Mint Romance

Chapter 1 - Joshua

It’s just another day at the office. It’s a nice spring day outside but I’m stuck here working at my computer. I work here, at the Money Finance offices, doing admin and data entry and stuff. It’s pretty boring to be honest but it pays well. I’m distracted from the mundanity for a moment as Matt walks past my desk and says hi. I wave my hand and smile back. I watch him head over to the water cooler.

He’s so cute. Dark eyes, thick eyebrows and dark brown hair. Some beard stubble. He rolls his shirt sleeves up so I can see the hair on his arms. He’s so rugged and handsome. About my age too. I’ve known him for a while at work, I guess (apart from the salary) he keeps me coming back, ha ha. He’s got a ‘no bullshit’ type of attitude but he’s honest and dependable with work tasks. He smokes so he’s got a bit of a gravelly voice. If he ever talked dirty to me, God that would drive me wild.

“Fuck it, I’ll ask him today.”

I got up from my desk and joined him. I joked the usual spiel about how the work day was dragging on even though it was still morning. Matt was welcoming and friendly with me as always. However, we couldn’t dawdle away from our desks for too long, so I went for it.

I took a breath and tried to act confident. “So, uh… What do you think about going out to dinner sometime? Just you and me.”

Matt paused. “… You mean on a date?”

“Yeah! I… like talking to you a lot, and uh…”

He looks at me with a blank expression. “Sorry, but I’m not gay. I should get back to work now. I’ll see ya.”

“Sure, OK…”

And he left. Quick and to the point. Brutal. I was defeated again.

My name is David Turner, I’m 28, and I always end up hitting on straight men. I haven’t had a date in 4 years now. I am used to the rejection but it does sting a little each time. Still, I need to stay positive. I take care of myself and keep myself looking smart and well-groomed. I have blue eyes and blonde hair, cut short at the back and styled into a quiff at the front. Any facial hair I do get looks awful, so I’m clean shaven.

On my lunch hour I sat in the office canteen with another work colleague and friend, Emi. Younger than me, blonde hair in a pixie cut with glasses. She’s a little shy but very kind.

“So, how’d it go with Matt?” She asked.

“No good. He’s not gay.”

“Hey, at least you tried! That’s good, right?”

I smiled; she’s always so supportive. “Yeah… I just hope he doesn’t mysteriously change departments like some of the other men. I liked being friends with him.”

I couldn’t help but be a little worried about my relationship with Matt and if he’d ever talk to me again. I don’t really have any male friends. Every guy in the office is too freaked out to hang out with me outside work. Maybe I need to look somewhere else for men.

Before I can get too down-in-the-dumps, Mia shows up at our table. She’s another good friend of ours. Same age as Emi, dark skin, black hair that she styles often, usually into one or two buns. She’s a lot more out-going and is like the leader of our little ‘singles club’.

“Hey~! Look what I got!”

She puts a flier down on the table advertising an offer at Level Up Gym. She seems pretty excited about it.

“Check it out! They’re doing free aerobics classes this weekend! And we can get a discount off for joining! So, do you want to come?”

Emi and I aren’t too impressed.

“Mm…”

“Aerobics? I don’t know…”

“I heard that they only hire instructors who are super-hot.” Mia said. “We could all go and check out some hunks together~!”

Just like that we were both sold. She was right; a free chance to check out guys at the gym does sound fun. I knew I probably wouldn’t end up asking anyone out, but I couldn’t help but get a little excited.

-----

Saturday came, and the three of us went to Level Up Gym to look for men—uh, I mean, the free aerobics class. I wore a t-shirt with modest shorts and sweatbands on my wrists and head (an attempt to keep my hair styled up). I meet the girls outside the changing rooms. Turns out they’re friends with one of the gym instructors leading our class named Ashley. She’s got long brown hair in a side ponytail and is also the same age as them. I think they all met at university or something. She’s quite out-going and friendly too. She leads us to a classroom upstairs, I look around at the men on offer along the way. Ashley ushers us in as we join the rest of the group talking to another gym instructor.

“OK, Joshua, we’re ready to start now.”

“Ah, alright. Come on in, everyone.” He smiles at us. “Thanks for coming today!”

It hits me immediately. My face flushes red. Oh my God.

He’s so HOT!!

I can’t help but stare at him. I forget where I am as the other people are trying to get past me. I realise the class is starting and everyone’s picking a space. I snap back to earth and head for a spot in the second row. That way I can look at Joshua without it being too obvious. The two instructors are introducing the class but I’m not really listening.

Joshua is such a cute name. He’s a little shorter than me, looks like he’s in his 20’s. His short black hair looks fluffy. He’s got some neat beard stubble around his jawline, like he probably shaves it that way. Thick eyebrows. Light brown skin. The gym uniform is black so it looks really good on him. He’s got a great athletic body shape, I mean of course he does, he works here! His arms are so nice. I can see his biceps coming out from his shirt sleeves, he’s got dark hair on his arms and all over his legs too.

