E very muscle in Sawyer’s body ached, and sweat ran down him in rivulets.
There were workouts, and then there was Pilates.
Christ, how had he ever let Kelsey talk him into taking the class with her? He pulled his foot free from the rope handle and curled up into a fetal ball on the padded board they called a carriage.
Sawyer was no stranger to working out.
He ran, lifted, and stretched his body at least six days a week and had considered himself to be in excellent shape until Kelsey introduced him to the Pilates Reformer.
It was a piece of equipment that looked incredibly basic.
He’d scoffed at the simple boxed frame, the padded board on sliders, and the attached pulleys or ropes.
Kels had shown him how adjusting the tension springs changed the resistance and intensity of the workout.
He cranked the tension up because a fit guy like him could handle it easy peasy, right?
Wrong! Sawyer lasted five minutes before he curled into a ball and playfully sucked on his thumb.
“The freaking CIA could add this machine to their interrogation tactics. America’s enemies would spill their secrets so fast the agents wouldn’t be able to keep up with the information flow.”
Kelsey giggled on the machine beside him. “Big baby.”
He scowled at his best friend, who looked like a gliding goddess on her carriage. “When you invited me to join you at Pilates, I figured you were trying to get me out of the house so Royce could set up a birthday surprise.”
Kelsey glanced his way long enough to roll her eyes. “Your birthday is tomorrow.”
“I know, but Sundays are sacred in our house. Royce wouldn’t throw a bash and kill our vibe. You must want me dead. It’s the only explanation for this abuse.”
Kelsey lowered her leg and waited until the carriage stopped before removing her foot from the handle. She bent her elbow and propped her head against her fist. “I brought you here to start your conditioning for fatherhood.” They still had seven days before they took their first pregnancy blood test at the clinic, but Kelsey refused to believe the results would be anything but positive.
“Maybe the slight cramping you felt means the IUI wasn’t successful and you’re going to get your period,” Sawyer said.
“Nope, Eeyore. My premenstrual cramps are way more intense. I’m telling you it was implantation cramps. I had them with Ella, and the timing matches.” She reached over and took Sawyer’s hand. “We read the same material. The sperm would’ve fertilized the egg within twenty-four hours, but it takes six to twelve days for the egg to attach to the uterine lining. Dr. Flores is going to confirm the pregnancy on Friday. Mark my words.”
Giddiness bubbled inside Sawyer, choking out the cautious Gemini twin that he usually let guide his decision-making. The poor guy made a valiant effort to seize control, but the wild child Gemini twin wrapped the Pilates rope around his neck and tightened it until he submitted to the surge of unmitigated joy. “Kels, I’m going to be a dad,” he whispered.
“Hell yeah, you are.” She pointed at the torture rope attached to the pulley. “Loop your foot back in that handle and get to work. You’re going to need more stamina than you can imagine.”
Sawyer narrowed his eyes. “For the baby or whatever Royce is planning?”
“Quit pestering me with silly questions about your husband and get to work.”
“Because he is up to something. Royce asked what time I was leaving and how long I’d be gone. He’s setting something up.” Sawyer groaned. “I’m too old for parties.”
“Just shut up and enjoy whatever he’s up to.”
“I knew it!” Sawyer exclaimed. “What’s the surprise? Give me a hint?”
Kelsey fixed him with a stern look and pointed to the rope handle. “Complete the workout and I’ll give you a hint.”
Sawyer whined, but it was enough incentive for him to comply. Forty minutes later, it took everything he had to put one foot in front of the other so they could make it to Kelsey’s car. Sawyer forgot all about pestering his friend for hints, even after a little dopamine hit from their favorite smoothie shop. He didn’t give the surprise another thought until Kels pulled into his driveway. “You owe me a hint.”
Kelsey snorted, then picked up her mango smoothie and took a long pull from her straw. She sighed heavily as she returned her drink to the cup holder. “Why are you still here?” She made a shooing motion with her hands.
“It’s not a surprise party, is it?”
Kelsey rolled her eyes. “Would I let you walk into an ambush looking like that?”
Sawyer glanced down at his chest and noticed his shirt was still damp with sweat. A quick peek in the rearview mirror showed his wet hair sticking up in clumpy spikes all over. “But you let me go into the smoothie shop looking like this?” He tried to tidy his hair, but his efforts only made things worse.
Kelsey revved the engine to get his attention. “Here’s your hint. Your surprise is just for the two of you. Get out and enjoy it.”
