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

Gus walked away. Bill turned to Butch, put a hand on his shoulder, and said, “Say, I’ve been meaning to ask you, any chance of you and me hanging out tonight for old time’s sake?” He winked.


Butch knew that wink and the invitation that lay behind it. “Thanks, Bill, but I’m kind of seeing someone right now and…”


“Still into that monogamous thing, eh? Well, okay, but if you change your mind I’m at the Red Roof on Seventh, room 205.”


Bill walked over to another workout station.


Butch sighed and turned just in time to see Ernie disappear around the corner to the locker room. Why didn’t he come to let me know he was done?Butch started to go after Ernie when Gus called him back.


“Hey, Butch, I think I pulled something!”


Crap! Butch thought and turned back to the triceps extension bench.


Chapter 31