Page 26 of Downward Dawg
“Dom,” she breathed his name, shivering in his hold. “We need to talk.”
He froze in her arms, and she played back her words.
“Oh shit, not that way.” Elodie pulled back, lifting his chin with her fingers. “It’s a good talk, I promise. Well, I think it’s good. See…” She winced at the hurt and bewildered expression on his face. “No, it’s good. I just need to tell you about me. My past. I don’t want you to be blindsided by anything.”
“You kill someone?” His eyes darkened, mouth twisting. “Kick puppies? Laugh at disabled people?”
“What? No. Why would you think that?” Pausing for a breath, she steadied herself. “This is what happens when I try to start in the middle of a mental conversation. I’m so sorry, Dom. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“If you did any of that, we’ll talk. If you haven’t, and those are some of the worst things I can think of on the fly, then I doubt what you tell me will have any sway in how I feel about you.” His expression softened. “But I promise to listen. Whatever it is, I’ll listen.”
“That’s all I can ask,” she said, rising to her toes to brush her lips against his. “How about we do this tonight, so there’s no waiting and angsting?” She kissed him again. “All of that would be completely on my side. I already know you don’t do angst.”
“Life’s too short.” He gave her a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Tonight sounds good. I was comin’ over anyway.”
“I was hoping.” Chicken reared up on her leg, bumping her elbow. “So was Nuggie, seems like. I’ll make dinner and we can chat over food.” Nerves wound through her belly. “Fair warning to you. It’s a hard topic for me. Hard as in difficult to put into words. I don’t like even thinking about that time in my life.”
“Then I’ll hold your hand or hold you. Whatever you need, Ella.” This time his smile lifted the corners of his eyes, and when his hand landed in the small of her back, it was to urge her closer. “No rule breakin’ today. But would it be okay if I hung out with you for a bit? I’ve got a couple hours before it’s time to open the shop.”
“I’m going to do yoga,” she warned. “That’s not a spectator sport.”
“Long as you take it easy on me, I’d be down for some stretching.” Leaning in, he kissed her lips quickly, ending with a smack. “Lemme lose the boots and socks, and I’ll be ready.”
“I’ll say it again, Dom. You’re a good man.” The last of her tension fled, and she shook out her arms and hands to release the tingling sensation. “I’ll get some mats ready for us and we’ll do this thing.”
She shook out a couple of towels to the side and made a nest for Chicken, who immediately took up residence, turning in a tight circle several times to show his approval.
Then she put down mats, doubling the one for Dom. Looking up, she watched as he removed his vest and folded it tidily before setting it on top of his boots. His wallet already lay to the side. He glanced in her direction and their gazes met and caught, the sensation that he could see deep inside her filling her up with wonder.
He’s the one.
Aloud, she said, “Shall we begin?” Indicating his mat, she folded her legs and settled into an easy pose. “Let’s start with breathing.” He’d told her about using box breathing while looking for her, and she knew he’d make the connection too. “It’s a great grounding effort.”
“Yeah it is.” He was a little less clumsy getting to the mat, and she grinned. “Yeah, yeah, get your yucks out. I might have been trying to practice a little.”
“That’s good. After all, yogaisa practice.” Closing her eyes, Elodie demonstrated the breathing technique, counting softly. “One, two, three, four, hold.”
Within a couple minutes, the atmosphere in the studio was calmer, easier, and Elodie was well centered. She opened her eyes to find Dom dutifully breathing slowly, his shoulders angled away from his ears, palms flat on his thighs. She stared at him. As when he was sleeping, the relaxed lines of his face accentuated the handsome features.
“Oh goddess, I’m a lucky lady,” she whispered, and met his gaze when his eyes snapped open. “Let’s move to cat/cow breathing. Knees hip width, hands shoulder width, and we breathe in as we drop our belly to the ground in cow, lifting heart center to the sky.”
He adopted the new pose without argument, following her lead in a way that gratified far more than any class ever had.
“Now roll the back up, feeling every vertebra fall into place as we arch the pelvis, breathing out stress and ill will. Head down between our shoulders, this is a way to stretch out the back, releasing tension. And back to cow, lifting heart center to the sky as we breathe in deeply.”
The next thirty minutes went the same way, and as they came to an end of their shared practice, Elodie smiled when she felt Dom’s hand brush hers, fingers twining together. They lay on their backs, breathing slowly.
“Good boy,” she crooned and Dom laughed.
“Thanks, I think.” He laughed again.
“Not you. That goes without saying.” She smiled without opening her eyes. “But, Chicken was really good at waiting. Okay, go.”
The dog’s first jump landed him in Dom’s stomach, eliciting a loud “oof” in response. His second had him snuggled along her side, feet aimed at Dom, licking both of their faces wildly as he kicked and wiggled.
“Oh, yeah.” Dom groaned, clutching his belly dramatically as he chuckled. “He’s a real good boy.”
Now or never.
