Gracland - Blog Posts
the sound of racked weights met her before she even stepped fully into the room. and then — there he was. shirtless, glistening, halfway through his set and entirely too aware of how he looked doing it. her gaze skimmed over him just once — the glint of sweat on his back, the way his muscles flexed as he racked the weights — and then promptly returned to his face, unbothered. she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of lingering. still, the corner of her mouth twitched. a barely-there smile that came and went before it could settle. "how thoughtful," she said, stepping further into the room, clipboard in hand, completely unfazed — or at least appearing so. "you really shouldn’t have.” she was dressed in sleek black leggings and a slate grey sports bra layered beneath a cropped long-sleeve — neutral, fitted, entirely functional. she caught his eye, letting the air hang just a second before answering his question. "as for what’s on the repertoire?" her voice was smooth. "a lot of legs. core work. mobility. i figured if you’re going to insist on lifting like your life's a nike ad, we might as well make sure you don’t move like a fridge."
♡ — closed starter for @velvetysage
alec's halfway through a set when celeste walks in unannounced. his shirt is off, earbuds in, and there's sweat slicking down his back. this isn't about impressing her, but he's not above showing the blonde that he doesn't need her to keep up. racking the weights with a touch more force than necessary, he pulls one airpod out to speak. "don’t worry, cel, i saved all the boring stuff for you," alec says, barely sparing her a glance. this is how their dynamic always goes, competitive with a hint of underlying tension. "what's on the workout repertoire today?"
she watched his movements as he bent down to grab his tumbler, quickly debating whether she should offer to buy him a new one, considering the small dents and bumps caused by their collision. but seeing as he didn’t seem to care about the state of it, she decided to let it slide for now. "oh well, glad i could help you shake things up — quite literally," she said with a smirk, the words dripping with lighthearted sarcasm. her smile softened, but only for a moment, before she almost had to fight back a grin at his teasing comment. "careful now, stranger. if you keep saying things like that, i might just start running into you more often if you’re gonna say things that makes me feel extra special" the brief silence that followed was interrupted by the sound of a snickers bar finally tumbling down the vending machine. a bit too late and almost a comedic timing. "well, look at that..." she said with a mock-surprised tone, nodding at the candy bar. "unless you think that’s enough of a lunch for you . . yeah , let’s go find something better."
a small chuckle sounded from his lips, head shaking as he finally bent down to grab his poor, exiled tumbler from where it had rolled to a stop. “for the record, i’m usually the one getting kicked by life, not the one doing the kicking. so this is a refreshing twist,” he replied, slinging the bottle under his arm as he looked at her again. she was quick, charming in a frantic way, and definitely not the kind of person you forgot running into. “and no,” he continued, leaning in with a whisper, “i don’t offer lunch to everyone who nearly takes me out with a flying coffee cup. you’re just the exception.” his grin widened, hands sliding into the pockets of his hoodie as he gestured toward the exit. “but now that you’ve thrown a vending machine into submission and offered to feed me out of guilt, i feel like i’d be an idiot not to take you up on it. c’mon, let’s find something that isn’t held hostage behind bulletproof glass.”
riley fought back a laugh , rolling her eyes as she straightened from her little kick of desperation to the machine. her cheeks burned with embarrassment , but his easygoing attitude made it all feel a little less mortifying. " oh , yeah , the 'kick it till it works' strategy has been my go-to forever , " she said with a grin , her gaze flicking from his tumbler back to him. " i usually try to be a little more graceful, but apparently, today’s not that day. " she exhaled , watching the machine stubbornly refuse to cooperate. " maybe i’ve unlocked a new skill. maybe i should just start kicking everything that frustrates me , " she added with a sideways glance. " kick my way to a better day — could be my new philosophy. " when he suggested going for real food, riley tilted her head slightly , a smirk still on her lips. " is this your move with everyone who runs into you ? ask them out for lunch ? " she raised an eyebrow , the vibe between them feeling much more natural now. " but hey, since i knocked your water over and this thing is useless, i’d feel terrible letting you go without getting something in your system. you wanna lead the way ? "
felix was equal parts entertained and impressed as the blonde aimed a swift kick at the vending machine, the force of it making the whole thing shudder but refusing to free a single snack. "damn, okay. wasn’t expecting the brute force method, but maybe violence is the answer," he teased, gaze shifting from the machine to her, like he was trying to decide which one was more stubborn. "so, is this your usual strategy for life? just... kick things until they work? because truth be told, i’m both a little concerned and kinda into it." he looked back at the machine, as if willing it to spit something out just to save them both from further embarrassment. no luck. his tumbler was still rolling somewhere behind them, but he had momentarily abandoned the idea of retrieving it. a hand raked through his hair as he shot her a lazy grin. "alright, maybe we should accept defeat and go get some real food like normal, functioning adults."
