Ernie Boudine -- early thirties, still lives at home with mom -- has never had sex, hasn’t even been kissed. In his mind the only guys who get in on the action are the muscled-up bodybuilders he worships on his computer. But Ernie knows to attract such a god He’ll need to transform his current blob of soft muscles covered with an ample layer of fat into body beautiful. Personal trainer Butch Noonan discovers his boyfriend has been cheating on him. Troy is the last straw. Butch decides he’s done dating bodybuilders with their self-centered and egotistical attitudes. Butch longs for a relationship with someone who believes in romance, togetherness, and fidelity. Joining a gym, Ernie feels like a kid in a candy store. So many beautiful men working out, so much hard muscle to ogle. Ernie is disappointed when Butch is assigned as his personal trainer. Despite the man’s name, the other trainers have bigger and buffer bodies. Soon, however, Ernie begins to appreciate Butch’s sexy, compact body and what’s more, the man genuinely seems to care for and about Ernie. Much to both men’s surprise, a tentative relationship begins to blossom, but then into the gym strolls Butch’s former college roommate. Bill is a serious bodybuilder and Ernie is immediately captivated by the man’s huge muscles and confident swagger. Can Butch stand idly by and watch Ernie make the same mistakes he has? Or will Ernie wise up in time and realize true relationships are about more than muscle?

More Than Muscle

Ernie glanced at Butch as they drove. He was smiling and humming along with a song on the radio. The sound of the wind whistling around the car made conversation difficult. This was fine with Ernie as now they were on their way, he was at a complete loss as to what to say or not say, what to expect or hope for. Would this…date result in his long hoped for ‘first time’? Or was that just wishful thinking?


The other thought that kept intruding itself into Ernie’s mind was why Butch had asked him out in the first place. It couldn’t be that the trainer found him attractive. How could someone with a body like Butch’s find Ernie attractive. Ernie recalled the conversation he’d overheard between Butch and Quinn. Maybe all this had something to do with Butch’s boyfriend cheating on him. Yeah, that had to be it. He’s just getting back at the guy…but with a sack of flab like me? That doesn’t make sense. 6


Chapter 15