I walk over to where she is fighting with the silks, trying to figure out how to mimic what the woman in front of her is doing. Only she’s never taken a class, so she doesn’t realize that the woman in front of her comes every week at the same time. She’s one of the members I need to nudge into the next level. While that client practices inversion, Honor places her hands on her hips and scowls at the offending straps.
“What did these silks ever do to you?” I chuckle and hold out my hand. “I’m Nicholas Salerno, the teacher of this class, but you can call me Nick.”
She glances at my hand as if it frightens her. Interesting. I nudge my hand closer. “Nick. And you are?”
Honor straightens her shoulders and clasps my hand. The second our hands touch, a sizzle of electricity zaps through the center of our palms. She tries to let go, and I squeeze harder. Her doe eyes snap to mine searchingly. “Honor Carmichael. I’m just Honor.”
She tugs her hand away from mine and clasps it with her other one, ringing them together. I’d bet every last dollar in my bank account she felt the current of electricity between us at the single handshake. I can only imagine what it would be like body-to-body. A shiver rushes down my spine at the thought of embracing her. Holding her close. Kissing her.
I close my eyes and take a slow breath in and let it out. When I open them again, her eyes are on my bare chest. She swallows and lets her mouth fall open in a tiny gasp, one I feel all the way to my toes. The hair on my arms stands at attention as I pick up the mat between us and drag it up to the front where I can see her at all times.
“Um, excuse me, Mr. Salerno. Uh, Nick.” Her voice is small and hesitant. “I don’t want to be in the front. I don’t know what I’m doing.” She follows behind me, tugging the sleeves of her hoodie over her hands. She’s wearing a pair of skin-tight, black yoga pants I cannot wait to see the back of, but from the front, her curves are slight but still kicking. Not gonna lie; I love a petite little thing I can toss over my shoulder like a caveman and take straight to bed. Honor isn’t petite in height, but there’s not a lot of meat on her. Nothing my mama couldn’t fix with a few Sundays of her home-cooked meals.
Shit, Nick. Slow your roll. You’re ready to bring her home to Mama, and you haven’t even kissed the woman or taken her on a date yet. I let out a breath of air and cross my arms over my chest. Her gaze follows the movement. She licks her lips and bites down on the bottom one. Christ, what I wouldn’t give to bite her. Anywhere. Hell, everywhere.
“Honor, that’s exactly why you need to be up front. You’re brand new. I need to be able to instruct you directly and know that you are safe. Aerial yoga is a bit riskier with inversions and body placement. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt. You being front and center means I can keep my eyes on you.” All over you, I want to add but don’t. Wouldn’t want to scare her off.
Her head falls forward. “That’s what I’m afraid of,” she grumbles under her breath.
“Excuse me?” I grin, having heard every word.
“Uh, I’m okay. Thanks, Nick. I’ll follow along.”
“Is this your first time taking yoga?” I ask her, wanting to hear the breathy, sultry timbre of her voice.
Except she doesn’t speak. She nods and looks down.
“Eyes up here, bunny,” I say low enough so she’s the only person who hears me.
Her gaze shoots up, but instead of uncertainty, I again see pain.
She gasps and frowns. “What did you call me?”
“Bunny?” I jerk my head back, just realizing what I’d said.
“Yes. Why did you call me that?” Her voice is needle thin and just as sharp.
I place both of my hands on my hips and bend a little closer—not too close. I might scare her away, because I’m getting the vibe this woman is seriously skittish. Still, I lean in enough that we have a bit more privacy.
“Honor, you’re acting like a scared little rabbit. Bunny fits.”
“Please don’t call me that.” She speaks softly, looking at her feet.
“Fair enough. Now, I have to start class, but I’d like to talk to you more, after. Clear the air.” Without waiting for her answer, because she very well may have reached her quota of words for one conversation, I step back and up to my mat.
“Everyone have a seat, sit bones flat to the mat in lotus position, only this time, let’s place the feet together so that we’re creating a circle of energy within our own body. Hands to heart center, close your eyes and set your intention for today’s practice. What do you want to get out of it? What do you want to let go of? Breathe into that intention and exhale…letting go of everything that does not