I’m kinda zoned out, so I’m just following what he’s doing. Luckily the stuff is pretty easy since this is for beginners. He’s really good at leading a workout. Everyone is listening to him. His voice is commanding but reassuring and gentle.

All of a sudden, he looks right at me.

“Hey, be careful not to fall behind!”

“H-huh?!”

People look at me and laugh to themselves. Turns out I’m still doing the previous actions of the workout while everyone else has moved on. Everyone else is actually listening. I feel like a bit of a fool. Joshua chuckles a bit to himself but carries the class on from the brief interruption.

But I saw them. He’s got green eyes. Gorgeous.

A while later, the class ends. A lot of the women crowd around Joshua as he hands out sign-up forms to them. He’s like a magnet to them. He looks like he’s used to having women around him like that. Mia and Emi come over to join me. To be honest, I had completely forgotten I was here with them the whole time. Emi looks pretty worn out, the poor thing.

Mia still looks full of energy. “Whew, that was pretty fun!”

I whisper to her. “Oh my God, did you see Joshua? He’s so hot!!”

She looks at me with a face that said ‘yeah, no shit!’ Ashley came over to us with sign-up forms and asked if we wanted to join. She said the first month is free so Mia and I each took one. Emi wasn’t so keen. I always thought the gym looked pretty intimidating but I was seriously thinking of joining. I would be a fool not to. I wanted to see him again so bad.

Mia filled out and gave her form back first and left with Emi. I told them I’d meet them later. There was a part on the sign-up form where you could request a male or female personal trainer. Ticked male.

The room was emptying. I notice Joshua is alone, writing something by the stereo on the table. I had to give my form back so maybe I could talk to him. Just a little bit…

My mind wonders…

(( “Hey, that was a great workout.”

“Thanks a lot.” Joshua edges closer to me, he grabs my shirt. “Y’know, I love the smell of sweaty men!” ))

All of a sudden, Ashley is in my way. She’s taking the form from me. There’s an awkward pause before I let go. Defeated again.

I go to pick up my towel as I leave. I look over to Joshua one last time. He glances up and smiles politely. Oh God, I can’t speak. I can feel my face flushing red again. I leave quickly.

I get back to the men’s changing rooms and breathe a sigh of relief. I still feel kind of hot though. As I look down to wipe my forehead, I notice it. Oh shit. I rush over to a toilet cubicle and lock myself in. Shit, how long have I had a boner for?! These shorts are pretty loose so I don’t think anyone noticed. I graze my fingers over the fabric. Fuck, I’m so hard. Was it his smile that did this to me? I started to breathe heavily. I pulled my shorts and boxers down and my cock sprang upright.

I fondled my balls a bit, but my cock soon became slick with pre-cum. I run my fingers up my shaft. Oh God. I tease the tip and get my juices all over my fingers. I grip lightly and run my hand up and down.

“A-aah!”

Shit. The echo in the cubicle made me remember where I was. I cover my mouth with my other hand. It’s not too busy but men are coming and going often. I couldn’t let them hear me. I’ve never done something like this in public! But I can’t stop jerking off. I’m starting to go faster. Oh God, am I getting off on this too?!

“Mmph.. mmhh…!!”

I can’t help myself. This is feeling so good. I think of Joshua. He’s so fucking hot. I think of him jerking me off. He’s standing close to me with his other hand on my chest. I want him to touch me. Fuck, I’ve barely even talked to the man! And I’m doing something like this!!

I’m jerking off even faster. My muffled moans are getting louder. I don’t care anymore. I feel so good. My heart is racing. My cock is oozing with pre-cum all over. I wonder if anyone can hear the rapid squelching of it outside. My cock is pulsing more and more now. Oh yes!! Oh FUCK!!!

“Mmph..!! A-Aaah..!!”        

I lifted my hand from my mouth just slightly, but my climaxing moan came out kinda loud. There was drool on my hand too. I panted slowly in relief, trying to calm myself. Some of my cum landed in the toilet so that was pretty lucky. I was sweating a hell of a lot more than during the workout.

I cleaned myself up with the toilet roll. I think there were a couple men outside but I couldn’t hear them saying anything about what I just did. Maybe the ol’ silent awkward British politeness has kicked in for them. I felt my face and it was still flushed red. Maybe I should wait a bit more.

Oh shit, how long do women take to get changed?! My friends are probably waiting!

I finally left the toilet cubicle and got changed quickly. As I hurried out the door, I saw them walking out the same time I did, just gossiping between themselves.

“Oh, David, that was good timing!”

I did my best to smile and look nonchalant. “Heh, yeah…”