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Sam isn't particularly athletic. Sure, he's got the strength and balance necessary for skateboarding, and he isn't awful at throwing the gridball, but that's about it. It had never been something that he had really thought about before... until Alex, that is. Alex, who's laying next to Sam on the picnic table behind the community center as they stargaze. Every so often their fingers brush against each other.
Alex is athletic. And strong. And Sam can feel Alex's muscles beneath Alex's shirt when they kiss. Or feel Alex's abs when he slides his hands under Alex's shirt when they kiss. Or grab Alex's biceps when they kiss. Sam's getting distracted. The point is: Alex is athletic, and Sam wouldn't call himself athletic, and he's maybe a little self-conscious about it.
"You're going to the gym tomorrow, yeah?" Sam asks, before he can chicken out.
Alex turns to face him. "Yeah, as long as I don't need to do anything around the house. Why?"
"Can I join you?"
Alex smiles with maybe just a hint of surprise, or confusion, in his eyes. "Totally."
"Cool." Sam says. "It's a date," Sam doesn't say. They aren't officially dating, at least, Sam doesn't think so. Neither of them has said that they're dating or called their now almost nightly hangouts dates. Really, the only difference between them hanging before that night at the lake and them hanging out after that night at the lake is that now they make out, too.
They don't always make out when they spend time together. Alex is still sometimes hesitant about kissing him, Sam has noticed. Sam's pretty sure it has something to do with Alex's dad. There was another night down by the lake where they had started kissing and all of the sudden Alex pulled away, and literally shook his head from side to side, like he was trying to shake something off. When Sam had asked if he was okay, if a mosquito or something landed on him, Alex said no and muttered something about not being able to get his dad's voice out of his head. Sam didn't say anything and Alex elaborated a little, "just hearing him say some stuff that I know isn't true, but I still think it sometimes."
"You want to talk anymore about it?" Sam had asked.
Alex was quiet for a long moment before he said: "No, I think I'm alright." It sounded like a question, but he still sounded pleasantly surprised by his answer.
So Sam usually lets Alex make the first move on if they end up making out while they hang out. Alex is a good kisser. He likes to run his hand through Sam's hair while they kiss, likes to run his hand up Sam's back and then lightly scrape his way back down with his nails and that always makes Sam shiver. Sam likes to bite Alex's lip and tug, gently, but enough to make Alex gasp or moan.
After they get up from the picnic table, stretching out the lingering discomfort of laying on wood, Sam gives Alex a quick kiss before they make their way back towards their houses. Apart from that kiss outside Sam's window, they've never done any PDA in town. "See you tomorrow?" Alex asks, and Sam nods.
The next morning Sam wakes up with enough time to start a load of laundry before throwing on a t-shirt and a pair of athletic shorts and head up to the gym. Alex is already there, doing some stretches. "You came!" Alex says with a smile.
"Didn't think I would?" Sam asks and Alex laughs.
Thought it might be too early for you," Alex teases and Sam scowls with no heat behind it. He follows Alex into the spa and back to where the weights are. Alex loads a bunch of weights onto the bar in a way that is immediately intimidating to Sam. Sam picks up a dumbbell and his eyes only widen a little at the weight. "You haven't worked out much, have you?" Alex asks, in a way that doesn't come across as derisive.
"I mean, I know some exercises, but, like..," Sam says, embarrassed that his sentence trails off.
"No sweat!" Alex tells him, again not sounding phased in the slightest. "I just want to make sure you don't do anything to, like, hurt yourself. If you do an exercise wrong, it can really mess you up. So if you have any questions or want me to show you any others just ask." Sam nods and Alex lays down on the bench. Sam watches Alex's body stretch out, watches him spread his thighs as he gets positioned comfortably to start doing bench presses.
Sam has made a mistake. Alex is a) much stronger than Sam and Sam is very aware of the amount of weight Alex is lifting compared to himself; and b) hot. The second point is not news to Sam, obviously, but seeing Alex's muscles strain with effort is, a lot. Sam gives the smallest shake of his head, refocuses, and begins doing bicep curls.
Once Sam is focused on the exercises, though, he can see how it could be easy to get into a zone. He kind of likes feeling the ache firing through his muscles with the exercises. He runs through bicep curls, shoulder presses, and triceps kickbacks while Alex does different bar exercises. He gets distracted during the triceps kickbacks because Alex has started doing overhead presses and he can't help but watch Alex as he squats. Alex turns and catches Sam looking at him and he winks and grins. Sam can feel his face immediately heat up and he goes back to his exercise.
