Page 15 of Dangerous Pursuit
"And do you always just…do what you want? Just like that?" I ask, even though I’m pretty sure I already know the answer.
Again, he takes a moment to consider. "Yep. Pretty much."
I give him a half-smile, trying to cover the pang of nostalgia swirling in my brain, because I get it now. I cracked him. Life hasn't had a chance to break him yet, and a part of me wishes we could trade places, even if for a moment.
"Speaking of the things I want," his cheery voice contrasting my internal state catches me off guard and I lose a sense of space for a second, bumping my knee against the nearest bench.
I wait for him to continue, but he doesn't, so I prompt, "Yes?"
The image on the screen changes to white, then to light blue, then to tan and the next thing I see has me stopping in my tracks and my muscles going rigid even more so than they did during my training.
Xander's holding his phone away from his face and body, angling it down so that I can glimpse his black boxer briefs, hugging his hips tightly. His decently muscular thighs are visible on the bottom, and above that, he's running a single finger up, along the thick outline of…Oh, for fuck's sake. "Don't," I manage to utter, even though my jaw is all but clenched.
My eyes snap up to the top of the screen where Xander quirks an eyebrow, and that does nothing to stop my blood from rushing south. Why does he have to be so handsome? Did I ever notice it before? I can hardly remember. "Don't what?" The innocence in his voice contradicts his current state.
I will not look down. I won't. I go for the driest voice I can produce. “Don't play with fire. You'll get burned."
"Hmmm," he sighs, and even though my eyes are still fixed on his, I don't miss how his palm flattens against his cock and he gives himself what looks like a fun massage. "But it's so warm and cozy near the fire." His left thigh shifts as he spreads his legs slightly. "It's a cold, harsh world out there. I can't think of a better place to be.”
I spin on my heel so that I’m faced away from the lockers and I lean back. Instead of gently connecting with the surface, my body slams into it with a loud, metallic thump. All my movements are like that now—a little rougher than usual, a little more forceful, more angular. Complete opposite to Xander's as he gently lifts his hips from the mattress in a minisculemovement and rolls them up, pressing his cock against his open palm that glides up and down with ease, like he's the wind, a light breeze that keeps the fire burning, melting away my icy resolve with each passing second.
An unpleasant squeak jerks me into reality, followed by lazy footsteps coming from somewhere around the corner, letting me know I'm no longer alone.
It's a split second decision, really. I'm one tap away from ending the call and putting a stop to all this. Instead, my body shoots up straight as I pace toward the bathrooms, grabbing my towel on my way and I enter the shower area, stepping into the nearest stall and closing the door behind me. My heart is pumping, and I don't think it's from almost getting caught. With my eyes still roaming the screen, I press my back against the cold tiles and let the water run next to me. "You're gonna get me in trouble." I make sure my words are eaten up by the rumble of the stream, only for Xander to hear.
Unperturbed, he shoots me a wild grin, exposing a row of perfectly straight teeth as his body continues to work on getting himself off. "Call me trouble, then."
And fuck if those words don't shoot straight to my groin. Where did a straight guy learn to talk like that, anyway?
The second that thought pops into my brain, it's like I get an ice bucket thrown at my face, despite of the air getting misty from the scalding stream. Because that's what he is—straight, and I've no business engaging. Maybe if I repeat that in my brain over and over again, the reality will finally sink in.
"You have to stop, Xander," my mouth says, while my brain rebels against the words. It's a fucking uneven battle. "And I don't mean just now. In general, you gotta stop chasing after me. Nothing is ever going to happen. You hear me?Nothing.”
Was that convincing enough?
The way Xander tilts his head to the side, messy hair shining against the pillow, the way he runs the tip of his tongue along his lower lip and the way he lets out a soft moan while his hands glides to his stomach only to then disappear inside his underwear tells me all I need to know—no, it fucking wasn't.
If the image doesn't get the message across, Xander makes sure I know exactly what he thinks about my sentiment when he says, "I don't think you're right. But that's okay." He lifts his chin up, his slender neck straining as his hand moves leisurely inside his boxers. "It feels good," he purrs. "It feels so good to be wrong sometimes."
I stifle a groan as my cock stiffens, going from half-mast to uncomfortably hard inside my gym shorts and my nostrils flare. That's it. He's gotta fucking learn. And if I can't get through to his stubborn, pretty head with words, I can sure as fuckshow himwhat it is he's playing with.
I reach out and turn the tap all the way on, increasing the pressure of the water, making it louder. "Fine, then. Strip."
Xander's movements halt, exactly how I knew they would, and he looks straight into the camera. "Wha—?"
"You heard me. Come on now, this is what you wanted. Isn't it?"
He blinks, but remains silent.
"Isn't it?"
I don't miss the way his stubble-covered cheeks change shade from tan to dark red, but he nods nonetheless and the image changes to solid color as he puts his phone away. To undress, I assume.
It's fine. I expected him to get this far. He'll back out soon enough.
There are a few seconds of muffled noise and the image changes again. I force my sight out of focus so that his body is merely a blurred tan silhouette, because Xander is now, in fact, naked. A part of me wants to take a closer look, to inspect him inch by inch, but that wouldn't be wise. My mission requires I have all my wits about me, despite what my cock thinks, twitching dangerously against the rough fabric, trying to break free.
"Lube. Got any?" I bark out, making sure I sound as harsh as I can.
