Beauregard and the Beast Read online

  Adam wanted to introduce Bo to the men he spent so many hours of his life training with? Bo pushed away so he could meet Adam’s gaze. It was far too early to read anything into the request, even though his heart yearned to believe there might be more between them than physical desire.

  Still, Adam had never asked Bo to join him at the gym before. It had to mean something, right?

  Bo grinned, his heart thrilling beneath his ribs when Adam returned the expression with a wide, toothy smirk of his own.

  “Okay, but only if you promise I get Naked Adam later.”

  Laughter barked up Adam’s throat. He bucked his hips so their cocks collided and a delicious warmth seeped into the very center of Bo’s being.

  “You can have all the Naked Adam you can stomach.” Adam threaded the fingers of both hands into the hair at Bo’s nape. He pulled Bo down for a soft, sweet, gentle kiss. Their tongues met briefly, a promise of what was to come rather than anything meant to encourage their current situation. Then he smacked Bo’s butt. “Come on. The sooner we get to the gym, the sooner we can get naked.”

  Adam didn’t need to ask him twice. Bo bounced off his lap, hiding a groan at the sight of Adam fully erect beneath the forgiving fabric of his lounge pants.

  In a few short hours, that would be all his. All he had to do was survive watching Adam get all sweaty and hot. No big deal.

  Rolling his eyes for his own benefit, Bo hurried to grab a shower. A very, very cold shower.

  The afternoon couldn’t come fast enough.

  Chapter Fifteen

  DESPITE it straying from his typical gym uniform, Adam wore compression shorts under a looser-fitting pair. The same look he’d adopted for his evening workouts whenever Bo joined him. It didn’t stop him from getting hard-ons, but it kept them somewhat under control. More so than they’d be without the tight fabric in place, at least.

  The ride to the gym had been pure torture. He’d driven, which left Bo free to do as he pleased. Something that had never been an issue before but proved a rather large one now that the promise of sex loomed between them. Bo’s hands and mouth had tormented Adam with nips, licks, and strokes that damn near undid him.

  By the time they’d pulled into the parking lot, Adam was so revved up he almost gave in when Bo begged to wrap those gorgeous lips around his cock and finish him off.

  But he’d refused. He’d held his ground. After kissing Bo brainless—an easy feat, considering he’d gotten himself just as worked up—Adam eased him away. One look at Bo’s kiss-swollen lips and lust-drunk eyes was all the reminder Adam had needed.

  After two fucking months of abstinence and longing, he was going to take his time with Bo. He was going to explore every inch of his skin with his hands, then retrace those steps with his lips and tongue. Bo would be writhing and pleading for release before Adam even considered seeking that welcoming heat and making the man his.

  It had taken an excessive amount of time—and a great deal of internal distraction in the form of chanting boring statistics—before Adam could exit the vehicle and enter the gym. And now, with the most strenuous part of his routine out of the way, his distraction level was increasing.

  Bo sat on a rickety folding chair in the corner of the gym out of Adam’s line of sight. Keeping him at a distance had been necessary after Adam’s focus proved iffy when their gazes kept meeting. The sexual tension hung thick and heavy between them, even without the constant eye contact. It served as a relentless diversion from the task at hand.

  Not that he’d go back and change his mind about inviting Bo. He’d seemed thrilled by the request, and having him there—while distracting—also proved motivating. Who wanted to look like a weakass pansy in front of the man they hoped to bed? Certainly not him.

  Adam slipped through the springy tape-covered ropes of the training ring. His head coach, Eddie Vasquez, waited for him in the corner beside Kyle, who’d shown up a few minutes prior with a shit-eating grin on his face.

  “I see Little Bo Peep is in the house.” Kyle chortled when Adam slammed a gloved fist into his opposite palm and glared him down. “Still on edge, I see. Haven’t gotten laid yet, or did it fail to live up to expectations?”

  Adam spit out his mouthguard and charged Kyle, pinning him into the padded corner. “Don’t fuckin’ talk about him like that.”

  Eddie placed a hand on Adam’s bare chest and shoved. Not enough to make Adam move but enough to get his attention. “Save it for the ring, son.”

