Page 32 of Reckless Dare

She usually practiced yoga in the mornings to help her focus. But after more or less being holed up in her room most of the weekend, she wanted to explore the campus. She decided to check out the gym and practice yoga there along with a cardio workout.

Changing into her workout clothes, and grabbing a water bottle, she set out to the gym that was located mid campus. She breathed in the fresh air. The sun was yet to rise and the campus was quiet yet breathtakingly beautiful in the soft moonlight light.

It was slightly chilly, but the brisk walk helped her to warm up.

The gym facility was huge from the outside. She walked past the automated glass doors after scanning her ID on her phone. There was no one at the front desk or anywhere in sight. She knew the place would be bustling soon once the students woke up.

She took the stairs to the second door as the map indicated there was a yoga studio right next to cardio workouts. She planned to do yoga for half an hour followed by another thirty minute of cardio.

A small smile played on her lips as she walked toward the back of the large facility, a new found confidence building up inside her. She was still figuring out ways to adjust into what was her new life, the one she had dreamed about for a while.

She just needed to get into her groove and stay focused on her coursework and hopefully make some meaningful, lasting friendships. Scanning her ID once again, she stepped into the empty yoga studio and shed her sweatshirt. She was wearing a tank top and yoga pants. The temperature inside was kept warm. There were sanitized yoga mats at the corner. She grabbed one.

The place was quite big and offered excellent privacy and ambience. She also took in the subtle floral scent like someone had burnt an incense stick in there.

The scent reminded her of home, especially the days when they had a traditional ceremony. She missed her family terribly more than she had when she was in Harvard.

She let out a sigh, pushing away the tightness in her chest.

Even though she had been talking to them regularly, it wasn’t the same as having them close enough to hug. And she badly needed a hug.

She couldn’t let stress get to her. There was still a lot to do. She had coursework planning with her counselor, the internship that she needed to apply to gain the experience and the still pending extracurricular activity selection that was mandatory at the university.

Taking in a deep breath, she slowly closed her eyes to push away all her thoughts. She always meditated before she got into a yoga routine to settle in. Every breath she took she felt calmer.

When she felt calm enough, she opened her eyes and began her routine yoga exercises.

Thirty minutes later, when her mind and body felt refreshed, she stood up to get an intense cardio workout.

She smiled, feeling much lighter. She walked out of the yoga studio and went to the cardio workstation that was at the center of the three storey building.

She was heading to the treadmills when her steps suddenly faltered. There were sounds of people exercising. Her heart nearly stopped and began to race when she saw a shirtless guy picking up weights next to a treadmill.

He was facing the other way, but she somehow recognized the broad back.

A loud gasp escaped her mouth in response to his presence.

Oh God! What is he doing here!

She wanted to turn and run back but the devil had turned at the sound of her gasp and already seen her. She froze when their eyes met. He carefully put the heavy weights aside before he began walking towards her.

Oh God.

She continued to stand there frozen while his long legs ate up the distance between them.

“W-what are you doing here?” she asked when he was barely a couple of feet away. “D-did you follow me here?” She was surprised she found her voice.

He looked at her for a long moment.

She knew her question was ridiculous since it was obvious he had been working out for a while. He was sweating. Without his shirt, the well-defined lean muscles made him all the more intimidating. She felt hypnotized by the thin gold chain he wore around his neck with a small pendant in the shape of a lionhead. It resembled the Simha University logo.

Her eyes flew up when he took a step closer and immediately, her senses filled up with the citrusy, musky smell of him. She held her breath.

“Eight days and you haven’t left still, Harvard,” he said in a soft, menacing tone.

Her stomach dropped. “I-I don’t want to leave,” she said.

His dark, intense eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice. Either you leave on your own or I will make your life unbearable. Whatever happened so far would be child’s play compared to what I would do to get you to leave.”

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