The best part of going to a 24-hour gym in the middle of the night was never having to talk to anyone. Sure, they weren't all like that. My friend Juan tried to convince me to join his gym downtown, but that place was a fucking meat-market. Even if I went there, there was no way any of those hard-bodied gym-gays were going to notice a scrawny Indian cybersecurity specialist trying desperately to put a little muscle on his chest. Despite Juan's jokes, I was here to sweat, not cruise.
Besides, at 3 AM it was usually just me, a couple insomniacs, and the occasional business-drunk trying to sweat the booze out before going home to his wife.
Well... and Anchor-Guy.
I had no idea who he was, but he was everything you'd imagine from a gym bro: tall, broad- shouldered, arms and legs with movie-star definition, and an ass that practically fought to escape his little gym shorts.
I'd spent a lot of time staring at the back of Anchor-Guy when he did free weights. It was how I noticed the little anchor tattoo on his shoulder blade half-hidden by his tanktop.
Yeah... Anchor-Guy was also a nice reason to go to the gym in the middle of the night.
Tonight though, I was running late. It was closing on 4AM by the time I managed to get on to the cable-machine. There had been an issue at work, and it had taken forever to connect with the asshole running our sister office in California. So while I had managed to convince myself to work out tonight, I only had enough energy to half-ass it.
Forty five minutes later I was sore, sweaty, and ready to call it a night. I padded back into the lockerroom, still listening to music and peeling my clothes off. I'll admit to being self-conscious in most lockerrooms, but this late at night? I usually didn't even wrap a towel around my waist to head to the showers.
Now the showers here aren't exactly communal per-se, but there were basically just dividers between the stalls. So, you aren't standing right next someone but you can still see everyone across from you. Not there was usually anyone in here with me.
I turned the corner towards the showers and heard the high metallic whine of a faucet on full blast. Huh. That was odd. I don't remember seeing anyone come in. Though I guess that one cranky bald guy could have come back in without me noticing.
Rather than deal with an aging insomniac, I tried to creep into the shower and take one stall near the door and--
Oh shit.
Oh holy shit.
Across the room, under the steaming waterfall of the gym shower, stood Anchor-guy, facing towards the wall. His uncovered anchor tattoo had a little banner under it with the name 'Lone Warrior' in a curling font. And his ass, smooth, round and a little pink from the hot water that streamed down over it was on full goddamn display.
God, I could write a fucking ode to that ass.
I stare sometimes, and right now I couldn't take my eyes off him, just staring at the collection of water-shiny muscles across his back, the narrow perfect hips and...
An ode? That ass was worth a symphony.
As I stood there gaping, trying to figure out the proper key to my future musical work. I noticed the steady rhythm of movement in his shoulder and elbow.
Oh fuck. Is he jerking off?
Oh fuck! He is jerking off in the shower and he hasn't noticed me.
My first thought was to run. But if he heard me dashing out, and figured out it was me... well, I could basically just end my membership and never come back. No. I'm a mature adult. I had seen guys jerk off in front of me (usually on a computer screen). I was just going to take a shower, ignore Anchor-Guy, and go home and beat my dick like it owed me money until I passed out.
I turned to put my body wash on the ledge, but it slipped right off and hit the ground. The hollow echo was thunder in my ears. I saw Anchor-Guy stiffen, and his hands suddenly became very occupied massaging water into his short sandy blonde hair. I quickly replaced it, as I heard blood rushing past my ears.
I turned on the water, it was freezing. "Fuck!" it was more of a yelp than a shout.