Sam figures he has one more set of exercises left in him when Alex asks, "Have you ever benched?" Sam shakes his head. "Want to?" Alex asks next, and Sam agrees with only a little hesitation. Alex's eyes light up. "Cool! Come lay down." Sam does so and Alex methodically removes several weights from the bar. "Okay, put your hands here..," Alex begins, and slowly guides Sam through the exercise. Alex is hands-on with his guidance to a point that feels almost deliberate, but Sam isn't complaining when Alex places his hands over Sam's to adjust the width of his grip or runs his hands along Sam's arms as he helps guide the bar back into place.
Sam sits up once he's done, breathing heavily, and Alex smiles at him. "Nice work!"
"Thanks for helping with the form," Sam teases, and Alex blushes. They get the weights put away and then put down some mats to stretch out on. Sam catches Alex's eyes gazing along the length of his frame once or twice but stops himself from commenting. They head back towards the lockers.
"You wanna hit the spa?" Alex asks.
"Oh, I didn't even think about the spa," Sam admits. "I didn't bring a suit to change into."
"Hm. I guess you could just throw a towel around yourself?' Alex suggests after a moment. His voice sounds strained.
"Good thinking," Sam replies and Alex nods sharply. They reach the lockers and Sam is very aware of how close they now are to each other as they undress, that they're getting undressed together in the first place. He sets his shoes and socks in an open locker after taking them off, then pulls off his shirt. He sees Alex doing the same out of the corner of his eye and turns away to finish. He grabs a towel and wraps it around his waist. Once he's sure it's secure he pulls off the last of his clothes, places them with the rest of his attire. He's naked except for the towel. He's naked and Alex is next to him also possibly naked, he doesn't turn to look. "I'm gonna head in," Sam says quickly and Alex's responded "okay!" is just as quick.
Sam walks up to the water, a hint of steam in the air, and dips his toes in. The water is hot in a way that he knows will feel good on his muscles once he's submerged, but he knows will take a second to get used to. He's up to his torso when Alex comes in. The trunks Alex is wearing are fairly short, only coming down to mid-thigh, and tight, like they're meant for swimming. Sam bites his lip before he even realizes he's doing it. "You're still not in?" Alex asks, surprised.
"I'm getting used to it!" Sam defends and Alex chuckles.
"You'll get used to it by just getting in, dude." Alex sits down at the lip of the spa and then slides forward to immediately sinks down to his neck, letting out a long, low moan. Sam flushes but mirrors him, and drops in the rest of the way, gasping as he does. Alex chuckles. "See?" Sam rolls his eyes and pushes Alex's shoulder. They're not right next to each other, but they're close enough that Sam doesn't have to fully reach out his arm to touch Alex.
They sit quietly together for a while, enjoying the water, before Sam says, "thanks for letting me crash your work out today."
Alex turns his head to look at him. "For sure, man. I hope you had a good time."
"I did," Sam tells him, and he means it. He wasn't sure how he was going to feel about the work out. If he'd just feel embarrassed the whole time, or if he'd have to talk himself out of bailing 15 minutes in, but he kind of liked it. Not enough to do it as regularly as Alex did, but enough to maybe see if his dad had an old set of weights lying around that he could claim for himself. To try and at least do a bit of work a couple of times a week.
"Good. I'm glad you came. Kinda surprised you wanted to."
"Me too," Sam tells him and Alex is still looking at him, so he feels like he needs to say more. "You're just, like, really fit and I'm," Sam doesn't find a word to describe himself so he just shrugs.
"You're just what?" Alex asks, seeming genuinely confused and Sam isn't sure how to answer. "Sam, you're super hot." Sam can't help the noise of surprise that comes out of his mouth and Alex gapes at him. "Dude! You're all toned and have nice hair and I literally think about kissing you, like, all the time when we're together. Or when I get back home after being with you," Alex tells him, apparently too surprised by Sam's insecurities to be anything but fully forthcoming.
Sam doesn't know how to respond to that, can't really articulate how hearing how Alex sees him doesn't line up with how he sees himself, so he deflects. "You did seem pretty handsy during those bench presses."
