Page 42 of Emergence and Ascendance

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. Myfirst 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?"

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