Chapter Three

Claire’s POV

The studio was nearly empty by the time my session started.

Evening light had already faded behind the high windows, leaving only the bright overhead panels and the long mirrors that reflected every movement in sharp detail. Marcus locked the front door after the last group class filtered out, the sound of the deadbolt sliding home unnaturally loud in the sudden quiet. We were alone. The realization settled over me with a weight that had nothing to do with the work ahead.

“Center mat,” he said. “We’ll finish with loaded stretching today. You’re still guarding the hips.”

I moved to the mat without comment. The air...