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Sweat, Strength, and Desire

Summary:

A famous model from Chicago by the name of Mateo has earned himself a perfect life. He rose from poverty, got himself an education, gave back to his parents, got his dream job, and even achieved his dream body. But one day at the gym a person named Aiden catches his eye even though he never has. Even though Mateo always assumed he was straight he can’t deny the bond they forge as Aiden turns his world upside down.

Notes:

Smut will not be in this chapter and there won’t be any until chapter 4 or 5 but there will be explicit touching and language. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: First Introductions

Chapter Text

Mateo Alvarez had always been an observer. Born into a family of hardworking immigrants from the Dominican Republic, his parents had sacrificed everything to give him a better life. Their journey to the United States had been full of struggle, but they had always made sure that he felt loved and supported. From the moment they landed in Chicago, Mateo's life had changed forever.

As a child, he had spent most of his time outside, playing soccer in the streets of the city, pushing his body to its limits. His parents had always encouraged him to pursue his dreams, but it wasn’t until he reached his teens that Mateo truly understood the significance of their sacrifices. They had worked multiple jobs to provide for him, and it wasn’t until he was older that he realized the weight of their hard work. It was at that moment that Mateo promised himself he would never let their efforts go to waste.

Determined to make something of himself, Mateo poured himself into his studies and athletic pursuits. By the time he graduated high school, he had become the pride of his family — not only a talented student but also a promising young athlete. His commitment to sports, especially soccer, had made him a local legend. His physique, honed through years of athletics and weightlifting, was a reflection of that dedication. His broad shoulders and muscular frame drew attention wherever he went, and his skin, a rich caramel brown, seemed to glow with health and vitality. But his chest — that was his defining feature. Massive, broad, and impossibly sculpted, it was the first thing anyone noticed about him. His pecs were a testament to his hard work, so pronounced that they nearly seemed to stretch the fabric of his shirts. People couldn’t help but stare when he walked by, his chest out in front of him, carrying the weight of his efforts.
.

It wasn’t just the size of his chest, though. It was the way it looked — full, rounded, and defined, a feature that captured attention even more than his muscular arms or his defined abs. Mateo had sculpted it over the years, dedicating hours in the gym, pushing himself through grueling workouts, each rep a reminder of what he had sacrificed to get there. It had become his greatest asset, a symbol of his strength and discipline.
.

It wasn’t long before his natural athleticism began to open doors. By the time he turned 20, Mateo signed his first modeling contract, quickly rising to prominence in fitness and athletic modeling. His large chest, firm abs, and strong legs — the product of years of hard work — made him the perfect candidate for athletic wear campaigns, a testament to the hours he’d spent perfecting his body. But despite the many opportunities that had come his way, he always returned to his chest as the centerpiece of his look, the feature that set him apart from everyone else.

Though his success in modeling grew, Mateo never lost touch with his roots. He worked tirelessly, not only building his own career but using his success to give back to his parents. Just recently, he had purchased them a beautiful new home on the outskirts of Chicago — a far cry from the cramped apartments they had once lived in. It was the fulfillment of a dream he’d held since childhood, and it was a reminder of the sacrifices his parents had made for him.

One crisp morning, after finishing his usual jog, Mateo decided to head to the gym. It had become part of his routine, a place where he pushed himself to stay in peak condition. The gym, filled with the sounds of clanking weights and the low hum of gym-goers, always felt like his second home. A few early risers were already hard at work, the day still young.
However, today, as he walked further into the gym, he was immediately struck by a sight that had his attention locked in a way he wasn’t expecting.
Aiden.

Mateo had seen Aiden around the gym before — everyone had. But today, something was different. Aiden was in the middle of his workout, doing squats with a form so perfect that Mateo couldn’t help but admire it. Aiden’s body wasn’t massive like a bodybuilder's, but lean, athletic, the kind of build that suggested agility, speed, and strength. His legs, though not overly bulky, were sculpted and thick with muscle. His glutes — damn. His glutes were massive, round, and firm, stretching the fabric of his gym shorts. With each squat, they seemed to jiggle with a life of their own, flexing and shifting in a way that was impossible to ignore. They didn’t just move with his workout; they had a rhythm of their own, each subtle shift causing his glutes to bounce and flex in a hypnotic, mesmerizing way. Mateo found himself completely transfixed, unable to look away as Aiden’s glutes wiggled and jiggled with each movement.