  “I’m already in the damn ring.” Adam gave the ropes a shake but stepped clear of Kyle’s personal space. “Don’t say shit to Bo. If you hurt him, I’ll pound your ass into dust.”

  And he would too. Fuck his manager. He was a few short months away from not needing one, anyway. Maybe. Depending on how training went. Either way, if Kyle even thought about saying something that made Bo uncomfortable, he’d be worm food.

  Kyle’s eyes glistened with mirth. “You know I’m only fucking with you. I want you two to get together. You’re a miserably lonely son of a bitch, and he’s perfect for you, if you’d open your damn eyes and look. That’s why I picked the guy.”

  Adam cut his gaze to where Bo sat on the edge of his seat. His brows popped over the top of his glasses, and his knuckles blanched under the pressure as he fisted his hands in his lap. He offered a hopeful half smile when he caught Adam looking.

  Normally, Adam didn’t break character at the gym, and the Beast never smiled. But it was damn near impossible not to grin back, especially when Bo’s shoulders relaxed and he beamed in return.

  A heavy hand pounded Adam on the back. When he shifted his gaze to glower at Kyle, Kyle guffawed. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. I knew that kid would be good for you. He’s even got your sour ass smiling ’n shit.”

  Eddie handed Adam his mouthguard and gave Kyle a “get lost” scowl. When Kyle obliged and hopped from the ring, Eddie squeezed Adam’s shoulder. “All Kyle’s shit aside, I’ll admit I’ve noticed a change in you lately. I’m happy for you, but don’t let it get in your way, whatever it is. It’s crunch time, son. If you wanna keep your title, you gotta focus. There’s no room for distractions, you feel me?”

  Across the ring, Adam’s sparring partner for the day slipped under the ropes. They exchanged nods before Adam shook Eddie’s hand free of his shoulder. He pounded his fists together at the knuckles. “I feel you, coach. Don’t worry. I’m focused—110 percent.”

  Eddie gave a salute and exited the ropes. Adam shifted his attention to the wall of early-twenties muscle bouncing on his toes and jabbing at the air in the opposite corner.

  His mentor had it right. He damn well better be focused and on his A game. Not only did he put himself at risk if his concentration wasn’t solid during a fight, he also jeopardized his career.

  Rather than glancing at Bo to offer a wink of acknowledgment before the fight began, Adam kept his sights on his opponent. They entered the center of the ring, touched gloves, and it was game on.

  Bo would get every ounce of Adam’s devotion later, but for now, the Beast had work to do.

  “I’M fine. I swear.” Adam swatted at the ice pack Bo kept trying to press against his cheekbone. “I’ve suffered plenty worse. Hell, you’ve seen me a hundred times more fucked-up than this. I was fine then, and I’m fine now. Promise.”

  Bo looked anything but convinced. He bit his lip and bounced on the balls of his feet, clutching at the towel-covered bag of ice with both hands, his eyes glued to the swollen gash beneath Adam’s left eye.

  It was true. He was fine. Granted, he’d been clocked good, but that wasn’t anything new.

  Still, the whole ordeal had shaken Bo. He’d appeared on edge before the match even started, but by the time it was over, he was wide-eyed and ashen-faced. During the drive home, he’d sat huddled against the passenger door as if he were terrified to touch Adam. And now? All he wanted to do was shove painkillers down Adam’s throat and hold ice over his injuries.

&
nbsp; Just fuckin’ great. So much for the afternoon of hot, steamy passion he’d had planned. Bo was too worried about mothering Adam to consider taking him to bed.

  “How about a bath?” Bo scrunched his brows until they hid behind the thick upper frame of his glasses. “A hot bath might feel good. I can draw you one. I even have a lavender-and-chamomile bath bomb. It’ll relax you.”

  Adam didn’t want to relax. He wanted to get Bo naked and…. A thought niggled its way into his brain, and he grinned. “A bath sounds great.”

  “Yeah?” Bo’s eyes lit up. He stopped bouncing and beamed. “Okay. How hot do you want it?”

  “I don’t take many baths. Make it however hot you like it.” Adam accepted the ice when Bo passed it over. He held the freezing pack to his cheek. “I’ll keep this here while you do your thing.”

