You are My Passion

Attraction

Max looked at Nora puzzled and then back at the magazine, his face contorting in anger as he read what was there

‘What?!’ he shouted, making the other two to stop their conversation and ask him what the problem was

Max hissed and passed the magazine to Manny, setting his legs on the floor, tapping them impatiently as he clamped his hands together

‘No way’ Manny muttered, turning the pages furiously.

‘What is it?’ Nikita asked the men as they fumed

‘Some paper columnist just brought out the ratings of all the weightlifting champs in Middletown city and Max here was ranked second in his prime sports’ Nora huffed

Manny read out the articles 'The review editor had some mean things to say about Max’s body type and how he should stay as a brand model and not get into weightlifting because he was not as bulk as others' he scoffed

Nikita turned to Max and saw that one of his legs was bouncing up and down, she shook her head 

'Some other review comments said he should have remained as a 200 meters sprint champion and not go into unfamiliar territory' Nora scoffed, shaking her head as she pranced about

Max was quiet but his face and neck getting redder by the minute, he was furious

Manny continued 'While some others in his fan club had expressed doubts that Frank could defeat the competition at the upcoming trials' he spat out, crunching up the paper in anger

‘And that is a bad thing?’ Nikita asked bewildered

Max stiffened and looked at her almost in disdain, very angry at the spiteful comments the columnists had written

‘Don’t go there Nikky, Max can be really angry at bad criticism’ Nora warned

Nikita shrugged, took the magazine from Manny, straightened it and dropped it on the table then turned to Max

‘Well, look it doesn’t matter, like I always tell my brother: the press have their pen and can write whatever they want, but you have your life and they cannot run it. Do NOT give them the keys to your emotions. Live your life and soon enough their pens will appreciate you’ Nikita said softly, emphasizing the words as she spoke

Max mellowed, his eyes sparkling in admiration ‘Thanks’ he whispered, his anger fading

‘YEAH! Nikky knows what’s up!’ Manny shouted, getting up and starting to walk away

‘Yeah about time you left us alone, you guys interrupt too much here’ Max mumbled

Nora laughed and winked at Nikita as she went back to her desk nearby

When they both left, Max leaned forward and held Nikita on her hips drawing her closer to him. 

She gasped in surprise but enjoying the action which brought their faces mere inches apart, his breath fanning her face, her heart beating erratically at what might come next

Max smiled at Nikita ‘Thanks for that, you really have a way with words’ he murmured staring at her

She gulped, ‘Y-yeah t-thanks’ she stuttered, overwhelmed by his nearness

The gym workout had left him all sweaty so he had changed to his open chested singlet jersey and she was suddenly drawn to his chiseled features and entrancing body

He continued looking at her, oblivious to anyone around but Terra turned and saw them from across the track through the glass doors

Terra had a mischievous glint in his eyes as he signaled to Susan to get him his phone

After a minute that seemed like hours, Max lightly stroked Nikita on the cheeks. Her breath hitching as he did

‘I could just stare at you for the whole day girl’ Max whispered, she giggled

‘I am serious. You are so beautiful’ Max murmured, his eyes sweeping over her face slowly, taking in her features

She giggled some more ‘Oh stop’ she whined

‘I can't baby. I'm all drawn to you’ Max said firmly, looking into her eyes

Terra took a picture of them and snickered sending it as a chat to someone let’s see what he says about this he muttered to himself, laughing uncontrollably when he saw the ruffled state Susan was in as she watched the couple out front

‘Yeah?’ Nikita said softly, entrapped as he looked at her, her inhibitions from a moment ago all gone, she could not even remember what had ticked her off about his behavior. All she was conscious about was the delightful way he made her feel right now with those eyes of his

He nodded, flashing her his handsome smile as he inched closer to her

‘Well you are quite a looker yourself’ she whispered

‘Don't tell anyone’ he teased, leaning in, pulling her unto his laps

‘Yikes’ she gasped, ‘We are in full view’ she complained, not daring to look around at the many eyes she knew would be looking their way right now

