“Hang in. I’ll talk to you later.”
They hung up. Time to use a bit of force from the force to help save an animal.
Arilyn threw her phone in her satchel and took a seat at the front.
“Let’s begin.”
HE NEVER SHOULD’VE EATEN the damn fish fillet.
Stone lay on the mat with his feet straight out in front of him. The object, besides breathing of course, was to touch his toes with his hands. The two bastards beside him seemed to have little trouble with this task also. As his teacher from hell praised them for their “surrender” to their bodies, he did everything in his power, including praying to God, to just touch one end of his finger anywhere close to his ankles.
Not gonna happen.
Was that look of sympathy she shot him on purpose? Damned if it wasn’t. Instead of support, she directed her words to him in her chilly, professional voice with no warmth: “Don’t fight your body, Officer. Relax into the stretch and accept your limitations. Not everyone can touch their toes the first time.”
He could bench-press an elephant and run two miles without breaking a sweat. But his ridiculous hamstrings were bunched up like cords, and his back wanted to spasm in shock. That was it. He was hitting some kind of Pilates class and screw whoever thought he wasn’t manly. This was humiliation in public. Stone glanced over to the other dudes and caught Eli’s triumphant look. Then the bastard leaned even deeper, going past his stupid toes.
Show-off.
She chattered nonstop in that lilting musical voice and got him even more twisted up. Stuff about release and the body-mind and the root of disease lying in anger. Had he ever noticed her ass was spectacular? Sure, he knew she was in shape, but when she turned and the perfect, tight, heart-shaped rear was right in front of him, he got all kinds of distracted.
He tried not to pant and curse, pretending to close his eyes and surrender. Instead, he peeked from under his lids and watched her float across the room.
The fish fillet seemed like a good idea at the time. He only meant to confirm his choice of food and show her not everyone was so perfect. How happy could one possibly be eating wheat and fruit all day? Instead, she’d gotten that scary look on her face, all focused and tight, like she was about to make him pay. As if she actually cared he may die before he hit forty. And that smart-assed remark about his age? Priceless.
Not very yogic. But a hell of a lot more intriguing than her usual. In fact, the way she put him solidly in his place the entire session kind of turned him on in a perverted way. At least she had a spine. A quite gorgeous one, he bet, from that tempting peek of unblemished white skin at the nape of her neck. She’d taken her long hair, twisted it up, and knotted it without even looking in a mirror. Like she didn’t give a crap how she looked. Also obvious in the lack of makeup on her face.
Imagine that. A woman who didn’t spend hours on her appearance. It was like the yeti—an intriguing but never-before-seen legend.
“Let’s breathe in, hold, and release from the position. Excellent work, gentlemen.”
His body creaked and cried, but he made sure to look like it was easy. The glint of laughter in those grassy-green eyes called him an outright liar.
“Later this week we’ll break from group, and I’ll be meeting with everyone on an individual basis. Have a good night.”
He pretended to be all Zenlike so he’d get a few extra moments to get himself up. Trying not to hobble, he made a note to check out the gym calendar for Pilates or something, and headed for the door. Thank God. He was gonna shoot some damn pool and put his supplies to use to gain his revenge. Then he’d—
“Officer? Are you forgetting our additional fifteen-minute session?”
He wanted to close his eyes and groan. Instead, he turned and pasted a confident grin on his face. “Nope, been looking forward to it all day.”
“I’m sure you have. Would you like a quick break to smell a cigarette pack? Drink a Coke? Gobble down some chips?”
He chuckled. “No, thanks. But I understand if you’re in a bad mood. Did you hear too much fiber backs you up?” He shook his head. “Quite uncomfortable, I bet. Me? I don’t have problems like that.”
She jerked back and pressed her uncolored, lush pink lips together. Her nose crinkled as if she smelled something bad. “Good for you. Of course, the other issues must be difficult to deal with.”
He cocked his head. “What issues?”
“Impotence. One of the major causes is a high-sugar and high-fat diet. Better think before that next Twinkie, Officer.”
For God’s sake, the little brat caused a hoot of laughter to escape. Damned if she didn’t know how to word rumble with the best of them. “Never been a problem before,” he drawled. Took a step closer. The clean smell of peaches and soap hit his nostrils. The sheer purity of her scent turned him on. Who would’ve thought? “Wanna see?”