Page 99 of Full Body Hit, Part 1

Auston pursed his lips, mind going immediately to the night they’d shared a hotel room and the shit show that had turned into.

Fuck. He hadn’t had morning wood that bad since he was in his twenties—not even when he was in a relationship and sleeping beside his partner.

That morning had been…wild. The heat that had overtaken him as he’d crushed Chase to himself, the way his gums had ached with the urge to bite even though the kid had smelt like his usual bland self.

He’d been able to scent his slick, though, a smell he’d been desperately trying to erase from his mind.

“Kid’s fine,” Auston muttered. “He’d be better if he actually gave a shit about anything.”

Mark ticked his head back, eyebrows rising. “What? All the pundits are talking about is how miserable he seems when games go bad. He looks like a wet puppy out there after he makes a mistake.”

“All for show,” Auston grunted. “Seriously. Either that kid is a fucking savant in keeping his scent neutral, which, not even Hunter was that good, or he’s faking it for the cameras.”

Mark’s face twitched at the mention of Hunter. He’d been there for that whole relationship—had been the one to pick up the pieces afterwards. “Fuck. I had no idea. Spalding hides his scent? Like, when?”

“I’m literally not exaggerating when I say—all the fucking time. I haven’t seen it change once.”

Mark wrinkled his nose. “That…”

“I know it sounds like bullshit, but it’s true. And that’s impossible, right? So. Either he really is that good at managing his scent, or he’s faking his emotions and not giving a fuck his pheromones are giving him away.”

“Damn. Okay. That’s so weird.”

“Yeah, and you’re not sharing a goddamn locker room with him.”

Mark winced. “Is that…are you okay? Are you, like…triggered?”

“Triggered? The fuck?”

“Hey, that’s a real thing.”

“I’m not triggered.”

Mark shrugged. “It’s okay if you are.”

“I’m not.”

“So you’re treating this Spalding kid like everybody else.”

Auston opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. “That doesn’t—obviously I’m going to react to it, that doesn’t mean anything.”

“All right, okay. But if you—”

“I’m not.”

“All right, okay. How you been, though, man? Besides that.”

“I’ve been…” A reel of the past few weeks stuttered past. “I’ve been pretty good, honestly.”

“Yeah? For real? Cause you seemed pretty down when we last talked.”

“Yeah, well. You know how I get stuck in my shit, but. I dunno. Guess I’ve been more optimistic lately. I’m thinking that maybe my retirement won’t be the end of the world.”

Mark laughed. “Wow. I’m impressed, bud. Anything in particular got you feeling like such a spring chicken? Please feel free to tell me I’m the reason for your turnaround. I’m amazing, I know.”

“You fucking wish,” Auston replied automatically, but he had to pause.

It had been Mark and Chin-Sun who’d suggested he get on Lookr. In a way, they were responsible for him meeting Charlie which was, fundamentally, what had him in such a good mood lately.