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Ashley closed her eyes and lay back on her yoga mat, settling into a reclined butterfly pose with the soles of her feet together and her hands palm up at her sides. She had started practicing yoga nearly two years ago on the advice of her therapist, who had suggested it could help with stress. She’d kept it up because she genuinely enjoyed it. The studio was an hour’s oasis from the the whirl of life, a place to quiet her mind and focus solely on the physical demands of each moment. Moving through the asanas, she felt strong, graceful, controlled—all the things she needed to believe she was, after Spain.
She inhaled deeply, easily falling into the full-diaphragm breathing that had become a habit when she was on her mat. Relaxing her shoulders, she let the sounds of the studio drift over her: the swish of another yogi misting a towel, the soft rattle of a water bottle lid, the whoosh of the studio door . . .
Footsteps padded near, stopped at the space beside her, and then a mat flopped against the floor.
Ashley drew another deep breath, noting the trickle of sweat already starting between her breasts. The hot, humid air pressed down on her with tangible weight, but it was comforting, like a heavy blanket. She’d been uncertain about the concept of heated yoga at first, but she’d decided she liked it: the muggy atmosphere was another thing that made the studio feel like a place set apart from the rest of the world.
Her next inhale brought something unexpected—a faint note of dry, peppery cologne that was as familiar as it was out of place here. Ashley abruptly sat up, spinning towards the mat beside hers.
“Leon?”
Her erstwhile bodyguard offered her a self-satisfied grin as he sank into a cross-legged seat, and her heart made a little flip that completely undid the effects of her meditation moments before.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, voice urgent but low enough that she wouldn’t disturb the other yogis preparing for class. If she’d known she would see him, she’d have made more of an effort with her appearance. Unfortunately, makeup was right out in a steamy yoga studio, but at least she could have done something better with her hair than this messy bun.
Leon shrugged, still smug. “You said I should try this some time. I thought that was an invitation.” Then his expression softened into that look of thoughtful concern that she cherished. “If I make you nervous, I can move to the other end of the room.”
She snorted softly. “What, and let the other girls think they have free reign to ogle you?” In workout tank and shorts, he certainly offered plenty to admire. “Seriously, you’re fine. You just surprised me.”
His lip quirked upwards, a self-conscious response to her indirect compliment. “You’re sure?”
“Yeah.” She smiled, genuine pleasure shining through her astonishment and onto her face. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“You have to promise you won’t laugh.” Leon’s tone was playful now. “This is my first time at yoga, you know.”
“I won’t! Just follow the people around you, and you’ll do great.” She flashed him a grin. “I’ve seen you suplex crazy cultists, so I think you can handle a downward-facing dog.”
“Whatever you need me to do, Baby Eagle,” he said, eyes on hers.
Ashley’s heart bounded into double time at this declaration, but before she could think of a suitable response, the class instructor called out a welcome and invited them into their first asana. After a last blushing glance, Ashley closed her eyes and dropped into easy pose, ankles crossed before her and palms up on her knees. Goodness, focussing was going to be a challenge today, but she truly didn’t care.
After a few rounds of guided breathing, she couldn’t help sneaking a glance at Leon in the mirror. Even in this relaxed, meditative pose, he looked so good. Her gaze skimmed over his shoulders and chest, taking in the lines of muscles that were normally a little better hidden. Before meeting him, she’d never considered herself especially drawn by a muscular build, but Leon was quite simply the most beautiful person she had ever met. Not even his scars marred him in her eyes; they were the places where what was human had been chipped away to reveal something that was closer to divine.
She glanced up to his face, seeking the scar that only she knew was there, hidden at his hairline behind fallen bangs. She remembered how he had bled for her and she had mended him. His reflection shifted, stormy eyes flicking open behind the shadow of his hair, and the memory shattered as she stifled a giggle—so he wanted to look at her, too.
Leon raised a brow at her in mock admonition, and she had to close her eyes and draw in a slow breath to keep from laughing aloud. She had promised him she wouldn’t.
Ashley didn’t allow herself to look back at him till they had finished a few sun salutations and she was feeling less giddy. She didn’t dare meet his gaze in the mirror again, but she could still watch him if she kept her eyes away from his face.
Despite his protests, he didn’t look awkward. Whatever martial arts training he had done had given him a natural sense of balance and alignment. But then, she was hardly surprised. She had watched him vault over walls and dive past enemies—even swing on chandeliers—with athletic grace. She hadn’t been able to help being captivated by the sure and easy way he moved.
She couldn’t look away now, either. She hadn’t truly seen him in action since Spain, and in truth she had missed watching what he could do. Of course, the slow, sustained asanas were nothing like the daredevil feats of combat he had performed to save her, but now she could appreciate his strength and control without worrying that he was going to take an axe to the head.
As they danced through the warrior poses, Ashley watched herself and Leon reflected side by side, her slight frame and his big one moving in unison. Yet despite their obvious differences, in this moment, she didn’t feel any less powerful than he was. They were a match: two bodies suspended in space, each of them as strong as the pose demanded.
Ashley looked up, and Leon’s mirrored gaze was waiting for her. She smiled and held his eyes until the vinyasa required her to turn away.
Today, Ashley didn’t bother with an extended meditation in savasana. When the instructor cued the end of class, she reached for her towel, dried her face and chest, and rolled over to face Leon.
“What did you think?” she asked, leaning over him as he lay on his mat. He was sweat drenched, clothes and skin, and she thought he looked glorious.
Leon opened his eyes to gaze up at her. “Yoga is damn hard,” he said, his tone subtle amusement rather than complaint.
“Pff. You make everything look easy, Agent Kennedy.”
“Just tryin’ to keep up.” He raised a hand and dragged damp hair back from his face. “You floated through the whole class like you do this every day.”
“You silly, that’s ‘cause I do.”
“I saw that headstand.”
She smiled. She’d worked hard to master that move.
“You’re a badass, Ashley.”
She felt herself glow at the admiration in his voice, his face. “Thanks.” Planting a hand across his shoulders, Ashley lowered herself close enough to feel the heat radiating off his body, and she kissed him. He tasted salty with sweat, and she recalled him soaked in ocean waves, making her a promise.
His hand met the back of her head, tugged, and her hair tie came loose, tumbling messy golden locks onto his sticky shoulders. “Hey! Jerk,” she protested, but the words were lost against his lips as Leon pulled her down for another kiss.