Page 134 of The Yoga Teacher

She could still want, andbewanted. Her body wasn’t damaged or diminished. Stronger. More hers than it had ever been.

“I can’t imagine letting that man see me naked ever again,” she had told Mia.

But that wasn’t true anymore.

She could imagine it, actually—vividly.

Not from some place of longing. Not because she missed him, or because he’d earned that access again.

But because shecould.

She’d had sex without strings. She knew now how to keep her heart out of it. She knew how to make the first move, how to leave afterward without regret. If she wanted Daniel—justhis body—she could take it. And she could leave.

Just like that.

She had loved sex with him. Loved the way her body came alive in his hands. The way he could unravel her with nothing but his mouth on her neck and his fingers curled just right.

It had always been good.

Not just emotionally. Not just romantically.

Physically.

Why deny herself that?

Not because she missed him. Not because she was looking for meaning.

But because she wanted it.

And she was not ashamed of her body.

Not anymore.

This was her power.

She could take what she wanted. She could fuck him like he was nothing but a body, and walk away with everything intact.

She could reclaim something she hadn’t realized she’d given up.

This wasn’t about closure. Or fantasy. Or forgiveness.

This was about freedom.

And when it was over, she would leave without apology.

Unchanged.

Unbroken.

Still entirely hers.

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The motel was even worse than she’d pictured.

Hannah pulled into the narrow lot with a precision that belied her nerves, her eyes flicking over the peeling stucco walls, the humming vending machine outside the lobby.

This was where he lived now.

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