I watch Josh as he works the weight machine. His arm muscles flex at every thrust. His breathing is even but he occasionally winces as he pulls the handles forward. He's wearing red shorts with a black muscle tank top and black and white Adidas shoes. He looks so sexy. I didn't think it was possible to be more attractive to him but seeing how hot he looks working out has really raised the bar.

I'm in trouble.

It's Monday evening. He picked me up despite me telling him I could drive myself. The gym is very close to my apartment, about a five minute drive. I didn't even know it existed. I've always been too lazy for the gym which is why I've always admired the people that stick to it. Josh was telling me on the drive here that this gym is open 24 hours which is why it's very convenient to him. I told him that as much as I like spending time with him, there's no way I'm not going to join him in the gym in the middle of the night.

Josh sets the handles down and looks at me a bit out of breath. I smile. "What?" He asks, grinning.

"It's just not fair for you to look this good."

He chuckles, shaking his head. Then his eyes roam my body seductively. "I could say the same about you."

I look down sheepishly, suddenly forgetting what I have on. I actually didn't struggle to find something to wear for the gym. I don't step foot on the gym but I have countless leggings as if I did. I really love leggings. Today, I decided to put on white leggings with a matching sports bra and my black Nikes. Very basic, I know, but oh well, what are we going to do about it?

"Are we really that attractive or are we just conceited assholes?" I joke making Josh laugh out loud. I smile because I love making him laugh.

"You could be both attractive and a conceited asshole." He points out.

"It's not a good image, though." I laugh.

He stands up and he's suddenly a few inches away from me. I don't move though I know I should because we're not alone. There are not a lot of people tonight probably because it's past nine. I look up at him and allow my eyes to travel down his neck to his chest. He's sweaty which would normally be disgusting but not on Josh. Sweat looks good on Josh. He could be filming a Nike commercial right now. "Why are you making us wait till Saturday again?" I wonder.

He chuckles. "I'm very flattered right now."

I laugh then shake my head and take a step back. This fire between us is too much to handle with people around us. I'm sure there's no one I know here but I don't want to risk it. The gym is close to the station too so we could run into Josh's colleagues.

"Where are you going? It's your turn."

"I know." I groan then sit on the machine. Josh reduces the weight for me. "I might make an ugly face." I warn as I place my hands on the handles.

"That's pretty much impossible." He assures me making me smile.

I do a set of ten then rest. "You don't have to stay here." I tell Josh knowing I'm probably messing his routine up. "I won't get lost, I promise."

He grins. "Alright." Then he leans in and kisses my lips quickly. "Just so no one hits on you while I'm gone." He winks at me.

I blush, laughing, as I watch him walk away. Only Josh would get me to come to the gym and actually enjoy it. I found myself looking forward to this all day. The hours seemed to drag at work. I couldn't wait to get out because I knew I was going to see him.

I do a few more sets before I head to the stair master which is probably the only other machine I know how to work. Three minutes of stepping on the stairs and I'm already out of breath. It's pretty embarrassing. I decide I should take this serious. Josh looks so good and I want to look good for him. Maybe if I tighten my stomach, I can finally get that belly button piercing I've wanted since college.

About thirty minutes later, Josh finds me.

"And you said you weren't good at the gym," he says grinning at me.

I press the stop button and hold out a finger. "Give me a second."

He chuckles but gives me a moment for me to catch my breath. I'm all sweaty and gross. I feel embarrassed but Josh doesn't seem to notice or care. "Are you done?" I ask him.

He nods. "We can go if you're ready."

I nod then step down off the machine. "Let me go to the restroom first."

"Sure."

We walk to where the restrooms are and he stops where the hallway starts. "I'll be here."

I nod then head down the hall.

"Is she your girl?" I hear someone ask as I'm turning around to the restroom. I stop and listen.

"Yes, who's asking?" I hear Josh answer.

"Sorry, man, my bad."

I smile at the floor then walk inside to the sinks. Who would have thought that hearing Josh call me "his girl" would have me smiling like an idiot? I sure as hell never did. Maybe I hoped for it back when I had a crush on him in high school. Before I met Brad. I think about 16-year-old me and where I am now and I can't believe it. Josh and I always had that spark, it just didn't turn on until that night that he kissed me before he left.

I look at my reflection in the mirror and frown. My face is flushed and my ponytail is a mess. I use paper towels to clean off the sweat then redo my ponytail and wash my hands and face before heading back outside. Josh is looking down at his phone. He looks up and smiles, putting it away. "Ready?"

