Chapter 7: The Desire

The chaos of the day was long over, and the gymnasium lay silent. Tyler had lingered around while everyone left. Elena had promised him another session today, and he was waiting for her. His heart was still racing from the victory over Derek. It wasn’t the win that set his blood on fire; it was Elena’s hug. The pride in her eyes meant more to him than the cheers of the crowd.

Elena met him near the water station. She carried no yoga mats with her. She looked subdued as she approached him.

“No stretches today?” he asked playfully.

Elena did not miss the edge of anticipation in his voice. She chuckled at the thought of what might be going through his head. She shook her head. “Not tonight, Tyler. I want to talk about your match. That spin you pulled on Derek was amazing. You moved like you were born to wrestle.”

He grinned at her, his pride swelling at her words. “Felt good out there. Your training’s unlocking something, Elena. I could feel my body moving faster, smoother. Like I could take on anyone.”

Elena leaned against the wall. Her gaze locked on his. “It’s not just the training, Tyler. It’s you. Your ability to read the opponent and take the risk is uncanny. You love the game more than the win, don’t you?”

He moved closer and stood beside her. No one had ever asked him that with such genuine curiosity before. “Yeah, I do. It’s ... it’s like the world shuts up for a minute. Just me, the mat, and the other guy. Every move’s a challenge. Every counter’s a chance to outsmart them. It’s the only place I feel ... alive.”

Her gaze softened with admiration. “That’s beautiful, Tyler. You’re not chasing medals or crowds. You’re in it for the soul of it. That’s rare.”

Tyler stayed silent. She was reading him like an open book. There was nothing he could hide from her. A variety of emotions played across his face, but no words came out.

She turned towards him. Her fingers brushed his arm gently. “Tyler...” Her voice was a whisper. “What are you thinking right now? Tell me the truth.”

His heart pounded hard. Her touch sent a jolt of current through his body. Her close proximity and the scent of Jasmine overwhelmed him. He didn’t hesitate. “I have been lusting after you since the first time we met. You are hot, and the way you carry yourself drives me crazy. You had my admiration until last week. Now, you have my respect as my mentor. But more than that, you’re my friend, Elena. You believe in me, and that ... that means a lot.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. His blunt, honest, and mature response surprised her. Her hand lingered on his arm. “Tyler...” she murmured. For the first time, she was at a loss for words in the company of a male.

He was not done yet, though. “Why are you doing this, Elena? What’s in it for you?” He asked the same question again.

Elena froze for a moment. She crossed her arms and took a moment to calm down. It was her turn to open up. “I wanted to help Caleb when he was playing for Golden grappler. I wanted him to teach the same things I am doing for you. But he was never open to accepting my help. I don’t blame him, though. He believed in his approach. In his own words, he wanted to maintain the purity of his training.” There was a tinge of wistful ache in her voice.

“Then I saw you, Tyler. Caleb and you may not agree on the same methods, but you both love the game with equal passion. But unlike him, you are open to experiment. You have the hunger to explore. That’s what got me interested. I want to teach you what I couldn’t teach him. I want you to soar.”

Tyler looked at her in wonder. He chuckled to break the tense moment. “You mean Caleb never tried yoga with you? Not even a warrior pose?”

She laughed along with him. “Not at all. Just physio for that damn knee after his accident. He used to grit his teeth and curse the whole time. Still too stubborn to let me push him further.”

Their laughter mingled and then faded into silence. They both struggled to find the topic after reference to Caleb’s accident. Their eyes locked in the silence. They were standing very close. Elena’s lips parted, but she did not speak. She was looking into Tyler’s eyes, searching for something.

Tyler felt the blood rushing to his cheeks. His pulse hammered hard as he felt the heat rising. But he was in turn waiting for her. It took all his willpower to stop and not to lean in for a kiss.

Elena paused for a moment and stepped back from him. Her hand brushed away the unruly strand of hair behind her ears. “We should get going now. I want you fresh and ready for Caleb’s training session tomorrow. He is going to put you through hell, you know.”

He chuckled. “What can I say? I asked for it.”

She smiled, “That you did. Quiet rudely so, but I like you taking things on your own terms.”

Tyler had a coy smile on his face. “You liked me being rude to Caleb?”

Elena shook her head with a smile. “Goodnight, Tyler. I will see you or what’s left of you after Caleb’s session.”