually felt the need to talk whenever other people were being too quiet, but for some reason I didn’t have that urge with Adam. I didn’t know why, but the silence was actually comfortable with him. That was new.

When we got to the gym Jay was already waiting outside for us.

“Hey,” he greeted, glancing at Adam.

“Hey. This is Adam, my roommate. Adam, my brother Jay.”

I hadn’t told Adam that Jay was adopted, but he kept his shock response minimal.

“Hey, man.” He held out his hand.

“Hey.” Jay shook it and glanced at me again.

“He’s going to work out with us. That cool?”

“The more the merrier.” He paused and looked at Adam closely. “You look familiar.”

“It’ll click in a few minutes,” I said quickly, before Adam could say anything. Both he and Jay just looked at me and shrugged. I was a sucker for a big reveal, and Jay was used to me being weird about random things.

“So, what’s your goal today?” I asked Jay as we headed inside the building, flashing our student ID’s as we did.

“I’m aiming to do ten. Then hit the bike for another three.”

“Wait, miles?” Adam looked at Jay. “You’re going to run ten miles and then bike another three?”

“That’s the plan.” He grinned.

“Shit, and I thought my cardio was good. You’d kick my ass in a race.”

“I was a distance runner.” Jay shrugged modestly, but I could tell he was pleased with the compliment.

“What about you?” Adam glanced at me.

“I’m going for three miles and a weight circuit.”

“Yeah, more my speed.” Adam nodded. “Mind if I stick with you.”

“Sure. Company is always fun. This guy just gets on that treadmill and he’s in his own world.” I nudged Jay and he laughed.

“I can’t help if I get in the zone.”

Just then we passed the pictures of all the D1 school teams, and Jay’s eyes were drawn to the baseball photo. “Holy shit. You’re the starting pitcher on the baseball team?”

Adam shrugged and looked at his feet for a second. “I was last year.”

“But they didn’t recruit any phenoms that I know of. Wouldn’t you keep your spot?”

“You follow baseball?”

“I’m like Logan. I follow sports but don’t play any.”

“Nothing’s guaranteed.” Adam held the door to the locker room open for us. “If I want to start this year I have to earn it.”

“Makes sense. Stops you guys from turning into entitled dicks.”

“Yeah, that wouldn’t go over very well with the scouts.” Adam laughed and tossed his bag on a bench. “Coach is big on teamwork and doesn’t tolerate superstars or hotdogging.”

I could tell there was more to what Adam was saying, but didn’t push. If he wanted to tell me he would.

We changed into our gym clothes and locked up our bags before heading into the gym.

Jay immediately jumped on one of the empty treadmills and took off, his long legs stretching with each step so he looked more like a gazelle than a runner. I’d tried going for runs with him a few times in high school and he’d left me in the dust. Even using the treadmill beside him was a bit demoralizing as his mileage would climb higher than mine at double the pace.

“Want to hit the circuit first? It’ll limber us up and make the cardio more effective.” Adam glanced at me.

“Sure.”

I followed Adam over to the small weight machine circuit and looked at him expectantly.

“Since this is your natural habitat, you going to show me the ropes or leave me to flounder on my own?”

He laughed as he looked me up and down, and suddenly I was extremely glad I’d worn my tightest sleeveless shirt and the shorts that made my ass look awesome. Adam might be straight, but a guy needs to feel good about himself when he’s at the gym.

As Adam’s gaze raked over me I thought I saw him pause on my chest and arms before meeting my eyes. That couldn’t be right, could it? Was mister straight-as-an-arrow baseball star checking me out?

“Seems like you’ve done alright on your own.”

I must be going crazy. I would swear his voice had taken on a slightly husky tone.

“I manage.”

“I’ll show you my routine, but prepare to be punished,” he said, his voice normal and his eyes a bit teasing. I must have been imagining things.

“I’m always prepared to be punished.” I winked and was glad when Adam laughed. Whatever I’d thought I’d seen had obviously never existed.

As I followed Adam through his routine, watching as he worked each machine and then replicating what he’d done, I tried not to stare at him.

I’d been going to the gym for years and was well practiced at keeping my appreciation for hot, sweaty men hidden, but there was something about watching Adam’s muscles work as he used the machines that was making my mind wander to sexy town.

By the time we were done on the circuit I was having to actively fight to keep from popping a boner.

“Want to join me on the floor?”

