Chapter 9
nine
Scotlyn.
Christian Fucking Devereaux.
I walked out of the meeting with BWB annoyed but also overstimulated.
As frustrated as I was with Christian, I also couldn't deny how sexy he was and how much of a turn on it was going back and forth with him with an audience who had no clue that our verbal sparring was because he had his head between my legs and his mouth on me last night.
Christian had my mind and body chaotically spiraling from the heat that blazed in my core which produced a dull ache between my thighs.
I barely managed to keep my mind on convincing the ladies to support me in-between thoughts of climbing on the table, spreading my legs wide and begging Christian to bury his face between them.
What the hell is wrong with me?
After he crashed my meeting with BWB then demanded dinner, I did my best to survive the rest of the morning which consisted of back-to-back calls with my New York team.
I was focused and distracted enough to push Christian to the back of my mind, but as soon as the last call was completed, my tense shoulders and stiff neck made me realize I hadn't done any yoga or Pilates since I landed in Crescent Falls.
My body was feeling the withdrawals. I needed to recenter myself so I picked up the phone to call the concierge and get a recommendation for nearby studios.
"Bend so be prepared to work."
"Sounds like exactly what I need today." I extended my hand. "I'm Scotlyn."
"I'm Niama. Nice to meet you. You're not new to Pilates, so that means you're switching studios?"
I gently shook my head. "No, well… yes, but temporarily. I'm in town on business."
"Okay, gotcha. I have no idea where Tasha is." She motioned to the desk. "You can consider me your official welcome to Bend and Breathe."
"Oh, I should probably wait and check in. I'm sure I need to sign my life away before I dive in."
She waved me off. "Don't worry about that. You can be considered my personal guest for this class, and if you don't hate it, then you can do all the paperwork."
"Sounds good."
She nodded. "Let's grab machines. Nori sometimes incorporates partner exercises and it's always better with someone who knows what they're doing."
Niama showed me where to put my things and we entered the studio. The room held ten reformer machines spaced out in two rows. Most were already occupied by people adjusting or doing pre-class stretching.
"Nori, this is Scotlyn. She's new to the studio but experienced with Pilates," Niama announced as we approached another woman at the front of the room.
Nori smiled. "Welcome! Are there any injuries or areas of focus I should know about?"
"Nothing specific. I'm in pretty good shape for my age."
"You can't be any older than in your thirties?"
I smiled proudly because my age rarely ever showed. I took damn good care of myself. "Forty-seven."
"Damn, girl. You look good as hell, never would have guessed that." Niama's eyes danced over my body and the approval she offered had me smiling through a nonchalant shrug. "Black don't crack."
"That part." Nori snapped her fingers above her head then pointed to the open space. "Pick a station."
I nodded and began a mental inventory of the reformers. They were similar to ones I'd used before but the spring system looked different.
"They're calibrated heavier than standard," Nori noted when she followed my gaze. "Start with one red spring until you get a feel for it."
"Okay, thank you." I adjusted the settings and foot bar and my mind drifted to Christian and the way his hands had confidently positioned me on the bench at the club.
I pushed the thought away and tried my best to focus on warm up stretches until it was time for class to start.
"Today we're focusing on movement patterns," Nori announced after everyone was settled. "For those with experience, feel free to add the advanced variations I demonstrate."
The class began with a standard footwork series but Nori's pacing was quicker than I was used to. The movements felt good though and it didn't take long for my body to remember the rhythm and adjust.
"So you're really experienced and weren't just talking shit," Niama stated lowly when we transitioned to hundreds and I laughed.
"I know better than to let my mouth write a check my ass can't cash with this stuff.
I did that once and never again. My first time at the studio, I took an advanced class because there was no way some twenty something could outdo me.
Big ass mistake. I was in bed for a week, barely able to roll out of it. "
"Ah, damn. Ego and pride."
"Definitely, ego and pride. This isn't that bad but the spring calibration is no joke though."
She laughed, nodding to agree while flowing through a sequence.
We moved through seated arm work and I appreciated that Nori offered both basic and advanced options for each exercise. I worked my way through the advanced variations. I could handle them, enjoying the deeper challenge, but when I felt like I was doing too much, I kept it basic.
"Now let's do a long box series. Swan first, then pulling straps."
Shit, my limbs were already aching, but I wasn't a quitter.
I set up my box without much trouble since I'd done this sequence plenty of times before.
When I was stretched out on the box and extended into swan position, my mind betrayed me again.
I lifted my chest and pulled the straps down next to my hips and the reminder of how I'd arched my back on the spanking bench when Christian had me restrained was in my head…
"Beautiful extension, Scotlyn…" Nori walked by and, thankfully, interrupted my thoughts. "Try reaching even further forward before lifting."
I nodded and refocused on the movements before making the adjustment while she was still next to me.
"Perfect." She nodded and moved on.
We shifted through a standard reformer sequence but Nori added transitions and flow elements that kept me challenged, which I appreciated.
By the time we reached the knee stretches, my muscles were feeling the distinctive burn from working them at new levels and I knew I was going to pay for that later.
"You good? Pace okay?" Niama was next to me, panting through a transition, and I arched my brow and smiled.
"I'll survive but are you?"
She wiped sweat from her forehead. "Jury's still out. Keep your phone handy in case I need you to hit 911."
I grinned and refocused on my own transition.
We moved into side splits and I appreciated how Pilates always seemed to clear my mind.
The concentration required didn't leave much room for distractions.
Whenever an image of Christian crept in, I was able to refocus on alignment or my breathing because thinking about that fine ass man was dangerous.
"Moving to standing work. I want my advanced ladies to add the challenge of balance but don't push too hard."
I positioned myself at the back of the reformer with one foot on the platform and the other on the carriage.
"Shit, you look like you could teach this," Niama grunted while adjusting her own stance.
"Fifteen years of dance. Balance is a requirement for not falling on your ass but this is still a challenge."
"I hear that. Nothing feels better than trying not to fall on my face while doing these."
We both laughed, which didn't help either of us with keeping our balance.
The rest of class was a variation of lunges and planks. I welcomed the burn in my core and thighs but still groaned through the sequences.
"Final exercise. Elephant into down stretch with a three-count hold at full extension."
The entire class mumbled their disapproval but Nori planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes.
"No pain, no gain, ladies. I'm here to keep your bodies tight and limber."
"If my man wasn't blessing me on the regular for how limber I am, I would curse you out," someone called from the corner of the room, making all of us laugh. We all survived and the end of class was devoted to stretching on the reformer.
"And that's our practice for today. Take a moment to acknowledge your body's work before you leave. Good job, ladies."
I released a harsh breath then sat up feeling exhausted but satisfied. "So what's the verdict on this class compared to your studio?"
"Definitely upped my game but in a good way. This is exactly what I needed today."