Jennifer Probst - The Tantric Principle

Grant had a handful of students who qualified. But, none of them could leave for a full weekend. He needed someone who had shown capabilities in practice, and seriousness in studies.

Unfortunately, there was only one student left with those qualities.

Arianna Devlin.

He tapped his fingers against the desk and thought hard. She might not be able to accompany him at the last minute. If she agreed, he needed to prep for the workshop, which would mean spending every spare moment in her company. He imagined them alone together.

He shook his head and thought over all the options. He was a professional. He knew the risk of getting involved with a student, and his life did not include a short affair with a sexy woman who could bring chaos. No, he had made that decision when he lost everything. The thought of his past strengthened his resolve.

He had too much to lose.

Grant reached for the phone and dialed her number.

“Aren’t we working tonight?”

Arianna looked up to see Tim Grayson in the doorway. She shot him a smile and finished packing up her briefcase. “Not tonight. I have to attend a workshop this weekend in Boston.” He ignored her obvious attempt to rush out the door and made himself comfortable in the burgundy leather chair opposite her desk. “What type of workshop?”

“Yoga.”

He gave a snort that was half laugh. “Yeah, right.”

She checked her cell phone one last time and tossed it in her bag. “Thanks for the support. At least I have a hobby outside of the office.”

“Yoga people can’t make it in the real world. They don’t understand deadlines.” She laughed. Tim was like her in many ways, and their brief fling had been satisfying, but short. Neither of them had regretted giving in to their desire, but the passion quickly cooled after a weekend spent in bed. So they agreed to simply remain friends.

Arianna had been relieved because their relationship at G&B Advertising was more important to her than a few orgasms. They were both on the fast circuit—long hours, dinner spent hunched over a computer, and brainstorming sessions with her creative team that ran late into the night. So far, she hadn’t met a man who could compete with the adrenalin rush of scoring a big account. She'd always assumed the man she’d eventually fall in love with would have the same intensity toward his career. She respected businessmen and loved the sharp intelligence and social edge people in advertising possessed. It was cutthroat and for the young.

The thought brought a smile to her lips. Enter her interest in yoga. Imagine her surprise when she realized her body was beginning to betray her. All the fast food and late nights had finally taken their toll. She'd felt brittle and bone weary. Her edge blurred and her mind had became fogged. The kickboxing and cardio only seemed to make things worse. One day she’d seen an advertisement in the paper about a local yoga studio offering free beginning classes.

She'd gone and hoped for a miracle.

And gotten it. Along with a sexy teacher who was beginning to drive her crazy.

Arianna shook off her thoughts and re-focused on Tim. “Stop making fun of me. The asanas help me relax and focus better on work.”

“Ass what?”

She laughed. “The postures. It’ s a great workout. I finally have some arm muscles from all those push ups.”

Tim waved his hand in dismissal. “You need a burger and a roll in the hay.” He waggled his eyebrow. “I’m free tonight if you want to use me.”

“No thanks. You’d fall madly in love with me again and we wouldn’t be able to work on the Rosebud account.”

“That’s why you should be working with me this weekend. Not running off to some guru camp to find inner peace.”

She made a face at his obvious displeasure and shooed him off the chair. “I promised I’d help my teacher out. I’ll have my cell phone and be instantly reachable. Send me the print ad as soon as Mel finishes. On Monday I’ll meet with the team and we’ll go over our final pitch.”

“Yeah, no pressure.” Tim rose and walked her out. “Don’t get too relaxed out there and leave me stranded.”

“Have I ever?”

He gave her a raunchy grin. “Nah, never. It’s always been good for me.” She laughed and locked up her office. As she drove home, she thought of spending the next two days with Grant. Alone. A delicious shiver slithered down her spine and pooled between her legs. She shifted in her seat at the throbbing ache and wondered how he would be in bed. She firmly stopped the thought. No sense in going there or she’d need her vibrator. Again.

