Muscle and Heat

Chapter 1: The Spark Ignites

The gym was a cathedral of sweat and steel, the air thick with the musk of exertion. I leaned against the mirrored wall, my sports bra clinging to my skin, watching him. Jace. All six-foot-two of pure, sculpted power, his biceps flexing as he hoisted a barbell like it weighed nothing. My pulse quickened, a heat blooming low in my belly. I wasn’t here to gawk, but damn, the sight of his muscles tightening under the strain made my breath hitch—and I felt my core tighten in a way that had nothing to do with crunches.

‘Enjoying the show, Riley?’ Jace’s voice cut through the clang of weights, a smirk playing on his lips as he caught my stare in the mirror. His hazel eyes glinted with mischief, daring me to deny it.

I pushed off the wall, sauntering over with a sway in my hips, my ponytail swinging. ‘Just making sure you don’t drop that on your pretty face,’ I shot back, crossing my arms under my chest, knowing full well it pushed my curves into view. ‘Wouldn’t want to ruin the gym’s best eye candy.’

He laughed, a low, rumbling sound that vibrated through me, setting my nerves alight. Setting the barbell down, he straightened, his tank top clinging to every ridge of his torso. ‘Eye candy, huh? Careful, I might start charging for the view.’

‘Oh, please,’ I scoffed, stepping closer, the space between us crackling. I could smell the salt of his sweat, see the pulse jumping in his neck. ‘I’ve got better things to spend my money on than a cocky gym rat.’

‘Cocky?’ He arched a brow, wiping a towel over his face, but his gaze never left mine. ‘Sweetheart, you’ve been eye-fucking me for the last ten minutes. Don’t pretend you’re not itching to see what’s under this tank.’

I smirked, unfazed, leaning in until our faces were inches apart. ‘And what if I am? You gonna do something about it, or just keep flexing for the mirror?’ My voice was a challenge, sharp and dripping with intent.

Jace’s grin turned feral, and before I could blink, he’d closed the gap, his hand brushing my hip as he backed me toward the locker room door. ‘Oh, I’ll do plenty,’ he growled, his breath hot against my ear. ‘But I don’t play games, Riley. You want this, you say it.’

My heart slammed against my ribs, desire pooling hot and heavy between my thighs. I wasn’t some blushing damsel—I knew what I wanted, and I’d be damned if I didn’t take it. ‘I want you,’ I said, my voice steady, eyes locked on his. ‘Right now. Hard and fast.’

His eyes darkened, a hungry edge cutting through the playful banter. ‘Fuck, you’re trouble,’ he muttered, pushing the door open with his shoulder, dragging me inside. The locker room was empty, the air cooler but charged with the heat of us. He spun me around, pressing me against the cold metal of the lockers, his body a wall of muscle against mine. I could feel him, already hard, pressing into my ass through his shorts, and a wicked thrill shot through me.

‘Gonna talk all day, or are you gonna show me what that cock can do?’ I taunted, grinding back against him, my pussy already wet and aching for more.

Jace groaned, his hands gripping my hips, fingers digging in with delicious pressure. ‘Keep talking like that, and I won’t last long enough to get these pants off,’ he warned, his voice rough, panting already as he tugged at my leggings, exposing skin inch by inch.

I turned my head, catching his lips in a bruising kiss, tasting the salt and heat of him. Our tongues clashed, hungry, desperate, as his hand slid down, finding me dripping and ready. I was sweating, horny as hell, and I knew this was only the beginning of something explosive.