Page 10 of Craved By You (Dark Desires Duet #1)

Astrid

I t had been four months since the first time Colt dropped me off at my car after taking me to dinner. Four months since I shared the deepest secret I held. With Colt, it was a whirlwind romance that I thought could only be found in fairytales.

Since he had entered into my life, everything had shifted.

While I normally didn’t mind the boring and mundane life I had built for myself, now I craved to be around people even if I wasn’t interacting with them.

We hadn’t even had sex yet. Colt was insistent we wait.

He wanted to show me that I was more than just a sex object to him, but at this point I just wanted to be his little fuck toy.

After tonight’s date the tension had me out of my mind, so I decided to go to the one place where I could burn off a bit of steam.

The gym.

I had purchased a gym membership when I was still with my ex-girlfriend.

She’d told me I was getting too comfortable and letting myself go, which had stung.

I haven’t been back in forever. There’s something about being guilted into going to the gym because someone is no longer attracted to you that just makes the whole experience feel…

tainted. I tried going after I started dating again, but the bad feelings resurfaced the moment I walked in the door.

Fuck trauma.

I wondered if this time would be different. Being with someone who appreciated me for who I was, not what I looked like, was huge. And there’s no one telling me I had to go. Perhaps, without the pressure and without feeling like I had to change myself for someone else, I could actually… enjoy it?

As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed that there weren’t a lot of people working out tonight, which was nice. I’d much rather be there at a time where I wouldn’t have to fight over equipment and hopefully, I would be able to enjoy the steam room without anyone that would attempt small talk.

I got out of my car and went to the trunk, hoping that I had something I could wear tucked away.

As luck would have it, as soon as the trunk opened, my gym bag was sitting there staring at me.

I could hear the choir of angels singing ahh as a golden glow formed around it.

I quickly unzipped it and made sure that I had something, anything in it that didn’t smell too horribly.

As soon as it was confirmed, I put a little pep in my step and headed to the door - hesitating a moment - before going inside.

“ You’ve got this,” I repeated to myself while I nodded my head, trying to psych myself up.

“This will be good for you physically, mentally, and emotionally.” I wasn’t sure that I believed myself, but it was worth a try.

I scanned my membership card and grabbed a couple of towels.

The girl at the front desk who was folding more towels welcomed me in but the look in her eyes suggested she knew the struggle I was enduring.

“ Have a good workout,” she encouraged with a smile.

“ Right. Thanks.” I attempted to return a genuine smile but I wasn’t too sure that’s what happened. I made my way down the hallway and entered the women’s desolate locker room thankful to be the only one in it.

Still, I went into a stall, just in case.

It took me no time to get back in the groove with cardio.

The one thing I had missed was being able to take off on the elliptical, it was always so freeing.

Even though I knew I wasn’t technically running, it still provided that illusion which always made me feel good.

The last time I was here I was able to do a fifteen-minute mile.

While my time away suggested that I would be a lot slower, I couldn’t wait to see the actual time it would take.

After I had finished doing cardio, I moved into the area where all of the lifting equipment was.

My eyes wandered across the sea of weight machines while I decided on where I was going to set my focus tonight.

???? The hip abductor machine seemed right up my alley and focusing on legs felt like a good place to start.

Colt : Hey beautiful, why are you at the gym? Working off some frustration?

I hadn’t told Colt I was going to the gym, but as I looked around, I couldn’t help but hope he was here, watching me. The thought of working out alongside him was appealing, even though I’d also feel slightly embarrassed.

Me : ??You could say that. Where are you?

Colt : Where do you want me to be?

What the hell kind of question was that? I rolled my eyes wanting to respond… Between my legs.

Of course, I couldn’t actually respond that way, but my brain was definitely on that level of wishful thinking.

Colt : ??I can’t wait to see you again.

?? A double text. Flattering. Was he worried I wouldn’t reply? My thoughts were interrupted by a deafening crash as some gym bro decided to announce his presence with a weight drop. The sound echoed through the entire building and caused me to jump.

I really hated those guys. Between them and the people who claimed machines and then walked away for what feels like forever, or even the people who sit for ten minutes between sets… They all annoy the hell out of me.

Me : I can’t wait to see you again, too.

There.

???

An hour passed and I wrapped up my workout. I made my way back into the locker room and stripped down into my underwear, attempting to wrap a towel around my body. Ugh, they never make these things big enough.

I grabbed my bag and walked over to the steam room. Looking inside, I was excited to have it all to myself. I hung my duffle on the hook outside the steam room so I didn’t have to walk back into the area where the lockers were once I got out.

A cloud of steam billowed out as I opened the door, and I stepped in before pushing the door shut behind me. I sat on the bench and closed my eyes as the water began to spill on top of my skin.

Moments later, I heard the sound of the door creaking open slowly.

Damnit. I took a couple of deep breaths and resisted the urge to open my eyes to look at the person, saving us both from an awkward moment.

Something felt off, though. It felt as if the person who had just entered was hovering over me instead of sitting down to let their stress melt away.

I slowly opened my eyes.

“ Sure is hot in here.” Colt’s voice echoed amongst the tile.

“ Colt!” I tried to hide my body with the towel. “What are you doing in here?”

“ You said you missed me.” He shrugged. “So here I am.”

I hoped that no one had noticed him come in. My voice echoed even in just a loud whisper. “This is the women’s locker room!”

“ You are the only woman in the entire building aside from the girl at the front desk.” He smirked at me. Suddenly, there was a puddle forming between my legs that wasn’t caused by the steam. “You’ll be fine.”

My breath staggered as I looked toward the door. “What if you get caught?”

“ Then be a good girl,” he placed his hand over my mouth, “and don’t make a sound.” He removed the towel, exposing me in my vulnerable state.

