Page 45 of Serenity

“And it’s not like I’m seeking anyone’s approval, I just… I don’t know. Change the topic.”

She threw the pillow at me. I blocked it like Mutombo, ignoring how it rolled to the floor.

“Clear your schedule next week.”

“For what?”

“Give me Wednesday evening and the remainder of the week through Sunday.”

“That’s—”

“—Four days and one night. Leave all this work shit behind and come with me. Your overbearing family ain’t goin nowhere. The spa expansion will be here when you get back, Bee.”

Grabbing one of her pretty-ass feet, I massaged. I couldn’t resist. Adding to that was the undeniable urge to suck them into my mouth, so I did.

“Ooh,” she crooned, lifting off the sofa with an arch in her back as I sucked another, then another.

“Duke? What are we doing? And why does it feel so natural? So right? So fucking good.”

“We’re doing what the fuck we want. Duke and Bee. And it feels right because it is right.”

“We just met a month ago.”

“And? I’m forty-two to your twenty-nine. Your brother is a friend of mine. I know your crazy ass daddy, too. Should I keep going?”

“I didn’t know you knew my dad.” Her head tipped to the side.

“My dad and him are good friends. When is your birthday?”

“I’ll be thirty in December.”

“Sag?”

Her slow nod and smile confirmed it.

“I knew I liked you for a reason.”

“What’s your si—Duke!”

She squealed as I dragged her closer by the leg to me. Climbing on top, I devoured her lips.

“Come here, twin.”

G5

“Somatic release is a type of therapy that focuses on restoring self-regulation by releasing pent-up survival energy and allowing the nervous system’s natural responses to finish their cycle. Today, we’ll be starting with the supported twisted pose. I want everyone to follow my lead.

I illustrated the yoga pose to my students and then walked around the room to ensure they were replicating it properly.

From the third floor of my spa and wellness center, three-hundred-sixty views of Mount Paramour could be seen. We were so high up that clouds were floating around us. No wifi and sparse cellular service made Serenity Spa and Wellness Center an isolated fraction of heaven.

A scan around the yoga room revealed that all my students were in the correct pose, with a few adjustments needed. Rose oil, orange, and peppermint filled the air. Yoga at the spa was one of my favorite pastimes. When permitted, it was there that my leisure and relaxation were heavily invested.

I’d hired instructors for most of the classes, but something about the somatic release class held my heart in captivity. My students had such a positive response to the course that I’d yet to give up teaching the course entirely.

Upon the class’ conclusion, I remained behind to speak to students should they desire to. A few dawdled to tell me how much they enjoyed our session.

“Thank you so much. I’ve been learning so much in this course over the last few months. My life has been completely uprooted over the last year, and this class has truly taught me how to sit with my emotions, feel them deeply, and release them.”

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