I chill in response. “You have no idea. Thank you.”
“Sure, I'll leave you to it.”
Jackson walks away, leaving me to explore the gym by myself. My smile is so wide that it's starting to hurt from all this delight.
I picked the perfect day for yoga pants and a tank top.
I walk to one of the exercise mats and lie down on it, still unable to keep the happiness off my face. I give myself a good stretch, testing the limits of my flexibility.
I run through all the poses I know, holding them one after the other. Once this is done, I move to the main attraction: the punching bag.
It's larger than a regular punching bag, which makes sense because shifters are much stronger. These bags are also in reinforced structures and are even attached to the ground by a chain. I pick up some gloves lying around and get to work.
I land a solid right jab on the bag to test it out. It remains sturdy, absorbing the force of my strike well.
“Excellent.”
I do a left-right combo, hearing the rattling of the chains holding the punching bag in place, but that's about all the damage that happens.
I let out a long laugh, feeling free for the first time in a long time. Boxing is something I love, and it feels so good to be able to do it again. It would be great if it were an actual person, but the punching bag is more than enough.
Working up a sweat is pretty easy with how hard I'm hitting. I go hard at a constant pace until I tire myself out. Even then, I still try to get in a few more punches like I'm never going to come to the gym again.
I return to the exercise mats, realizing I didn't carry a towel to help with the sweat. I'm not drenched or anything, but it would be nice to at least wipe the perspiration from my forehead.
I go back to stretching, holding my poses again to loosen up my limbs. This workout session has been very successful. After stretching, I sit with my legs folded and straighten my back before closing my eyes.
Just breathe. In… and out. In… and out.
I try to guide my mind during this meditation, but it travels in no time. I imagine that I'm not alone in the gym. My mind conjures Grant in front of me, concentrating on my movements and giving me pointers.
We go from this to him helping me stretch. His eyes look deep into mine as his body presses against mine, moving my limbs to his will as he stretches me.
His hands slide over me and his sweaty frame fuses with mine as we work up even more sweat together. A moan escapes me. I force myself to snap out of this trance immediately.
When I open my eyes, it feels like I'm still in a trance. I see Grant leaning against the door. The shock makes my heart quicken and it doesn't stop as he walks inside. Everything I had felt a second ago multiplies by a thousand.
I see the lust in his eyes, the longing for me. He scans my body and I smell how much he wants me. Unlike last time, it's clear that neither of us is going to back down.
As the alpha approaches, I brace myself for what's about to be the best time I've had in a very long while.
Chapter 9
GRANT
My body is out of my control as it pulls me toward the girl on the exercise mat. I wasn't standing there for long, but seeing her in this state is far too much to resist.
Everything about her is absolutely perfect. Her hair, the way sweat glistens on her skin, all of it.
My brain pushes me to reach for her, to touch her. Nothing is left in me to fight these urges, and I silently pray that Leena runs away again.
That's what saved us last time, but she doesn't look strong enough to do it anymore.
She gets up on the mat, keeping her eyes on me. I reach her, standing just as close as I did the day before.
Seconds pass between us as we wait to see who gives in first. What little control I have left fades quickly, but Leena's restraint is gone.
She jumps on me and I catch her easily. Leena kisses me, and it instantly feels like I'm in a dream. The taste of her lips is one I've been longing for.
