Rhodes - Regifted

I quietly knelt on the mat before bellowing in Maeves ear. Twenty more seconds! You can do it! Youre a beast! Give it to me! Cmon, now, 5-4-3-2-1! Lets go! Ah, yeah, feelssogood! You did it!

Maeve flopped flat on her belly like a goldfish after its last gasp for life in the open air. She closed out the fitness session by completing my plank challenge like a champ. Turning her head to the side with a groan and casting her gaze up toward my face, Maeve exclaimed, Damn! You must have earned an A+ in Sadism 101. My last trainer was a cream puff compared to you, Vincent.

I relaxed and sat back on my feet. Then Im doing something right. I pointed at my head. If Im not taking up residence in here like a backseat driver with his foot stuck on the accelerator pedal, then Im not getting through to you. You have to know you have no choice but to push harder, faster, and stronger. Youre a machine, and Im the grease to the gears. That awesome bodys on the way. Im like your lube for the slicked upFuck! I was on a roll there, and then I thought about itfuck! fuck!

Maeve giggled as she rolled over to her side. Heh, is that the speech you give just before you make a conquest in the bedroom?

Aw, shit, who told you it was okay to throw daggers at the man on the spinning wheel? You know Im struggling. I havent taken a man to my bedroom for months. Its like Im living in the deep freeze. I rose to a squatting position and held my hands to my bulging pecs while pantomiming the staggering impact of a deadly blow.

I said, I heard that about you. They said, Maeves a fighter. She knows how to move in for the kill.

Maeve pushed herself up with her hands and rose to a sitting position on the mat. Sweat rolled down her cheeks and pasted long, stray black locks of hair to the sides of her face. If she had a tail fin, and the sweaty hair was seaweed, shed compare favorably to an enchanted mermaid rising from the sea.

Second-in-command in the county attorneys office and tough as nails, Maeve ate murderers and petty white-collar criminals for breakfast. She was the highest-ranking LGBTQ community member in our local county government, and she worked twice as hard as her straight counterparts to prove that she belonged.

Maeve answered my accusation about her deadly aim. I only call on my ability to play rough when the defendant is overdue for a much-needed correctionor when I run into a guy thats all hands at the bar.

Ouch! I dont think I want to know.

As she pulled her knees up toward her chest, Maeve asked, So why is it youre striking out in the dating department? Are you whiffing at the high heat or did you fail to hit Cupids curveball? Your reputation, if we want to call it that, was part of the popcorn trail that led me to your door. What gives? Did someone bad leave a bruise and your egos turned all black and blue?

I stood and beckoned to Maeve. Lets sit here on the bench a minute or two, and hell if I know what Im doing wrong. I think my egos like a turtle these days, and hes pulled his head back inside and slammed the shell shut.

I sat and leaned forward with my head in my hands. Maeves voice softened, and she placed her delicate slim fingers on my shoulder. Everyone gets a tire stuck in a rut once in a while. Pretty soon the axel bends, the brakes go out, and the car might even burst into flames, but hes still out there. You only have to find him. I say keep at it. Youll be sailing on down the road to happily-ever-after land in no time.

I raised an eyebrow. Are you done with the transportation metaphors? What about you? Are you still on cloud nine with Ms. Eclair?

Her names Edwards. Where did you get something like Maeve stopped herself and thought for a moment. Oh, geez. I get it now. She runs the bakeryeclairIm a little slow. Maeve groaned and rubbed her face with her hands. Yeah, Dots a sweetheart, but shes one of the main reasons I have to see you. Do you know what its like to date a baker?

I havent had that pleasure.

Shes always bringing home the extras, and that might be okay if she only baked ordinary things like glazed donuts and raisin scones. I can resist those. Instead, we have these delicate petits fours, macarons, and dense cheesecakes with 10,000 calories of sugar, fat, cheese, and buttered Graham cracker crumbs. And thats just what Dot brings home to eat for breakfast.

It might be a nice change from protein smoothies.

Maeve smiled and leaned on my shoulder. Ive lost about four pounds since I started working out here with you three weeks ago. Youre like an evil big brother with the sure-footed wickedness of a master sadist, but youre helping me make progress, and Im thankful for that.

Did you do anything with the diet?

I eat carrots for snacks now instead of a quarter of a chocolate bar. Is that good?

Progress! I raised a hand palm up, and we high-fived.

So were planning for the same time and the same place two days from now?

I said, Yep, thats the next appointment. Im going to bump the number of reps up slightly in the weights routine. I thought Id warn you in advance.

Maeves forehead furrowed. Seriously? Now Ive got an hour of pure pain to look forward to while you growl and hiss in my ear.

Its not truly sadistic if I dont make you dread your torturous future. Thats all part of the nefarious grand plan.

I remained on the bench and watched as Maeve headed for the locker room with a towel over her shoulder. She was slowly shaking her head. Suddenly, she glanced over her shoulder and then took two steps back.

Did you forget something?

No, not at allthe opposite. I remembered something. Maybe its a good thing. Are you heading down to the Center for the big holiday hoopla tomorrow night?

Do you mean the event where the gays come out to shine? Its the one where we all part with tons of money for good causes and then feel even better about it in January when we can deduct it from our income tax filings.

Damn, you do have it bad, but yeah, thats what Im talking about. I think Ive almost convinced Dot to join me. Shes allergic to crowds and starts to sneeze any time shes around men in suits, but I told her she can leave at any moment if its all too much. I just want the chance to kiss her under the mistletoe.

I nodded. Yep, Ill be there. I share Dots opinion of the suits, but Ill be there looking sweet and sharp. I donated some 3-month workout contracts for the silent auction.

Therell be a feeding frenzy over those. I hope the winner is serious about fitness and isnt only excited over ogling you. I understand the point of that, but youll make their life a screaming hell they never expected.

That egos peeking out at the world again.

Maeve retraced her steps and joined me on the bench again. The wicked smile on her face caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. Since youre going to be there tomorrow night already, I know something that might be able to help bring that bad luck streak to a screeching halt.