Page 8 of My Trainer Neighbor
I tensed even more at his touch, which was probably the opposite of what I was supposed to do.
"Breathe," he said, his voice dropping to something softer.Less teasing."In through your nose, out through your mouth.Just breathe."
I tried to follow his instructions, but having him behind me, his chest just inches from my back, was making it hard to concentrate on anything except how he smelled like soap and something distinctly male.
"Better."His hands moved down to my arms, adjusting my posture."Now, I want you to squeeze your shoulder blades together.Like you're trying to hold a pencil between them."
I did as he said, surprised when some of the tension in my upper back actually started to release.
"Good.Now release.Again."
We went through the movement several times, and I began to relax.This wasn't so bad.Just basic stretching, really.
"How does that feel?"he asked.
"Better, actually."
"Good.Now let's try something a little more active."He moved around to face me, and I immediately missed the security of having him behind me."We're going to do some bodyweight squats.Nothing crazy, just basic movement."
He demonstrated, and I tried not to stare at how his thighs flexed as he lowered himself down.Tried and failed.
"Your turn."
I mimicked his position, feeling awkward and uncoordinated.My legs shook on the way down, and I was sure my form was awful.
"Not bad," he said, moving to stand beside me."But you're overthinking it.It's just sitting back in a chair.Like this."
His hand settled on my lower back, guiding me through the movement, and I felt heat spread through me at the contact.This was so not helping with my stress levels.
"Better.Again."
We went through several more squats, his hand staying on my back to guide me, and by the time we finished I was breathing hard and very aware of every place we were touching.
"How was that?"he asked.
Confusing.Frustrating.More arousing than exercise had any right to be.
"Fine," I said.
"Just fine?"There was that teasing note in his voice again."Come on, Nicole.How did it actually feel?"
I looked up at him, at those green eyes that seemed to see right through all my defenses, and for a moment I considered telling him the truth.That it felt good to move my body.That it felt good to have someone's hands on me, even in this innocent context.That it felt good to do something other than work for thirty minutes.
That it felt dangerous.
"It felt like exercise," I said instead.
He laughed, a low sound that did something to my insides."You're a tough crowd, princess."
There was that nickname again.It should have annoyed me.Instead, it made my stomach flip in a way that was becoming disturbingly familiar.
"I should go," I said, suddenly desperate to put some distance between us before I did something stupid like ask him to put his hands on me again."I have work to finish."
"Of course you do."But he didn't sound disappointed, just amused."Same time next week?"
"I didn't say I wanted to do this again."
"You didn't say you didn't want to either."He handed me a towel I didn't really need."Doctor's orders, right?"