riley's heart skipped a beat as she collided with the guy, the impact knocking the breath out of her as his water tumbler soared through the air, followed by what could only be described as a moment of complete and utter chaos. her coffee cup wobbled dangerously in her hand, and for a second, she thought it was going to spill all over her. but nope, she somehow managed to keep it upright, which was a small victory in itself. she glanced at the tumbler — now rolling across the floor — and immediately felt a wave of mortification. “oh, god, i’m so sorry,” she blurted, instinctively reaching out to steady herself, though she couldn’t quite tell if she was apologizing for the collision or the aftermath of water flying everywhere. when she looked up, the guy was grinning at her, a teasing smile on his lips that somehow disarmed her frustration. he wasn’t angry — no, he was... amused. great. that made her feel so much better. she ran a hand through her hair, trying to regain some shred of composure, though it didn’t help at all. “i swear, i’m usually way more coordinated than this,” she said. her eyes flicked to the machine, which had now become the object of her absolute disdain. "i’m definitely not here to fix it, sorry to bring you even more tragedy,” she added, nodding toward the malfunctioning snack dispenser like it was the source of all her current embarrassment. she took a deep breath and then gave him a half-smile. "i usually just do this..” which was then followed by her kicking the machine enough to give it a bit of a shake, hoping that it would work in her favor.
♡ → closed starter delivery for @velvetysage
he was in the middle of a very serious negotiation with the lobby vending machine when someone collided into him at full speed, sending his water tumbler flying ( and his dignity ) right along with it. "jesus—" felix started, but then he turned to face them - wide eyes, out-of-breath, clutching a coffee cup like it was a lifeline - and, well, he wasn't exactly mad anymore. "you always body-check strangers or am i just special?" he teased, stepping back just enough to get a better look. they were flustered, clearly in a rush, but there was a certain electric aura, like they could talk their way in or out of anything if given five uninterrupted minutes. "please tell me you're here to fix this thing," he nodded at the vending machine, "because i'm one lost snack away from a full breakdown."
céleste’s smirk lingered, amusement flickering behind her gaze. he was quick. smooth. predictable in some ways, but in others? not at all. his confidence wasn’t new to her — the men she had been around in her life had lived and breathed it. but the way he wore it, like a second skin rather than something performative, that was what made him stand out compared to all the rest. "i will be impressed if you last the entire session without needing a break." a beat. her gaze swept over him, like she was already calculating his limits before they’d even started. “not to worry .. it is after all also my job to make sure you don’t push yourself too much. or at least not to a point where you never want to book another session. as he squared his shoulders, slipping back into his usual self-assured posture, she took a step back from the window. "coach?" she arched a brow, amusement playing at the corners of her lips. "i may not do pep talks and participation trophies. but let it be known, i’m not one to take it easy." she let the words settle between them, her gaze unwavering, "i train hard." her voice was calm, steady, but there was something else beneath it — a quiet challenge, an unspoken dare. she reached for her phone to check the time. " but we’ll start easy. now, show me the way to the gym.." a deliberate pause, just long enough for him to register that she wasn’t actually planning to start easy at all. "unless, of course, you’d prefer to keep standing there, looking pretty, and wasting time." she tilted her head slightly. "your call, jameson."
