It was harder than it looked. Or maybe it was just that Gillian was far more limber than Cal was. Either way, she was totally upstaging him right now, holding her body in almost impossibilities, stretching her muscles effortlessly. Cal wasn't even leering over her like he actually thought he would be, as she put her body on display. Watching her stretch and pose and strain her muscles wasn't sexual at all, even if it was impressive. He could probably make it that way, dirty, but it was actually more admirable. Her body was beautiful; he didn't know why she was ashamed of it. She'd had a baby. She'd created life and brought it in to the world; wasn't that something to celebrate?
He got it though, he did. Gillian was going to feel whatever she did about her body despite what he said. Didn't mean he was going to quit on telling her she was beautiful, and that he wanted her, but maybe he had given up a little on trying to unequivocally convince her of his point of view. He wasn't going to change his mind. He was attracted to her, mind and body. He was never going to stop telling her that. Maybe one day it would sink in and she wouldn't feel so insecure about herself anymore. He had his truth and she could have hers and this was actually really nice, working out together.
They were on the floor of their bedroom, working through an intense yoga programme, if there was such a thing. Gillian had started it up again as soon as Owen quit crying so much and was more settled and able to be left alone for more than half an hour. Not that she'd stick him in the other room and ignore him. No way. Not with the way he stopped breathing periodically. It had been the same with Lewis. She did light yoga when she was pregnant and then after the baby had been born she stepped it up a notch to lose the baby weight. This was better actually, because she couldn't leave the house with Owen's set of unique issues.
After a few weeks of Gillian re-initiating her routine, Cal admitted he could do with being more in shape too; he never did get back to the gym. Plus, it was the perfect excuse to spend time with his wife, even if it was merely just spending some time with her; it wasn't like they were having a heart to heart conversation right now. Cal was actually a little too breathless for that. He was surprised because he thought it'd be like a stroll through the park. But it was more like an intense jog. He was pretty sure some of the workouts were Pilates too. Cal thought for sure he would eventually get bored and just smother her into fooling around with him, all warm and sweaty and in tight clothes, her breasts huge right now with milk and her hair pulled back from her face with those little stray strands framing her temples. But no. He was actually focused on the lines of her body and the discipline and watching her mentally focus. It was remembering to see her in another light.
"You're staring."
Cal blinked and realised she had shifted positions and he moved to do the same to mimic her. "Sorry."
"Are you paying attention to me or what you're doing?" She reprimanded and even though Cal couldn't see her face, he could tell she was teasing.
"I said sorry!" Cal grumped.
"You can look," she offered lightly, then let out a steady breath. He smiled to himself slightly and focussed on his own breathing, finding that place where he was far too in touch with his own body, his muscles tight with holding his position; he was hyper aware. "I'm glad you still look," Gillian added after a moment's comfortable silence.
"Course," Cal responded simply.