Chapter Eleven
Eleven
Atlas
Thank gods I was behind the desk because as I watched Tegan struggle with the Smith machine from across the gym, my dick swelled in my shorts.
There was something about the little grunts she made and the way her muscles strained and quivered that did it for me. I wondered if I could wring those same noises from her body, to make her quake with pleasure.
I had to stop.
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 should be 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 to try to 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 her baby.
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. Baby was 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.
“How was that?” she asked. Her freckled cheeks were flushed the prettiest shade of pink.
“You did a great job! You just needed some coaching to feel confident. You’re a natural!” She beamed at my praise, and that got the wheels in my brain turning. “You know, I could train you.”
She rested her arms over the bar and smiled at me. “You’d do that? Don’t you have administrative stuff to do?”
I mean, I did. She was a small-business owner, too, so she knew how time-consuming running your own business could be. But for her? I’d make time.
“Well, I’m filling in for one of my trainers currently. She’s out on sick leave.” It was a half-truth.
“But what about payment? I can’t let you do this for free.” Her voice was stern. She had pride. I liked it.
“What about baked goods in exchange for training? We can meet here early in the morning when I normally work out and train together.” The last thing I needed were more sweets sitting around, but if it kept her coming back, I’d gladly take them.
She slowly nodded her head and bit her lower lip. “I could probably swing baked goods in exchange for training. How early are we talking, though?”
“Four a.m.” I raised my furry eyebrows at her.
“Ugh. You’re killing me, Atlas! That’s so early,” she groaned, and hid her face.
“What? Don’t bakers wake up early?” I gave her my best wolven-next-door grin.
“I’m not that kind of baker!” The cute kind was what she was.
“Come on. It’ll be fun. Don’t you want to avoid future wedding-cake mishaps?” I cocked my head in question and stared down my muzzle at her.
“Of course I do.”
“What better way to do that than train with a five-time physique gold medalist?” It was rare that I talked about myself that way, but I really wanted her to agree to this.
She rolled her eyes at me, then smiled. “Well, when you put it that way, I can’t really pass up free lessons, can I? What day are we starting?”
“Tomorrow.” I pointed at her, cocking my head. “Four a.m., Tegan.”
“All right, all right. I got that part the first time you said it!” She giggled and scrunched up her little button nose in distaste.
Cute.
“We should probably exchange phone numbers. You know, so I can harass you if you don’t show up.” My muzzle curled up in a smirk.
Good thinking, Atlas. Getting to spend time with her and finally getting her number. I was a fucking legend. Killing this flirting shit.
She placed one hand on her wide hips and held out the other for my phone. “I promise I’ll be here,” she said as she saved her contact info. “Make sure you text me so I have your number.”
Oh yeah. She wants it.
I typed out a quick text.
Hi Tegan. It’s Atlas from Leviathan Fitness Be ready to hit it hard tomorrow.
Her phone vibrated and she snorted when she read my text. “You really like emojis, don’t you?”
I smiled and shrugged. “What, they’re cute. You know us muscle heads aren’t very articulate.”
She laughed again. I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of hearing that sound or seeing her smile.
“I better get back to the desk. Make sure you take it easy the rest of the evening. I don’t want you to be sore tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir!” she said, and fake-saluted me.
Sir.
My cock stirred in my pants.
This was a bad idea. Such a bad idea.