Tensanne
“OH, OUCH. OH, my God,” I moan, every muscle in my body screeching in pain. Breathing is painful.
Ronnie sits on my bed, placing her hand on my forehead. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?” she asks her face etched with concern.
“No, but did you get the license number of the truck that hit me? Fuck me, even my hair hurts,” I groan.
“What the hell are you talking about? Did Kohl do something? I swear to Jesus, I’ll kill him,” she rants, patting her hands along my arms searching for injuries.
“No, I decided to try out the elliptical machine last night and now I’m sore,” I say pushing her hands away, feeling pain in muscles I didn’t even know I had. My thighs are screaming, my calves are cramping, my butt hurts. Holy shit, why do people do this?
Her eyebrows arch up to her hairline, “You worked out?” she squeaks.
“Don’t sound so shocked Ron. It was a great release. My mind went blank, all the stress left me. It was great while I was doing it but I’m regretting that decision now,” I whine attempting to sit up again feeling agony in my abdominal muscles, I flop back on the bed with a whimper.
“That’s great, Ten. I told you it was wonderful. You have to move around, get those muscles warmed back up, take some ibuprofen, drinks lots of water, the more you do the better you’ll feel.”
Grabbing my glasses, I pick up my phone and see I missed a text from Kohl.
K: How are you feeling this morning?
T: Like I’ve been hit by a truck.
K: So, does that mean you don’t want to meet me for coffee? I’ll rub your shoulders or maybe a whole-body massage?
He texts adding the little devil emoji at the end.
T: UR rotten. I have to shower and get to class but I’ll see you tonight to work out?
K: I give a great massage, ur missing out. Yes, I’ll cu tonight.
“You have a goofy grin, was it Kohl?” Ronnie asks.
“Yes,” I nod, finally pulling myself up to grab some coffee. I have a little over an hour before class.
“How did last night go? Did you have fun?”
“My God, Ron, he is a machine. He keeps working and working. His body is ripped and he’s so sweet. He took care of me when I was cold, he listened to me babble, he’s amazing,” I say, grabbing the little vial to add two drops to my coffee. My mind, distracted, replaying his smell and the feel of his hard body when he held me.
“Ten, you have a swoony look on your face. The same one you had when Chase started messaging you. Use your head, baby girl,” she warns.
“We’re friends,” I tell her and explain our whole operation Ten and Kohl plan. “He’s going to help me, while I help him. It’s a win, win.”
“I hope for your sake it is,” she says doubtful, “Anything happened from using the potion yesterday?”
“Nothing negative, yet nothing significant either, yesterday was just a strange day,” I shrug finishing my cup, “I’m gonna shower and get to class. Dinner later?”
“Sounds good,” she nods while I close the bathroom door and get ready for class. The hot water pounding on my skin feels marvelous on my tattered body. I hurt but the hurt is a good feeling. I feel like I accomplished something, something I have never done before.
The class was slow and uneventful. Ronnie was right the more I moved, the more my body loosened up and the ibuprofen helped with the pain.
After having Chinese delivered, I sit and eat dinner with Ron, my appetite hindered by my excitement at spending another night with Kohl.
Wearing a t-shirt under my hoodie, packing my tennis shoes and an extra pair of socks in a bag, I bundle up tight and trek across campus.
Pulling the door open, I run smack into Jackson Raines.
“You’re not supposed to be here. Athletes only,” he grunts.
“She’s with me, Raines,” Kohl beams, giving me one of his sexy grins.
Something silent passes between the two causing Kohl to widen his stance and puff out his chest. A moment later Jackson nods and leaves.
“What was that?” I ask.
“Raines is a man of few words. That was his way of making sure I wasn’t pulling a Chase Masters on you. I think if he thought I was being a dick he would have kicked my ass right now.”
“Jackson doesn’t know me, why would he care?”
“We all know what Masters did. We know he was the one that spread the picture. Raines is one of us who thinks it was a dick move and doesn’t want anything else to happen that could jeopardize the team. Now, ready to work out again?”
“Yes, but I need you to leave your shirt on.”
Laughing he says, “Why?”
“All that skin is too distracting,” I reply waving my hand at his body.
His face lights with laughter, “I’m a distraction, huh? Alright, you want to start with the elliptical again?”
Shaking my head in agreement, “I’m pretty sore but I think I can push through it,” I make my way into the room and up on the pegs. Kohl walks across the room starting up another playlist of great 80’s rock.
After thirty minutes, I dismount from the machine, my legs somewhat stronger than the day before but still jelly. Grabbing a water, I sit on the bench watching Kohl work his body. Seeing I’m done, he grabs his phone and turns down the music.
“Feeling good?”
“Yes, it’s rejuvenating. I wish I had found this when I was in high school, it would have been a great stress reliever,” I pant.
“You know, sex is another great way to release mass quantities of stress,” he jokes.
“Is everything about sex with you?”
“No, sex is everything. If done right, it could create world peace,” he explains seriously but his eyes give away his candor.
“You’re such a horn ball. Sex has never solved anything for me.”
Sobering at my words, “Then you’re not doing it with the right person.”
“You