He removed his hand sooner than I would have liked and stepped away to strip down to his boxer briefs, grasping his already hardening cock in his hand and stroking himself.

I watched as he slowly made his way back over to where I was sitting, towering over me.

I couldn’t help but take in his body structure.

Fuck, he’s handsome.

The sheer number of tattoos covering him was astounding. I could only imagine the fortune he’d spent. Of course, he was a rock star, so he had to look the part.

Colt looked down at me, cupping my chin and pulling me forward so I was sitting straighter. “I believe we have some unfinished business from earlier.”

Before we went our separate ways, we were getting hot and heavy in his car but he put a pause on things before they went too far. “But you said-”

“ Shh.” He hushed me, putting a finger to my lips. “I know what I said.” At that moment he pushed his finger between my lips and shoved it into my mouth, my instant reaction to apply suction.

“ That’s my good girl.” He seemed surprised by my ready acceptance. My breath caught in my throat as he bent over and kissed me on the forehead. That was one of my favorite things.

My hand found its way to him, the potential consequences of us getting caught momentarily forgotten. Or perhaps deliberately pushed aside. Colt’s sharp intake of breath told me he was willing to accept whatever followed - and he said I was the one who needed to be quiet?

I released him from the confines of his boxer briefs, momentarily stunned at how perfect his package looked compared to all the other men I had been with in the past. Not too big, not too small, I definitely couldn’t complain.

Colt was seemingly God’s favorite in all areas of life, and yet he wanted me and my imperfections.

“ Stop it,” he said in a demanding tone, and I knew right then that he was apparently also a mind reader.

Bastard . What have I gotten myself into? He was good for me though, constantly redirecting my negative thoughts and helping me feel more confident. I hoped that someday I could feel confident all the time and not just when we were together.

?? I ran my tongue along the length of his shaft, from base to tip. A little distraction from my mind seemed to be in order. I then swirled my tongue around the head of his erection before taking him in completely, gently tracing the sensitive skin of his scrotum with my fingernails.

The sound that came from between his lips let me know he enjoyed the sensation as I bobbed back and forth over him. I felt a hand grasp the back of my head and he slid me off of him and tilted my face up to meet his.

“ It’s about to get way too hot in here for all this.” He smiled coyly. “As much as I would love to make you pass out, I don’t want it to be because of over-exhaustion.” He took my hand, grabbed his clothes, and led me out of the steam room, guiding me over to the showers.

“ Now, where were we?” he asked as he dropped his boxer briefs to the floor, kicking them out of the way.

He kissed me deeply, one hand cupping my cheek while the other pulled the curtain to separate us from the rest of the world and reached for the knob to turn on the shower.

The initial burst of cold water made me squeal, but he quickly adjusted it to the perfect temperature.

As he cupped my other cheek, my arms instinctively wrapped around him, and we continued kissing like we were lovers in the rain.

Unexpectedly, he bent down, grasped just beneath my rear, and lifted me up against the cool tile wall.

“ Colt, I’m too heavy,” I protested, worried he’d strain himself.

He looked at me sternly. “What did you just say?” He pressed against me, and all I could think about was how much I wanted him.

I stammered, my concern washed away, nearly forgotten. “N-nothing.”

“ That’s what I thought.” Colt’s words were a prelude as he thrust into me. The sensation was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It was as if we were made for each other, fitting together in perfect harmony.

He continued thrusting in and out of me, officially claiming me as his own.

I wanted so desperately to be able to finish.

I could feel the release building up inside of me, but I knew that as soon as we were about to reach a climax the sensation would vanish like it was never there.

Leaving myself content that I had satisfied him, but still feeling like something was missing.

He stood there for a moment and we locked eyes, letting the water wash over us.

Slowly, he sat me down on the floor and though I was unable to stand completely he made sure that I had caught my balance before he let go of me.

????“Well, I guess I have no reason to hate coming here anymore,” I tried to crack a joke, but Colt just observed me, his eyes moving across my body once more.

“ You know you don’t have to come here?” Colt continued his gaze. “Right?”

“ I know. I just wasn’t ready to go home and well, it’s good for my health,” I said nervously, unsure of how he would respond.

“ As long as you’re doing it for you .” He smiled as he caressed my cheek.

“That’s all that matters.” He kissed me, throwing my towel down to the floor and stepping on it so he could put his damp clothes back on.

Then, he snuck out of the shower and slipped quietly through the door at the back of the locker room that led out to the pool and hot tub.

Leaving me standing there, still naked, with the only towel I had laying on the floor, now sopping wet.

Thanks, Colt.

“ Is anyone in here?” I heard a voice inquiring out in the main area.

I responded, “Just me!” Damn that was close.

“ Is everything okay?” The voice questioned back and soon I heard footsteps coming toward the showers.

“ Yeah.” I quickly thought of something. “Actually, I dropped my towel and don’t have an extra one to dry off with,” I said, embarrassed at my situation.

“ Here,” the voice said and I stuck my arm out from behind the curtain and took hold of the towel that she presented me with. Impressed that she just happened to have a spare.

I hesitated. “Is everything okay?”

??“ Someone reported seeing a man come in here.” I could tell she was searching, hoping to catch him hiding behind one of the super-thin shower curtains. “Have you noticed anyone?”

??“No.” It was time that I put on an act better than ever. “But I’ve been in the steam room and the shower, so it’s possible I got lucky and just missed him.”

“ Fucking pervert.” The attendant sounded annoyed. “I don’t know why some men think they are so entitled.” She started to walk away. “Let me know if you see or hear anything.”

“ Will do,” I said, quietly snickering to myself. I finished drying off and then stepped out of the shower to finish getting dressed and ready to head home.