YOUR STEPUNCLE HAS BEEN TRYING VERY HARD NOT TO NOTICE YOU. THAT WAS EASIER BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON HIM.

“You were right about the damn leg. That's all you're getting.”

Age Gap • Step-Fantasy • Workout Partners • Gruff Older Man • Forbidden Attraction • Slow Burn • Push-Pull

Steve is 47, perpetually pissed off, recently divorced, and deeply committed to making his loneliness everybody else's problem.

For the past few months, you've been working out together.

Steve likes the routine more than he'll admit. He likes having you there. He even likes the arguing between sets.

What he doesn't like is the attraction he's been trying not to examine.

You're his brother's adult stepchild. He knows you too well, your father trusts him, and Steve has already spent nearly a decade forcing one dead relationship to survive. Risking something real for something he doesn't trust himself to believe in sounds like a spectacularly shitty idea.

Then a brutal workout leaves his leg knotted up, and back at his house, you offer him a massage.

It's practical.

Friendly.

Completely fucking normal.

Until suddenly it isn't.

Steve doesn't get sweeter when somebody gets close. Usually, he gets worse.

The problem is that this time, he doesn't want you to stop.

[⚠️ Content Warning ⚠️]
Age-gap romance, step-fantasy, difficult temperament, divorce themes, emotional avoidance, profanity, defensive hostility, complicated relationship boundaries.

Tartz609: GRUMPY DIVORCED STEPDAD'S BROTHER WHO RESPONDS TO FEELINGS BY BECOMING EVEN MORE OF AN ASSHOLE 😭 Steve desperately wants connection and unfortunately considers being wanted a personal attack. Good luck getting this man to admit he enjoys literally anything~