Fit for the Job (37 page)

“You
are
his choice,” Eben said. “I just think maybe he’s not as adept at expressing it as you are.”

“But...Eben, again, I appreciate this, it’s amazing. But you can’t just
buy
Bodie for me. He’s not a pony.”

Eben threw his arms up. “Bodie said you’d say that! Exactly that. What is with you two and ponies? I don’t even know what the fuck that’s supposed to mean.”

“He said that?”

“Jay, are you in love with him?”

Not expecting to have so personal a conversation with Eben Wright, Jay grew uncomfortable. “Yeah,” he said. “I am.”

Eben sighed and clasped his hands, resting his chin on his index fingers. “That’s not something you should walk away from. Not if it’s real.”

Jay gave him a sideways glance. “I had no idea you were such a love guru. Speaking from personal experience?”

Eben nodded. “You saw the tape that Sassy made.”

“Uh huh.”

“I didn’t want it to get out because I didn’t want people to see me like that. It was partially for my own selfish reasons, I admit that. But there was another reason I worked so hard to keep Sassy from releasing it.” He smiled. “You saw the um...man I was with?”

“Oh.” Jay nodded, remembering the pop star he’d seen tangling in the sheets with Eben. “Colin?”

“Yeah. Colin. Colin’s out publicly, so it wouldn’t have been a huge revelation to the world that he was gay. But being associated with that? With me, and the scandal that would erupt because of it? I couldn’t let that happen, couldn’t drag him into that. Colin, he’s...he’s the one for me. He’s the man I love.”

Jay’s eyebrows rose. “Oh. Is he, I mean, does he feel the same?”

Eben nodded. “We keep things open because we spend so much time apart. But our hearts belong only to each other. I’ve been in love before, but not like this. He’s it for me. I’d do anything to keep him in my life. And now I look at Bodie, and I see that look in his eyes. I don’t want him to lose that now that he’s finally found it, just because he can’t get out of his own way.”

“I more or less told Bodie I wanted to be with him,” Jay said. “Maybe I wasn’t so eloquent about it, but I think he got the message. He didn’t jump in to say he wanted the same thing.”

Eben shook his head, and smiled at Jay. “Bodie’s great, he’s got a good head on his shoulders. He’s solid and loyal and he’s smart as hell, but when it comes to certain things, he’s not the slickest eel in the tank. Are you going to let that ruin everything? Swallow your pride, Jay, and talk to him.”

Jay frowned. “My pride?”

“Yes, Jay. Your pride. Bodie didn’t get on his knees and beg, and that pissed you off. Does that mean you’re not willing to give him another chance?”

Jay laughed and shook his head. “You’re playing hardball.”

“Yeah.” Eben laughed. “I’ve made a lot of really shitty decisions in my life. But I think this is a good one. I came up with the idea, and I think it’s a fucking great idea. I don’t want to be wrong about it.” He shrugged. “Just because something great falls into your lap, doesn’t mean it’s too good to be true.”

Jay nodded.

“Do you want to be with Bodie?” Eben asked. “I mean, really want to? Because if you’re not sure, then that’s another story. I’ll still invest in the gym, because of all the other reasons I stated. But I won’t push Bodie on you. That’s your choice. It doesn’t have to be a package deal.”

Jay grinned. “Man. Eben Wright pleading with me to take his money and open my own gym. My life sure has gotten strange lately.”

“Yeah,” Eben said. “Ditto. Change doesn’t ask permission first when it comes barging through the door, I’ve found.”

“Yeah. It sure doesn’t.” He looked at Eben. “I do want to be with Bodie.” He said it without hesitation, because he felt none. He knew in his gut that the thing with Bodie was real. He’d known it for some time now. “Okay, I’ll talk to him.”

Eben beamed. “Great!” He stood. “Last I saw him he was out back, staring into the fountain. Probably reciting gloomy love poetry to himself.”

Jay laughed. “Now
that
I can’t imagine.”

“I’ll have him stop by. Take your time clearing out of here. And we’ll talk on the phone once I get back to California about details. So do we have a deal?”

Jay stood and shook his hand. “We have a deal. I can’t believe you’re doing this for me.”

“For
us
,” Eben said. “I expect it to make money and be the best fucking gym in...well, Rhode Island.” Eben rolled his eyes.

“Hey, don’t dis Rhode Island. We’re small but scrappy.”

“I’m not, I’m not.” Eben laughed and headed toward the door. “Oh one more thing. Sassy wants to know if she can come visit you sometime.”