insufferable. the word dripped from her lips like something honeyed, meant to stain, but he let it seep, wearing it like a second skin. it wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last, but coming from her? well. he almost wanted to hear it again. cerulean hues moved to where she’d set the bottle down, noting the control she seemed to possess with every small action she took. alec wondered how much of it was habit and how much was defense. either way, he wasn’t in a hurry to figure it out. "exhausting myself trying to impress people has never been my style," he replied lazily. "but placing my energy elsewhere? guess we’ll see how much of that energy i have left by the time you’re done with me." his smirk deepened, but there was an undercurrent beneath it. one part amusement, one part something else entirely. whatever game they were playing, she was keeping up, maybe even a step ahead, and that was rare. but for now, he reminded himself that she was here to work. he straightened his posture, stretching out his arms before rolling his shoulders back, his expression slipping back into something cocky, self-assured. "alright, coach," alec began, "are you going to keep staring at me, or are we starting this session?"
céleste accepted the bottle without breaking eye contact, fingers grazing his just long enough to make it seem incidental — a calculated accident, if anything. she brought the bottle to her lips, taking a sip — not out of need, but because she didn’t mind letting the silence stretch either. his reply lingered between them, deliberate, measured. a soft breath of amusement slipped past her lips, almost like she was entertaining the thought—before she tilted her head slightly, gaze dragging over him in a way that was half assessment, half something else. something more dangerous. most people, standing in a penthouse like this, would probably be fixated on how he got here — the money, the name, the effortless access to things others could only dream of. but none of that had been her first thought. his wealth, his lifestyle, the privileges that came with it — didn’t impressed her. money made things easier, not more interesting. and alec? he was interesting. not because of what he had, but because of whatever was lurking beneath the curated exterior. but that didn’t mean she was about to hand him that realization. "mm." the sound was thoughtful, considering, but not entirely convinced. she let her eyes flick over him — not in admiration, but in calculation. like she was still deciding exactly where he fit in her world. "so what you’re saying is…" she let the words hang, her lips curving just slightly. "you’re naturally inclined to be this insufferable?" she took another sip, before setting the bottle down with a quiet clink against the counter. then, with the faintest smirk, she met his gaze head-on. "noted." she took a quick gaze across the new york city skyline. “at least you're not getting exhausted trying to impress people then. more energy to place elsewhere.”
his smirk didn’t falter, but he captured the way her gaze moved — perceptive, knowing. most people didn’t look that closely, or if they did, they were too busy being in awe of his wealth to question what they found. celeste, apparently, was neither. it felt as though she had already sized him up and decided exactly where he fit into her world. that was new. most people were too distracted by the money, the name, the lifestyle to see past the surface. they played along, eager to impress, but céleste? she wasn’t playing at all. at her comment about the water, he chuckled before quipping, “hydration is important, céleste. i thought you, of all people, would appreciate that.” he moved toward the built-in fridge, prying it open and grabbing a random bottle without even checking the brand. voss, apparently. twisting off the cap, he held it out to her. “but if this doesn’t meet your standards, i’m sure i can have something imported. nothing but the best for my trainer, right?” her next words, though, caught him slightly off guard. not that he showed it. you don’t have to try and impress me. he let the silence stretch just long enough to make it noticeable, his eyes lingering on her frame. it was almost inscrutable, but there was something there. maybe the smallest crack in all that control. he eased a little closer, just enough to minimize some of the space between them, but not enough to cross any lines. not yet. “who says i’m trying?” his composure was level, tone light and teasing. “maybe this is just me.”