  “Okay. Yeah. Perfect. I’ll come get you when it’s ready.” Bo scurried toward the stairs, tripped over his feet halfway up, face-planted, then shot Adam a thumbs-up as he clambered upright. “I’m good. Sorry. Be just a minute.”

  Bo’s clumsy eagerness had always been one of Adam’s favorite parts about the man. But in that moment, it did something unexpected to his heart. It twisted, thumped, and plummeted to his stomach.

  There was little doubt the physical closeness Adam craved from Bo went beyond mere lust. Sure, he was horny as hell for Bo, but that wasn’t all there was. Something Adam had never felt toward another brewed beneath the surface, taunting and teasing even as it promised both heartache and wonder.

  He wasn’t in love with Bo. At least, he didn’t think he was. Love wasn’t something he was well versed in, yet he was savvy enough to know it didn’t happen overnight. Nor did it happen in two months. Especially not when they hadn’t even slept together during that time. Love only happened when two people were physical and intimate. It required a commitment. A guy couldn’t fall in love with his friend. That’s not how it worked.

  Right?

  Adam scowled as he traipsed up the stairs. He found Bo in his bathroom, crouched by the tub and swirling his hand in the steaming bath. The jets were on, and fizzy bubbles that smelled as Bo promised—of lavender and chamomile—drifted over the surface of the water. Bo turned when Adam’s gym shoes squeaked on the tile.

  “Oh, I was going to come get you. It’s still filling.”

  “I think it’s full enough.” Adam set his ice on the counter and yanked his T-shirt over his head. He’d already showered at the gym, but a bath didn’t sound half-bad. The soothing aroma was already doing its job. Too bad sleep and relaxation were smack dab at the bottom of his to-do list.

  Bo swallowed and jerked to a standing position. His eyes cut to Adam’s bare chest, flitted down his belly, and hovered over his crotch. That penetrating gaze was all Adam’s dick needed to signal it was time to party. It throbbed, and Bo’s teeth slammed together with a snap of his jaw.

  Adam hid a grin as he reached around Bo and shut off the water. He made sure to press his body against Bo’s and relished the high-pitched whimper that met his ear. Without stepping away, he curled an arm around Bo’s waist and held them flush. “There’s plenty of room for two.”

  “Oh God.” Bo snaked his arms up Adam’s back and placed his hands over his shoulder blades. “Are you sure? That guy hit you hard. If you need—”

  Adam tipped Bo’s chin and used his lips to halt his protest. Bo opened for him, and their tongues met in a languid dance. He didn’t pull back until Bo had melted in his arms. “All I need is you.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  BO’S knees nearly gave out when Adam moved away. He grasped the edge of the granite counter to steady himself and thanked everything good in the world he’d done so when Adam’s next move was to drop his shorts. And his underwear. All at once.

  “Oh crap.” Bo wobbled on trembling legs and redoubled his grip on the counter. He tried to force his eyes upward, but they latched on to Adam’s impressive dick and wouldn’t let go.

  A rumbling laugh filled the room, and Adam waved a hand in front of his groin, snapping Bo out of his cock trance. “I’m hoping the whole bug-eyed thing means you like what you see, but I’m hoping even more you’ll return the favor. I want you naked.”

  Bo curled his lips in as his gaze raked over every perfectly sculpted muscle on Adam’s body. How did a man like that want a twig like Bo? The daily workouts had made precious little change to his slender frame.

  Heat rose up his chest and bloomed over his face. Under the harsh, bright bathroom lights, there’d be no hiding from Adam. Would he realize his mistake when he got Bo undressed and saw how little he had to work with? The flush boiled hotter as his eyes darted back to Adam’s dick. It was at least twice the size of his.

  This was a mistake.

  “Hey. Look at me.” Adam stepped closer, placing his cool palms over Bo’s flaming cheeks. Bo did as Adam asked, his pulse racing when their gazes met. “We don’t have to do this. It’s never too late to say no or stop. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. Not for even a second.”

  “Ugh. I do want this. More than anything. I just….” Bo glanced between them and frowned. Adam’s Greek godlike body was utter perfection no matter what angle he viewed it from. “What if I’m not, you know, enough? I don’t want to disappoint you.”

  This was stupid. When had he ever worried about his body? The few men he’d been with had never much cared what he looked like. He’d never had time to really date anyone, so they’d been stupid hookups he always regretted later.

