SEL Chapter 6

Stephanie thought she was looking pretty hot in her purple leggings and strappy little workout top, but she should’ve known better than to compete with Riley Beaumont’s sex appeal. Or to naively think that she’d find someone like that unoccupied.

Riley has a fully booked day, and she’s in a private room with a slightly older, chubby, bespectacled lady whose red face gives away the whole game. This is some curious housewife who’s heard things about Riley, and by god… Riley is making good on it.

Stephanie can’t even find it in herself to be disappointed. What she feels is closer to awe. Rather than the housewife working out, Riley’s on a butterfly press, presumably demonstrating how to do it. What she’s really doing is showing off the way her ripped abs come into definition when she exerts, and her thighs as well. The housewife’s eyes are locked on Riley’s impressive bulge, and Stephanie has to focus when Riley stands up and moves aside. Her workout shorts are the skimpiest that Stephanie’s ever seen, showing plenty of full, flawless, taut cheek.

Riley looks over her shoulder and spots Stephanie gawking from the hall. She grins, looking pleased. It’s been a while since they’ve seen each other or spoken.

Riley mimes a phone with her hand and wiggles an eyebrow. The gesture hits Stephanie like a punch. She has goosebumps. Riley isn’t just hotter than ever, she’s just openly signaling that she’s down. It’s flattering. It’s exciting. It’s a little problematic, given that Riley is a killer.

Stephanie smiles back and gives Riley a look to indicate that they’re on the same page. Riley gives a big, exaggerated wink and goes back to her client.

The new mission of coming here for meaningful strength training means venturing into parts of the gym that Stephanie has never visited. She can hear the clanging of weights as she approaches, but thankfully only a little strained grunting. She doesn’t want the loneliness of the Cave, but she also doesn’t want to deal with a crowd.

Two women occupy the weight room, and they look like they belong. Both are over six feet tall, and both are twice Stephanie’s weight. It’s all muscle. One has skin the color of espresso, and short, glossy, wavy hair in a sporty little swoop. She is jacked and ripped to a competitive degree, making Riley Beaumont look like a little noodle. Her flattering but ordinary black shorts can’t hide a bulge that makes Riley and Stephanie seem pitiful by comparison.

The other one has a similar physique, but a more reasonable amount of body fat, so she’s just as strong but not as defined. Her whole body is covered in freckles, and while her brown ponytail probably didn’t start out messy, it’s all sweaty and crazy because she’s deadlifting like 600. She’s as hung as the other one. Seed really is everywhere.

Stephanie’s impressed and a little intimidated, but she’s not here to stare. She gets to work, but in the pauses between sets her music isn’t enough to take her mind off these two women. She can’t help but look. These two are as strong as Bruce.

Bruce taught Tim to work out, and Tim later coached Stephanie as her nighttime antics became more regular. Stephanie knows what she’s doing. She can’t push to failure with the kind of maximum effort that she should because she expects to be out and about tonight and has to keep something in the tank. Still, her expertise and professionalism in the gym set her apart from most people.

The two bodybuilders notice. Stephanie catches them looking, returns the respectful smiles, and everyone gets back to work. As nice as it would be to be a wall of meat in some situations, that’s not really what she’s aiming for. She’s mainly thinking about Riley and the fact that she might be getting laid soon. There’s all kinds of excitement tied up in that. While Stephanie’s body exercises, her mind is going crazy remembering being with Riley and also fooling around with Kate and Babs that one time. There are even some nerves; she’s irrationally fixated on impressing Riley. Riley was looking so good just now.

An image of Riley with that housewife pops into her head without an invitation.

The bodybuilders are looking at her again.

“Shit!” Stephanie yells, and weights clank to the floor as she sees the hilariously visible outline of her hard-on in her leggings. Nothing is left to the imagination. She closes her legs and covers up. “I’m sorry!”

The white bodybuilder laughs. “Happens to everyone,” she says.

Both bodybuilders approach. Stephanie’s face is bright red.

“You haven’t had that for long, have you?”

Right. If Stephanie was OG, she’d be used to it and wouldn’t be acting like this. She sighs, still hiding herself.

“Few weeks,” she admits.

“We were there at the beginning,” the white bodybuilder says with a look at her friend. “I’m Mel. This is Pol.”

“I’m Steph. Hi. I really am sorry.”

“It’s nothing,” Pol says.

“For what?” Mel says at the same time, and they both shrug. “Hey, look, you might have to be hiding under a rock to not know, but Wayne Tech has a fix for it if you need it. You can get into a trial real easy. We have a friend who did.”

“No, I’m… I’m not trying to get rid of it. Yet,” Steph adds hastily.

“Right?” Both bodybuilders laugh.

“Seriously,” Pol says, waving a hand. “That was us when we came to this gym. We’re minding our own business, it’s leg day, and there’s this personal trainer.”

“Redhead,” Mel adds, holding out her hand to indicate height. “I swear she was doing it on purpose. Drove us both crazy and then disappeared. This is just a horny place. No judgment. Seed does stuff to you.”

Stephanie nods. “I know. I am having thoughts that I never thought I would have.” It’s true. It’s nice to talk about it… she hasn’t had a chance to do that with Barbara since she’s been busy with the campaign. And Kate… well, Kate just wants to get laid. Kate’s a friend, and it’s not that she’s unattractive… that’s just not what Stephanie’s looking for. She doesn’t know what she’s looking for.

Although she can add one more unexpected thought to the pile: the bodybuilders aren’t trying to loom or be intimidating, but they tower over her, and their bulges are noticeable. Sweat. Exertion. This is pretty stimulating. Unbelievable.

“I think I know the trainer you mean,” Stephanie says.

“Well, she’s not as cute as you,” Mel says, and Pol jabs her with an elbow.

Stephanie blushes harder.

“What? It’s a horny place. I just said that,” Mel says. “Listen, we work nights, but we have a little time. Want to hang out later?”

Pol shoots her a look but doesn’t argue. Stephanie is flustered, but not blind. She can’t pretend that a part of her doesn’t enjoy the way they’re looking at her.

Her phone buzzes.

“Sorry,” she says, reaching down.

Riley is texting her. She wants to meet up tonight. Stephanie’s head spins with her sudden popularity. She is damn well going to flirt with someone today.

Meet with the bodybuilders?

Or with Riley?