Page 22
“So, what are we doing today?” Luke asked, craning his neck and looking past me. “You said we’re not swimming?”
I took a sip of coffee before answering. “Nope. Come on through.”
Luke followed me into the wellness center, past reception and through the main floor of the gym, his gaze flicking over the weight machines, the state-of-the-art treadmills and exercise bikes. He cocked his head curiously when we walked past them all.
I led him into a smaller room at the rear of the gym area. Instead of the usual industrial-rated gym carpet, it had concrete floors and a central drain. I’d switched the heating on before Luke arrived so the room was pleasantly warm. It had originally been a laundry room, but I’d co-opted it as part of my practice, and now it held a single treadmill surrounded by plexiglass walls that ended at around chest height. Luke’s voice echoed off the walls when he said, “Why has that treadmill been put in solitary? What did it do, bite someone?”
I snorted. It kind of did look like the treadmill was being caged. “It’s your hydrotherapy tank.”
Luke stared at me blankly. “My what now?”
“You get in there and we fill it with water, and you walk.”
Luke shot me a skeptical look and I wondered if he was going to argue with me, but then he shrugged and said, “I have no idea what it’s meant to do, but I’m game for anything at this stage.” He peeled off his shirt and sweater as he spoke. “Did I tell you my current method of getting down the stairs is falling down them and letting gravity do the work? And my ass is not thanking me for this morning’s effort right now.”
I let out a startled laugh, but it died in my throat when Luke stripped out of his shoes and jeans and I was treated to the sight of him in nothing but a pair of bright orange Speedos. And yes, I could see a fresh bruise blooming on the curve of his ass. I winced in sympathy. “That looks like it hurts.”
He gave a careless shrug and flashed me a grin. “It’ll heal. And werewolves are pretty durable.”
Memories of how strong he’d been when he was grinding against my dick last night flashed through my mind. I pushed them aside, turning my attention to the therapy tank instead. I opened the door at the front and beckoned for him to get inside. “We fill it once you’re in.”
Luke stepped into the tank, and I secured and locked the door and pushed a button. Water started streaming in, splashing against the floor of the tank, and once it was halfway to his knees, I said, “I’m starting the treadmill, okay? Hold onto that bar at the front until you get the hang of it.”
Luke nodded, and I started the machine at a steady walking pace. He started to walk as the water deepened, and after a few minutes his brow furrowed. “Oh wow, this is weird.”
“Weird how?”
“Like my legs are extra there. Okay, I officially hate this.”
“I know, but trust me, it’ll help your coordination.”
“How exactly is this—” He lifted his hands off the stability bar, and panic crossed his face as he stumbled forward. He grabbed the bar again, and water sloshed around his legs, splashing as far up as his thighs.
“Don’t laugh.” He shot me a glare, but I knew it was directed at the situation, not me.
“I’m not laughing. And I swear it will help.”
His face scrunched in confusion. “How?”
“Because your body’s forgotten what your leg muscles feel like and how to make them work. The resistance will help it reinforce the muscle memory.”
He muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, “Sounds like bullshit,” but he kept walking.
When the water was up to the top of his thighs and he was walking comfortably, I increased the speed of the treadmill, and I got to watch as Luke stumbled over his own feet—only this time he pitched headfirst into the water, emerging seconds later sputtering and splashing.
I hit the stop button.
“You could have warned me!” he said, shaking his head and sending drops of water flying my way in what had to be a deliberate move.
“Nope. If I warned you, you’d overthink it. We want your body to move instinctively,” I said, handing him a towel. “Shall we go again?”
He dried his face and hair and threw the towel at me. “Fine,” he said in a tone that suggested fine was currently located somewhere roughly five thousand miles from here, or possibly on the other side of the solar system.
I started the treadmill again, and once he was walking steadily, I raised the incline.
Luke’s eyes widened and he scrambled to keep up, but at least he kept his footing this time and I thought I saw a smile, so I considered it progress.
We carried on like that for another ten minutes. When I increased the incline again, Luke took two steps and froze before falling over ass-backward into the water again. I hit the stop button and he surfaced, water sloshing around him as he stood there, dripping and scowling. “Fuck this,” he huffed. “I need to take a break.”