céleste took him in, gaze flicking over him once — slow and measured. he looked exactly as expected: self-assured, relaxed in that infuriatingly effortless way, standing there like he had nothing but time. but beneath all that charm, she caught something else — a flicker of something in his posture, like a tension he was pretending wasn’t there. her lips twitched, the faintest amusement ghosting across them. “an interior designer? please. you don’t strike me as the type to let anyone else make decisions for you.” she let her gaze drift, taking in the penthouse with a passing glance. it was as sleek and impressive as expected. something told her he hadn’t been the one to choose the finishes, the furniture, the perfectly staged decor. money made things easy. taste was another matter. “besides,” she added, letting her gaze flick back to him, “if i were, you’d owe me a lot more than just a session.” unhurried, she moved further inside, the soft click of her steps swallowed by the sheer openness of the space. the view was spectacular — the city unfurling beneath them like something out of a dream. but she had no plans of giving him the satisfaction of saying so. instead, she turned back to him, arching a brow at his offer. “evian, smartwater, voss — what, do you collect overpriced hydration?” her tone was light. "any of your finest water will do," she mused, finally meeting his gaze again. "you know," she exhaled lightly, tilting her head just slightly, "you don’t have to try and impress me." there was no condescension in her tone, no outright challenge. she could feel it — the slight acceleration of her heartbeat, the way her body registered the shift before her mind could catch up. but she kept her expression carefully neutral, refusing to let it show, refusing to let her thoughts spiral. it was just them. no noise, no distractions, no audience. she inhaled slowly, steadying herself, reminding herself exactly who she was. control was second nature to her. she wouldn’t let this — whatever this was — change that.
the subtle chime of the elevator sent a slow ripple of awareness through him, breathing turning into a sport instead of something that came naturally. he didn't move, his gaze fastened to the doors that soon opened, watching as celeste stepped inside like she belonged there. poised and bearing an air of confidence that wasn’t forced. she was even more stunning today than the other night, framed by the floor-to-ceiling windows behind her, the concrete landscape stretching out like he owned it. but right now, she was the one commanding attention. a self-assured smirk curved on his lips as alec crossed the threshold to meet her with deliberate, unhurried strides that said he wasn’t rushing for anyone. “funny, i don’t remember hiring an interior designer,” he joked, one head cocked to the side as he purposely let his gaze glide over her. “but judging by the way you’re standing there like you own the place, maybe i should’ve.” adrenaline pumped through his veins at the mere sight of celeste, hands clammy as he wondered where they would go from here. "you want something to drink? i've got it all. evian, smartwater, voss. kombucha, green juice, coffee. pick your poison."
standing in the private elevator that led up to alec’s penthouse, céleste couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just stepped into an episode of succession — or something equally absurdly wealthy. it was rare that a client had their own gym — even rarer that she would be the one making the house call. but then again . . this felt different. she wasn’t nervous. céleste didn’t get nervous. especially not when it came to work. and this was just work. that’s what she kept telling herself. but as the elevator climbed, the thought she had been trying to suppress surfaced once again — why did she keep thinking about him? she was hardly the type to let a man occupy space in her mind. detached, selective, uninterested — that was how she had always played the game. and yet, somehow, alec had managed to slip past those defenses, taking up more real estate in her thoughts than she was willing to admit. shaking her head slightly, she exhaled, forcing the thought away. this was a session, like any other. it might be his home, but in her mind, she still held the upper hand. she always did. by the time the elevator dinged, announcing her arrival, she had already slipped back into her usual, unshakable confidence. stepping forward with her head high, her voice rang out, smooth and effortless. "hello? alec?"
♡ closed starter delivery for @velvetysage
casually resting his back against the wall, alec kept his eyes on the private elevator as the numbers ticked up. he wasn’t nervous per se, but there was a certain anticipation stirring in his nerves, a rare feeling he wasn’t about to analyze too deeply. celeste was fiery, quick-witted and undeniably attractive to the point where it was impossible for one not to look twice, and while he wasn’t the sort of guy that let himself get caught up over a girl, alec had to admit that she was able to get under his skin. their first meeting at the elysian party had given him a taste of what it was like to be around her, and now she was about to step into his territory (all business, no games... at least, theoretically). rolling his shoulders back, he waited with bated breath as the lift stopped on the penthouse floor. whatever happened next, he was ready for it.