The silence lasted about four seconds.
Then Harolin pulled off his training gloves, one finger at a time, and walked toward Ruaan.
Ruaan stepped back automatically. "What are you—"
Harolin grabbed him by the waist, stopped him from moving, and pressed two fingers against his forehead.
Ruaan went completely still.
Harolin dropped his hand. "No fever."
"I told you I was fine—"
"Then why did you just say that rubbish?" Harolin looked at him. "Enemies with benefits."
"It makes sense," Ruaan said, straightening up. "We can never be friends. We can definitely never be lovers. So enemies with benefits is the only logical—"
"Take your hand off your waist first," Ruaan said.
Harolin looked down. His hand was still on Ruaan's waist.
He removed it.
"I'm glad," Harolin said, stepping back, "that you at least understand we can never be friends or lovers."
"So you'll agree."
"No."
"You haven't heard the terms."
"I don't want to hear the terms." He turned back toward the equipment. "Leave before the dinner bell. Go eat something."
Ruaan didn't move.
Harolin picked up a barbell and started lifting like Ruaan wasn't standing there at all. It looked so easy with the reps — like the weight was nothing.
Ruaan glanced at the number on the side.
40kg.
He looked away immediately and pretended he hadn't seen it.
He cleared his throat. "I want you to help me reach top one."
The lifting continued.
"Help me beat Cullen Ray," Ruaan said. "Help me climb. I'll give you anything you want in return."
Harolin gently set the barbell down. He turned around and looked at Ruaan with an almost curious expression.
"Anything I want," he said slowly.
"Yes."
"Even if I want to thrust my cock down your throat again?"
Ruaan's toes curled inside his shoes. He held Harolin's gaze and said, "Yes."
Harolin rubbed his chin.
Then he shook his head. "No. I don't like the idea." He picked up his gloves and walked toward the door. "We're done here."
Ruaan moved faster.
He crossed the room and slammed his back against the door, both arms out, blocking it. Harolin stopped.
"Cullen told me to come to his cell tomorrow morning," Ruaan said. His voice came out steadier than he felt. "If I don't show up, he'll come for me himself." He looked at Harolin directly. "I can't let him fuck me. I won't."
"That's not my problem."
"Care!" The word came out louder than intended. Ruaan didn't take it back. "For once, just — care. Because if Cullen Ray touches me I swear to God I will kill myself."
Harolin's eyes sharpened. "Is that a threat?"
"It's a promise." Ruaan's voice was flat. Dead serious. "I'll find a gun somewhere in this facility and put a bullet through my own head. Or I'll take a knife from the cafeteria and put it through my chest." He didn't blink. "I am not letting Cullen Ray touch me. I will die first. That's not dramatic. That's just the truth."
The room was quiet.
Harolin looked at him for a long moment.
Then he pointed at himself. "And you want me to do it instead."
Ruaan looked away. He looked at the wall, the floor. Anywhere that wasn't Harolin's face.
"You're not gay," he said quietly. "So it wouldn't mean anything. And I—" he stopped. "I don't mind if it's you. I don't mind you doing the fucking."
Silence.
Harolin was very still.
He was trying. He was genuinely trying not to look down at himself, because he already knew what he'd find — his cock was already pressing against his training pants just from watching Ruaan bite his lip and say the word fucking and look away like that. He kept his eyes level.
He stepped forward.
One slow step. Then another, until Ruaan's back was against the door and there was very little space left between them.
He put one hand on the door beside Ruaan's head.
Ruaan looked up at him.
"I'll accept," Harolin said quietly, "on one condition."
Ruaan swallowed. "What condition?"
Harolin leaned down as his mouth stopped just at Ruaan's ear.
And he said it.
Ruaan's eyes went wide.
He pulled back and stared at Harolin's face. "What?" His voice cracked slightly. "I can't — that's — I can't do that—"
Harolin straightened up and shrugged. "Then we have no deal." He reached out to move Ruaan aside.
"Fine!"
Harolin stopped.
Ruaan's jaw was tight. His eyes were bright with something that wasn't quite anger.
"Fine. I'll do it." He pointed a finger at Harolin's chest. "But you had better be there. The moment Cullen gets anywhere near me—"
"I'll be there, Ru." Harolin's mouth curved slowly.
He reached out and moved Ruaan aside from the door.
"After all," he said, pulling it open.
"We're enemies with benefits."