I nod. "Yep."

We make our way outside to the parking lot. It's a beautiful night outside. The sky is clear and my body is hot so I don't feel as cold as it probably is.

"Your mother called me today, by the way," I say as we reach the truck. We stop walking.

Josh looks at me with a curious frown. "Really?"

"Yeah, she invited me to the station on Thursday for your father's birthday."

He smiles. "Right. You're coming, right?"

"Yeah. For Clint." I tease.

He raises his eyebrows with a playful smile. "You mean not for me? Ouch."

I laugh. "Why would I? We're just friends."

"Wow." He chuckles then takes a step forward and puts his arm around my waist. I lean against the truck and look around nervously but we seem to be the only ones out in the parking lot. "I think we're a lot more than that." Josh whispers against my lips then he kisses me hard.

"Where did that come from?" I ask breathless after he pulls away.

"I thought I could kiss you whenever I wanted," he says, his voice husky. He kisses me again without giving me the chance to say anything. I love the way he's kissing me. It's desperate and possessive. A real turn on.

"Come with me tonight," he says after.

"Where to?" I ask.

He looks at me, his eyes burning in desire. "My apartment."

I smile. "You already moved in?"

He shrugs. "I have the most important thing," he runs his thumb on my lower lip. "A bed."

"Josh Andrews, are you saying you changed your mind about Saturday?"

"No. I still want to be with you on Saturday. And today. And tomorrow. And Wednesday. Basically every day of the week."

I laugh, feeling the back of my neck grow hot. I feel flattered and wanted. It's the best feeling. "Well you know what? Now I'm going to make you wait."

He frowns. "Come on, don't be like that."

I kiss him then pull away and look at him. "I work tomorrow and the rest of the week and so do you. How is this supposed to work?"

"We just drop everything and go into hibernation." He jokes, unable to contain his laughter. I laugh with him, shaking my head.

"Sorry, it was wrong of me to ask," He says after we stop laughing.

"It wasn't," I say touching his cheek. "We just have responsibilities. You know, this thing called life."

He smiles at me. "It was very selfish of me to make you come to the gym so I could see you. You don't have to keep coming if you don't want to."

"I want to." I smile then lean into his ear to whisper, "I want to look good for you."

"You already do."

I roll my eyes at him. "I also already got it into my head to get a belly button piercing. Plus, you know I like being with you too."

"Belly button piercing, huh?" He grins. "Any chance you can get it by Saturday?"

I laugh then push him away gently. "All this talk about Saturday is only going to make the week go by slower."

"Okay. No more talking about Saturday until Saturday."

"Deal."

He grins then kisses me one more time before opening the door for me. He walks around the truck and gets in the driver's seat.

"I'll only join you in the gym three days a week though," I say as he drives.

He smiles looking straight ahead. "Good enough for me."

I smile down at my phone. Today has been such a good day and I know that a lot has to do with the hour I just spent with Josh in the gym. I just love what we have right now. I can't wait to be with him on the weekend. I've never yearned to be with someone this much before. Deep down, I think I'm hoping for this spark to shut off the moment I'm finally with him. Maybe it'll be kind of like satisfying an itch. I don't know what's going to happen if it's not like that. I hope we can continue the relationship that we have right now. I don't want anything to change.

We reach my apartments and Josh parks. I shut my phone and turn to look at him with the full intention of saying good night and getting out of the truck. That doesn't happen, of course. I turn to look at him and we both lean in and close the gap between us. We kiss until we run out of breath again. I can't get enough of him, of his lips and the way his tongue feels when it moves against mine. I could kiss him all day if that were humanly possible. I can't imagine going a full day without kissing Josh anymore. I'll go great lengths to kiss him.

I pull the armrest in between us back so I can get closer to him. "Maybe we should go to your apartment," I say against his lips.

"Say the word, Natalie." He dares me, his eyes looking a bit dangerous.

I bite my lip and think about this for a second. I have work tomorrow. So does he. We will spend time together on Thursday with his family and coworkers. There's Brad. My parents. His parents. And about a million other things that tell me I should walk out of this truck right now and go to sleep. And then the daring side of me comes out. I can die tomorrow and not see him ever again. I can die tomorrow and never get to feel what it's like to be with him. I have to know. I have to experience this fire between us more deeply. Screw work. Screw responsibilities and life. All I care about right now is Josh and I. Here. Alive. Together with this yearning-this fire between us that begs to be put out.

I reach out and kiss him, biting his lip between my teeth softly before pulling away and whispering,

"Let's go."

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