Enlightened End

by Audrey Carlan

“Genevieve. She’s going to bring her here after class before she teaches prenatal. I’m going to take that class too,” Mila says, smiling.

  I open my mouth in shock. “Are you?”

  Atlas spins around a beaming smile on his face. “She finally let me knock her up again!” He fist-pumps the air like he’s a quarterback who just made a touchdown pass at a football game before kissing his wife’s temple sweetly.

  Chills race down my arms, and I rush around the desk to bring Mila into a hug. “My goodness, I’m happy for you both. And little Aria will be delighted to be a big sister.”

  Mila hugs me, her eyes filling with tears. “Yeah, she will. Thanks. We haven’t really told anyone but Moe yet. We’re only ten weeks, so we’re keeping it on the down-low,” she whispers and glances around.

  I put my fingers to my lips in a shushing gesture and bring her into another hug.

  “Wildcat, we need to get ready. They’re coming in droves. Two by two. Today’s class is going to be so much fun with couples. I’ve been dying to teach this forever! Thanks for letting me, Luna.” Atlas clasps my hand and squeezes it.

  “Of course. And I’m going to be taking it today too.” I glance at Grant, who’s leaning casually against the end of the desk, looking quite dapper in his bespoke suit.

  Atlas looks over my head to where Grant is standing.

  His eyebrows rise to his hairline, and he grins sexily. “You’re taking my couples yoga with the suit over there?”

  Mila makes no bones about maneuvering herself around me and walks over to Grant. “You seeing our girl Luna?” She tilts her head and rests a hand on her hip, attitude flying without even trying.

  Grant stands straight and puts his hand out in greeting. “Grant Winters, and if by seeing you mean dating, then yes. We’re dating.” His eyes flash to mine and dare me to contradict him. I don’t because I like the idea of dating Grant Winters, even though it should be all kinds of wrong.

  Mila ignores his hand and squints up with her accessing brown eyes. “You don’t seem like her type,” she blurts with zero tact.

  “Mila!” I warn.

  She scowls and looks him up and down, even though that’s pretty hard to do since she’s just barely over five feet to his six feet plus.

  Mila continues undaunted with her assessment. “Fine as hell. That part fits. She deserves a hottie. Though you seem pretty stiff,” she carries on, and I sigh.

  Grant smirks. “Not for long, seeing as I’m about to take a yoga class.”

  Ooh! Point for Grant. Mila is a tough cookie on a good day. She does not trust easily, although she’s been getting better since becoming a wife and mother. Still, she has a guilty-until-proven-innocent system with new people.

  Atlas finally cages his wife by putting an arm around her chest from behind. “Wildcat, leave the poor guy alone. He’s just dating Luna; he’s not a terrorist.”

  Mila puts a hand up and points at Grant. “I’m watching you, suit. You better be good to her. She deserves the best.”

  Atlas grabs her wrist, tucks it to her chest, and kisses her neck before speaking to us. “Sorry. She gets like this when she’s pregnant. On a good day, she’s feisty. Pregnant…” He sucks in a breath through his teeth. “Super protective. I think it’s the mama gene coming out full force.”

  Mila cringes and spins around. “Do you want me to chop your balls off and serve them to you for dinner, curly?” She makes a face and deepens her voice, mimicking him. “She gets like this when pregnant.” Her eyes widen. And she lifts a pointy finger and pokes him in the chest.

  “Ouch, baby.” Atlas pouts and goes for the finger.

  Her voice rises to a threatening pitch. “I get like this when I see my friend with a man I’ve not seen before, and he’s all sexy-suit-wearing-rich-guy to my Zen-loving, granola-crunching, yoga-teaching bestie! One of these things is not like the other!” She growls and spins back around.

  I step in, knowing how Mila gets when she’s pregnant, which is far beyond protective. I think it has a lot to do with her hormones changing and the lack of blood relatives in her life. Her friends have become her family, and she holds us all close to the chest.

  I place my hands on Mila’s biceps and rub them up and down in a soothing gesture. “It’s fine, honey. We’ve been dating for the past couple weeks. I know what I’m getting myself into. You have nothing to worry about.”

