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But as I lay in bed beside Harris, way too early that morning I thought about the numerous times my brothers had explained to me why they loved the gym so much – because it helped them to deal with the demons from their pasts, and I thought maybe I needed some of that kind of therapy. So I’d pulled on yoga pants, a sports bra and sweater, along with the sneakers the guys had bought for me, and I’d snuck from my bedroom.
The guys had a sound system in the gym, and they’d explained to me that the room was sound proof so they could work out to the loud music they favored whenever they wanted or needed to - which I knew from the time I had been with them all – was often. I opened the music app on the laptop that was hooked up and picked a random workout playlist – likely one of the guys.
Since I knew I could run, I went for the treadmill and set it at a steady pace to warm up. It felt odd at first – so different to running on the street, but after a few minutes I got into the rhythm. As I pushed up the speed and pulled off my sweater, the playlist seemed to kick up a notch too, the beat of the music becoming faster and more intense. It took time for me to get past the burn of my now weak muscles and the aching exhaustion I felt, but eventually it all just seemed to fade and all I could feel was the repetitive thumping of my sneakers against the belt and the music which continued to spur me on faster and faster.
It started to make sense to me - what my brothers had said about working out – how it made them able to relax and just let everything go, because the harder I ran, the more my mind cleared of all of my worries and fears, until it was just me, the beat of the music, and the need to keep going, keep pushing.
By the time I had to slow it back down to a walk I was pouring with sweat and panting way too hard, but I felt better – lighter. I managed to just walk for five minutes, knowing I needed to cool down my muscles, then I switched it off and stepped off, my legs shaking hard beneath me as I finally stood still.
I was completely exhausted and in definite need of building up my fitness levels, but it had helped and I resolved to try and get into a routine of making myself hit the gym once a day.
“Hey. There you are,” I looked up and found Aleks in the doorway of the gym, still in his pajamas and looking cute as hell with his wild bed head. “We were worried when we couldn’t find you.”
“Sorry,” I replied breathlessly. “I couldn’t sleep.” I moved over to the sound system and paused the playlist, taking note of the name of it so I could play it again.
“You okay?” His face was filled with compassion and concern as he walked towards me.
“Yeah. Better than yesterday anyway,” I shrugged.
“Did this help?” he asked as he waved a hand around us.
“I think so,” I nodded. “I’m not really big on exercise but my brothers swear by it for stress relief, so I thought I’d give it a try.”
“It works for me.”
“I know. I think it could help me too, if I weren’t so pathetically unfit,” I chuckled as I grabbed a small towel from the shelf and wiped at my sweaty face.
“You can build up your fitness, if that’s what you want? I can help you, the others too,” he offered.
“Yeah, that’d be good,” I agreed. “I haven’t really worked out much since I ran track in high school.”
“We’ll talk to the others. Come on, let’s get you some water before you dehydrate on the spot,” He chuckled as he held his hand out to me.
“I’m all sweaty,” I protested.
“I think I can handle it. Totally worth it to see you in that sexy little top.” He nodded down to my chest and I realized for the first time that I was only in my sports bra, with way too many of my scars on show. I reached for my sweater from where I had tossed it on the seat of the stationary bike, but Aleks pulled me into his front instead, and I landed against his chest hard.
“Aleks, I’m gross!” I cried as I tried to back away from him.
“No. You’re gorgeous,” he argued. He released my hand and instead placed both of his on my hips, as he looked at me with so much heat.
“Aleks…” I whispered, not sure what I even wanted to say. He had me ensnared with his red hot stare and the touch of his hands on my bare skin.
“Can I kiss you, Evie?” he asked gently, and I nodded just once, my breaths coming quicker in anticipation.
He leaned in and I did too. I had to lift up onto my tiptoes to reach his lips, my arms locked around his neck to get me closer. Aleks’s kiss was just like him – gentle, and languid. He explored my mouth like he needed to know every facet of it and I just tried to hold on for the ride. I could feel his morning stubble against my skin and it just made the moment that much hotter.
A squeak of protest slipped from me as he backed away. I didn’t want the kiss to be over, but I was relieved when he kept his hands on my sides and pulled me tighter against his front.
“You’re so beautiful, malenka,” he whispered as we stared back at one another.
“And you’re crazy,” I said, but the smile on my face couldn’t be removed. “I’m so disgusting right now.” I forced myself to step back from him, knowing I must smell pretty ripe. “I should go and shower.”
“Okay, but you need water first,” he held his hand out to me again and this time I took it and allowed him to lead me from the room and up to the kitchen.
“She’s here!” Aleks called loudly when we got into the kitchen. In seconds all three of the other guys were rushing towards me from opposite sides of the house.
“What’s going on?” I asked when they all just stood looking at me like I was a puzzle they needed to solve.
