Since he’d so completely submitted to Vars, he couldn’t stop thinking that there was something inside him that was rotting and would soon infect those parts of him everyone could see. He should have known that wasn’t the way to act for someone aspiring to become a patch. So he’d suffered in silence, certain that the newly-created itch would go away on its own eventually, but he was now on day ten of his Vars-detox, and every moment felt as if there were invisible spikes digging into his skin.
So maybe what Jake needed was a rebound. With a patch.
Gray’s face told him nothing. “I’m well, thanks. If you can go on, get up, and let’s continue,” he said, kicking the wooden piece that worked as a stand-in for a knife toward Jake.
God! Gray was so good with knives it was becoming unbearable. Not because Jake was afraid, but because he was so jealous that despite all his hard work, he was still a complete amateur when compared to Gray’s proficiency at combat. He grabbed the prop and got up, wondering how else to approach Gray if his vague flirting wasn’t being acknowledged. He’d sucked Gray off once before, and it hadn’t even been that long ago. Considering that Gray had been perfectly sober at the time, blowjobs were clearly on the table. He just needed to know how to get a seat at that feast.
“Okay, okay! Pushy much?” He winked at Gray and stood across the mat from him.
Gray shrugged. “You asked me to train you, so yes, I will push. Now get in position. I’ve got to pick up my dry-cleaning later,” he said, completely serious as he moved his own fake weapon between his fingers.
Jake perked up. “I could pick it up for you. Or we could go together.” He focused on Gray’s body language though, unwilling to lose. But then again, maybe he should lose? End up under Gray, let him earn a prize for it. Jake let his eyes drift over the body that had barely any body fat. So lean, and yet so capable.
Gray pondered that for two seconds, already approaching Jake in short, completely silent strides. He kept the fake knife back, as if wanting to use the empty hand first in case Jake attacked him. “Sure, you can come. I was going to grab some food.”
That sounded promising. One of the things Jake enjoyed the most about spending time with Gray was that he would always learn something new. Not only was Gray well-read but also had so many skills. Last time they went to town together, Gray had taught him how to use an icicle as a weapon.
Jake made an attempt to jab Gray from the side, but he realized it was a mistake before Gray even hit him.
With Jake’s hand in a firm clench, Gray ducked under him and rolled Jake over his own back, once again throwing him to the mat. The whole thing took less than two seconds.
Jake groaned and hooked his foot on Gray’s calf. In all honesty, he was pretty tired after two hours of this. “How about I help you relax before we go, huh?” He liked how despite being only twenty-five, Gray had a certain sharpness about him, a controlling nature, and was always aware of his surroundings. But from time to time, even Gray surely needed rest, a good long session with Jake’s lips.
Gray crooked his head. “What do you mean?”
Jake sat up and grinned when he realized he was close enough to trail his hand up the inside of Gray’s thigh. The muscles under the tight sweatpants tensed, sending a thrill down Jake’s spine. “You know what I mean. I’d suck you off. Or you could have me right here where everyone trains. That would be hot, right?”
Another thing Jake had done after the fuck with Vars was that he got himself a few pairs of jockstraps. Even if no one knew about it, wearing them gave him a thrill, and if only Gray allowed himself to be seduced, he’d get to be the first guy to witness them on Jake. Jake would slide down his sweatpants, and be instantly available.
Gray inhaled some air and blew it out in a way that made some of his loose strands of hair float. “Jake, get up,” he said and walked off to a small table where they kept drinks and snacks everyone could use around their workouts at the gym. He put down the fake knife.
Jake looked away with a groan, trying to ignore the burning spike of embarrassment that was already leaving a red-hot brand on his face. The rejection hurt more now, after he’d been with Gray once already. “Did I say something wrong?” He followed Gray, taking in the nicely shaped shoulders. They were nothing like Vars’s back, which tormented him every day.