Aria grabbed her duffle bag out of the back seat of her car and headed toward the door of the gym. She had been taking self-defense classes for the last two weeks. She was tired of feeling defenseless and scared by this new A. She was learning how to take care of herself. She thought back to her first meeting with her instructor, Jake. He had immediately picked up on the fact that she was tense, guarded, and on edge. He called her out on it, stressing how important it was that she trust him in order for her to get the most out of her work out. When she defended herself by saying that she had a lot going on, including just having broken up with her boyfriend, he had jumped to the wrong conclusion that it was Ezra that was making Aria feel scared and insecure.
Aria ran her hand over her face in frustration as her thoughts turned to Ezra. It was torture to have to go into his classroom and sit there every day pretending that she was over him, that the feelings she had for him were now dead. She couldn't help but watch his every movement as he paced in front of the room talking with the students about their latest literature selection. His brilliant blue eyes would light up with excitement over a particularly animated discussion. She remembered those same eyes gazing into hers with similar excitement and arousal during heavy make out sessions. When the students were working on independent assignments, she'd covertly gaze up at him through her long lashes and the thought would come screaming into her mind, I've seen him naked. And, of course, once she thought it, she couldn't help but visualize it. This was usually quickly followed by the similar realization, he's seen ME naked. Aria wondered if Ezra was having the same difficulty that she was. Was he ever sitting in front of the classroom remembering what they use to have, what they use to mean to each other? Does he ever listen to me answer one of his questions and think to himself, I know what that voice sounds like when she's screaming and calling out to me during her orgasm.
Aria let out of puff of air from between her parted lips and shook her head from side to side as if to physically rid herself from these wayward thoughts. She had to learn to control her mind better and stop herself from dwelling on what she use to have with Ezra. It didn't do her any good, and in fact, all it did was keep the pain raw and fresh. She had to give herself time to get over him and forget him. Forget him...right...like that was going to ever happen. Aria yanked the door of the gym open and stepped through to the cool interior, still angry at herself for allowing her mind to go there once again. Not only was her training helping her feel more confident in dealing with A, it also provided a distraction from thinking continually about Ezra.
Speaking of distractions, Aria spotted her instructor, Jake standing beside the check-in counter, as if he had been waiting on her arrival. Ever since their first encounter when he had pointed out the wall of isolation she had built around herself, she had been aware of the steps he was taking to put her at ease. He was so strong and confident, and spoke to her with a directness and honesty that Aria found refreshing. Brick by brick he was tearing down that wall. He had a burning intensity when it came to instruction and the discipline that he wanted his students to develop, but other than that, he had an easy-going and relaxed mannerism about himself to which Aria couldn't help but feel drawn. It was nice to be around someone that didn't have any connection to A and the daily torture she was subjected to through emails and texts.
Jake looked up from the paper work in his hands, and smiled at Aria as she walked over toward him. Her lips automatically curled up into a huge grin and her hazel eyes danced with excitement. She loved coming to the gym. These sessions were starting to make her feel powerful. Maybe she wouldn't be A's victim forever.
"Morning Aria. You ready for another back breaking session?" Jake teased her.
Aria's smile widened even larger as she bantered back, "You can try, but I'm feeling pretty unbreakable today."
"Hmm, glad to hear it. Maybe we can up the pressure today." Jake turned and Aria followed him down the hallway to the room they used for their sessions. The east wall was filled with large-paned windows that overlooked the nearby parking lot. The opposite wall was completely encased in mirrors so students could watch their movements and make corrections according to the instructors comments. The floor was lined with thick mats with a punching bag hanging in the far right corner. Aria placed her bag on one of the folding chairs and then went to stand in the center of the room.
"Let's stretch you out and warm you up first," Jake said. Aria went through the usual ritual of leg, arm, back, and neck stretches, making sure that she was limbered up for what was about to come. "I have a new exercise I want you to try," Jake said while demonstrating the stance that he wanted Aria to bend and stretch into. He always made everything look so easy. But for Aria, some of these moves took a little bit of practice. She squatted down and attempted to move just as gracefully as Jake had, but knew that she was falling short in what he was wanting. It became even more apparent as she saw him start to shake his head. "No," he said. "You're almost there but it's not quite right. You won't get the full effect unless you stretch the correct muscles. Here, let me help you."