“What?” Now my mind was firmly planted in sexy town as I pictured taking Adam down to the floor and pressing my body over his. I could almost feel the heat of his skin, smell the musky scent of sweat—

“My floor routine,” Adam interrupted, and I said a silent prayer of thanks to a god I wasn’t quite sure I believed in. I’d almost slipped into a full-blown fantasy.

“Right. Sure.”

“Push ups.” He nodded to the floor. “Try to keep up.”

We dropped to the floor and got into position next to each other.

“How many of these are we doing?” I asked, trying to ignore how close we were.

“Three reps of twenty.”

“Okay, I can handle that.”

“No breaks.”

“Done.”

“And go.”

I focused on the mechanics of the push ups as Adam counted for us. I made sure to keep my back straight and go as close to the floor as possible before pushing back up to the start position. When we hit twenty I put my knees on the floor.

“Plank for one minute, then we go again.”

“Slave driver,” I muttered and went into a plank.

“You’ll thank me for it when you see the results.”

“I’m sure I will.”

“And go.”

This time I could feel a distinct burn in my chest and arms, and a little in my abs. By the time we were done I was regretting agreeing to this.

“Plank for two minutes and then we go again.” Adam glanced at me.

The fucker looked fresh as a daisy and I was about ready to drop.

“Sadist.” I grunted and tightened my abs so I didn’t collapse.

“Come on, dig deep.”

“Any deeper and I’ll be in China.”

“One more minute. You got this,” he encouraged.

“This is why I never played sports. You’re all insane.”

“Think of how good you’ll look naked.”

I almost lost my balance as I did just that, only I wasn’t the only naked one in my mind.

“Almost ready?”

I couldn’t answer so instead I grunted.

To my utter dismay I watched Adam move his hands together so his fingers and thumb were forming a diamond shape as they pressed together under his chest.

“Diamond push ups? I feel like fire ants are making a permanent home in my arms and you’re doing diamond push ups?”

“Twenty more. And go.” Adam laughed, his voice clear and controlled while I’d sounded like I was trying to take a shit as I’d admonished him.

Every push up felt like death, and every muscle in my body was screaming at me to end the madness and flop down on the mat and pass out, but I kept with him.

“Twenty.”

“Merciful heavens.” I let myself go limp and dropped onto the mat, panting as sweat slicked my entire body.

“Thirty second break and then we do sit ups.”

“I’m tapping out.” I shook my head against the mat. “Stick a fork in me.”

“Come on. You can hold my feet and take a breather. Then it’s your go.”

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t. Now up.”

I groaned and rolled onto my back. Adam was already in position, waiting for me to spot him.

As I put my knees on his feet and held his legs I was relieved to find that my aching muscles had killed any thoughts of getting a boner. As I watched Adam effortlessly sit up and touch his elbows to his knees before laying back and starting all over again, not even pausing in his rhythm, I was more than a little impressed.

“You’re a machine. How many is that?”

“Twenty-three.”

“And how many do you do?”

“Fifty.”

“You’re certifiable.”

By the time he hit forty he was starting to show some fatigue, and was grunting softly with each sit up. The low, almost guttural sound was so masculine and the timbre sent a shockwave of arousal through me.

Down boy. I admonished my twitching dick and tried to focus on counting and not the sexy noises coming out of Adam.

“Fifty.” With a final grunt Adam flopped back on the mat and pulled in a few deep breaths.

“And this is your routine on your off time?” I asked as I stared down at him.

Sweat was glistening on his body, catching in the grooves of his muscles and creating absolutely mouth-watering definition. His shirt had slipped up again and I could see two of his abs and that amazing V that led down and disappeared under his shorts.

“Gotta stay in shape to keep my game sharp.” He grinned at me and sat up. “Your turn.”

“There’s no way in hell I can hit fifty of those.”

“Do twenty.”

“Five,” I countered.

“Twenty, and stop stalling.”

“You are an evil, evil man,” I grumbled and lay back, bringing my legs up so he could spot me.

As he settled on my feet and pulled my legs against his body I was painfully aware of his hot skin against mine. Our sweat was mingling and creating a musky perfume of sorts that was far too appealing.

“And go.”

I dug deep and sat up, touching my elbows to my knees as I did. My muscles were screaming at me and I felt like I was about split open. Loud, primal sounding grunts were escaping my lips without permission. I was dying. I had to be dying.

“Kill me now,” I groaned when I reached sixteen. “I’m done.”

“Come on. Give me four more.” He gripped my legs tighter and leaned closer. “You’ve got this, Logan. Dig deep.”