Alex scoffs, flicking his wrist so a bit of water splashes towards Sam. "Yeah, well you were totally checking out my ass when I was doing squats!"
Sam doesn't have a rebuttal to that other than, "I mean, yeah," and Alex laughs brightly. "Surprised you got through those exercises with how badly you want to kiss me," Sam continues, leaning towards Alex and waggling his eyebrows.
Alex shifts closer. "I take my exercising seriously." He manages to keep his tone deadpan, despite the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"I take my kissing seriously," Sam shoots back.
Alex goes for the kill: "Prove it."
They've been steadily drawing nearer to each other, but Sam scoots the few extra inches to press his lips to Alex's. Alex's mouth opens to the kiss immediately, moaning, and Sam slides his tongue past Alex's lips. They kiss like that for a bit, Alex's hand splayed along Sam's ribs and Sam's hand resting on Alex's thigh. Sam is more than content, when suddenly Alex slides his arm around Sam's back and tugs, his other arm coming out to twist Sam and pull him onto his lap. It's not the most fluid move, given the resistance of the water, but Sam still gasps.
Sam's thighs are bracketing Alex's now, and here's the thing: Sam had been starting to get hard even before they started kissing. The banter was kind of a big turn-on for him, he discovered, and the making out got him the rest of the way there. Now he's in Alex's lap in nothing but a towel and there is absolutely no way to hide how painfully turned on he is. Alex is wearing athletic trunks, though, and Sam can feel that Alex is hard too, can feel every thick inch of Alex's member pressed against his own.
"Is this okay?" Alex doesn't go back to kissing him yet, instead looking at him with eyes full of lust, but still some hope and hesitation. His hair is damp from the heat of the spa and its falling onto his forehead and Alex pushes it out of the way with an unexpected gentleness.
"Mmhmm," Sam all but whimpers and kisses Alex again. He wraps his arms around Alex's broad shoulders and feels Alex's hands clutch at his hips. He can't stop himself from grinding his hips and they both let out a noise of pleasure.
They've kissed like this before, Sam in Alex's lap or Alex straddling Sam in the grass by the lake, but they've never gone this far, never even gotten each other's shirts off. Alex tugs at the towel until it comes undone and Sam raises just enough for it to fully fall off his body. The towel sinks to the bottom of the spa and Sam is naked in Alex's lap.
Sam is naked in Alex's lap.
Alex takes advantage of this new development to slide his hands from Sam's waist around and down to Sam's ass, squeezing and rocking Sam against him again. "Oh, fuck," Sam stammers out and he feels more than hears Alex make a noise of agreement. He kisses Sam dominantly, tongue relentless as it moves against Sam's in time with the rolling of his hips. The friction of Alex's swimsuit is delicious against Sam's cock and Sam can feel Alex's cock throbbing beneath the fabric. Sam is already feeling lightheaded with pleasure even before Alex brings a hand around to grasp Sam fully. Sam's hips buck forward of their own accord into the tightness of Alex's fist.
Their movements make the water churn around them as Alex begins to work his wrist and Sam pulls away from Alex to let his head drop back. Alex isn't deterred, instead shifting just enough to kiss along Sam's neck. He bites at Sam's throat before soothing back over it with his tongue and Sam can feel the pressure building up to his release. "Alex, Alex, you gotta stop or I'm gonna -," Sam warns, unable to stop the rolling of hips.
"I want you to," Alex mutters into Sam's neck and Sam does as he's told, orgasming with a cry of ecstasy. He collapses forward against Alex, his face curling into Alex's neck and chest heaving and pressing against Alex's own. Alex wraps him arms around Sam and holds him close, letting out some breathy laughter.
"You haven't come yet," Sam says after a moment.
"I know, but watching your face was so fucking hot, Sam," Alex tells him. Sam can feel himself blush at that, so he kisses Alex again to hide it. He finally gets off Alex's lap so that he can start pulling at Alex's trunks until Alex acquiesces and raises his hips so Sam can get them off. He brings one arm around Alex's neck so that he can turn his face towards him for easier access to his mouth, while the other scrapes down Alex's chest and stomach. He could spend a long time just running his hands up and down Alex's torso, feeling the firm muscles beneath his hands, but he's on a mission. When Sam takes Alex's length in his hand Alex gasps and his hand flies out to clutch onto Sam, fingers digging into his skin.
