Page 42 of Body Check

Rather than fire a retort back, Gavin simply stood there, watching Dakota for a moment, enjoying how relaxed he looked. What must it feel like to be so at ease?

Though, admittedly, he had been a hell of a lot more relaxed since last night.

After a moment, Dakota shifted to take a seat on one of the full-size built-in benches, looking up at Gavin with a faintly quizzical expression, like he couldn’t figure out why Gavin was still standing there instead of joining him in the water.

That was an excellent point, so Gavin stepped forward, walking down the tiered steps into the spa.

The water was the perfect temperature, hot but not too hot, and Gavin let out his own sounds of pleasure as he sank into the bubbling water, floating for a moment.

Gavin joined Dakota, sitting a few feet away despite the fact the spa was easily big enough for a dozen people.

The hotel was located in a high-rise near the arena, and the pool deck overlooked the sprawl of the city, beautifully visible from where they sat. The sky was dark—or, as dark as it ever got in LA—with the city gleaming around them. The pool and spa were illuminated by underwater lights, turning them a glowing shadeof greenish blue. Low golden sconces glowed along the walls of the pool deck and lanterns were scattered among the roomy loungers. The only sounds were the faint noises from the pool filter, the soft bubble of water in the spa, and the city noises far below.

“Wow,” Gavin said, awed.

“Right?” Dakota gave him a smile. “Hell of a view.”

“It really is. I should take advantage of stuff like this more often.”

“Huh, if I had access to places and views like this all of the time, you’d never pry me away. Then again, this is normal for you, I suppose.”

Gavin wondered what Dakota meant at first before he considered what Dakota’s salary was versus his. Gavin could vacation at ritzy resorts and stay in fine hotels without ever worrying about his budget, Dakota, probably not so much. Not in a city as expensive as Boston, anyway. “Fair enough. Sometimes I get too accustomed to how lucky I am.”

Because while yes, he’d grown up with money, he’d had periods of his life where he’d struggled. He’d had periods where he’d nearly thrown away everything he’d worked so hard for. To be here—not in LA specifically, but in charge of a team like the Harriers—was a privilege he shouldn’t take for granted.

“I’d imagine you worked very hard to get where you are though,” Dakota said, echoing some of his internal musings.

“I did,” Gavin agreed, stretching his arms out along the pool deck, his fingertips brushing Dakota’s shoulder. “But I also had luck and, most importantly, connections.”

“Those do go a long way, don’t they?” Dakota said softly. He didn’t pull away.

“Yes.”

For a few minutes, they sat there silently, the water softly bubbling around them, the city lights twinkling.

“If you don’t usually take full advantage of all of the things that places like this have to offer, whydidyou come up here tonight?” Dakota asked.

“I wanted to spend time with you,” Gavin said bluntly.

He had to be careful here, because the last thing he wanted was to make Dakota uncomfortable, but they had hooked up last night and Gavin hoped that it hadn’t been a one-time thing.

Since Gavin had realized they were alone up here, his mind had lingered on the thought of Dakota’s mouth on his cock, all of these stories above the city.

It might be worth it to make another move and see where it could go.

“There’s …somethinghere, isn’t there?” He gestured between them and when he lowered his hand, he let it press more firmly against Dakota’s shoulder.

Dakota regarded him for a moment. “Whatkindof something?”

“You’re really going to make me say it?” Gavin asked, amused. It was a power move but he hadn’t gotten the impression that was Dakota’s thing.

Dakota shrugged. “Up to you. I don’t like speaking in vague insinuations. If you want something, tell me.”

Gavin leaned in. “Cards on the table. I’m single. You’re single. Last night was fucking incredible and we’re both too busy to date or even manage hookups with anyone else. Are you interested in a purely physical relationship for a while?”

Dakota’s expression turned thoughtful.

“Just to be clear on what exactly you’re proposing, you’re talking about us hooking up regularly?”

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