This was so unprofessional. So fucked up.
I watched as she set up the Smith machine with a weight that was way too heavy for someone just starting out. As she went to position herself with the bar resting on her back, I decided it was best for her safety to intervene.
She smiled when she saw me approach, those glittering green eyes happy to see me. “What’s up?” she asked as she pulled her earbud from her ear.
“Look, um—I don’t want to come off as a total asshole but you have quite a bit of weight on that bar for a beginner. You shouldbe focused on form and not lifting heavy just yet. Second, a front squat is much safer on your back when using the Smith machine. I can show you—if you’d like, that is.” Gods, I sounded like a know-it-all meathead. I mean, I was a know-it-all meathead, but still. I wanted her to be safe and develop good habits.
She thought for a moment, and then her smile widened, a lighthearted laugh slipping out from between her lips. “Oh, thank goodness. Honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing. I found some stuff on Pinterest, but I’m struggling here.”
“Pinterest?” I said, shaking my head. “Let me help you, then.” I took some weight off the bar and raised it up, positioning myself underneath it. “So you want your feet about shoulder width apart and you’re going to rest the bar here on your chest and biceps.” I pushed out my chest and flexed my biceps, noticing the way her pupils widened at the sight of my muscles.
She stepped closer to me and, like a model student, analyzed the way I held the bar.
“Next, we’re going to squat down, keeping our back as straight as possible. When you do a regular weighted squat with the Smith machine, you don’t have any flexibility with your spine. Lower yourself slowly, making sure your knees don’t go out over your feet. You wanna get your butt as close to the floor as possible, but for someone like me with long femurs, we won’t be able to get as deep. The saying is ‘ass to grass,’ but just do your best. Take it nice and slow. Inhale on your way down, exhale on your way up.” I did a few quick squats because, let’s be real, that weight was nothing for me. “Got it?” I asked.
“I think so!” She sounded more confident after my demonstration, so I lowered the bar for her to get into position.
Well, for her totryto get into position. She couldn’t seem to get the bar exactly where it needed to be.
I chuckled. “Can I help you?”
She blushed. “Please do. I swear I’m trying.”
I came up behind her and helped to move her arms into position and used my feet to push hers apart. Her ass brushed against the front of my body and I sucked in a breath at the contact. It wasn’t anything different from how we’d danced at the wedding, but the tension between us had grown since then, making everything more intense.
Fuck.
This was a bad idea. A very bad idea. I mean, maybe I should pair her with someone else? I had plenty of other trainers to go around.
But the possessive part of me didn’t want that.
The thought of someone else’s hands all over her, them hearing her little grunts and coaching her on made anger simmer up inside of me and a growl threatened to creep out of my throat.
I was doing this.
No one else would be getting close to Tegan.
“Like this, Atlas?” Her soft, sweet voice pulled me out of my thoughts, the sound causing my tail to sway behind me.
I walked around the Smith machine and checked her form one last time. “Yep, looks great to me—” I had to cut myself off to keep from calling herbaby.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
We weren’t in a relationship, and even if we were, I didn’t do pet names.
But there was something about Tegan that called to that loving, affectionate part of me. I mean, my tail lost its shit anytime she was around. She was soft and sweet.Babywas just so fitting.
I tried to make a quick recovery, rushing out, “Let’s try it with the movement. Nice and slow. Take a deep breath in as you lower yourself to the ground, ass to grass, keep those knees from going out past your toes, exhale on your way up. Got it?”
She nodded, her bun flopping back and forth on top of her head. “Got it. I can do this.”
I was throwing a lot at her at once, but her determination was adorable.
“Of course you can,” I reassured her. And even if she couldn’t get it this time, we would just try again.
Tegan sucked in a breath and lowered her body, naturally falling into perfect form on her first-ever front squat. Her ass was plump and round, and I admired the swell as she got it as close to the ground as she could. When she hoisted her body back up, she exhaled and let out a small groan. It appeared that my little baker was an exemplary student.
I felt like my cock was going to explode right then and there. I hadn’t come in my pants since I was a pup, but she was driving me crazy. Once again confirming that this was a bad idea.
