AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My father used to go on tours,” I offered, “but he always came through with a punishment when he got back.” I laughed a little, and Dani and Alan joined in with me. Jonas’s hand slipped under the table and squeezed mine.
“Don’t get me wrong, Lily,” Dani said, “I understand. But we all miss him here.”
“We do,” Alan chimed in support.
“I know. It won’t be forever,” Jonas said quietly. I squeezed his hand back.
“Oh, I got a call from Arthur about seeing you with a young lady this morning. He wanted to make sure I was okay,” Dani said in a bored tone. “I told him.”
“I told him too,” Jonas said and exhaled. A bell sounded.
“The session starts in five minutes.”
“We should get going,” Alan announced. “Nice meeting you, Lily. We should do a dinner together.” I shook his hand.
Dani gripped my face and kissed my cheeks. “Enjoy.” Jonas tugged her arm and she giggled. “Don’t worry, I didn’t tell.”
“I’ll be right back.” Jonas followed them out of the café.
Dani Crane was a surprise. So easy and seeing their banter, though unfamiliar, relaxed me. She was so comfortable and welcoming to me. Not at all like I had imagined meeting an ex would be. Even Alan seemed awfully comfortable. My heart panged. They were like a family. A longing gripped me, but I took a deep breath and pushed my thoughts away. I didn’t want to get caught up in the past.
Jonas returned with a bag in his hand, giving me one of his gorgeous smiles, “I apologize for that. Dani is just….”
My grin went lopsided. “—She’s really just wow… I don’t know. I was nervous, but she was so kind.”
Jonas smiled wistfully. “Dani is.” He blew out. “My time in Texas has become a sore point for us. For Alan and Paul too. Thank you for that story about your father.”
I shrugged. “It was true. He traveled at times, but we never felt he didn’t care for us.”
“I do care,” Jonas said softly. “Anyway, I appreciated that.” He tugged a little on my ponytail and I giggled for him. He took my hand and we walked up a flight of stairs and through a set of double doors. I stopped just inside, as my eyes took in the scenery.
The room, though dimly lit, was decorated as what I’d imagine to be an Arabian Tent. Beautiful colorful silk scarves draped along the ceiling, their soft edges brushing against the polished wood flooring. Like the rest of the center, the room had more floor pedestals with lit Eastern statues in the corners.
What captured my attention was the three makeshift tents in a triangle along the center of the room, complete with drop silks between them. The one at the top of the triangle was on a raised platform, lit with a large mattress in the center. There was a couple inside one tent. The other was unoccupied.
The doors closed and Padma and an elderly man, also wearing a tunic, walked past us and took a place in the middle, as Jonas led us over to the unoccupied tent.
“Namaste and welcome, everyone, to Tantra,” Padma said. “Tonight’s session goal is for couples and lovers to learn to communicate your sexual desires and embrace your sensuality.”
My jaw unhinged.He didn’t.
Jonas took my shoulder and leaned down next to my ear, “I thought you would enjoy this. Help you become more comfortable with your body and me.”
I stared at him. I didn’t know if I should be mad or happy that he had thought enough of me already to seek out a way to help us.
“This is Ravi,” Padma said. She motioned to the elder man with short white hair dressed in loose pants standing next to her, love shining in her eyes. He kissed her palm before turning to the class.
“Thank you, Padma,” Ravi said. “We will start with breathing and a little Hatha yoga to loosen you up. After every pose, we will return to the mountain pose.”
Padma demonstrated by rolling her shoulders back and placing her palms together in front of her.
“You maintain contact with your partner,” Ravi said. “We will give a question and you answer together. Let your mind rest and speak freely.”
“After we loosen up, you may disrobe and get in your tent,” Padma said. “Please set out your yoga mats so we can begin.”
I trembled and Jonas hugged me closer. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
Jonas massaged my shoulders. “We’ll go as far as you are comfortable.” He unzipped his bag and pulled out mats.
