Page 54 of The Titan and the Trainer

He lifted his head. “Cal, what are you doing here? What time is it?”

“Sorry Julian, but I had to come and talk to you about something.” How to start the conversation, his stomach executing perfect backflips...

“In the club tonight, something happened, and I’m not sure if it had anything to do with you, but I need to know.”

Julian sat up, rubbing his eyes. “I know what happened Cal. The guy works for me. I arranged for him to keep a watchful eye on you, in case anything happened. Anything like this. And it happened.” He looked sorry, his green eyes, for once, dimmed. “My guy messaged me immediately afterwards. I thought about texting you, but I didn’t. I should have. I’m sorry.” He looked guilty.

Callum sat on the side of the bed next to him, processing the million thoughts running through his mind. “So, you paid someone to just watch me, for my protection?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Why?” Exasperation in Callum’s voice now obvious. “Do you think I’m incapable of looking after myself? I’m a fucking go-go dancer in a gay club, Julian. I’m not naive about my position. Don’t you think I’ve had to deal with assholes like that guy before?” He was venting now, anger boiling within him. You may not have noticed, but I’m pretty built. I can take care of myself, and I’ve dealt with worse guys than that one, trust me!”

Callum had said what he wanted to say. It came out a lot faster and angrier than it had sounded in his head. But it was a relief to get it out in the open.

Julian didn’t respond immediately. He sat looking at Callum, not blinking, not breaking eye contact, green eyes sincere, apologetic, and honest.

“Cal, I’m truly sorry. I shouldn’t have done it. In hindsight, I now see that. I appreciate that you are very built, and you have and can look after yourself. I never doubted that for one minute.” He paused.

“But there’s something you don’t know, Cal.” Callum listened intently now.

“You don’t realise just how important you are to me. I’ve stopped myself using the L word, but I’ve wanted to say it to you a thousand times already. I’ve never felt this,” gesturing between them, “with any person before. You’re like oxygen to me, Cal. You’ve given me a new lease on life. You’ve woken me up.” A smile reached his eyes, and they returned to their normal brightness.

“These,” he paused, counting in his head, “twenty-three days since you walked into my life, feel like the first twenty-three days of my life. I don’t think you realise how much I feel for you. I would do anything to protect you from harm, at any cost. What I did was a stupid thing, but I only did it because if anything happened to you, my life would be over.”

Wow thought Callum. That was a lot to unpack, but he was fixated about the reference to the ‘L’ word. He reached for Julian’s hand and held it. Tears welled up for both of them. Julian had spoken from the heart, and Callum had heard it. Callum fell on top of him, and their kiss sealed the deal on this being ok. Callum couldn’t stay mad at him. He’d admitted his mistake and apologised.

“I’m so sorry, Cal. I never thought it would cause a problem like this.”

“I know, I know. Maybe I overreacted, but I’m a grown-arsed man, Julian. I can look after myself, you know,” at which point he made a play of wrestling with Julian on top of the bed, trying to bend his arms behind his back. Julian resisted and they struggled together. Callum’s jacket fell open and Julian realised he was still in his leather shorts, which very much caught his attention.

“Let me show you just how sorry I am, please?” Julian’s eyes were alight. He relieved Callum of his coat, his boots, his socks and, lastly his shorts, noticing the rip in them.

“The asshole?” he questioned.

“The asshole,” Callum confirmed.

Julian threw the shorts across the room, and they landed on the low curved partition around the bed. Now naked, Julian showed Callum just how sorry he was, and grateful for his understanding, with an unforgiving blow job that caused Callum to have one of the best and most ferocious orgasms of his life. Julian was aroused but didn’t come. This was all about his boy this time, and he was just relieved that Callum had found the courage to face it, say it, share how he felt, and more importantly, accept his apology.

Callum forgave him. How could he resist after that admission of feelings from Julian? He was holding back from saying the ‘L’ word. That was unexpected. Callum had been holding back too. You can’t really know someone in twenty-three days; it was too soon. The last few times they had talked and got to know each other more. There were no issues, no warning signs that Callum had observed. As far as he was concerned, he was up for spending his life with Julian, a happy thought as he drifted off to sleep in the huge bed, with a muscle-bound radiator snuggled into his back, dick lying along his ass crack as usual, making hot contact with almost every part of his body.

By now it was almost 5 a.m. and they were very late to sleep.

***

Friday 31st January 25

Callum woke with a start, opened his eyes, and remembered where he was. He was alone in the big bed and the windows that should have been bright had been darkened, which is why he’d slept in. He looked at his phone on the bedside table. It was 11:20 a.m. and he was seriously late. It was Friday. He didn’t have any training sessions and hadn’t missed bootcamp, thank God. He texted Rosie:

Callum: Hey Rosie, sorry I had some issues last night and didn’t get to sleep until 5 am, so I only just woke up. Everything ok?

Her reply was almost instant.

Rosie: Yes, no worries, Julian let us know. We can cope. Get some rest x

OK, this was getting more intriguing by the moment. Callum sat up. He reached over for the Panja box and changed the windows to let the light flood the room. That was better. He then looked for his clothes, but his shorts were definitely not where they landed, and his trench coat wasn’t where he took it off either, so he was naked in Julian’s bedroom with no clothes. This was getting more interesting by the minute. Was Julian even here or at work? He went to find something to wear from the dressing room.

He hadn’t explored the drawers in there but assumed that’s where casual clothes and underwear were kept. The first few he opened were cravats and bow ties, followed by socks, all neatly folded in perfect circles. Where would Martha have put the clothes he’d left dirty last time? He couldn’t find them, but when he spied some basic gym shorts and a T-shirt of Julian’s, he just put those on.