‘And so what?’ Max asked with his deep voice that had grown huskier all of a sudden

He tightened his hand on her waist and held her closer, his breath fanning her lips, looking intently at her

Nikita tingled all over, heat rising on her cheeks, trying to block out the people around as she stared back at him, her eyes flickering with desire

‘Let's give them a show now shall we?’ Max whispered, grazing his lips on hers

She was about to object when his lips covered hers possessively, pulling their bodies together, one hand clasped on her waist and the other gently holding the back of her head as he deepened the kiss

Nikita moaned, turning fully to face him as she straddled him, giving into the kiss

Frank walked in through the revolving doors at the entrance moments later, dressed in his suit with his sports bag on his shoulder, stopping in his tracks when he saw the spectacle at the reception

He snorted ‘Things will never change I see’ raising his eyebrow at Nora as he got to her desk

‘Thank God you are here… those two have been going at it like rabbits’ Nora said, eyeing the couple who were busy with their mouths and hands on each other

The moment their lips met, their repressed feelings and desires since they set eyes on each other seemed to have exploded. Max and Nikita couldn’t get enough of each other, pouring their all into the kiss, their hands affectionately caressing the back or cheeks or head of the other

‘Won’t be his first time’ Frank laughed, looking around to see that the only few people left were in the track area, Manny had thankfully got them occupied after momentarily watching the couple kissing

‘Well this girl is special and not one of his playthings’ Nora said frowning

Frank looked at her chuckling ‘Aww Cuz, you are rooting for this one yeah?’ he asked

They had all been teasing Max on when he would take a wife and he had been stalling, saying he had not met the right one

‘Well Boss is really fixated on this one’ she said, looking over at Max and Nikita still entwined on the lounge chair

‘Yeah well I better go stop that, this is not the way, time or place to court a woman’ Frank said, looking at them, his eyes twinkling with the possibility of Nikita being more than a flippant affair for his friend

Nora snorted, ‘Your friend does not court’ she said with a pointed look at him

‘Well he’s gotta learn someday, starting now’ Frank said, loosening his tie as he approached the couple

Max and Nikita were still oblivious to everything around them. They stopped to catch their breaths for the umpteenth time

‘Now that's quite a show’ Frank said, clapping as he got to them

Max paid him no attention, he gazed at Nikita, leaning his forehead on hers, placing light kisses on her lips

‘You guys know you are in the open right?’ Frank asked, amused

Max still ignores him, Nikita tries to move from his lap but Max holds her and grazes his lips on hers again and they continue making out

‘Okay well I am going to sit right here’ says Frank, dropping his bag on the table and sitting on the chair opposite them, intentionally staring at them

‘Ugh!’ Max huffs as he breaks the kiss and stares at him annoyed

Nikita giggles and looks at him ‘Hey you’ she greets Frank coyly, reeling from the intense feelings between her and Max

‘Hi’ Frank says, smiling

‘Good to see you’ she says to Frank, then she remembered what she had been musing about ‘Hey I think I know you from somewhere?’ she asked

‘Yeah?’ Frank replied, looking at Max who nodded at him

‘Yeah….Gigi?’ Max said ‘Nikita here is an event planner’ he explained, holding her hands in his and smiling at her

‘Oh really? Then we really have to meet up’ Frank said

‘Yeah we really have to let Gina come here and meet you’ Max affirmed, pinching her cheeks playfully, she giggled

‘Oh but Gina doesn’t quite like the gym you know…all the sweaty bodies and all’ Frank said, wrinkling his nose

‘….and this guy here cannot stand Gina coming in here’ Max says teasing his friend, knowing Gina did not want him anywhere near the gym during gym hours

Frank chuckled ‘Gina and her friend Karen had made their husbands build gyms in our houses and banned us from visiting gyms outside because of what they termed strange women temptations’ he laughed

Max snorted ‘Frank on the other hand would get into a jealous fit if Gina were to accompany him here because of the lewd jokes and looks she would get from other guys’

Nikita laughed, squinting at him. 