Aria felt Jake's warm hand on her inner thigh as he pulled her right leg farther out from her body and slightly behind her. With his other hand, he grabbed her left wrist and pulled her arm up and over her head, opening her shoulder blades wider. Aria could feel Jake's chest against her back and was aware of his breath on her exposed neck. Her eyes fluttered up to their image in the mirror. He was staring down at her body, making minor corrections to her stance, and then, as if he could sense her eyes on him, his gaze met hers in the mirror. Aria's breath hitched in her throat and she became more and more aware of his hand on her inner thigh. Was it her imagination or did she feel his thumb lightly stroke her leg? To Aria, it seemed that they stood frozen in this position for minutes, until Jake cleared his throat, tore his eyes away from hers, and pulled away from her. "Now you've got the idea of how this stretch feels when you're in the right position."
The workout went on as usual from there for the next twenty minutes. They sparred back and forth, Aria pleased with herself when she successfully blocked several of his moves. As if sensing that she was ready for more complicated scenarios, Jake started to intensify the workout. The speed of his mock attacks increased and Aria could feel her heart drumming in her chest as she danced around the floor, warding off his jabs while getting in a few hits of her own. She smiled with delight when her foot made contact with his chest, causing him to stumble a few steps back. The smile quickly faded when she saw the look on his face. She knew she was about to pay for the kick with a quick comeback of his own. Before she knew it, Jake swept her legs out from under her and had her pinned to the mat. He used the force of his body weight to keep her from being able to move her legs, and his hands were pressing her shoulders deep into the mats. Aria tried to wiggle out from underneath him, but she was unable to move. She was completely at his mercy. Jake stared down into Aria's wide eyes, noticing her mouth opened slightly in a surprised "O." "Don't ever get too cocky, Aria. When you let your guard down, that's when your opponent will take advantage of the situation."
Aria gazed up at Jake, his face mere inches from her own. She noticed the slight crease between his chocolate brown eyes, as his brow furrowed in concentration. His lips were slightly parted from the exertion of the workout, and the thought quickly crossed her mind what it might be like to feel those same lips on hers. Jake was aware of Aria's scrutiny and how her large, luminous eyes were suddenly fixated on his lips. He released her shoulders and used one of his hands to sweep a wayward strand of hair out of her face and tuck it lightly behind her ear. Aria held her breath the whole time, never taking her gaze off Jake's face. His hand released the brown tendril, feeling the soft silken texture fall from his fingertips. His hand then brushed against her cheek, his thumb lightly stroking her lower lip. Aria remembered the sensation from earlier when she had thought she had felt the same hand lightly caressing her thigh. Slowly he lowered his head until their lips barely grazed each others. The kiss was quick and fairly chaste. Jake pulled his head up so that he could gaze once again down at Aria. "Is this okay?" he asked. "I want to make sure that I didn't misread the situation. "
Aria's tongue darted out and licked her lips. She slowly nodded her agreement. Jake still seemed hesitant to take the next step. For his own peace of mind, he needed to be sure that he wasn't taking advantage of her. She had seemed so vulnerable and nervous when she had first come to the gym two weeks ago. "I know that you're saying yes," Jake began, "but are you sure that THIS is what you want? We can always stop before anything more happens." As Jake was speaking, Aria flashed back to a similar conversation she had had with Ezra in his car, the rain cascading down the windows providing a cocoon, insulating them from the world outside. I need you to be sure that THIS is what you want. That WE are what you want. Aria blinked her eyes rapidly as if trying to rid herself from the unexpected flash of memory as she and Ezra had decided to persevere in their relationship despite the fact that her father was hell bent on destroying it.
As if to prove to herself that she was over Ezra and through with reliving every detail of their relationship, Aria reached up and grabbed Jake by the back of his neck and crushed his lips down onto hers. His lips were just as soft as she had thought they would be. They kissed three or four times, each one becoming a little more aggressive and demanding. Aria felt his hands caress down her arms and lightly settle on her hips. She wrapped both of her arms around his neck, feeling the ripple of his strong upper back muscles and shoulders flexing beneath her fingers. His tongue began to probe against her lips and she willingly parted them, allowing him to gain access to her mouth. Their tongues met and dueled for dominance as his hands began to move upward, lightly caressing the underside of each of her breasts. Part of Aria was screaming that this was wrong, that the lips she felt crushed on hers, the tongue she felt stroking and darting into her mouth, the hands that were embracing her body were not the right ones. Only Ezra should be allowed to touch her in such a way. Only Ezra should make her body sing and come alive with every stroke of his hands and tongue. Aria forcefully shoved the thought aside and closed her mind to everything except how her body was responding to Jake's touch.