Boston was strictly business, just as he relayed. He needed someone to demonstrate the poses to the class and be a general errand girl. He’d offered to pay her but she laughed and requested a few free classes. Arianna assumed her teacher knew she didn’t need his money. She wondered how much yoga teachers made, and then wondered if he had problems with women making more money. As a successful advertising executive, she’d made her way through the ranks, starting as an intern. A ruthless cunning and hunger for success finally placed her at the cusp of an account that could launch her into the big time. She’d been at G&B for ten years now, and no one had invaded her turf yet.

She realized Grant Madison lived in a different world. He’d never understand why she had to work late on their anniversary, why stress made her curse like a truck driver, and why she didn’t view the world through rainbow colored glasses. She’d made her own way with no help.

No. Grant was definitely not the man for her.

But, damn, what she would give for just one night with him to scratch her itch.

“Are you ready for me?”

Her breath hitched at his low throated question, his breath hot in her ear. Arianna managed a half-hearted nod and prayed the students couldn’t tell her nipples had tightened under her skimpy lycra shirt.

She felt his hands push into the small of her back to send her deeper into the Downward Dog position as he instructed the small group of students on the basic points of the posture. His fingers trailed down the backs of her thighs and kneaded a gentle pressure so her heels sunk deeply into the mat.

Crap. She had to get out of here.

Grant kept speaking in his soothing voice, while Arianna slowly went out of her mind.

He had to get his hands off of her or she was going to explode. After a full day of having his fingers explore every intimate, clothed part of her body, she was ready to get naked and get serious.

He patted her rear gently as if she was a horse and instructed her to ease back into Child’s pose.

She rested her forehead on the mat and mentally cursed him with her whole arsenal of weapons. And she had a lot of them.

“Class dismissed. We’ll see you tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. sharp.” Arianna groaned with relief. Suddenly, he was beside her.

“Are you okay? Sore?” he asked with concern as her groan rose to his ears.

Arianna swore she’d become the Dali Lama himself if she could wrest all this sexual frustration and put it into her practices. Slowly, she raised her head and met his gaze. “No, I’m fine. Just letting out a little tension.”

His full lips quirked in a half smile. “You’ve done yoga for the last six hours. How could you be tense?”

“Poor choice of words. Never mind.”

She stood up and wondered why she felt so cranky. This is what she wanted, hours of asana practice and him to stay away from her. She needed no complications in her life, and God knows, he would be one giant complication.

Arianna knelt to roll up her mat and felt the power of his stare. She refused to look up.

After a few moments, he walked away to chat with the other students as they left.

She pulled her hair out of her ponytail holder and squeezed her fists over her eyes. Okay, she was going to act like a grown-up. Be polite, yet distant. Get a drink at the hotel bar, some food, and a good night’s sleep. There wasn’t too much to clean up so she’d sneak right out of here with the group and tell him she would meet him in the morning.

“Let’s get some dinner.”

She turned and faced him. God, he looked good. Inky strands of hair pulled back from his face. His features stark, slashed cheekbones, high dark brows, piercing eyes so deep they reminded her of polished onyx. His black yoga pants and tank showed off lean, hard muscles.

She wondered how he moved in bed. If class was any indication, he knew every pulse point of pleasure in a woman’s body and how to make her sing.

“Maybe not such a good idea.”

He laughed. “How can you be cranky? You should be buzzed with energy after opening up all your chakras.”

“Maybe you opened up too many.”

He caught the undertones and acknowledged her temper with a nod of his head. Still, his gaze gleamed with humor. “Point taken. We’ll eat and discuss it.” Arianna lifted her eyebrow. “I didn’t think discussion was an option.”

“I’m a civilized man. Discussion is always an option.” He stopped the conversation by interlacing his fingers with hers and led her out of the studio. Arianna was too taken aback to protest as he guided her into the car and drove to the hotel.

She said nothing on the short ride, but stopped at the elevators. “I have to take a shower and change,” she said. “I’ll meet you in the lounge in half an hour.”

“Is that enough time?”

“I’m the type who can be ready in fifteen minutes. The extra was for you.” She heard his chuckle as the doors shushed before her.