Page 8 of Those That Don't Exist
Mitch: You better, he was insistent that all of us were at this meeting.
Heaving a sigh,I place my phone back in my coat pocket, I really hope this is going to be worth it.
Forty minutes later and I’m still at the gym. She’s just working out by herself, so it's not like she had a class to make at a specific time. It's busy too, peak time in the late afternoon. I thought she liked to be here at the crack of dawn, or as the day is headed towards midnight, at times the gym is almost empty.
I don't get it.
Watching as she lifts weights I’ll admit she’s stronger than I would’ve thought. I know she works out daily, but she’s certainly exceeded her physio’s plan following the car wreck. It's surprising how much she’s lifting on the weight machines now. Her Fae heritage would make her stronger than a human but she’s lifting a significant load for even a female demi-Fae.Don’t call me sexist, it's just basic biology.
I thought this would be the most boring place to do my daily stalking act because I can’t do anything whilst I watch her. Working out here is tedious, I can lift more than a Fae and run twice the speed too. These machines are not even a warm up for a proper workout for me. And it's not like I could do my research work here, as I like to do when I’m watching her in other places. Now I realise, this is where she has gotten more interesting. Maybe more concerning.
As it stands, a treadmill is my stakeout position of choice, so at least my hands are free, allowing me to scroll on my phone. I’m answering some emails from my supervisor when I feel it. Eyes on me. Looking up I immediately lock onto deep green eyes. She looks away instantly but I nearly stumble.
She’d noticed me, had let her gaze linger on me.
I don't know why but it sends static energy shooting down my spine. I hold my nerve as my eyes follow her. She leaves the weight machines on one side of the open room and heads to thepunching bags on the other. This is new too, her physio routine only included cardio and weights before.
Curiosity has me moving as my heart rate levels back out. I switch to a rowing machine to get a better view of her new station.
She wraps her hands before going through a routine that seems familiar to her on the bag.
It's a mix of martial arts and self-defence moves. She clearly knows what she’s doing as she strikes the punching bag again and again, with forceful fists and accurate strong kicks. She moves with real fluidity, making me notice how supple her body is, how much muscle control she has. For someone who broke multiple limbs mere months ago there isn’t a hint of weakness. I can't take my eyes off her.
She goes on with this routine for a while, sweat slicking her exposed skin. She’s only wearing a sports bra and some tight workout shorts so there’s a lot on show. Her legs are pure power, her thighs thick but toned with muscle. The slope of her ass and hips curving into a trim waist. I drink in her frame as my eyes scan up her back to her shoulders which widen out to balance those distracting hips.
Even from here I can see the control she exudes in each movement, how her core and upper body work in tandem to give her stability and force behind the punches she delivers on the bag. My rowing slows as I’m captivated.
She starts attempting some more complex routines, and though she’s clearly recovered it's here her body starts to disobey her. Each time she fails to keep her balance on a drop kick the frustration on her face gets clearer to read. My lips twitch as she tries a final time, without success, and her anger gets the better of her. She swings an uncontrolled punch on the bag. A chuckle leaves my lips involuntarily and her head swings in my direction.My body freezes as our eyes lock for the second time, my chuckle dies as my throat closes.
She lifts a brow and places her hands to her hips as if daring me to admit I was just laughing at her and I think I cease breathing.Fuck.
After another beat my brain restarts and I scramble off the machine, dropping my gaze. I need to go. Her spotting me once is a mistake, twice will have her starting to recognise me. I can't have that. I hurry across the gym, barrel through the door to the lockers, grab my stuff and hightail it out of there.
I don’t go far though. I just sit in the shadows outside until she leaves so I can follow her to her next destination. The shadows soothe my racing pulse and cool my skin as I wait. The vivid colour of her eyes burn into my skull. The daggers she shot me, knowing I was laughing at her.
How she even heard me amongst the loud music and gym equipment I’m not sure. Even my supernatural hearing, whilst good at picking out particular sounds, struggles in settings like that.
I don't have to wait long for her to emerge from the building, which is good as I am supposed to be home already.You’re getting me into trouble Red, I think as I start to follow her with a little more caution now, pulling on my power a bit more, grateful for the dusky haze now the sun has set. The last thing I need is her spotting me again today.
She heads straight to her shared house, which confuses me more. Did she just fancy an early night? The light in her room doesn’t immediately come on, so either she’s in the kitchen at the back or is talking to her roommates in one of their rooms. I’m too antsy to sit still so I duck down the side of her house and round the back. It's semi-detached so has an alley down the side to give access to the small unkempt garden.
There are lots of other houses around so I keep the shadows pulled tight to me so I won’t be spotted. As I get to the back garden I see the top window lit. It’s the bathroom.
Feeling even more like some perverted Peeping Tom, I heave myself up the drains and onto the roof. During my climb the window opens and steam comes billowing out, along with her scent. Least I know it's her and not one of her housemates I am currently creeping on. And lucky for me the open window means I can hear what’s going on inside.
There is nothing of note for the first few minutes, which leaves my imagination to run wild. She’s feet from me, naked and wet. Possibly covered in bubbles. Damn, if that image doesn’t make my mouth water. I saw plenty of her skin at the gym so my brain can conjure some pretty accurate images.
I need to knock this train of thought on the head right now.
“Hey Aurora?” A female voice calls from the house, I recognise it as the tall one.
“Yeah?” my prey’s voice answers.
“How long do you need? I’m ready and Claire’s just changing.”
“Not long, just need to dry and dress.”
I hear the shower stop as she replies, along with soft footsteps as she climbs out the tub.