“Damn, you’re kind of mean. Low blood sugar?”
“Pregnancy hormones. Get used to it.”
Sawyer removed his seat belt and leaned over the console to kiss her cheek. “I love you. Thanks for showing me how weak I really am.”
“You’re most welcome, and I love you too. It’s amazing what your body will do with a little time and effort.”
“I’ve used that line on Royce a time or two.”
Kelsey threw her head back and laughed lustily. “I can’t wait to hear all about your surprise.”
“That good, huh?”
“It’s definitely unique. Andrew will need to step up his game.”
With those encouraging remarks, Sawyer grabbed his bag and exited her car. He’d intended to stride to the house with purpose, but he limped like he’d just survived a war. Kelsey rolled down her window and poked her head outside so he could hear her wicked laughter as she drove away. He actually had to stop and massage a cramp in his right calf when he reached the porch. If Royce had energetic sex in mind, he might be disappointed because all Sawyer wanted to do was sprawl on the couch. Dolly and Bones were waiting for him in the foyer when he opened the door. Not unusual, but there was a frantic energy radiating off them that made him a little nervous about what he might find.
“Honey, I’m ho—”
His words died on his lips when he raised his head and saw Royce standing in the center of the living room, wearing white rubber boots that came up to his knees and the pair of pink flamingo booty shorts that barely covered his ass. Sawyer had a similar pair, but they had blue sharks all over them. They’d randomly purchased the shorts and matching bucket hats from a souvenir shop in Put-in-Bay during their honeymoon. Royce looked so ridiculous that it took Sawyer a minute to process what exactly he was seeing.
His husband had moved all the furniture to the edges of the room so that the focal point was the large area rug Royce had given him a thorough fucking on just the previous weekend. Then he noticed a commercial rug shampooer off to the side. It was black, and Royce had taken some kind of white tape or stickers to make it look like Darth Vader. But Royce had taken letter stickers and spelled out Dirt Vader instead. Sawyer suspected the machine was the source of agitation he detected from their pets.
“It’s about time you got home.” Royce raked his gaze over Sawyer, taking in his sweaty, disheveled condition. “What the hell did they do to you at Pilates?”
Sawyer dropped his bag to the floor and walked into the living room. “Torture. Plain and simple. I have muscles I didn’t know existed, and they’re weak and pitiful.” He stopped when he reached Royce and took his face in both hands. “I fucking love you so much. This is the best birthday surprise ever.”
“And I haven’t even started my demonstration yet.”
Sawyer ran his hand over Royce’s bare chest and dipped his fingers beneath his waistband. “This outfit alone is precious. And that damn shampooer is so cute. How much would it cost for us to buy it outright?”
Royce laughed. “You’ve been hanging around me too long.”
“Eternity isn’t long enough,” Sawyer said before nipping Royce’s bottom lip.
“Wow. That torturous exercise has gotten you all randy.”
Sawyer shook his head and dropped his hand lower to cup Royce’s perfect package. “Nope. I didn’t think I had a pulse left until I walked through the door. This is all because of you.”
Royce groaned as his eyelids drifted to half-mast. He sucked in a sharp breath and stepped back until Sawyer’s hand slipped free from his shorts. “Huh-uh. I put a lot of effort into planning this.” He pointed to the couch. “You go lie down and watch.”
“Fine, but I might get my dick out.”
Royce swayed a bit, and Sawyer could see the conflict brewing in his eyes. “Fine, but it will be all your fault if I ruin the rug because you distracted me.”
Sawyer shrugged. “We’ll buy a new one, even though this rug is practically new since we just had it professionally cleaned.”
Royce narrowed his eyes. “Is that when the fetish began?”
“Not this again.” Sawyer flopped onto the couch. “Ready for my show.”
And what a performance it was. Royce did such a good job that Sawyer conked out after only a few passes over the rug. He didn’t know how long he’d slept, but he woke with dried drool on the corner of his mouth and a crick in his neck. Sawyer struggled to remember why he was on the couch and retraced his day, starting with the torture class called Pilates. He’d gotten a smoothie with Kelsey and had come home to a surprise. His eyes widened when he recalled Royce in his shorty shorts and white rubber boots. Sawyer jackknifed off the couch and groaned when some of his muscle groups spasmed in protest at the sudden movement.
