Page 34 of The Love Position

Letting out a frustrated huff, she rubbed her face. ‘I’ve been thinking recently that I should just go to an ashram for a few weeks to try and crack this breathing thing.’

‘You don’t need to. You’ve already made significant progress over the last few months.’

Her eyebrows raised, and she gazed at him sceptically. ‘I was looking at the Devanandara website. They’ve got month-long teacher trainer courses which they say are suitable for complete beginners. I’ve got the entire summer off with no plans anymore, so I might give it a go. I don’t want to teach yoga, but it looked like it might be a helpful thing for me to do?’

Isaac hesitated. The Teacher Trainer Course was immersive but also intensive, and he wasn’t sure if it was right for someone as fragile as Sophia currently was.

‘I threw myself into mine and it changed my life for the better,’ he began. ‘But it’s not for the faint-hearted.’

Her expression tightened, as if his words were a criticism of her ability to handle it.

Shit!

He cleared his throat. ‘I mean, it’s pretty full-on, and er—’

‘I’m used to studying,’ she interrupted. ‘I know it’s all new, but I’m sure I could pick it all up fairly quickly.’

Isaac didn’t know how to reply without continuing to put his foot in it, so he nodded.

‘And I didn’t realise there was an ashram in the Caribbean,’ she said, her expression bright. ‘On its own private island! If I was going to study yoga, then I couldn’t think of anywhere nicer to do it than on a white sandy beach.’

He smiled. ‘It’s a beautiful place to do the course.’

‘I bet it’s not as lovely as here.’

‘Maybe not.’

‘Anyway, it was just an idea. I doubt I’ll actually do it.’ Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders. ‘Let me try breathing abdominally again. Can you look at my chest and make sure it doesn’t move?’

Jesus…

Isaac nodded, even though he wanted to run in the opposite direction. Sophia’s breasts were magnificent and he wanted to bury his face in them.

Don’t be a creeper!

But it was easier said than done. Sophia’s brow was furrowed in concentration, but all Isaac could think about was laying her down on the sheepskins and kissing every part of her body.

He hadn’t touched himself for years, his celibacy extending to masturbation. However, after meeting Sophia for the first time, he’d woken from sleep multiple times to find he’d climaxed during the night.

Next time, it’s the Scout hut or nothing.

He couldn’t teach her here ever again. It was too intimate.

‘I’m still not doing it right!’ She sighed. ‘It feels so strange, and the more I think about it, the worse it seems to get.’

‘It’s all good. Don’t worry. Why don’t we strip things back even further? Let your hands rest in your lap and see if you can sync your breathing with mine. Don’t think about an objective or a goal. Just stay in the present moment.’

She nodded decisively and sat up straighter. However, rather than staring at his chest, she looked into his left eye, the gateway to his soul.

His heart beat faster, but he held her gaze, his breath flowing gently in and out.

After a few moments, the tension in her face released, and her breathing matched his.

This is good. She’s getting it.

The air was still around them, so warm Isaac couldn’t feel the boundary of his skin anymore. The birdsong and rustling of leaves faded into the background until it disappeared. All that was left in his sphere of awareness was Sophia. He didn’t want to break eye contact and wasn’t sure he could even if he tried. They were breathing as if they were one being, connected in a bubble with energy flowing around and between them.

Then it began.

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