“Fuck.”

“That’s one. You got this.”

“Oh god.”

“Two. Come on.”

“I can’t.” I had nothing left. I was about to flop back when Adam slapped the back of my thigh, right above my ass.

“Come on, Logan. Give me everything you’ve got.”

“Argh.”

“One more. You got this.”

“Uhn.”

“Done.”

I wanted to say something witty and maybe a little rude as I fell back on the mat but my mouth and brain were no longer connected. All I could do was lay there and die while Adam smirked at me.

“Good job.”

“You’re an asshole,” I panted.

“I can be. Come on. Get up.”

“No fucking way. I’m never getting up. You’ll have to bury me here.”

Adam laughed and reached for my hand. “Come on. We’ll walk it off.”

“Walk? Do I even still have legs? Everything feels like one burning pile of goo.”

“Trust me.” He grabbed my hand and hauled me up. “It’ll help with the pain tomorrow if you keep your muscles warm and limber. If they tighten you’ll be feeling it ten times worse.”

“Fine.”

I let him haul me to my feet. He looked like he was ready to go for round two and I couldn’t even stand up straight.

“We’ll do a few laps. Come on.”

I followed him around the gym, paying very close attention to my body so I didn’t collapse, but he was right. By the time we’d done two laps I was feeling pretty good and most of the pain was gone.

“Ready for the treadmill?”

“I don’t know if I can do three today. I haven’t worked the machines or floor like that in...ever.”

“We’ll start with two and if you feel like you’ve got some juice left we’ll keep going.”

“Okay.”

Surprisingly I was able to keep a decent pace on the treadmill, and when we were done the two miles I managed to pound out another half before I had to slow to a walk.

“You did good.” Adam grinned as he stopped his treadmill and wiped the back of his arm over his forehead. We were both sweating like motherfuckers.

“Thanks. You’re a good motivator.”

“Your brother almost done?”

I glanced over at Jay. He was running along barely breathing hard and looking fresh and calm.

“Should be. It looks like he’s about to finish and jump on the bike.”

“Water?”

“Oh yeah.”

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ADAM

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As we made our way to the water fountain I tried to focus on getting a drink and not on the way Logan’s workout clothes were clinging to his body. His shirt may have been Dri-Fit, but it was plastered to him and I could see every contour of his muscular chest and tight stomach.

His shorts were short enough I could see the lower part of his thighs, and for some reason my eyes were drawn to his ass.

It was a nice one, as far as asses went, but there was something about it that drew my gaze. It only got worse as he leaned over and his shorts pulled so tight there was nothing left to my imagination.

I had no idea why I was checking him out. I’d been around athletes and gyms my entire life. None of the guys had ever made me feel a strange heat spread through my body or glue my eyes on their ass before.

When Logan stood up and stepped back from the fountain I shook my head and stepped up to it. The endorphins were hitting me hard today and making me have some strange thoughts.

* * * * *

Jay joined us soon after, and we went to the locker room to shower and change.

Logan was the first openly gay guy I’d ever showered with and I was curious as to how he would act. I wasn’t some sort of ass who thought he’d be checking everyone out like a starving man at a buffet, but I realized how uncomfortable it had to be for him.

I’m sure I’d showered with plenty of gay guys over the years, but had never thought about what it would be like to be in their shoes. The fear of being called out had to be a very real thing. Locker rooms were a hotbed of male pride, and I’d known my share of guys who were very vocal about their plans to punch out any guy they caught looking at their dicks.

There were a few other guys in there as we stripped off our clothes and grabbed our towels and shower paraphernalia, and I tried not to be obvious as I watched Logan out of the corner of my eye.

He kept his eyes forward, and when we were in the actual shower part he went into his stall and turned on the water.

For some reason the school had equipped the shower room with one person stalls, but they didn’t seem to think we needed curtains or full walls so you were really only covered from the knees to your chest, and only from the people on either side of you. The person in the stall opposite got the full show.

I almost slipped out of my shower sandals when I had the urge to get into the stall across from Logan so I could get a glimpse of what his clothes hid. Where the fuck had that thought come from? Was I still on a runner’s high?

I slipped into the stall two over from Logan and tried to focus on showering and getting clean, and not on the fact that Logan was naked and only six feet away from me.

My dick didn’t seem to get the message and it seemed determined to stay semi hard, even as I broke out every unsexy thought I had to try and fight it.

I had no idea what the fuck was going on with me, but something about Logan was stirring thoughts I’d never had about any guy before.