Page 53 of Found By You

Cassidy giggles. “That’s right, Mama Jules.”

Butch and Duke groan.

“Good to meet ya, Maci.” Clayton shakes my hand in a firm hold. “So, tell me, what are we in for?”

“Couple’s Yoga.” I smile. “Or better known as Tantric Yoga.”

“Tantric,” Clayton repeats in confusion. “Isn’t that the sex stuff?”

“What?” Butch barks out, horrified as he swivels on Cass. “You invited my parents to sex yoga!”

Julie scowls at her eldest son. “Knock it off, Butch Robert Montgomery. You sit down and listen to what Miss Maci has to teach us.”

I cover my mouth to muffle my laughter as Duke bites his cheek, grinning. He must love watching his brother still get in trouble at his age.

“It’s not sex yoga,” I correct him. “What I teach is a milder version of tantra, suited for any couple. Beginner or advanced. Whether you’ve been together for a few days or a few decades, I’m going to help you align yourselves with one another on a more sensual and spiritual level.”

“I think we got this, honey.” Clayton wraps his arm around his wife. “Let’s show these kids how they were made.”

Everyone bursts with laughter, except for Duke and Butch who look mortified.

I go to the front of the studio to stand on my mat. “If everyone could take a mat with their partner and remove your shoes—socks optional. We can get started.”

“Ah, shit,” Stan mutters. “Keep your boots on Butch, you’ll smoke us all out.”

There are a few snickers around the room as everyone picks a spot. All the ladies are dressed in proper yoga gear. While the men have on a sea of random workout gear, all suitable. Even Duke showed up in a pair of his more relaxed pants.

I wonder…

“Why’s Duke in the back?” Butch grunts, glaring over his shoulder.

“I’m observing.” Duke grins, snapping a picture of the unruly student.

“The fuck you are,” his brother says, gesturing to the front. “Get up there.”

“Do you normally teach alone, Maci?” Julie asks.

I bite my lip with a smile. “I do, but you know what… Duke, would you mind helping me out this evening?”

His smile fades instantly, the blood draining from his face.

Butch chuckles darkly.

“Come on now, dear, you’re holding up the class,” Julie scolds.

Duke grits his teeth, kicking off his shoes in the back of the room, and tossing his hoodie to the side. He strides to me with a glare. I smile, hitting play on the calming playlist over the Bluetooth speakers as I dim the lights. “Let’s start with some simple stretches to loosen up,” I announce, instructing everyone accordingly.

We go through a few stretches as well as a few solo yoga poses to give everyone a feel for what we’ll be doing with our breathing. “Now, I’d like everyone to sit back-to-back with their partner, legs crossed, knees angled out. Align your hips, your spine, shoulders—as best you can with any height difference.”

Butch leans back to kiss Cassidy, his sour demeanor diminishing once he gives her his full attention.

“Resting your hands on your knees, I want you to inhale a deep breath through your nose, and bring your shoulders up with your partner. Exhale with your partner. Inhale slowly, exhale. Let’s do several more of these breaths. Be sure to feel the breath you’re taking with your partner.”

Duke and I align and begin our breaths. He brings his hand around, gripping the side of my ass out of sight for everyone. Tease. I swat his hand.

“Inhaling, extend your arms up above your head,” I say. “Now exhaling, we’re going to let our arms fall to the side and twist to our right. Your right hand is going to touch your partner's left knee, and your left hand is going to rest on your right knee. Press with your inhale, and feel that stretch of your spine. Exhale, pull to deepen if you can.

“Hold for a moment,” I add. “Release back on exhale with your partner, twisting now to the left. Use your partner to feel that stretch, go as deep as you can, inhaling deep, exhaling slow. Beautiful, everyone.

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