Jay smiled. “That little pain in the ass can visit me any time.”

“All right, I’ll tell her. And I’ll send Bodie around. Go easy on him, okay?”

Jay laughed. “Yeah, okay. I’ll go
easy
on the totally buff soldier who could probably snap my neck with a thought.”

“That’s all I ask,” Eben said, and left the guest house.

Jay sat back down, blowing a breath out. “Holy shit.”

To pass the time, he went into his bedroom and started packing his things. He didn’t have much to pack. Hell, he’d barely begun to unpack, he’d been so busy and caught up since his arrival.

As time ticked on, butterflies began to dance in his stomach. He didn’t want his conversation with Bodie to be awkward. And he wasn’t going to take anything as a given, regardless of what Eben had said. Jay wasn’t going to make Bodie jump through hoops to prove himself. But he did need to see something that convinced him that Bodie truly wanted this as much as he did.

It was roughly forty-five minutes after Eben left that the knock came on the door, and Jay’s stomach lurched. He was brought back to the day Bodie showed up at his condo when his mother was there. Jay had developed a sudden case of nerves then, and he didn’t even know Bodie yet. Right now, those nerves had multiplied considerably.

He opened the door to Bodie, looking gorgeous in the evening light, hair tied back loosely, jeans and black tee shirt only adding to his allure. Bodie grinned slightly, which immediately took some of Jay’s nerves away.

“Hey,” Jay said. “Come in.”

“Thank you.” Bodie stepped inside and looked around. “I think I’ll miss this little place,” he said.

Jay closed the door. “Yeah. Me, too. Want something to drink?”

“Water would be good,” Bodie said. “Eben made me drink three shots of whiskey earlier. I’m dying of thirst now.”

Jay laughed and waved Bodie into the kitchen. “Eben made you drink whiskey?”

Bodie sat down at the table while Jay got him a bottle of water from the fridge. He handed Bodie the water, then took the chair next to him. “Thanks.” Bodie twisted the cap and took a long drink. “Yes, Eben made me drink whiskey. Pushy bastard when he wants to be.”

“Yes,” Jay said. “I noticed. He just came over and steamrolled me. I was completely unprepared.”

Bodie laughed. “Yeah. Eben likes to get what he wants.”

Jay nodded. The conversation was easy so far, but he wasn’t going to jump in and start
the hard part
. He’d let Bodie set the tone and the pace. “How’s Sassy?”

“She’s good. She has her phone back.”

“Ah, yeah. The Holy Grail.”

Bodie looked at Jay, his eyes softening a bit. He smiled. “Eben told you he wants to invest in your gym, I take it.”

“Yeah. I was fucking shocked.”

“I bet.” Bodie reached over and took Jay’s hand. Just that simple touch sent warmth through Jay’s body, calming him and thrilling him at the same time. “I want you to know,” Bodie said, “I didn’t put Eben up to it. It was his idea.”

“Oh, I know,” Jay said. “He made quite clear he was taking credit for it.”

Bodie chuckled, then looked hard at Jay. “I handled things badly in the diner. I’m sorry. I was still processing everything.”

“It’s all right,” Jay said. “I handled it badly too.”

Bodie gave his hand a squeeze. “I’ve had a lot of time to think since then. I’m going to say something, and I want you to know I’m being completely honest. Nothing has influenced me. Not Eben. Not this gym thing. So will you listen with an open mind?”

“You’ve always been honest,” Jay said. “Even when I know you didn’t want to be. Of course I’ll listen.”

Bodie released his hand and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “You told me in the diner you wanted everything. When we were talking about us. Remember?”

Jay nodded, his face heating a bit.

“Do you still feel that way, or did I fuck it up?”

Jay grinned. “I still feel that way. But I know it’s not a simple thing. It wasn’t fair of me to expect you to jump in and agree with me. I’m sorry about that.”

“The truth is, Jay, it took my brain a little while to catch up with my heart. But my heart knew right away. While I was trying to pack my things today, I started to figure it out. Even before Eben came and talked to me. I just knew it would be impossible to let this go, if you still wanted it. I want everything, too. And I’ll move to Providence and flip burgers for a living if that’s what it takes to figure it out.”

Jay swallowed hard. “Are you sure?”

Bodie grinned. “About flipping burgers, or about wanting to make a go of it with you?”

Jay laughed. “I don’t think you’re going to have to flip burgers.”

“But I would,” Bodie said. “And it’s important that you believe me. That you don’t think I’m saying this because it’s suddenly convenient with Eben’s magical employment opportunity. I’d shovel shit if I had to, as long as I get a chance to see where this will lead with you.”