  Her brown eyes water, and she bites her lip, nodding. Then she pulls me into a hug. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I’m not usually like this…”

  I rub my hands down her back. “I know, honey. Baby makes you a little protective, but it’s endearing, and I love you even more because of it.”

  Mila nods and lets me go. “Um, sorry, Grant.” She sniffs, and Atlas brings her into the safety and comfort of his arms. Mila looks up at her husband. “I don’t know what got into me.”

  He lays a hand over her belly. “Wildcat, it’s okay. Baby loves his feisty mama, and so do I.” He kisses her. “Now come on. I’m itching to teach this class for the first time.”

  She grins and nods.

  “See you in a bit. And uh, sorry again.”

  “No worries. See you in a bit.” I wave and then move over to Grant and place my hand on his chest.

  “That was…intense.”

  I grin, happy that my crazy pregnant friend didn’t freak him out too much. “My friends are all different kinds of beautiful crazy.”

  He smiles. “I’m looking forward to meeting them all.”

  “Good. Now we’ve got to go because the class will be starting in a few minutes.” My heart picks up a fast rhythm as I realize which class we’re about to take.

  “Bring it on,” he says, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “So…granola-crunching?”

  Warmth fills my chest as he nudges my temple with his forehead. It’s an intimate gesture, one I’ve not had for a very long time.

  I shrug. “I do like granola in my yogurt and my cereal and as a snack.”

  “Fascinating. And I took you for a cheeseburger and fries kind of girl,” he murmurs against my hairline, the rumble of his voice seeping into my chest, sending a bout of arousal through me.

  “Oh, I’m that too.”

  “Really? I was just introduced to a great pub. Maybe I’ll take you there.” His voice is warm and panty-melting, which isn’t going to matter in a couple minutes when he realizes what type of class we’re taking. Panties are absolutely not needed. I cannot wait to see the look on his face when he realizes what he agreed to.

  “I love pubs. And burgers. And beer.”

  “And yoga and tree-hugging and making people happy…” he adds.

  I smile and squeeze his waist tighter. “That too.”

  * * *

  The lights are low in the room when we enter. Atlas is at the riser with Mila, setting out their mats, side by side, only two inches apart. A tingle of excitement ripples through my body as I realize what I’m about to do.

  “Grab two mats, will you?” I gesture to where couples are picking their mats, a variety of colors to choose from. I always find it interesting what color people will choose. It typically ends up being whatever color charka is driving them that day.

  Shockingly, Grant comes back with two in a deep-fuchsia color. In the color wheel of chakras, the color represents the seventh chakra, the crown, connoting enlightenment.

  I’m pleased with his choice but surprised by it. He doesn’t seem like the type of man who would feel a sense of enlightenment at this stage in not only our weird relationship, if I can even call it that, but in his world. Perhaps he needs to be enlightened. I imagine that’s what my friend Dara, the aura reader, would say.

  Atlas claps his hands together, and both of us turn to see what he’s going to say.

  “Since this is our first couples’ yoga class, I’ve got my beautiful wife, Mila, with me.” He glances at her adoringly, and lightness starts to fill the room with a palpable happy energy. “Wha
t you need to do is place your mats next to your partner’s, about two to four inches apart. I hope you chose your partner well, because you are going to be touching one another a lot. Sweaty can be sexy…and slippery.” He winks at his wife, and she rolls her eyes. “Be careful when you do the more advanced poses, and remember, if there is something you’re not comfortable attempting, just stay at the first level. I’ll be starting each pose with a beginner’s pose, then intermediate, and move to advanced poses in some cases. Take the phase that suits you best.”

  I grab Grant’s hand as he stands, looking completely out of place in his suit. “Don’t worry, we’ll start small and work our way up if you’re feeling good. Okay?”

  He nods, and then his eyes meet mine. “I trust you, Luna.”

  I smile. “Good.” I say the word but wonder if it’s going to hold true when he realizes what we’re about to do.

  “All right, class…” Atlas grins. “You know what to do. Take it all off. There are cubbies in the back to store your stuff.”