He strokes Alex quickly, and kisses him all open-mouthed and wanting, too turned-on to try and have any finesse about it. Alex is in a similar state, letting phrases like "Sam, I" and "that feels" start to form before they just as quickly turn into moans and hisses of pleasure. Then Alex is coming without warning, pulsing in Sam's hand. A loud staggered groan escapes his mouth and his body arches away from the wall of the spa.
He comes back down with a drawn-out sigh and Sam watches the way Alex's expression settles into one of bliss. Alex takes several deep breaths, a lazy smile spread across his face, before looking over at Sam eyes bright with amazement that Sam is pretty certain match his own. "That was. Amazing," Alex says with another watery laugh.
"Yeah," Sam agrees, grinning. After a moment Sam adds, voice shy with the admission, "I've never, um, done that before."
"Me either," Alex replies.
"You were really good at it," Sam tells him.
"Yeah, you, too. Like, whoa."
They settle there for a little longer, a content quiet between them, before Sam wonders and has to ask, "Is that gonna mess up the pool?"
Alex lets out another laugh, this one sharp and unexpected. He waves his hand lazily and says, "there's a filter," and Sam chuckles. Another short silence before Alex admits, "I'm starting to feel pruny." Sam agrees and they make their way out of the spa, collecting Sam's towel and Alex's suit that both remained at the bottom of the spa after their actions.
Sam has never seen Alex naked and now that he knows he has the go-ahead to do so he takes full advantage to appreciate the roundness of Alex's ass, the way his thick length hangs between his sturdy thighs. Sam wants to touch him all over. Alex does the same, looking Sam up and down hungrily. When they're back at the lockers, still naked, when Alex pushes Sam against them to kiss him again. The coldness of the metal is sharp against his still-hot skin, and he lets out a startled curse, jolting away from them. Alex laughs until Sam whirls them around, so Alex is pressed against them, and Alex also wriggles away, raising his hands in surrender.
They towel off and get dressed, still shooting glances at one another, before making their way out of the spa. The brightness of the sun is jarring, but the heat feels good against Sam's skin as they meander their way back into town. Now that it's late morning the square is seeing a bit of activity: Caroline and Marnie talking animatedly and Jas and Vincent walking alongside Penny. Sam walks Alex back to his house and Alex looks around before kissing Sam quickly on the corner of his mouth. Sam smiles in surprise as Alex half-states, half-asks, "I'll see you later?"
Sam nods and Alex gives him a smile in return before vanishing into his house. Sam makes his way back home, very ready for a shower and half-wishing he and Alex would have showered together back at the spa. He sees his mom folding laundry in the living room when he walks inside. "Did you put a load of clothes in the wash?" she asks him and he nods. She gives him a teasing smile and says, "Sweetie, I mean this in the nicest way possible. Thank you for doing that, but please tell me next time so I know to switch the wet clothes over to the dryer."
Sam looks down at the floor bashfully, "yes, Mom."
She comes over to wrap an arm around his shoulders and kiss him on the temple. Then he hears her sniff and say, "go shower, you smell like the spa. Did you go to the spa?"
"That was the plan," he tells her. "And yeah, I went and worked out with Alex."
He steps away and his headed towards the bathroom when she says, "you've been spending a lot of time with Alex lately." It's not a question or an accusation, just a statement, but when he turns to look at her she's giving him an appraising look that he doesn't know how feel about.
"Yeah, we've been hanging out," he says with what he hopes is a nonchalant shrug.
She smiles and says, "he's a good kid," and Sam isn't sure if she's saying to him or herself. "Now seriously, go shower."
"I'm going!" Sam tells her with a laugh and hurries his pace.
"Thank you for doing the laundry!" She yells to his retreating form and Sam smiles to himself.
Sam collects his things and starts the shower. He can't stop thinking about Alex as he washes off: Alex's hands on him, Alex's voice as Sam made him come, but also the easy silence they sat in afterwards.
Sam doesn't know how Alex would describe what they're doing, what their relationship is, and Sam isn't either. He just knows that he really likes spending time with Alex and wants to keep doing it, but he also wants to kind of more clearly know what they are. He just has to gather the courage, and find the right time, to ask. He figures he'll start to come up with plan after a good nap, so he steals a set of clothes from the freshly folded laundry, dodging a swat from his mom as he does so, and heads to his room. He gets dressed, stretches out, and falls onto the bed, quickly falling asleep with another easy smile on his face.