Aiden was white, and that fact only made his movements stand out even more — the contrast between his pale skin and the powerful flexing of his glutes was striking. There was a fluidity to his movements, a grace in how his body seemed to work together. It wasn’t just about strength; it was about how everything, from his lean torso to his powerful legs, came together so effortlessly. But the glutes — those were the star of the show. Each step, each squat, was like a small performance, a flawless display of the results of his dedication.

Aiden finished his set, standing tall and catching his breath. As he wiped the sweat from his forehead, he scanned the gym, and for a moment, their eyes met. Mateo froze, unsure if he had been caught staring. But instead of averting his gaze or making things awkward, Aiden flashed a confident, welcoming smile.

“Hey, Mateo!” Aiden called, his voice loud enough to cut through the hum of the gym.

Mateo felt his pulse quicken but forced a grin. He wasn’t going to let Aiden know how flustered he was. "Didn’t expect to see you here," Mateo said, trying to sound casual.

Aiden, stepping closer, gave him a once-over with a grin. “Yeah, you know, just the usual. Gotta keep these bad boys in shape.” He slapped his glutes with a playful thud, and Mateo couldn’t help but stare. The way Aiden’s glutes jiggled with the slap — the force of it sending a shockwave through them — had Mateo absolutely transfixed. "How about you, man? Getting in some work?"

Mateo chuckled, a little surprised by the sudden shift in energy. “Trying to, yeah. You’re definitely ahead of me on that front,” he said, still admiring Aiden's effortless confidence.

Aiden winked. “Oh, you noticed, huh?” He slapped the other cheek for good measure, clearly enjoying himself. “You can’t ignore results like these, right?”
Mateo couldn't help but laugh. "I can see that. Those glutes are something else."

"Thanks, man," Aiden said with a smirk, clearly reveling in the attention. “Maybe you should work on yours. We could hit the gym together sometime. I could show you how to really work ‘em.” His voice was teasing, but there was something genuine in the offer.

Mateo raised an eyebrow, intrigued but trying to maintain his composure. “I’d be down for that,” he said with a grin. Aiden’s ease and confidence were starting to draw him in, and he felt the tension between them building. This wasn’t just a gym conversation anymore. It was a connection, undeniable and intense.

Aiden’s backstory wasn’t as flashy as Mateo’s, but it was just as remarkable in its own way. Born and raised in the suburbs, Aiden had always been lean — scrawny, even. But he didn’t let that stop him. He’d always been into sports, and as a kid, he was known for his speed. The kind of lean build that made him excel in track and field. But as he got older, he realized his body needed more than just speed. He wanted to be stronger, more defined, and so he threw himself into weight training. It wasn’t about getting bulky; it was about creating a body that was functional — agile, fast, and undeniably strong.

Years of dedication in the gym had sculpted him into someone who wasn’t just strong, but someone who could command attention. Aiden's long, muscular legs and his wide, perfectly round glutes were the result of hours spent working on what he loved — and it showed.

“I gotta admit, I wasn’t always like this,” Aiden said, wiping his forehead again. “Growing up, I was more the skinny kid who ran track. But I realized, I needed to focus on building my body, not just for looks, but for function.”

Mateo nodded, impressed. “I can respect that. You put in the work, and it shows.”

Aiden’s confidence wasn’t just from physical strength, but the way he carried himself. He had grown up surrounded by people who didn’t believe in him at first, but he proved them wrong. Now, people couldn’t ignore him. It wasn’t about the size of his muscles — it was about the way he moved and how his presence seemed to fill the room.

As their conversation continued, the undeniable chemistry between them only grew. There was a playful dynamic — a sense of competition, but also camaraderie. Aiden was clearly confident in his own skin, and Mateo respected that. He hadn’t expected to meet someone like Aiden today, but now that he had, he found himself intrigued — more than intrigued.

They agreed to meet the following day for a workout session, and as Aiden waved goodbye, Mateo watched him walk away, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He couldn’t deny that he was looking forward to their next encounter.

Chapter 2: Growing Closer

Chapter Text

It had been a few weeks since Mateo and Aiden had first met. What had started as a casual workout partnership had evolved into something else entirely. They were still friends—maybe even closer than that—but there was a certain tension between them now, a quiet pull neither of them could ignore.