  Grant’s eyes flash to mine, and his jaw hardens. “What the fuck is he talking about?”

  Instead of answering, I swallow down the anxiety, cross my arms over my waist, grip the hem of my tank, and pull it over my head. His lips flatten and his nostrils flare. I continue, repeating the move this time with my sports bra in hand as I tug it over my head, my bare breasts bouncing back into place.

  “Jesus Christ.” His gaze is all over me. “Luna…” His voice is a low growl.

  I cock an eyebrow, put my thumbs in at my yoga pants, and push them and my panties down in one fell swoop.

  Grant steps forward and plasters his body to mine. “What the fuck are you doing?” He positions his hands over my ass as if to protect me from other curious eyes.

  I giggle into his neck and kiss him there. “Look around, big man. What is everyone doing?”

  He turns his head and takes in the other couples in various stages of undress.

  “I don’t…” He swallows, and his voice is grittier, like a box of rocks being shaken.

  “It’s naked yoga. Now strip.” I push away from him, and he just barely lets me go.

  “You expect me to remove my clothes?” His eyes run the course of my body, and he grinds his teeth, puts his hands into his hair, and tugs. “Fuck, you’re beautiful.”

  “Your turn,” I taunt. “Otherwise, I’m going to have to ask the gentleman who came alone to be my partner. Rub my naked body all over his during the poses…”

  His gaze turns murderous. “The fuck you are.” He shrugs his jacket off until it hits the floor. He yanks at his tie viciously until it separates from its knot, and he rips it off. He unbuttons his shirt unbelievably fast while toeing off his shoes and socks.

  My mouth goes dry as I wait for any bit of skin to be revealed.

  Grant opens his shirt, and nothing but golden tanned skin greets my eyes. My goodness, he’s gorgeous everywhere. He lets the shirt hang open as he undoes his belt, flicks the button on his dress slacks, pushes them down, and steps out of them.

  A pair of skin-tight, black boxer briefs covering a pretty large bulge greets me.

  He steps closer to me, and my hands move as if they have a mind of their own, in search for warm golden skin to caress. My fingers and palms make contact, and I sway on my feet at the unbelievable warmth and firmness of his chest. I run my hands from his brick-like abdominals up to his defined square pecs, pushing the shirt over his shoulders and off so my gaze is no longer hindered by fine cotton. It falls to the floor in the heap at his feet.

  Grant’s body is trembling in my hands. “Are you frightened?” I look up, curving my hands around the lip of his underwear, teasing the skin there with my fingers.

  His eyes are the darkest midnight as he dips his head. One of his hands rests against my hip, the fingers digging into the flesh there. The other hand curls around my nape, his thumb lifting my chin. “No,” he growls. “I’m just doing my best not to get hard as a rock.”

  I chuckle lightly. “There is an awful lot of naked flesh to gaze at in this class.”

  His fingers twitch against my body, and he shakes his head. “Can’t see anything but you. Your pearl-white skin. Rose-tipped breasts, which are the perfect goddamn size for my hands…my mouth. The red curls a teasing triangle like a fucking arrow pointing to heaven. And your ass…” He moves both hands down to my booty and cups both cheeks, pressing his hardening length against my belly deliciously. I can’t help the soft moan that slips past my lips.

  “I could write erotic love poems about how much I want this ass.” He runs his nose along the side of my face, his breath skating across my ear. “You drive me insane clothed. Naked…fuck, lamb, all bets are off.”

  I lock my arms around him and force his face up so he can see mine. The fact that he is hot for my body makes me bold and brave. A feeling I’m not used to but appreciate all the same. “Big man, you promised our deal was on, and your deal is to experience a class a week. Right now, you’re going to experience couples’ naked yoga. Now remove your shorts and show me what I have to look forward to.”

  Grant licks his lips, and I practically swoon where I stand, my knees feeling week, my heart pounding, my sex softening and aching with every breath he graces me with.

  “As you wish.” He loops his fingers into his boxer briefs and pushes them down his legs.