Jay smirked. “That’s very romantic.”

“You think? I practiced it in the mirror before I came here.”

Jay slid his chair closer to Bodie, then leaned in and kissed him. Bodie’s hand gripped the back of Jay’s head, kissing him back with a passion that made his toes curl.

Jay pulled back, then decided he needed to taste it again, so he captured Bodie’s lips a second time. Bodie wrapped his arms around Jay and tugged him off his chair, pulling him onto his lap. As Jay straddled him, the kiss grew more intense, and it felt so perfect he wanted to do it forever.

It was Bodie who eased back this time, looking up into Jay’s eyes as his arms tightened around his back. “We’re not supposed to be kissing, Jay. We’re supposed to be having a serious conversation.”

“I know,” Jay said. “How’s this. I don’t want you to flip burgers or shovel shit. I want you to move into my condo and help me open a gym with Eben’s money.”

“That works,” Bodie said.

“Good talk. Now kiss me.”

Jay grew stiff in his pants as they made out, and could feel Bodie swelling beneath him.

He couldn’t stop himself from sliding his hips back and forth, urging Bodie’s arousal on. While he’d thus far loved the slow pace they usually employed in their love making, right now he needed Bodie to fuck him. He wanted to get naked and sweaty and feel Bodie come inside him, this time knowing he got to keep him, indefinitely.

“Damn,” Bodie said, breathing heavily. “Feels like maybe you want something from me.”

“I do,” Jay said, sliding against him. “I want it hard and I want it fast and I want it now.”

Bodie raised his brow. “I feel like I should pick you up and romantically carry you to the bedroom, but you’re kind of solid and heavy for an aerobics queen.”

Jay climbed off the chair and took Bodie’s hand. “I can walk by myself. As long as you make sure I can’t walk for a week afterward.”

Bodie stood. “Whoa. I can get on board with that challenge.”

Jay led Bodie to the bedroom. Before he could even think, Bodie had thrown him down on the bed and begun tugging at his clothes, peeling his shirt off.

Jay reciprocated, pulling Bodie’s tee shirt over his head and tossing it aside. His hands glided over Bodie’s shoulders and chest.

Bodie took a moment to press down on him, kissing him deeply, until they both grew stiff and uncomfortable in their jeans.

Sliding off of Jay, Bodie stood at the side of the bed and stripped his jeans off. Jay frantically did the same, wriggling out of his and kicking them off the end of the bed. “Condoms in the drawer there,” Jay said.

Bodie smirked down at him. “You really are impatient, aren’t you?”

Jay nodded. “Uh huh.”

Bodie grabbed the condom and lube but set them aside before climbing on top of Jay. Grasping Jay’s hands, he pinned his arms over his head. “Then maybe it will be fun to make you wait,” he said, pressing their erections hard together.

Jay groaned. “Not. Fair.”

Bodie kissed him soft and slow, making Jay’s head spin and skyrocketing his lust. Pulling back, Bodie breathed against his lips, “We have all night, you realize.”

“I know,” Jay said, raising his hips. “But I want to know what it feels like to fuck you now that I own you.”

Bodie grinned, his mouth falling open. “
Own
me?”

Jay laughed, nodding. “Yeah.”

Bodie eased off him and grabbed his arm, flipping him over onto his stomach. “I’ll show you who owns who,” he said, sliding his cock up through the cleft of Jay’s ass.

Jay groaned, then laughed into the pillow. “I knew that would get you to take control. So technically I’m still in charge.”

Bodie bit the back of his neck hard, then slid his lips up to Jay’s ear. “You’re in charge? Really?”

Jay’s heart pounded. “Yes,” he said softly. “Maybe. A bit?” He laughed.

Bodie snatched the condom and lube, and Jay heard the packet opening. “Are you, sure about that?”

“I guess I should be careful what I wish for,” Jay said, smiling. “Because lately I seem to keep getting it.”

He felt the dome of Bodie’s cock press against his entrance. “You’ll get it,” Bodie said, moving the head back and forth across his hole. “Repeatedly.” He slid in, and Jay gasped.

“Oh, that’s what I’ve been waiting for,” Jay huffed as Bodie’s chest fell onto his back.

Bodie’s arms tightened around Jay’s. He pushed further into him, but didn’t move. “Is this what you wanted?” Bodie whispered in his ear.

“Yes.” Jay’s eyes squeezed shut. “Yes, please. Fuck me.”