Mateo couldn’t help but notice the way Aiden’s muscles flexed when he worked out. The way his glutes tightened and his body moved with purpose made it hard for Mateo to focus on his own exercises. Each time Aiden finished a set of squats, it was like everything else around him faded into the background. He’d feel his heart rate quicken, his focus slipping. He tried to keep his mind in the gym, but the soft grunts of effort, the way Aiden’s powerful legs pumped as his glutes flexed so tightly—Mateo had to shake his head to refocus.

Just focus, Mateo, he’d tell himself, but it was hard. It wasn’t just the physical strength that Aiden had, though that alone was impressive. It was the way Aiden carried himself, with confidence and a subtle charm. There was something magnetic about him, something Mateo couldn’t quite put his finger on. But every time Aiden caught his eye, he couldn’t help but feel that quiet flutter in his chest, even though he wasn’t sure why.

Aiden, on the other hand, found himself watching Mateo just as closely. At first, he’d try to keep his gaze from lingering, but over time, it had become harder to look away. There was something about Mateo’s determination, the way his chest expanded with each push-up, how his biceps strained against the fabric of his shirt, the discipline in his movements—all of it made Aiden's stomach flip. There was an undeniable attraction in how Mateo moved, in how effortlessly strong he was. It made Aiden feel something unfamiliar in his chest, something deeper than admiration.

The first time their eyes had met during a workout, it had felt like something shifted between them. They both shared a quiet understanding, a recognition of something unspoken. Neither of them said anything, but they both knew.

Focus on the workout, Aiden thought, trying to rein in his growing admiration. You’re here to train, not to get distracted. But each time Mateo pushed himself harder, Aiden couldn't help but admire the way his muscles shifted with each movement. The way his chest swelled as he pushed against the floor, the veins in his arms, the determination in his eyes—it was all too captivating. Aiden tried to push the thoughts aside, but the tension lingered.

So, when the idea of a friendly challenge came up—Aiden’s squats versus Mateo’s push-ups—neither of them was prepared for how much their feelings for each other would factor into the competition. But deep down, they both knew there was more riding on this than just bragging rights. It was about proving something to each other. Maybe it was about testing the limits, maybe it was something else entirely.

They stood facing each other now, their muscles warm from their previous sets, sweat glistening on their skin. Aiden took a deep breath and shifted his feet. “Alright, let’s see if you can keep up with me.” He gave Mateo a teasing grin, one that was equal parts playful and confident.

Mateo narrowed his eyes in return, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “You’re on. But you know, I’m pretty good at push-ups.”

Aiden laughed softly, clearly unbothered. “Yeah, well, I’m about to show you how many squats I can do.”

They both positioned themselves, Mateo dropping to the floor for his first set of push-ups, Aiden standing tall and ready for his squats. The challenge had begun.

As Mateo moved through his push-ups, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Aiden, watching as his friend bent and rose, his form flawless. Aiden’s legs were strong, his glutes flexing with each squat, tight and defined. Mateo couldn’t suppress the thought: How does he do that so effortlessly? There was a certain grace in Aiden’s movements, and it wasn’t just the physicality—there was something mesmerizing in the way Aiden moved, the way he carried himself with such calm confidence. He wasn’t just strong; he had this aura about him, something Mateo admired even more than the muscles.

But as Mateo pushed himself through his reps, he started to feel the familiar rush of adrenaline. His arms burned, his chest felt tight, but his focus stayed sharp. No distractions, he reminded himself. I can do this. I’ve got this.

Meanwhile, Aiden was feeling the same strain, but his eyes kept darting back to Mateo. His chest, rising and falling with each push-up, the veins in his arms, the way his body moved with such fluidity. Every time Mateo dropped to the floor, Aiden felt that pull again, that familiar tension in his chest. He pushed it down. Focus, Aiden. You’re here to win this. Focus on the squats.

But the pull between them was undeniable. And as Aiden powered through his squats, Mateo’s body seemed to move in perfect synchronicity with his own—each motion an unspoken challenge, each breath a shared rhythm. The more Mateo pushed himself, the more Aiden admired the strength in his movements.

Mateo’s arms were starting to burn, his muscles fatigued, but he refused to stop. He had to keep going. He had to show Aiden that he could keep up. Despite the ache in his body, the sweat that slid down his back, he couldn’t give up. Not when it mattered this much.

Aiden was in the same boat, pushing himself further than he had before. His quads burned, his glutes were tight with each squat, but he couldn't help but feel the rush, the intensity of this competition, and the quiet connection that seemed to build with every rep. His mind was clouded, but it wasn’t from the exertion. No, it was because every time he glanced at Mateo, he couldn’t ignore the pull he felt.

