One to Love (One to Hold 4)

Making my way through the large exercise room, everything smelled like Windex and new carpet. It was actually a nice space for a small, unincorporated gym. I grabbed my key out of my cubby and heading to the female locker area in the back of the building.

Cool metal met my hand as I pushed through the door and rounded the painted cinder-block wall. The floor was concrete, but it was scored with a diamond pattern and stained aqua blue. Stopping at a locker, I slipped in a small key and opened it. My black tank was soaked as I pulled it over my head, but it was good sweat, not perspiration. I’d worked hard this morning, and a hot shower was calling my name.

Pushing off my capri-length black workout pants, I stuffed everything into the plastic bag I kept for sweaty clothes and slammed the door. A few steps and I’d be relaxing under the spray. Towels were stacked in neat rolls at the entrance to the long row of showers, and I grabbed one just as I heard the sound of water going.

Tammy must’ve decided to shower at the club this morning. It was unexpected, but I wrapped the towel quickly around my body in case she stepped out as I passed. Not that I was so modest, but who really walked around a locker room totally naked? Plus, I didn’t want to hear her exclaiming about the lines on my torso or how nicely I was “filling out” since I’d started doing CrossFit.

Tammy was in amazing shape, and a full-figured hourglass. As such, she made it her mission to fight “negative body image,” and she was always encouraging me to eat more. It would’ve gotten on my nerves if she weren’t so nice.

Shaking my head with a smile, I rounded the corner and almost screamed. The curtain was open, and Tammy was on full display under the steady stream. Her eyes were closed and her back arched against her husband’s dark chest. He held one of her legs up as he pounded her from behind, and with every slam, her moans grew louder.

“Oh god! Yes, Yes, YES!!” she wailed.

Rook gripped one of her breasts in an enormous hand before reaching down and throwing her other leg over his arm. He was actually strong enough to lift her that way, slamming her up and down against his pelvis as the muscles in his dark legs flexed.

Shock and awe had me glued to the spot with my mouth open. Heat flared between my thighs at the live show.

“So... fucking... good,” he groaned, gripping her thighs and bouncing her up and down his long shaft.

“Right there! Right there! Oh YES!” Tammy cried, holding his neck and frantically pumping her legs to help him. She yelped like a puppy, over and over as her entire body began to shake.

Glazed eyes slit open, meeting mine, and I snapped out of it. I spun on my heel and ran all the way back to the lockers, clutching the towel against my chest. I was panting, my heart was flying, and my whole body trembled. Moisture was slick between my thighs, and Tammy’s orgasmic yelps still echoed in my ears. Shit!

It was the second time I’d caught them going at it in the gym. The first time was six months ago when I’d been doing my final, nightly sweep before locking up. I’d busted them all the way in the back in the men’s weight room. That time, Rook was straddling the weight bench and Tammy was straddling him.

Her white-blonde head flew and her back arched as she held on behind her. Every time he pounded her, her large breasts circled with his mouth chasing them. I’d never get that image out of my brain.

That time I’d run all the way to the juice bar snorting. This time I was pissed. Dammit. They knew I was here, and worse—they knew I’d been alone a long time. It was completely inappropriate and insensitive to parade their insatiable sex life in front of me. Before long, I’d be afraid to round any corners after hours.

Sitting on the bench, I waited until my breathing calmed, and after what felt like forever, I cautiously stood and crept back toward the showers. My client would be here in just a few minutes, and I had to get ready.

My long, dark hair was still piled on top of my head, and the towel was secured around my body. The stalls were all empty and quiet. The only signs anyone had been here were the water droplets on the curtains and the wet floor. I figured Tammy had hustled them out after seeing me.

With a deep breath, I reached for the handle to turn on the hot water.

* * *

Tammy was alone, flipping through a fitness magazine behind the juice bar when I went out front. She had a Zumba step class at nine-thirty, and she was dressed in black booty shorts and a loose, hot-pink tank over a camo sports bra. Her hair was now up in a ponytail, and she was a festive contrast to my all-black trainer gear and low-ponytail.

“Good morning.” Her voice was quiet and had the faintest hint of remorse, but I didn’t respond.

Instead I went straight to the smoothie machine and loaded it up with almond-coconut milk, a banana, Dino kale, and two scoops of crushed ice.

“You’re the one ordering all the kale?”

I glanced up to see her pert nose wrinkled. “I didn’t order it,” I said. “The girls over at Veggie-Smooth asked me to try this recipe for a week and send them clients. If I like it, of course.”

“I can’t even imagine.”

Hitting the button, an irritating WHIRR! filled the space, mirroring how I felt inside. “I’m leaving at noon today,” I shouted over the noise. “When Pete gets here.”

Her light brows clutched together, and I could tell she was working out a response. She knew I was pissed, but to be honest, I wasn’t really sure why. I didn’t begrudge them a healthy, married sex life, and it was their club, after all. Still. They should’ve at least closed the damn shower curtain.

She took a step closer and leaned against the bar beside me. “I’m sorry, Ken. About earlier. Your key was in the cubby.” It was her way of saying they didn’t think I was here, and she watched me a few moments waiting for my response. “Are you very mad?”

I released the button on the machine and poured the green mix into a cup. Exhaling, I took a sip of the surprisingly tasty drink. She had a point. Leaving my key in the cubby was the internal code I hadn’t arrived, but I wasn’t convinced she hadn’t heard me in the small boxing room. I was being pretty loud.

Clearing my throat, I nodded. “A little. I mean, Jesus! Weren’t you just in bed with him at your house?”