Christmas Candy(9)

“You sure? I saw the way you looked at my candy apple.”

I huff out a breath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He moves closer, our arms touching. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.” His conciliatory whisper has my heart stutter-stepping. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

I can’t focus on the numbers, not when he’s winding me up like a clock. It doesn’t help that this is the most distracted I’ve been over a man since … Since senior year when I stared at him running track instead of doing my homework. I’ve fallen into the same hole with the same guy, and I can’t seem to get myself free.

“Candy apples.” I keep my voice low.

“What?” God, his voice in my ear sends shivers shooting down my spine.

“I like candy apples the best.”

“I’d like to see you eat one of my candy apples. Extra caramel for you.” He hands me the next ball, his index finger skating along mine. “Something sweet on your tongue.”

My body goes up in flames as our eyes meet, and I call out, “O-69.”





Hank





I position myself on the mat and stare toward the platform at the back of the room. The front door opens and Candace walks in. Her face lights up when she sees me, and she unrolls her mat next to mine on the shiny wood floor.

“Fancy seeing you here.” She settles next to me. “You think this might be the way to her heart, eh?”

My eyebrows rise at her words, mainly because she seems to have seen right through me. “I figured it was worth a try.”

She lowers her voice as other students settle in around us, unfurling their mats and sitting cross-legged. “I remember you from school. She sort of had a thing for you.”

“It was mutual. Trust me.”

She nods. “I don’t think it violates friend code to tell you these things, mainly because I think it’s long past time for her to move outside her comfort zone.” She whips her hair up into a ponytail. “And it helps that I think you’re just the guy for her.”

“You do?” I respect her frank tone. She certainly doesn’t mince words.

“Yes. I saw it yesterday morning at the senior center. You two had more chemistry than one of Mrs. Black’s classes.” She winks at me. “And I wouldn’t mind having you around, either. Easy on the eyes and all that.”

I laugh, the sound gaining stares from a couple of the other students. “Got any tips for me?”

“Perseverance. She’s a tough nut to crack but worth it.”

I’d flirted with Olive during bingo, but I wanted to get closer, to bring down her walls so I could see the real her. She’d practically run from me after the event. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, to the point I was desperate enough to come over for a class.

“I’m going to hit her with everything I’ve got.”

“Let’s hope it’s enough. Also—” She gives my brand new mat a critical look “—how flexible would you say you are?”

“Huh?”

Her mouth pulls down into a frown. “And I didn’t even think about the planking she’ll enforce because of this.”

“What makes you think—”

The studio’s rear door opens, and Olive strolls in. She pauses when her eyes seize on me. A mix of emotions run across her face. Surprise, a hint of excitement, and a dash of irritation.

“Shit,” Candace whispers. “That’s a planking face.”

Olive recovers and springs up onto the platform in front of the mirrored wall at the back of the room. Her yoga pants hug the delicious curve of her ass, and her tank top highlights her round breasts. I wonder what they’d look like bare and bouncing as she straddles me. My cock tries to harden in my shorts. Not cool. I look away and find the white-haired Mrs. Reed staring at me from two rows up. Boner killer. Thank god.

The calming music rises—the sound of running water and a harp playing—as everyone climbs to their feet.

“Arms out to the side, breathe in, then bring them together overhead and pull them down to your heart with a steady breath out.” Olive looks at every student but me as we follow her instructions. “Cleanse yourself of whatever you came here with today. Release your burdens and just be.”

I can do this. Moving my arms up and down and breathing? Easy. We do the stretch a few more times.

“Half moon pose to the left.” Olive stretches her arms above her head, and I notice her nipples have tightened beneath her tank top. She leans from the waist over to her side.

The class follows. I can’t take my eyes off her body, the smooth curves, and the fair skin. We lean to the other side, and I haven’t even come close to breaking a sweat, though I have come far too close to getting hard in my gym shorts.