Evan stretched his arms above his head as he stepped out of his bedroom, already dressed in a simple gray T-shirt and navy blue shorts. The soft morning light filtered through the house, and he made his way to the basement gym. A few days ago, he’d overestimated his strength while pying badminton with some kids and ended up completely wiped out. That moment had stuck with him, and now, as Sienna’s morning workout routine came to mind, he decided it was time to take the initiative—not just to get in better shape but also to spend more time with her.
As he descended the stairs, the faint sound of upbeat music reached his ears. Pushing the door open, he found Sienna standing in front of a rack of weights, her dark hair tied up in a high ponytail. She was dressed in a snug sports bra, which showcased her toned arms and left her midriff exposed, and full-length bck leggings that hugged her curves. Evan blinked, suddenly aware of how much skin the outfit revealed, but quickly tried to focus on her face instead of the generous cleavage the sports bra emphasized.
Sienna turned at the sound of the door, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Well, this is a surprise,” she said, setting down the dumbbell she was holding.
“Yeah,” Evan replied, scratching the back of his neck. “Figured it’s about time I started working out. Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Not at all.” Sienna’s smile widened. “This is a great decision, actually. Do you need me to teach you the basics?”
“If you don’t mind,” he said. “I don’t want to get in the way of your workout, though.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “We’ll start you off slow. Trust me, you’ll thank me ter.”
Sienna guided him to a mat and instructed him to start with stretches. She demonstrated a few moves: reaching for his toes, twisting his torso, and loosening his shoulders. Evan followed along, his movements a little stiff but improving as he went.
“Stretching is super important,” Sienna said as she reached for her toes effortlessly. “It helps prevent injuries and gets your muscles ready. Don’t skip it, no matter how tempting it is.”
“Got it,” Evan said, wincing as he tried to touch his toes and barely made it halfway.
After the stretches, Sienna led him to the treadmill. “Okay, start with a brisk walk. No running yet. Just get used to the movement and let your body warm up.”
Evan stepped onto the treadmill and started walking, the steady hum of the machine filling the air. Meanwhile, Sienna moved to the squat rack. She positioned a heavy barbell across her shoulders and stepped back to begin her set of back squats. Evan gnced her way and froze. She made the movement look effortless, lowering herself with perfect form and standing back up. The barbell ptes clinked slightly, but her focus was unwavering.
His admiration quickly turned into distraction. Her leggings were… form-fitting, to say the least, and they emphasized every curve as she bent and straightened. His gaze lingered on her round butt, only for his footing on the treadmill to falter. The machine jolted, and Evan stumbled, barely catching himself on the side rails before he could fall off entirely.
“Whoa, careful there,” Sienna said, turning around at the noise. Her expression was concerned, but it quickly shifted to a teasing grin. “Don’t rush. Take it slow.”
Evan’s face heated. “Yeah, thanks,” he muttered, trying to regain his footing and his composure.
Evan stepped off the stationary bike, his legs trembling slightly as he reached for the water bottle Sienna had left nearby. Sweat trickled down his temples and dampened his shirt. Without thinking, he grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and wiped his face with it, a reflexive gesture he’d picked up from long days of manual bor back in his old world. It wasn’t the most graceful habit, but it worked.
The cool air against his bare torso was a relief, but before he could fully appreciate it, Sienna’s sharp gasp cut through his haze of exhaustion.
“Oh, my stars,” she excimed, her voice dripping with exaggerated shock and amusement. “Evan, what are you doing?”
He blinked at her, confused. “Uh, wiping my face?”
She stared at him, her lips twitching as if holding back ughter. “Like that? Are you…” —her tone turned teasing, her eyes glinting with mischief— “are you trying to send a signal or something?”
Evan froze, his mind struggling to catch up. “What? No!” he stammered, hastily yanking his shirt down. His face burned, and he gnced away, suddenly hyper-aware of how casually he’d acted.
“You’re so clueless it’s adorable,” she said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “Seriously, Evan, don’t do that in front of anyone but me. You can’t just... fsh your body like that in front of a girl.”
“I wasn’t fshing anything,” he muttered, his voice defensive but tinged with embarrassment.
Sienna chuckled, leaning on the treadmill railing. “Alright. But seriously, bring a towel next time. You’re going to need it.”
“Got it,” Evan said, still flustered. He grabbed the water bottle again, gulping down the cool liquid and focusing on regaining his composure.
After giving him a few minutes to rest, Sienna cpped her hands lightly to get his attention. “Alright, let’s move on. We’ll do some light stamina-building exercises next. Don’t worry, I’ll join you this time. It’ll be easier if I show you.”
Evan nodded, gd for the guidance. She led him to a clear area of the gym and demonstrated high knees first. “Bring your knees up as high as you can, like this,” she said, her movements fluid and energetic. “We’ll do it for thirty seconds. Ready?”
Evan tried to copy her. His form was awkward at first, and he could feel the burn in his legs almost immediately. Sienna matched his pace, counting down the seconds aloud to keep him focused.
Next came step touches. “Just step side to side and tap your feet together,” she expined, demonstrating the move. “It’s a great way to keep the heart rate up without overdoing it.”
Evan tried to match her pace, stepping side to side, but his legs felt heavier with each passing second. The rhythmic tapping of his feet seemed simple, yet his breath quickened, and sweat started to bead on his forehead.
By the time they finished, he was panting, his calves sore from the movement. He colpsed onto the mat, still trying to catch his breath.
Sienna handed him the water bottle again. “Take a breather. You’re doing great,” she said, her tone encouraging. She crouched next to him, barely winded herself. “Don’t push yourself too hard, though. This is just your first day.”
Evan gnced at her, his pride stinging. She looked like she could keep going for hours, while he was practically a puddle on the floor. Determined not to seem weak, he pushed himself back up. “I’m fine. Let’s keep going.”
Sienna arched a brow but didn’t argue. “Alright, the st one then,” she said after a moment of thought. “Jumping jacks. Simple, but effective. Follow me.”
She started the movement, her arms and legs moving in a steady rhythm. Evan joined in, determined to keep up. Evan struggled to maintain a neutral gaze, his eyes drifting towards the captivating bounce of her breasts and the hypnotic sway of her hips, before forcibly refocusing on her face. He focused on matching her pace, his movements growing sloppy as his energy waned.
By the time he reached thirty reps, his coordination faltered, and he nearly tripped over his own feet. Sienna caught his arm to steady him, her expression shifting to concern. “That’s enough for today,” she said firmly. “Sit down and cool off before you hurt yourself.”
Reluctantly, Evan sank back onto the mat. Sienna handed him the water bottle again and crouched beside him. “You’ve got to know your limits,” she said, her tone gentle but firm. “Pushing past them won’t help you get stronger; it’ll just get you hurt.”
Evan nodded, too tired to argue this time. As he sipped the water, he watched her return to her routine. Her strength and endurance were remarkable, and he couldn’t help but compare her physique to the women he’d known in his previous life. The differences were stark, and though he felt a pang of inadequacy, he also couldn’t help but admire her.
LunarEcho