  I practically faint with need when I see his thick penis, long, hard, and flushed with desire, standing proudly at attention. And all for me. I made his body respond like this.

  “You’re more than I could have dreamed of,” I admit, my voice quavering. All I can think about is how good it will feel to have his hard edges pressing into my much softer ones.

  Grant stands straight before me, his manhood a powerful, virile display of his masculinity and desire for me. “Lamb, you are my living dream come true.”

  Chapter Nine

  Since the crown chakra is connected to a power greater than our own, a person driven by this chakra will live fully in the present because the spirit is in harmony with our body and will.

  GRANT

  No man on this earth has been presented with heaven and expected not to touch, kiss, caress, fuck, and own what stands before him. I can’t take my eyes off her perfect body. What seems like miles of pearly white skin, absolutely unmarred, stands before me. She’s a natural redhead in every sense of the word, and I’m fascinated by her hair falling in waves over her shoulders, teasing her breasts the way I want to tease them with my mouth.

  I grip my hands into tight fists and grind my teeth. There is nothing I can do right now but try to calm the fuck down or lose my shit by lifting her over my shoulder and carrying her to the nearest flat surface. Forget flat. I’ll take a wall at this point, even a goddamned utility closet as long as it’s private.

  Fuck!

  I run my fingers through my hair as she sits down. Dear Lord, give me strength; her face is at exact eye level with my hard cock.

  She glances at my dick and licks her lips.

  Licks her fucking lips.

  It takes herculean effort not to thrust my hips in her direction and demand those beautiful bow-shaped bits of flesh suck me in.

  Luna lifts her hand and clasps mine. “Sit down on your mat, face the teacher, and wait for your instruction.” She bugs her eyes and makes a face, gesturing around the room. I chance a look away from her beauty and find I’m basically the only one standing up, losing his ever-loving mind while the most stunning woman I’ve ever met is sitting naked, eye level with my dick.

  How is anyone functioning right now?

  Doing what she says, I make my way to a seated position and cup my hand over my erection, hoping the fucker will go down. Looking around, I see that a few other fellows are having the same problem, including the teacher.

  Atlas, the curly haired guy, smiles at the class. He’s got one hell of a spitfire for a wife…who happens to have a bangin’ little body now that I can see it ful
ly naked. “For those of you who are new, welcome to naked yoga. This is our first ever couples’ yoga. Which means, ladies, don’t be surprised if your men get a bit excited. And gents, it’s perfectly natural to be aroused by your woman’s naked body. Delayed gratification can work wonders for the libido.” He grins wickedly.

  I grind my teeth together and look sideways at Luna. She’s sitting on her ankles, her knees held tightly together, her back a bit arched so her breasts are pointed forward in what I would consider a scintillating offering. Only she’s not facing me. The beast within roars with irritation, needing to make sure everyone around me knows this woman is all mine, and they can keep their fucking hands and eyes to themselves, I wrap my arm around her waist, making sure it’s obvious she belongs to me. At least as long as she’ll allow it.

  Luna takes in the move and doesn’t say anything, but her lips give her away when they curve into a small smile.

  “First position I want you to get into is lotus position, but I’d like your knees facing one another and touching. Close your eyes and place your hands on one another’s knees, keeping the connection to your mate stronger. We’ll be doing most of our positions today while touching your mate intimately, so the two of you can share and feed into one another’s energy.”

  Luna turns, opens her fucking legs, and sits crossed-legged. I twist around to copy her and realize her legs are spread wide, and I can see straight into the heart of her. I swallow around the need in my throat to push her back, put those legs over my shoulders, and taste my fill. She smirks, places her hands just above my knees, and closes her eyes.

  I can’t move. Not when her pussy is spread open, so pink and pretty with those tight red curls framing it delicately. I groan and wiggle on my ass, my cock punching the skin of my belly as I curve forward and breathe.

  Bad idea.

  Her melon scent mixes with something rich and earthy. Like cinnamon over hot apple pie.

  My hands are in fists at my sides, my knuckles aching with how tight I’m squeezing. I breathe in for a few beats and let it out, feeling like I’m running a marathon when I’m doing nothing but sitting.