Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 140629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
As the two of them approached the entrance, he cringed, already anticipating that Gunner would get the same treatment he’d had last night, but when he gave a loud whistle, the two guys blocking the way noticed him right away and stepped aside, parting like the Red Sea had for Moses and the Israelites.
How was the little shrimp doing that?
He nodded at the guys and followed Gunner into the bright front room, but while he’d expected having to chat to the receptionist first, Gunner headed for the locker room, as if it were a safe place for him to be.
Maybe he still didn’t realize how others saw him? Or did he rely on Caspian’s protection?
Or maybe he knew some moves he could pull off even in a body with short and thin limbs.
“I’ll show you the move in the lockers,” Gunner whispered and blew air at the strand of hair falling into his eyes. It was still hard to comprehend how different he seemed despite wearing Caspian’s own skin.
Inside, a tall meathead with a tattoo on his bald head sat up on the bench and followed them with his gaze, frowning. “Come to grow some inches?” he laughed, and Caspian stopped in his tracks, mortified beyond reason.
But Gunner just spread his arms with a stupid grin. “What? You don’t recognize me? I’m the extra weights. A hundred pounds, so you better get lifting.”
A hundred and twelve, actually, but Caspian bit his tongue. No matter how big he now was, he didn’t want to fight the other guy. But instead of getting angry at the impudent answer, the man laughed out loud.
“I could lift two of you on each arm!”
Gunner smiled even wider, and answered as he walked on to the locker rooms. “Okay, okay, I’ll get my three brothers next week.”
Why was Gunner lying? He didn’t have any brothers, or siblings for that matter. But the muscular stranger seemed amused and offered Caspian a smile as he followed Gunner past a set of lockers, where they’d have enough privacy to practice the move he was to teach Gunner’s fourteen-year-old student. It was called the lead hook and involved rotating his body, shifting his weight and jabbing his fist at the right angle. He wasn’t sure how he was to teach this to anyone when it felt so very awkward to him, but several tries later, Gunner assured him that he was doing well.
Whatever the teacher said.
“You’ll get the hang of it. I just don’t want the kid feeling like I bailed on him,” Gunner added for encouragement and clapped before spreading his legs and resting his hands on his hips in a very masculine gesture that seemed surprisingly natural.
Sexy.
Yet it still felt weird to Caspian to see himself doing it.
“If you say so. I’m afraid there’s only so long I can pretend I know what I’m doing,” he whispered, leaning to Gunner’s ear. The pale hair still looked good, even after all the tumbling at the motel, and it smelled nice too.
Gunner bit his lips with a grin and stroked Caspian’s side. “You seem to be a fast learner.”
A deep shudder went from the tips of Caspian’s toes to the top of his head, and he captured Gunner’s gaze, embarrassed that he didn’t remain the steady presence to command the room. But the touch felt so good.
“So I’ve been told. Now… where’s that student of yours?” he asked and cleared his throat to get rid of the raspiness.
Gunner led him to a room with mirrors on one of the walls and a whole stack of mats in the corner. Every glance at his new reflection was both confusing and exhilarating, but there was no time to ogle himself as they approached a boy roughly Gunner’s size. His black hair could have used a wash, and Caspian cringed at the severity of the poor guy’s acne, but before he could have decided what to say, Gunner extended his hand to the boy.
“Hey! You must be Brian. Gun’s told me all about you.”
Brian’s grim face lit up, and he smiled at Caspian, like a puppy eager for praise from his new master. “He did?”
Caspian shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Sure. He’s another student of mine and was really eager to meet you.”
The way Brian stared at the jeans leaving nothing to imagination when it came to the shape of Gunner’s legs told Caspian he might have blundered. But despite now having a body that didn’t fit in with the dirty walls and the smell of sweat hanging in the air due to insufficient ventilation, Gunner took everything in stride.
“It’s a bit difficult sometimes, because Gunner’s so much taller than me. He said it would be easier if I got to train a bit with someone closer to my own size. So the angles are right, and all that.”