I almost drop the ten-pound weight on my foot when I realize Quinton is suddenly standing beside me. How the heck does he move so quietly?
“What are you doing?” he asks with genuine curiosity.
“Working out… obviously.”
“Why?”
I think about some lie I could tell him, but since I know he would see through that in a heartbeat, I go for the truth instead. “I want to get stronger.”
He nods with a somber expression in his gaze. I don’t have to explain to him what I mean and why. “Isolating a muscle like this will work, but it will take you forever to gain strength like that.”
“So, what should I do?” It feels weird asking Quinton for advice, but if he will help me, I’ll take it… unless. “Wait,” I throw up my hand between us, “before you answer this. I’m not doing anything in return. If you want to help me, then fine, but I’m done negotiating terms with you for every little favor.”
“Got it, sex comes free now.”
“That’s not what I meant!” I yell, dropping my arm and fisting both hands at my side.
A mischievous grin spread across his face. “You know you want me. You love when I fuck you.”
“Ugh, you are so full of yourself. Wait!” I lift my hand once more, holding it even closer to his face this time. “Do not say what you are thinking right now,” I warn.
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“I said, you are so full of yourself, and I know you were about to answer I bet you wish you were full of me,” I say the last part in a deeper voice, almost mocking him.
His grin turns into a chuckle. “I would never think or say such a thing,” he says, sarcasm lacing his voice.
I roll my eyes but can’t help the way the corners of my mouth turn up into a smile. This might be the friendliest interaction I’ve ever had with Quinton.
“Can you do pull-ups? That would be a good way to get stronger.”
“Um, I might be able to do one or two.” High emphasis on the might.
“Come on,” he orders, turning away from me. He walks back to the bars, and I follow him like a lost puppy. “Stand right here.” He points right below one bar.
As soon as I am where he wants me to be, he grabs my hips and lifts me up a few inches. I automatically reach for the bar above me until I’m hanging from it.
“Let’s see what you’ve got.”
I start my first pull-up, quickly realizing that this is way harder than I remember it from gym class. My arms burn, and my muscles feel like they are about to give out. I barely get my chin over the bar when I straighten my arm and let myself hang for a second.
“I don’t know if a second one is going to happen.”
I’m about to drop myself to the floor completely when I feel Quinton’s hands on my calves, his touch sending an electric current across my skin.
“Cross your ankles.”
I do as he says, wondering what the hell he is doing.
He bends my knees, places a hand at the top of my feet, and pushes up slightly. “Now, try again.”
Even though I know this won’t work, I give it another go. This time, when it gets more difficult, I use my legs to gain leverage and push myself up. It’s still hard, but not impossible. I keep going and do a few more, ignoring the burn in my upper arms and core.
“Okay, this time, I really can’t do anymore,” I huff after a while. Quinton lets go of my feet, and I drop off the bar.
“That wasn’t terrible. I mean, it was bad, but not terrible,” Quinton teases.
I ignore him and walk to one of the ab workout machines. To my surprise, Quinton follows me to it.