This story is entirely fictional and is in no way connected with the subject. This story contains adult material and is only suitable for people over the age of 18. If you are under 18 please stop reading now. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living, dead, or undead, is purely coincidental. All characters portrayed in this story are over 18. Do not use this without my permission. (c) Copyright Viper_Noj 2002 onwards. Now, on with the story!
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Gina Carano pulled down intently and powerfully on the weights machine, drawing the heavy weights vertically up as she let out a hard, controlled breath in response as she worked through another set. Despite being done with UFC and competing in competitive mixed martial arts, she still worked out intently and kept herself in shape, not just for her own career but her own health, finding calmness and order in focusing on herself. She was working out at her favourite gym, a place she'd been for years and felt completely at home, loving the friendly atmosphere and despite her burgeoning celebrity she was never harassed or bothered, only shown politeness by fans and friends at the gym. Perhaps it was because of who she was and nobody wanted a punch off her if they said the wrong thing.
It was going into the evening on a Friday and the gym was quiet, most people having packed up for the weekend and gone home to get ready for a night out or an evening in, leaving her working out in a much less busy gym. There were still a few people there working out, including a guy she knew there called Adam; he'd been coming to the same gym for years and she knew him pretty well. He'd initially been quite small and slim, quite weak, coming in after an illness she knew little about and didn't intend to pry, valuing her own privacy and respecting his. That was ages ago and he'd worked hard for years just like her and was now in good shape, strong and defined with lots of pure, natural muscle. She was quietly impressed with his progress and dedication to it; they had a friendly relationship and got on well, with plenty of hello's and some small talk, though she couldn't say they were close.
As she worked out, she could see him giving her glances, taking her in when he thought she wasn't looking or paying attention to him. She was a little perplexed as he knew he could chat to her if he wanted to, it was no big deal and she wasn't some ice queen as perhaps people expected or other celebrities were. She kept on working out, figuring he'd make something of it if there was anything more than checking her out which she had noticed a fair few of the male members were want to do, focusing on pumping her weights hard and getting the burn she desired. She continued on through her sets, finishing up her set at the machine and moving over to free weights for some dumbbell rows. Gina set out her chosen weights and got to her set, focusing again and working her biceps and back as she pumped hard, carefully controlled sets. She did both arms before a rest, deep hard breaths before resuming again, noticing out of the corner of her eye that he'd finished up and was heading in her direction.
Adam bit the bullet and headed towards her, taking in her muscular, toned form as she worked out, like many loving the beautiful definition of her body, the evidence of her work in the gym. His heart pumped intently despite the familiarity he had with Gina, something different this time.
"Hey," he said, not wanting to interrupt her sets as she paused between them.
"Hey, Adam, how's it going?" she asked with a smile, leaning up from the bench to greet him.
"Going good, Gina, how about you?" he replied.
"Hold on," she said. He watched and patiently waited as she did another set with the dumbbell, working hard, watching her muscles ripple beneath her skin, her strength evident.
"I'm good," she said, kneeling up on the bench once more, "what you been up to?"
"A bit of everything right now, wrapping up my job," he said.
"Wrapping it up?" she enquired.
"Yeah I've got myself a new job," he replied, sharing the news he'd been intending to.
"Congratulations, doing what?" she asked. He was sure it was mere politeness.
"Something boring in engineering, don't worry about it, thanks though," he said with a smile, breaking the tension.
"I'm sure it's not boring to you," she replied with a smile.
"No, it's very interesting actually, but most people don't seem to think so," he said.
"Well let's not get into it but congrats, the next step in your career so good luck," Gina said.
"Thanks, it does mean I'll be moving out of state though so this is my last day here," he replied, getting to the crux of the conversation.
"Oh wow, really? That sucks," she exclaimed, genuinely disappointed to hear of his departure.
"Yeah it's a downside," he conceded, "but with that in mind, how about a drink?"
Gina looked up a little surprised, since he'd never even suggested anything similar before and she was at a loss for words momentarily.
"Come on, have a drink with me," he offered again, reaffirming his initial invite.
"Well...I...don't know," she said shyly, her true nature far more reserved than any public appearance would suggest.
"It's my last chance so I'd love to take you for a drink, if you'll have me," he said, playing all his cards in one fell swoop.
"What do you have to lose? You can kick my ass if I step outta line anyway," he smiled.
"True," she laughed.
"So what do you say?" he asked. Gina paused a moment to consider it, figuring it was only a drink or two and if things didn't go anywhere they could just say their goodbyes and leave it.
"Sure, I'll come. Just give me a bit to finish up and grab a shower, ok?" she replied. He struggled to keep the joy from his face as he smiled and replied affirmatively.
"Meet you out front," he said before walking away to pack up himself, his final gym session with her over with as he headed for the changing rooms. Gina smiled to herself at his nerves but also straight forward, no fuss invitation as she picked up the weights to hit another couple of sets, focusing her mind once more to pump a few more hard sets and get them right even as her mind mulled over his sudden, all-or-nothing approach to taking her out for a drink. She finished up and headed for the showers, stripping down and casually cascading herself with the refreshing spray. Soaping up and rinsing off, her hands ran smoothly over her muscular body as she washed herself off and stretched gratefully under the water for a few minutes before heading to get ready.
She walked out to the front of the gym to meet Adam standing waiting for her, dressed casually in jeans and a shirt which matched her own equally casual outfit since they'd both just been to the gym for a workout...though perhaps he'd had the hope to ask her out.
"Hey, didn't sneak out the back door then," he said with a smile as she walked up to him.
"No, I said yes so let's go," she said with a laugh.
"Sure, straight forward I like it," he said as he turned to lead the way towards the bar he had in mind. It was just a casual place, only a few minutes walk from the gym and they made small talk as they headed down there, the pleasant evening fading gradually as the sun declined in the sky. The barman greeted them and if he knew Gina didn't show it as he got them two beers, Carano not being the type to bother with anything fancy. They grabbed a seat near the windows and slid into them, the green leather of the booth smooth and cool.
"So how's it been going, Gina?" he asked, taking a sip of his beer and willing his heart rate to slow as he was suddenly in the moment with her.
"It's been going alright, ups and downs like always of course," she replied, measuring her response as she realised it'd been a while since she'd been on a simple, casual kind of date like this.
"I'm sure it's all up, Gina, you're doing great," Adam said, referencing her burgeoning acting career and general increase in recognition.
"It's never all up. Not like you, new job and everything, that's a step forwards," she said, turning the talk back to his new opportunity and essentially the reason for their date.