The room was silent except for the sound of their breathing, the slight creak of the floor as they moved, and the soft thud of feet hitting the ground as the challenge continued. Neither of them wanted to admit it, but the stakes were higher than they had anticipated. Every moment felt like it carried a weight that neither of them could escape.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, both of them hit their max. Mateo dropped to his knees, sweat dripping down his forehead, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Aiden finished his last squat and stood tall, his body aching but his grin wide.

“Alright, alright, you win this round,” Aiden said, his voice laced with a mix of exhaustion and admiration. “But just know... I’ll be back for the rematch.”

Mateo chuckled, his chest still rising and falling rapidly. “You know, I’m pretty sure I can take you next time.” His breath came in heavy gasps, but there was something more behind his words—confidence mixed with a quiet challenge.

Aiden stepped closer, a playful glint in his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

As they stood there, facing each other, the air between them seemed to hum with unspoken tension, the connection between them stronger than ever. Neither of them had intended for the rivalry to become something more—but in that moment, it was clear that something had shifted. It wasn’t just a workout challenge anymore. The energy between them had taken on a life of its own, a silent undercurrent that both of them tried to ignore but couldn’t.

They stood in the same space, inches away from each other, their breaths mingling. Mateo looked up, meeting Aiden’s gaze, and for the briefest moment, everything felt heightened. His heart pounded in his chest, and Aiden’s lips parted slightly, as though he was fighting back something—an impulse, a feeling he couldn’t quite control.

And though neither of them had said it aloud, they both knew there was more at play here than just push-ups and squats. It was a challenge, sure, but it was also the beginning of something neither of them had been ready to acknowledge.

As the last drops of sweat fell from their skin, Mateo couldn’t help but feel that something had changed. The workout, the competition, had been just the beginning. This… connection between them? It was something neither of them could ignore.

Aiden watched Mateo with the same intensity, his mind racing. He hadn’t meant for this to happen, hadn’t meant for any of it to become this complicated. But standing there with Mateo, both of them breathing heavily and barely holding back the tension, Aiden realized that things had already shifted. And he had no idea where it was going, but somehow, he didn’t mind. It was a feeling he hadn’t anticipated—but one that felt impossible to deny.

Chapter Text

Aiden Crutchfield had always been built a little differently.

Back in high school, it was easy to get overlooked — tall but wiry, arms thin, chest flat, a mop of brown hair falling into his eyes. He wasn't the guy people noticed for his muscles or his jawline.
Not until he turned around.

Even as a fresh teenager, Aiden’s ass was impossible to ignore — a heavy, high, perfectly round curve that pushed out behind him like it had a life of its own.
Tight jeans, loose sweatpants, athletic shorts — it didn’t matter what he wore. The protrusion of it, the sheer fullness, made it something nobody could miss.
There were stares. There were whispers.
And Aiden, clueless and awkward, didn’t really understand what it meant.

It wasn’t until late nights on his parents' computer that things started to click.
Scrolling deeper into sites he wasn't supposed to be on, heart hammering in his chest, Aiden found himself staring more at the guys than the girls.
Found himself wanting them.
Not just in the way he wanted to be like them — strong, confident, sure — but wanting them. Their arms, their mouths, the way they looked at people they desired.

It hit him quietly. Not with fireworks, but with a deep, shaky breath he couldn't quite let out.
He was gay.
And he was stuck in a town too small, too judgmental to ever say it out loud.

It was fast. Messy. Not thought all the way through.
But he couldn’t stay.
He needed more. More people, more freedom, more options.
And when he found himself lonelier then ever, the middle of the night at the young age of sixteen, lonely and buzzing with nerves, he turned to Grindr.

The hookups happened fast.
First out of loneliness.
Then out of something else — something he hadn’t realized he was hungry for.

His first hookup was awkward. Nervous smiles, fidgeting hands, a motel bed that smelled like bleach.
Aiden didn’t go home feeling any different.
But his second encounter — that changed everything.

The guy was older, maybe early thirties, rough in all the ways that made Aiden feel young and dizzy.
The second the man got his hands on him — sliding down to Aiden's hips, squeezing the thick swell of his ass with a low groan — something shifted.
"Jesus Christ, boy," the man muttered, kneading the heavy roundness, fingers sinking deep into the plush, pliant flesh.
"You know what you're packing back here?"

