I stayed late at the gym, the place practically deserted except for one other person, a guy I’d noticed during my usual workouts. He had this effortlessly confident air about him, the kind that drew your attention even when you didn’t want to look. I’d seen him a few times before, always focused but not in that intimidating way. He’d smile at people, hold the door open, and chat casually with the staff. But tonight, for whatever reason, it felt like the universe had aligned in a way that put him and me in the same space, at the same time, with nobody else around.

I was struggling with one of the weight machines, trying to figure out why it felt so awkward and heavy, when he walked over. “Need a hand?” he asked, his voice low and teasing, paired with that signature smirk of his. My cheeks flushed instantly, and I managed a sheepish laugh, nodding as I moved aside. He adjusted the weights with an ease that made me feel even more flustered, his hands brushing mine in a way that sent sparks up my spine.

“You’ve got the right idea, just need to tweak your form a bit,” he said, standing behind me to guide my movements. His presence was overwhelming in the best way close enough that I could feel the warmth of him, but not so close as to make it awkward. We started talking, the conversation flowing easily as he asked about my workouts, my favorite exercises, and even teased me about my playlist, which he somehow guessed was full of upbeat pop songs.

I don’t know what it was about him, but every glance he gave me lingered, his eyes tracing over me like he was memorizing every detail. It wasn’t just his looks, though those didn’t hurt. It was the way he made me feel like I was the only person in the room, like he saw me in a way that nobody else ever had.

After a while, he suggested we cool down in the yoga studio. “It’s empty at this time,” he said with a grin. I hesitated for a split second, unsure if this was a good idea, but something about the way he looked at me made it impossible to say no.

As soon as we stepped into the dimly lit studio, the door clicked shut behind us, and he turned to me with that same confident smirk. “You’ve been distracting me all night,” he murmured, stepping closer. My heart raced as he backed me up against the mirrored wall, his hands finding my waist. When his lips finally met mine, it was soft at first, almost tentative, but it quickly deepened.

His hands slid up my sides, his touch firm but gentle as he pulled me closer. The cool glass against my back contrasted with the heat of his body pressing into mine. Every whispered word, every kiss, every touch felt electric, like the world had faded away, leaving only the two of us in this surreal, stolen moment.

By the time we finally pulled away, I was breathless. My hair was a mess, my heart was pounding, and I couldn’t stop smiling. I’d come to the gym to break a sweat, but I never expected it to be like this.