Page 56 of Body Check

“I know. But that’s aimed at people abusing positions of power.”

Dakota shot him a pointed look.

Gavin held up his hands. “I’m aware. Our involvement looks bad from the outside.”

“It really does.” Dakota looked away. “And we both know that as gay men, we have less leeway than the straight guys.”

With a sigh, Gavin nodded. “True. So, is that it then?”

“It should be.”

“Yeah, it should,” Gavin agreed. “But is it?”

Dakota huffed. “Despite all the risks, you still want to keep going, don’t you?”

Gavin shrugged. “Call me reckless, but yeah.”

“Oh, you’re definitely reckless,” Dakota agreed.

“But you’re not?”

“I didn’t say that.” For the first time since they’d come face-to-face with Thad outside of the elevators, there was a trace of humor in Dakota’s voice.

“Okay,” Gavin said, reaching out to touch his shin. He didn’t pull away. “So what now?”

“Now, we banter until you force me to admit I actually want it and we hook up again, I guess?”

“Hey, no force here,” Gavin said, shifting onto his side with a groan, so he could get a better look at Dakota’s face. “No pressure. I get why you’re worried about your career and how bad this could look if it got out. I want to keep going, but if you don’t, that’s your call.”

He looked him in the eye and Dakota nodded, reaching out to touch Gavin’s hip. “The situation with Thad makes me nervous because of the Code of Conduct but I’m in. No more back and forth.”

“Yeah?” Gavin asked, elated. “You sure?”

“I’m sure,” Dakota said with a small smile.

Gavin was tempted to pull Dakota down for a kiss, roll him over, and chase their next orgasms right here on the yoga mats, but he had a meeting in half an hour, and he really needed to shower and change. Also, they were at the team facility, and he had no idea how Dakota felt about hooking up here. Besides, he wasn’t entirely sure he had the energy to doanyof that, even if Dakota was on board. “Perfect. Have any plans tonight?”

“No,” Dakota said slowly. “What did you have in mind?”

“You’re living with Violet and her family, right?” Gavin reached down and wrapped a hand around Dakota’s ankle, rubbing his thumb against the prominent bone there.

Dakota nodded.

“Then come over to my place. I have a condo downtown.”

Dakota’s swallow was audible in the quiet room. “Okay.”

“It’ll probably be a little late,” he admitted with a frown. “I’ve got a dinner thing. Can I text you when I get out?”

“Sure. That’ll work.”

“Perfect. I’ll send you my address.” Gavin gave Dakota’s ankle a squeeze, then sat upright with another tired groan. “You might need to do all the work tonight though.”

Dakota grinned, looking a lot more at ease now. “Yeah? Why’s that?”

“Because yoga with you was the second workout I’ve gotten in today,” Gavin admitted, leaning in. “And sex will be the third. Take pity on an old man.”

Laughing softly, Dakota snuck a glance at the door before he curled his hand around the back of Gavin’s neck and kissed him.

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