Aiden had barely stammered a response before he was bent over the edge of the bed, that thick, high curve jiggling under every squeeze, every slap, every rough grind of hands that couldn’t get enough.
It wasn’t just that it was big.
It was obscene — protruding proudly behind him, full and heavy even against tight fabric, jiggling at the slightest touch.

It unlocked something inside him.

From there, the hookups snowballed.

There was the guy in the leather jacket who couldn’t keep his hands off, groaning openly as he slapped and grabbed and squeezed the bouncing mass through Aiden’s stretched-out jeans.
The college kid who spent the entire night spanking Aiden's thick, jiggling ass, making it ripple and shake with every sharp, admiring slap.
The office worker who practically worshiped him, burying his face between Aiden's cheeks, mumbling mindless praise into the warm, plush softness.

Each encounter left Aiden walking a little taller.
A little cockier.
Learning exactly how powerful he could be.

It wasn't just size — it was the way his ass moved.
The bounce. The jiggle. The way it clung to whatever he wore, making a mockery of loose shorts and jeans alike.
And when he walked — a casual sway, a playful little shift of his hips — it was like a magnet.
Eyes followed.
Always.

He wasn’t bulky. He wasn’t shredded.
But he had something men craved, and he learned how to use it.

Over the past year, he and his body had started to change. For one, he moved out of his small, conservative town and moved out to Chicago and went into real estate. Although that was nothing to his physical changes.
The endless cardio, the bodyweight workouts, the careful eating — it had started to build muscle on his once-skinny frame.
Now he was lean muscular — sleek lines, tight arms, faint ridges of abs visible under the right lighting.
Somehow, his ass still continued to grow, exploded even with all the exercise he put into it. He had achieved his dream body at the age of nineteen. Still small compared to the towering bodybuilders around him, but toned enough to turn heads even before they looked lower.

It was around that time — during his regular late-night scrolling — that Aiden first saw him.

Mateo Rivera.
Chicago’s own muscle giant.
The man had gone viral on social media for his unreal proportions — that massive chest like a slab of armor, those thick, powerful arms that looked like they could bend steel.
Photoshoots. Magazine covers. Viral gym videos.
Mateo was everywhere.

Aiden couldn’t look away.

Seeing him online was one thing.
But finding out Mateo trained at a gym just a few miles from his own apartment?

That had been fate.

Aiden switched gyms immediately.
No hesitation.

The first time he walked through those heavy glass doors, it felt like he could hardly breathe.
There Mateo was — benching absurd weights, the fabric of his tank top pulled obscenely tight across that colossal chest, arms bulging with every slow rep.
He looked even better in person.
Bigger.
Rougher.
Real.

Aiden kept his distance.
Admiring from afar had become a skill of his.

He made a routine out of it: subtle glances between sets, lingering at water fountains he didn't need, dragging out stretches just to watch Mateo out of the corner of his eye.
He memorized the way the man moved — the way his thick chest bounced slightly with every heavy step, the way he wiped sweat from his forehead with a gruff, careless swipe.
The way his dark eyes sometimes swept the room, assessing, calculating, before settling into a deep, focused burn on whatever weight he was about to destroy.

It was… a little pathetic.
Aiden knew that.
But he couldn’t help it.

Some dreams were safer when they stayed dreams.

Still, sometimes, standing in the locker room, peeling off his gym shorts, Aiden would catch his own reflection — the full swell of his ass jutting proudly behind him, thick and heavy, the tightness of his skin highlighting every luscious curve.
Sometimes he’d think about Mateo catching sight of him.
Sometimes he’d imagine a hand — his hand — reaching out to grab a fistful of him, strong and unrelenting.
Sometimes he caught himself adjusting his stance just slightly, making sure the roundness of his ass caught the light just right.
Just in case.

But Mateo never looked.

At least, Aiden thought he didn’t.

He had no idea that Mateo Rivera — the man he thought was untouchable — had been quietly noticing him for weeks now.
Watching the casual sway of Aiden's hips.
The mouthwatering way his ass jiggled with every step, every little shift of weight.
The way that even when Aiden tugged at his shorts self-consciously, it only highlighted the thick, perfect swell even more.

And he definitely didn’t know that Mateo was trying very hard not to think about how good it would feel to grab him.
To pull him close.
To finally feel that heavy, bouncing ass fill his palms the way he dreamed about at night.

Aiden was used to being the one who stared.

He had no idea he was becoming someone else's favorite view.