Jackson pulled into the parking lot of Green Studio, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. This was ridiculous. He'd faced down armed thugs and survived a gunshot wound. Yet here he was, sweating bullets over a yoga class. "Alright," he muttered. "I'm here. Now, how about you tell me the name of this yoga instructor I'm supposed to charm?" Silence. "Oh, come on," he groaned. "Don't go all shy on me now. You're usually so chatty." Still nothing. "Fine," he grumbled. "Be that way." He climbed out of the car, stretching his arms over his head. His shoulder twinged, a phantom pain from a wound that no longer existed. A police cruiser rolled by, its lights off but moving with purpose. Jackson froze, his heart leaping into his throat. Shit. Last night. The bar. The gun. He'd been shot, for Christ's sake. He must have called the police after the shooting, but now the evidence was gone. Vanished like it never hap
Chloe led him to an empty mat near the front of the class, her hips swaying hypnotically. He tried to keep his eyes focused on the back of her head, but they kept drifting south. "Alright, class," Chloe called out, clapping her hands. "Let's start with some basic stretches. Jackson here is new, so we'll take it nice and easy." The other students, primarily women with a few men scattered throughout, nodded in agreement. He felt their curious gazes on him and shifted uncomfortably. "First, let's try a simple forward fold," Chloe instructed. She demonstrated bending at the waist and touching her toes with effortless grace. Her leggings stretched tight across her rear, leaving little to the imagination. He gulped and attempted to mimic her pose. He barely made it halfway before his hamstrings screamed in protest. "Need some help?" Chloe's voice came from behind him. Before he could respond, he felt her hands on his lower back, gently guiding him deeper into the stretch. Her touch was
Jackson sauntered into the cozy café, the freshly ground coffee beans aroma tickling his nostrils. He scanned the room, half-expecting to see Chloe perched at a table, but the yoga instructor was nowhere in sight. With a shrug, he claimed a table near the window, settling into the chair with the casual grace of a cat finding the perfect sunbeam. A familiar voice piped up in his head as he drummed his fingers on the tabletop. "Enjoying your little rendezvous?" Quantum Quill's tone dripped with amusement. Jackson's eyes darted around, making sure no one was watching before he muttered, "I thought you'd gone on vacation. Miss me already?" "Oh, I wouldn't dream of missing this spectacle," QQ chuckled. "But playtime's almost over, tiger. Sunday's going to be a busy day for you. Lots of tasks to complete and juicy answers waiting at the finish line." "Answers? What kind of—" "Ah ah ah," QQ interrupted. "No spoilers. Just focus on your hot date for now. We'll chat later." The voice fa
Chloe sipped her caramel macchiato, leaving a faint lipstick mark on the rim. She cocked an eyebrow at him. "So, Mr. Yoga Newbie, what made you grab coffee with me? Hoping for some private lessons?" Jackson smirked, leaning in as well. "Thought it might be nice to get to know you... and see how flexible you really are." She let out a laugh that turned a few heads in the café. "Well, I hate to disappoint, but I'm nothing extraordinary." "Extraordinary is overrated," he replied, his voice dropping slightly. "I want that 'nothing extraordinary' girl in my bed." Her eyes widened just a bit before she regained her composure, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Is that so?" He nodded. "Absolutely." She bit her lower lip, glancing around the café as if checking for eavesdroppers. Then she leaned in, whispering. "I want that too." Jackson's eyebrows shot up, his heart racing like a teenager who'd just scored his first date. He hadn't expected Chloe to be so... direct. It was like findi
Jackson's heart raced as they approached her apartment building. It was a modest brick structure, nothing like the towering glass monstrosity he now called home. But something was charming about its simplicity, a warmth that his sterile penthouse lacked. He stepped into the apartment, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. It was cozy, filled with plush throw pillows and potted plants that seemed to sprout from every available surface. The air smelled faintly of incense and something earthy – probably one of those essential oils yoga people always raved about. As she busied herself with turning on lamps, his gaze wandered to the wall adorned with framed photos. Most featured Chloe in various yoga poses. But one picture in particular caught his eye. It showed Chloe beaming at the camera, her arms wrapped around a tall, handsome man with a chiseled jaw and perfect hair. They looked sickeningly happy together, like one of those couples you'd see in a toothpaste commercial. "That's my b
Jackson stood up, towering over her as she lay on the bed, her legs splayed wide open. He reached down, grabbed the hem of her dress, and tugged it over her head. She raised her arms, helping him toss the dress to the floor. Her bra came next, a lacy thing that gave way under his deft fingers. Her breasts spilled free, her nipples hard and begging for attention. "God, you're hot," he murmured, unable to take his eyes off her. He leaned in, capturing one peaked nipple with his mouth, his free hand cupping the other breast, squeezing gently. Her hands returned to his hair, holding him close. "Don't stop," she pleaded. He had no intention of stopping. He suckled one nipple, rolling it between his teeth before moving to the other. His free hand slid down her smooth, taut stomach, fingers teasing the slick folds of her pussy once more. "You really like it when I play with you, don't you?" "Mmm, yes," she gasped, arching her back. "I think you need a little more," he whispered, slipp
Jackson slumped into the plush leather booth, his eyes darting between James, Matthew, and Charles. The bar hummed with Friday night energy, but their corner felt like an island of conspiracy. "Alright, spill it," James leaned forward, his beer sloshing dangerously. "What's this mysterious shindig you've roped us into?" Jackson cleared his throat, buying time with a long swig of his whiskey. "Well, funny story..." Matthew groaned. "Oh God, here we go." "It's not that bad!" Jackson protested. "I just... may have gotten us invited to a party. Sunday night." Charles raised an eyebrow. "And you're just telling us now because...?" "Because I only found out recently?" Jackson offered weakly. The disbelief on his friends' faces told him they weren't buying it. He sighed. "Look, I don't know much about it either. All I know is it's supposed to be this fancy shindig. Lots of rich folks, potential connections, that sort of thing." "Rich folks, huh?" James leaned back. "Well, well, well.
Jackson stumbled into his penthouse, kicking off his shoes with relief. The weight of his friends' questions still hung heavy on his mind, but at least he'd managed to dodge the worst of their suspicions, for now. He flopped onto the plush leather couch, sinking into its embrace. His hand fumbled for his phone and squinted at the bright screen. A message from Olivia blinked up at him. Olivia: Hey, handsome, how are you feeling? That shoulder of yours healing up, okay? He chewed his lip, thumbs hovering over the keyboard. The truth was, his shoulder felt perfectly fine - suspiciously so. But he couldn't exactly tell her that. Jackson: Doing better. My shoulder's healing up nicely. Doc says I'm a quick healer. Her reply came almost instantly. Olivia: That's great news! I've been worried about you. A warmth spread through his chest at her concern. He hadn't expected to feel this way about someone he'd just met. Jackson: Thanks for caring. It means a lot. Olivia: Of course! So..