Page 5 of The Titan and the Trainer

“C’mon then let’s burn it off,” Callum said, his professional persona kicking in. “But we have to be efficient. I’ve got a hard stop at 11:30 p.m. I’m using the showers on forty-eight before I head to my next job.”

Julian paused, eyebrows lifting slightly. “A second job, this late on a Friday night?”

“Manhattan isn’t cheap, Julian. Not everyone has a deluxe corner office.”

“What do you do?” Julian asked, a genuine curiosity in his voice. A hint of the man behind the CEO, perhaps?

Callum zipped his lips shut with a finger, a playful, dangerous glint in his eyes. “Tell you what. You give me a perfect set of Bulgarian split squats later, and maybe I’ll tell you.” He wasn’t ready for Julian to know about The Vault just yet. He didn’t want him to find out anything that could jeopardise the lucrative stream of income from their sessions.

The atmosphere in the office felt shifted now.

On Tuesday, it was at first awkward; tonight it was more playful. The low lighting caught the features of Julian’s face, and without the armour of the three-piece suit he looked predatory and intensely masculine.

“Split squats,” Julian repeated, his voice a low growl. “You’re a bloody sadist, Callum. You know I’m exhausted before we start, right?”

“Only when I’m paid to be,” Callum shot back playfully, his pulse jumping.

As Julian moved to the black rubber mats, Callum realised the ‘gear’ was almost more revealing than the suit had been. The joggers were made of a thin cotton fabric that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. As Julian positioned his back foot on the edge of a white leather guest chair, the fabric pulled very taut.

Callum’s heart skipped a beat. There was a very obvious outline visible against Julian’s thigh. The CEO was definitely not wearing much, if anything underneath, and was clearly either well-hung or semi-aroused.

They exercised.

Callum showed Julian exactly what he wanted from him, but Julian knew his form and moves. They trained hard together, both working up a good sweat.

“Form, Julian,” Callum commanded, though his own voice sounded a little thin. “Chest up. Don’t let that knee wobble.”

Julian began another set of reps. He was strong, but the intensity of his gaze was what was pinning Callum in place. Every time Julian descended, his eyes stayed locked on Callum’s. He wasn’t looking at the wall or his reflection; he was looking only at Callum.

By the time they got to the Bulgarian split squats, Julian’s breath was coming in ragged gasps. This was a tough exercise, especially when trying to achieve perfect form. Julian didn’t compromise anything; he still gave it his all, even though he must have been exhausted.

He stopped at the bottom of the movement, his thigh quivering with the effort, the muscles of his chest straining against the white compression gear. He stayed there, hovering just inches from the floor, his face flushed.

“Is this… deep enough for you?” Julian asked, seeking either approval or feedback. He licked his lips, as he held the position.

Callum felt a wave of heat run over his body and land squarely in his groin. Now who was flirting? He stepped closer, ostensibly to check the alignment of Julian’s hips. He could smell salty sweat on Julian’s skin, while the expensive scent of his soap lingered.. What was it?

“Can you dip any lower?” Callum challenged, his voice rising with the question.

He placed a hand on Julian’s lower back to steady him. Under the now see-through compression shirt, soaked with sweat, Julian’s muscles were hard as granite. Julian let out a low, guttural sound, half-groan, half-sigh, and leaned back just a fraction, his weight pressing into Callum’s palm. Julian stopped dead. Callum kept his hand in place, but again he felt that same electricity between them.

Callum’s face was now level with Julian’s and he could feel the warmth of his breath on his face. At this point Julian slowly turned his head. They were now so close together, the closest they’d ever been. It would have been no effort at all to just lean in and kiss those tempting lips. Neither moved, no words were spoken.

The silence was deafening, the only background noise a faint hum from the city below them against their ragged breathing.

Callum retracted his hand, accidentally scraping the waistband of Julian’s sweatpants with his thumb. Julian froze but neither broke their gaze. Both men were drinking in the other. Could they possibly be thinking similar things?

“Relax, man,” Callum conceded, his eyes moving from Julian’s face, stopping at the obvious bulge in his sweatpants before snapping back up. “You’re a fast learner. Most guys with your bank account give up when it starts to burn. Credit to you today. That was tough, but you did it.”

Julian stood and stepped once again closer to Callum. Now inches from each other, Julian being taller, loomed slightly over him. “Oh, trust me Callum, I don’t give up on the things I want.”

He raised his arm and playfully punched Callum in the shoulder, almost smiling. “Well done, boss. Good session, thanks.”

The tension was so thick it felt like the glass windows were about to shatter.

Callum changed the subject, once again. “What’s all this for?” he gestured to the gym area and Julian. The details he’d been given about goals were sketchy at best.

“I’m the focus of a future Men’s Health cover, so I wanted to tighten up my core and work on my abs and pecs,” Julian explained, gesturing to Callum with both hands. “Hence, I have the pleasure of both your company and expertise.”