Between Sinners and Saints

"Don't worry about it," Jaime said. His tone was clinical. Professional. Detached. "It's a common physical reaction. You don't need to be embarrassed."

"That's easy for you to say."

"It's a natural response to physical stimulation--"

"No shit!" The stupid thing was, now that they were talking about it, it was only getting worse. He was pretty much flying full mast now, and the thin sheet covering him certainly wasn't hiding it. "Are you almost done?"

Suddenly Jaime pushed harder on his tender thigh. It hurt so much Levi almost jumped off of the table. "Ow! What the hell  Did you do that on purpose?"

"Took your mind off your other problem didn't it?" Jaime said, without cracking a smile.

"You're a little bit sadistic, aren't you?"

"You're not the first person to think so." He pushed again on Levi's thigh, and Levi winced. "This is really a symptom of the problem with your psoas, so we'll do a few movements, and then I'll try to loosen it up and release some of that lactic acid."

Those words sounded harmless, but Levi soon learned this was going to be the worst part of the whole deal. It felt like there was broken glass inside his thigh when Jaime started to work on it.

"Fuck, it hurts!"

"I know. I'm sorry about that."

"You don't sound sorry!"

"It's important that you keep breathing--"

"That's your best advice? Keep breathing?"

"Are you from Florida?"

The sudden topic change flustered him. "What?"

"Some people find talking distracts them from the pain. So...  are you from around here?"

Levi found the entire situation aggravating, but he gritted his teeth and answered. "My family lives in Georgetown, South Carolina."

"When did you move here?" Jaime wasn't looking at him. Not at his face, at any rate. His eyes were on Levi's thigh as his hands continued to work. His expression was distant and analytical. He didn't seem to care about the answer, but Levi gave it anyway.

"When I was twenty-one." That was the point when he'd given up on trying to pretend he could be what his parents wanted him to be. He'd dropped out of BYU and intentionally picked the one place in the country his parents associated with sin and excess. Even Vegas offended them less than Miami.

"You've been a surfer your whole life?"

"Yes."

"It looks like fun. I've always wanted to try it."

"It is fun," Levi said, relaxing now that he was talking about something he loved. "I'll be happy when I can do it again without paying for it for days afterward."

"And you're a bartender?"

"Yes."

"Where at?"

"The Zone." Jaime's hands stopped moving for a fraction of a second, before resuming their assault on Levi's tender thigh. Just enough that Levi knew Jaime recognized the name. "I don't think I've ever seen you there," Levi said.

Jaime shook his head. "I don't get out much."

"But you're gay, right?"

"Does it hurt less now?"

It did hurt less. Talking was helping. But Levi wasn't that easily put off. "You should come by sometime. Drinks on me."

"I appreciate the offer--"

"The offer usually comes after the drinks," Levi said, and he was happy to see Jaime blush. It was the first break in his professional demeanor.

"I assure you Mr. Binder--"

"It's Levi."

"--I have no interest in being one of your conquests."

"'Conquests'? You think that's the kind of guy I am?"

"Isn't it?"

His eyes met Levi's as he asked the question. There was no laughter in his voice, but no accusation either. Levi was surprised at his forthrightness, and he laughed. "What gave me away?"

"I know I look like a farm-boy from Kansas--you probably think the tornado missed Oz and dropped my in Miami by mistake--but I assure you that isn't the case."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means, I've met guys like you before." Levi was trying to decide if he should be offended by that comment. "Anyway, The Zone has...," Jaime hesitated, and his blush deepened.  It made him look even younger. "It has a reputation."

"Really?"

"There's a rumor about a storage room?"

"All true. I'd be happy to show you some time," he said, just to watch Jaime blush more. "I'll give you a personal tour."

"I'll pass, Mr. Binder."

"It's Levi."

"It's Levi when you're cooperating. It's Mr. Binder when your trying to hit on me."

Levi laughed. "Fine. I'll stop." For now, at least.

Jaime moved on to his other leg, which was quick and painless, and then he had Levi turn over. His lower back and left butt cheek prompted more of the strange exercises. They were painful, and yet, he could tell already they were helping.

When he was done, Jaime left the room while Levi got dressed.

"How's your leg?" he asked as he came back in.

Levi flexed it, testing his weight on it. It did feel better. Not good. But better than it had felt in a while. "I think you might be a miracle worker."

"Not really. It will tighten back up if you let it. I'm going to give you some stretches to do. Make sure you drink a lot of water tonight, to help flush the toxins out of your system." He spent the next few minutes explaining the stretches he wanted Levi to do. Levi doubted he'd do them, but he wasn't going to tell Jaime that. He made an appointment to come back on Thursday. "It was nice meeting you," Jaime said at the end of the appointment.

"You too," Levi said. "Thanks for your help."

"You're welcome, Levi."

Levi started to open the door, but stopped and turned to look at Jaime. He really was cute, in a boy-scout kind of way. "That drink offer still stands you know."

"Have a nice afternoon, Mr. Binder."