Frank rolled his eyes, waiving him away

‘Yeah so he never let on when he would be dropping by at the gym, preferring to come during work hours at lunch time when the gym was empty and no fawning females around’ Max says, wiggling his brow at him

‘Got to train and maintain this physique’ Frank says, flexing his muscles, laughing,

Max nodded mockingly ‘Sure… and Gina should not come and maintain hers right?’ he teased

‘No no no she can come’ Frank answered, still laughing

‘Well I’ll like to see her soon’ Nikita says, smiling

‘Oh we will work on that then’ Frank answered

‘So Max I should leave now’ Nikita said, looking at Max ruefully

Max he shook his head. ‘Too formal’ he said ‘...not Max, call me something sweet’

She thought to herself ‘Baby’

Max shook his head ‘No, that's my green for you’ he said

‘Yeah Max is not a baby man’ Frank chuckled.  Max warns him with his eyes

‘Honey’? She smiled, his eyes flashed, the name stirring him up

‘Mm yes’ Max said, kissing her softly

‘Okay cut it out, this is public’ Frank said, looking around quickly, relieved no one was looking at them

‘Killjoy’ Max muttered, stopping the kiss but still holding her on the waist, leaning into her

Nikita giggled turning her head to look at Frank

‘Well Nikky…welcome to the family’ Frank said, smiling widely

‘Huh? …Family?’ Nikita asked, puzzled, corking her brow

‘Well I see you are now Max’s babe and I am his brother you know’ Frank teased

‘Oh’ Nikita answers smiling

Max rolls his eyes ‘Yeah yeah yeah’ still not happy his bonding time was interrupted

Nikita giggles and comes off his lap, slides into the chair, but Max still holds her close

‘Yup, my brother’s wife is family’ Frank said, smiling knowingly at Max

Max chuckled, giving Frank a thumbs up

Nikita rolled her eyes ‘Well we'll see about that then’ she stood up and sauntered over in a cat walk to Nora, well aware of the stares on her body

Nora was fake fanning herself at the display

‘Girl that was hawt’ Nora exclaimed in a low voice

‘Yeah I know right’ Nikita says, a dreamy look on her face

‘That's Max officially staking claims and saying you are his’ Nora whispered

‘Well that's good because I can't stand those two’ she said, nodding to Susan and Carla who were doing everything not to be noticed as they walked out of the gym to the driveway murmuring to themselves. 

Terra had since left them to focus on his track training with the guys

‘Leave those wannabees, the ship has sailed, Max is yours’ Nora said

The two men had been watching Nikita from when she got up. She had on a tight black skinned leotard and Max just kept gazing at her. And as Frank does the same, Max punches him in the knee

‘Will you stop looking!’ Max warns him

‘What?’ Frank snorted ‘It is right there for me to look at’ he said

‘Oh man...what are you even doing here?’ Max asked

‘Mm I had court this morning, I just needed to cool off’ he groaned, sitting up to pull off his tie completely and shrug out of his jacket before reclining back on the sofa

‘Oh…was it a tough one?’ Max asked in a worried tone

‘Yeah very tough one. But you know Mama Emma, tough as nails, we won the case’ Frank said

‘Oh, that’s great…proud of you’ Max replies excitedly...they shake hands ‘Real proud’

The two men steal looks at Nikita as she stands with Nora chatting away, occasionally looking back at them and giggling

Nora smiled ‘There is love in the air here’ she stated

‘I think so’ Nikita giggled

‘Yeah..’ Nora replied

As they giggled and chatted, the two men stopped eavesdropping and get talking about a common passion: the sports trials, coming up

'So we are hosting the trials here this weekend right?' Frank asked

'Yeah, we have written to the other guys to send in their nominees' Max replied absentmindedly

'Cool, I'll be available, new talents are a sight for sore eyes' Frank remarked

Max was silent, he hadn't heard him, being suddenly overcome with a feeling of nervousness

Frank noticed his friend's tense look 'Is everything alright?' he asked

Max shrugged, willing the strange feeling away but his leg began to twitch giving away his nervousness, his feet drumming on the floor impatiently. He sensed something ominous was coming...