  Was that the difference now? Was it because he cared for Adam? Because he gave a crap what Adam thought?

  “Bo.” Adam grazed his thumbs over Bo’s cheekbones. His face was drawn into hard, serious lines. “You will never disappoint me. You’re a stunning man, both inside and out. I’m insanely turned on by you and have been since day one. More so now than then, though, and not because your body changed from exercise.”

  The steam from the bath hung between them like a physical representation of the lust and longing that had colored their relationship from the start. Adam was right. Whatever he’d felt for him that first day, it was nothing compared to how he felt now. It was more than physical attraction that drew him to Adam.

  “I’m a man who appreciates beauty, as evidenced by my initial reaction to you.” Adam lifted one corner of his lips in a lopsided grin. His thumbs continued to stroke Bo’s cheeks. “However, what really gets me is what’s inside. And you, Beauregard Wilkins, have a gorgeous heart.”

  “Cheese and rice.” Bo blew out a breath and clamped his hands over Adam’s wrists. “You know all the right things to say, don’t you?”

  Adam chuckled. “I say it how it is, that’s all. I’m a no-bullshit kinda guy. I’ve found sticking to the truth is the best way to get what you want outta life.”

  He could call it that if he wanted, but Adam wasn’t spouting words aimed at getting Bo to cave. Most guys in this situation could probably come up with a suave comment or two to get themselves laid. But that wasn’t Adam’s goal. He wanted Bo to be comfortable. To feel beautiful, or at the very least believe he was in Adam’s eyes. A feat his words had managed to accomplish. For now, at least.

  “Okay, so what I’m hearing you say is you want me to strip.”

  “Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner.” Adam’s grin lit up the room, putting the vanity spotlights to shame. “Bob, why don’t you show the man what he’s won?”

  “Bob?” Bo screwed up his face. “Who’s Bob?”

  Adam gaped. “Holy shit. Are you so young you don’t know who Bob Barker is? The host from The Price is Right?”

  “Don’t you mean Drew Carey?”

  Shaking his head, Adam let his hands fall and his shoulders slump. “I really am a dinosaur, aren’t I?”

  All levity aside, Bo didn’t want Adam to fall down the same insecure rabbit hole he’d just clawed free of. Being naked—even with a body as flawless as Adam’s—could make a guy feel vulnerable. Especially if
he was standing there alone in his bareness.

  With unsteady hands, Bo pulled his T-shirt over his head. He dropped it to the floor and braced himself for Adam to cringe with barely hidden disappointment. But Adam didn’t. He straightened his shoulders, his eyes alert and sparkling as he took in Bo’s revealed flesh.

  A twinge of self-doubt had Bo folding his arms to cover the flatness of his chest. “You may be a dinosaur, but you’ve got the body of a demigod.”

  Adam flicked his gaze to meet Bo’s. His decidedly nonflat pecs flexed as he clenched and unclenched his fists. A flash of wicked mirth mingled with the lust in his stormy eyes. “Demigod? Why only a demigod?”

  “Oh, for frick’s sake.” The man was incorrigible, but his flippant confidence did wonders for Bo’s. He laughed and gave his shorts a tug. When they fell to the floor—boxer briefs and all—Adam’s stare turned predatory. Bo puffed out his chest, puny though it was, and reveled in the admiration. “Get in the tub, you beast, before the water gets cold.”

  Rather than slipping into the bubbles as instructed, Adam stalked forward and scooped Bo into his arms. Bo flailed in surprise, then clung to Adam’s shoulders as he lowered them both into the sudsy, aromatic water.

  Bo waited for Adam to stretch out, and then he shifted to straddle his lap, as he’d done on the couch that morning. He planted his palms on the slick flesh of Adam’s pecs to steady himself. Their dicks slid together with such delicious, lubricated friction they both cried out at the contact. Spurred on by the blissful rush of heat and heaven that flooded his body at the feel of Adam’s bare skin pressed against his own, Bo rolled his hips again. And again.

  “Jesus fuckin’ Christ.” Adam’s fingers dug into Bo’s hips. He huffed out a quick breath and rolled his eyes back. “If you do that even one more time, I’m gonna blow my load. You gotta give me a minute here.”