Chapter 1: Introduction
Daniel wiped down his station with a small white towel, listening to the clanging and grunts that made up the symphony of the gym. He glanced up through his glasses and watched as a man, who must have been over six and a half feet tall, went over to the dumbbell rack, lifted a hundred pound freeweight with ease, and began doing bicep curls as if it were nothing. At a measly 5'6" and 270 pounds, Daniel was no stranger to feeling small.
But this guy, this Rourke, made Daniel feel like a child in a man's world. Daniel had never seen anyone so large, so muscular, and so intimidating. And yet, for some reason, Daniel couldn't tear his gaze away from the man.
Rourke caught Daniel looking and raised a curious eyebrow at him. Daniel's face instantly turned red with embarrassment as he quickly looked away. He shouldn't be checking out other guys in the gym like that, but he couldn't help it.
Daniel had always been drawn to large men, and Rourke was by far the largest he had ever seen. He couldn't help but be captivated by the way his muscles moved and rippled as he worked out. Daniel had never been with a man before. Hell, he had never even kissed one. At 30 years old, he was still a virgin. And as much as it pained him to admit, it's not like the guys he was attracted to were beating down his door for a date.
Daniel knew he wasn't exactly what most people would consider attractive. He was short and round, and his glasses never failed to make him look more like a librarian than a prospective love interest.
But Daniel had learned to hide his insecurities well, and as he made his way over to Rourke, he put on his best smile and tried to act as confident as possible.
"Hey, I'm Daniel," he said, extending his hand towards Rourke.
Rourke looked down at him, taller than anyone Daniel had ever met before. Daniel bit his lip nervously as he waited for a response.
"Rourke," the large man rumbled, taking the offered hand. His handshake was strong, almost like he could crack Daniel's bones with ease.
"So, um…you work out here often?" Daniel asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Sure do," Rourke replied, letting go of Daniel's hand and beginning to stretch out his limbs.
Daniel's eyes were drawn to the way the muscles in Rourke's arms moved as he stretched and the way his chest muscles rippled with every breath he took.
Daniel swallowed hard, trying to focus on the conversation. "Uh, I was wondering if you might want to get some coffee sometime?"
Rourke stopped stretching and looked down at Daniel, raising an eyebrow again. Daniel couldn't help but feel like he was being judged.
"You want to get coffee with me?" Rourke repeated, his voice low and deep.
Daniel hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. He had never been with a man before, let alone someone as large and intimidating as Rourke. But for some reason, he couldn't stop thinking about the way the large man's muscles moved when he worked out. He could feel his pulse quicken just thinking about it.
"Sure," Daniel murmured finally, biting his lip nervously.
Rourke studied him for a moment, his gaze intense and piercing.
Daniel's heart raced, and he could feel the warmth of his palms against his thighs as his nervousness threatened to overwhelm him.
"Why?" Rourke asked, his voice still low and deep. "Why do you want to get coffee with me?"
Daniel wanted to speak up and assure Rourke that there was no ulterior motive, that he genuinely admired Rourke's body and wanted to get to know him better.
But he couldn't find the words, and he was saved by the bell signaling the end of the gym session.
Rourke turned away, leaving Daniel's question hanging in the air, but as he wiped his bench, Daniel noticed a slip of paper under it, with a note— 'Meet me at the bench press at sunrise.'—and a phone number. Daniel smiled, feeling relieved and excited. Maybe this would be the start of something new and exciting.
The next morning, Daniel arrived at the gym just as the sun was rising, feeling nervous and excited.