Page 68 of The Titan and the Trainer

The gym looked great. They’d decorated outside and in the reception area with balloons and banners for ‘Brooklyn Lives’, supplied to them by the organisers. Callum had devised a programme where small groups of five kids would do different exercises at different bases to mark their printed gym card, and if they did every exercise, they would win a prize. Callum, Jack, and Julian, along with a few other members who helped out, manned the bases, and the whole event went smoothly.

Julian had never seen anything like this and was impressed by how organised it was, and how much the kids seemed to enjoy it. He got quite involved and spoke to many of them about their schools and whether they knew how good exercise was for them. Most were fixated on how big Julian’s muscles were, and what they needed to do to look like him when they were really old. Callum overheard this and started calling him old man, which made him laugh and frown.

The event really brought home to Julian just how important the community was to Callum, and he could see what was behind his drive to push the gym towards the community fitness hub that he wanted to do. He felt proud of him.

After they had given prizes, awarded small medals and certificates, and cleared up, the day was declared a huge success. Callum and Jack were happy with how the local area had supported the event and that their planning had paid off.

As people were thanking them and heading off, Julian vowed to himself that he would find a way to help them achieve their goals. He discreetly texted Kerry and asked her to set up a lunch meeting with Jack and Callum the following week to have a proper discussion. It was time to sort The Iron Works.

That night they went back to the penthouse, and Sunday was a walk in the sun, brunch, a lazy day. They listened to music again, loudly. Whilst Julian worked on his laptop, Callum educated him on the UK pop duo Erasure, whom he was obsessed with. There were two songs in particular that he loved: ‘Hideaway’ and ‘Fingers and Thumbs’. As he told him about the group and what he loved about their songs, he danced his way around the penthouse, much to Julian’s amusement. ‘Callum’s Cheesy Europop Playlist’ also contained other upbeat dance songs and several Eurovision Song Contest entries that he’d discovered. All cheesy, all poppy, all happy and upbeat. Julian watched him with amusement. Callum had so much life it just couldn’t be contained. He felt quite content.

Around dusk on Sunday, Callum finally completed his Lego trainer to applause and mock tears. Julian opened a bottle of champagne, and they drank it by the window in a manly embrace.

The unit by the windows now boasted three distinct items. On one side, a framed New York street photo and on the other, a large Infinity Gauntlet with glowing stones, and a Lego Adidas shoe: ‘the Titan and the Trainer’.

***

Thursday 27th February 25

Callum met Julian as usual at his office, and they did a particularly punishing routine on his obliques and quads. Julian moaned as Callum put him through his paces, so Callum kissed him in the places that ached to take away the pain.

“Stop it, otherwise we’re going to the suite, my sweet!” Julian said. Callum stopped. They needed to focus on the training.

Things had calmed between them as they’d settled into their relationship. They were now able to be in the same room without getting aroused, well… most of the time.

They showered together, which was something they always liked to do. During this, they would let nature take its course, which often led to some fun.

Callum got dressed in his leather gear, something Julian loved to watch. He especially loved it when Callum had to try and squeeze his genitals into the metal cock ring, a task almost impossible when you’re even slightly aroused. Julian would usually delay getting dressed or just happen to be looking hot in his new Calvin Klein white briefs that Callum had persuaded him to purchase. He’d accidentally massage his own pecs with that dark, sexy look on his face, resulting in Callum getting a semi, causing a real struggle. They both laughed at this even though it sometimes made Callum late, but at least he had Ben now to drive him, which was quicker.

“See you later, old man,” he said, giving him a nice long, lingering kiss.

“Hey, less of the old man, you cheeky bugger,” Julian replied, smacking him hard on the arse of his leather shorts. He was still wearing the ones that Martha had fixed. He’d not had a chance to replace them.

He met Ben downstairs, sitting up front in the Jeep.

“I don’t know how you do it, Callum,” Ben said, eyeing up Callum’s shorts and harness under his open coat.

“I just love dancing, and I can earn $100 a night in tips on top of my pay, so the money helps.”

“But you’re Julian’s boyfriend, Callum. You know you’ll never want for anything.”

“I know, I know,” Callum replied, “but I just enjoy it; it’s a hobby.”

Ben dropped him as normal and said he’d wait for his text later.

In the club, Cal got himself ready, Leo oiled him up and ‘glittered’ him. It was a special event night where men and women were permitted, normally being a men-only club.

The theme was ‘Shiny, Suits, & Slappers’. Wherever Tony got this idea from, he had no idea, but all the guys were told to oil up tonight for their podiums, and they even had some guest female pole dancers as well.

Callum made his way onto the dance floor. The DJ was playing hardcore dance tonight, a genre of music Callum loved. He was soon in place and gyrating to the beat.

He spied Liam in the crowd, keeping an eye on him, and gave him a discreet nod.

The vibe in the club was different tonight. Having women there made the atmosphere more highly charged than normal. Many couples were there, and he was doing well on tips from the ladies who seemed to appreciate either his body or the dancing.

Callum was mid-routine with his pole work when, to his surprise, he spied Julian and Sophia in the crowd moving towards him. Julian was in a simple black suit, white shirt, open collar; Sophia was in a skintight, glossy red leather dress. They made a striking couple.

What the hell were they doing there?