Theo Kramer has spent most of his freshman year at Seabreeze State struggling to be the school’s biggest screw-up: late nights trying to hook up with down low frat boys at keg parties, even later mornings skipping classes, but now he’s back on track: literally running around the campus intramural track to get his old mojo back and start fresh, one stumbling, hungover step at a time. When he literally runs into a long, lean, track star machine, Theo can’t help but feel his heart race, and not just from getting back in shape!
Henry Chambers has just been dropped from the track team, for hitting on the coach’s son, no less. Disgraced, disgusted with himself, and downtrodden, he seeks solace by running around the only track he’s allowed on these days: the intramural one bordering the freshman dorms. When a big lug stumbles into him one morning, smelling like a keg but looking like sex on legs, Henry can’t resist the former running back’s charms, or the offer to run with him for the rest of the semester.
But will their newfound attraction buy the happily ever after both boys have been chasing since heading to college? Or is it just another mirage on the hot, dusty track ahead, always out of reach?
“Not at all.”
Theo’s voice was quiet now, despite its earlier bravado as he’d faced off against Chad in the middle of the intramural track at just after five in the morning. Henry had thought Chad might do something stupid like that. Show up unannounced, bully or threaten him, taunt or tease him or simply rub it in his face that he was no longer on the team. He just hadn’t imagined he’d have a defender in his corner by then.
“Good,” Henry murmured, nudging his shoulder against the men’s locker room door as a motion sensor light flickered to life above them, startling them both. “I just don’t think I’m up for it this morning.”
Theo chuckled, the sound of the door clicking behind them nearly deafening amidst the all-tile lockers. They faced each other in the empty locker room, a combination of bathrooms, showers and, along the back wall, a row of lockers in maroon and gold, the school’s predictably collegiate colors. “Me either, actually.”
“That was quite a performance back there,” Henry murmured, tugging him toward the small, tidy row of lockers in the back. Beneath them, their sleek running shoes squeaked on the clean floor tiles, the only sound in the room besides Henry’s thudding, pounding, absolutely frantic heartbeat.
“Was it okay? I mean ... I know you’re a big boy, Henry. You can defend yourself. I just ...”
“How did you know it was him?” Henry murmured, squeezing Theo’s hand before quietly releasing it.
Theo looked vaguely embarrassed. A first for him. “I Googled him. Last night. I mean, first I googled your coach, then went down a rabbit hole until I found stupid Chad and his stupid face. Put two and two together and then, this morning ...”
Henry nodded quietly, afraid to say too much lest his already quivering voice might break entirely, sounding like a teenager fresh off his first day of puberty. “There he was,” he murmured, gently pressing Theo’s back against the wall behind him.
Theo landed with a gentle unnhh sound, making him wonder what his future lover might sound like, shooting ropes all over his big, sweaty chest. “What ... what are we doing?”
“We?” Henry teased, leaning in for another slow, savory, sloppy kiss. Theo’s lips were so full and ripe, like his viscous backside, he couldn’t help but roam and meander and slobber every time he kissed them. “You are standing there and looking pretty. And me? I’m going to give my first hand job as a college freshman. Sound good?”
Theo gulped. Chuckled nervously. Blushed. Squirmed and widened his eyes, all at the same time. “Henry, you don’t ...”
“I’m not doing this because you defended my honor back there, Theo,” Henry lied. He so totally was. “I’m doing this because I never got the chance to yesterday when you got up and walked out on me after breakfast.”
“I didn’t --”
“I’m also doing it,” Henry rushed to add, “because it’s been a fantasy of mine for a long, long time.”
“Jerking some guy off in a locker room?”
Henry nodded, letting his right hand slither down Theo’s sweaty T-shirt the waistband of his snug jogging shorts. “Oh yeah, big time.”
Theo smiled, nodding as if relieved. “Same.”