He bit back a moan as he searched the empty living room. Other parts started to come alive besides the ones that ached, namely his senses. A tantalizing aroma of butter, garlic, cheese, and shrimp tickled his nose and made his stomach rumble. Sawyer followed the smells like a bloodhound to find a sight more delicious than the food cooking on the stove. Royce still wore the shorty shorts and rubber boots as he stirred a pan of what Sawyer knew would be cheesy grits to go with the shrimp. The delicious meal was one of Royce’s culinary masterpieces, and his other crowning glory rested on a cooling rack.
“Feel better after your nap?” Royce asked.
Sawyer answered with a savage grunt as he shuffled his exhausted legs over to the island to peer into the mixing bowl next to the richest, most delicious chocolate cake he’d ever tasted. The recipe belonged to Royce’s mother, and he only baked the cake for special occasions. The decadent fudgy icing was ready and just sitting in the bowl, waiting for someone to do a quality check. Don’t mind if I do. He dipped his forefinger toward the bowl, but Royce yanked it away before he could make contact with the heavenly treat.
“Hey,” Sawyer said with a pout. “It’s my birthday.”
“Wash your hands first. I don’t know where they’ve been.”
“Torture,” Sawyer said as he ambled toward the sink. “I’ve never sweated so much in my life.” He became aware of how stiff his workout clothes were. “Ew, I’m so gross.”
Royce tsked. “And you wanted to dip those nasty digits in my icing.”
Sawyer waggled his brow. “I love your icing.” He dried his hands and rounded the island to kiss Royce. “I’m sorry I fell asleep and ruined your surprise.”
“I don’t have to take the carpet cleaner back until Monday. We’ve got plenty of time for more demonstrations.” Royce kissed him but crinkled his nose when he pulled back.
“God, do I stink?”
“You smell like you’ve had a really good workout. Why don’t you go take a shower while I finish dinner.”
“Dinner?” Sawyer asked. “Have I been out that long?”
“I’ve never heard you snore so loud. You drowned out the noise of the machine. Dolly and Bones were more afraid of you than it.”
Sawyer scrubbed a hand over his face. “How about putting this food in the warming drawer so you can join me in the shower?”
“Even exhausted, you’re the smartest man I know.”
Sawyer stole a few bites of shrimp and grits before they stowed the food safely away from the pets. The baking rack with the cake halves went back into the cool oven, and Royce put the icing in the refrigerator so Bones wouldn’t help himself to Sawyer’s birthday treat. Royce took his hand and led him from the kitchen. Sawyer moaned and grumbled his way to the bathroom and rested against the vanity while Royce started the shower.
“That must’ve been some class,” Royce said. “You’re in the best shape of anyone I know.”
“It was evil. There’s no way I’ll ever do it again.”
Once they stepped beneath the hot spray, the only ache he worried about was the one between his legs. Royce dropped to his knees and took Sawyer in his mouth, working his erection with an expertise earned from lots of practice. But his loving ministrations turned almost cruel when he drew Sawyer’s release beyond his breaking point.
“Let me come. It’s my birthday.”
Royce’s chuckle rumbled along the length of Sawyer’s dick and vibrated his balls. He tightened his mouth around Sawyer’s shaft, sucked hard, and slowly eased back until his erection sprang free.
Sawyer grunted as his balls drew tight. “You told me not to come without you.”
“Your birthday isn’t until tomorrow.” Royce circled his finger in the air, telling Sawyer to turn around. His feet slipped in soapy suds as he eagerly complied. “Careful. We sure as hell don’t want to end up at the hospital after a slip and fall. Brace your arms against the tile.” Royce spread his ass cheeks apart and buried his face between them before Sawyer could respond or comply.
Sawyer cried out and braced his forearms against the cool tile when Royce used his tongue to arouse him further and open Sawyer’s pucker. He hung his head and watched his throbbing dick jerk from the intensity of the stimulation. “I won’t last.”
Royce responded by sinking his teeth in his ass cheek. “You will.”
Eventually, his wicked husband kissed a path up his back before taking him fast and furiously up against the shower wall. The tight enclosure amplified their moans of pleasure and jubilant cries when they came. Sawyer clung to Royce like a life raft once he regained enough strength in his legs to turn in his husband’s embrace.
“Best. Birthday. Ever.”
Royce laughed and kissed his temple. “We’re just getting started, baby.”
Sawyer was too tired to lift his head from Royce’s shoulder. “What’s next?”
Royce’s hand landed with a wet thwack against his ass cheek. “Birthday spankings.”