Mind and Body

“Break time’s up! Come on, let’s go!”

“I can’t—no way!” you wheeze, sprawled on the floor. “My legs are on fire, I can’t…let’s just stop here.”

Nien shifts her jaw side-to-side, tilting her head as she looks over your leg. “Your legs are on fire, you say?”

“Yeah! It—”

“Got it!” she chirps, grabbing her water bottle and turning away.

Eh? That easy? No, she surely got something more in mind, this is Nien we’re talking about. 

“Whoa.”

Though whatever that is can wait as you pull yourself up and watch her saunter over to the water dispenser. You are but a pig and Nien’s thighs are two juicy carrots, all out in their sweat-shined glory thanks to her tennis skirt.

Water bottle refilled, the main attraction shifts to her toned abs, flexing with every step towards you. You could be drooling right now, you wouldn't know. Not when it joins the river of sweat on your face, and all the space behind it is occupied by awe. In awe that she is somehow your girlfriend.

Nien’s amused giggle brings you back to her bright, full-faced smile; one of the few things that has the power to tear your eyes away from her body. 

Smiling back at her, you extend your hand. But instead of handing you the bottle, she pours the contents all over your legs, cackling as you squirm in surprise. 

“Ah! Huh—why…what was that for?”

“Tada!” Nien shakes out the last drips, setting the bottle aside. “Now your legs aren’t on fire anymore! I’ve put it out, heh.”

“The—what…really?” you chuckle, caught between amusement and frustration.

“Mhm! Now…” She claps her hands, leaning over with a determined expression. “One. More. Set. Come on, get up!”

You flop back to the floor, whining. “I can’t! It’s too—agh!” Nien yanks you up on your forearms, pushing you against a chest press.

“Baby. Listen to me.” Her voice is an octave lower, her usual sunny beam bringing along its blaze this time. “Are you actually injured?”

You gulp and peer down at your legs, wiggling them a tiny bit. “N–No.”

“Can you move them?”

More of a swing this time around. It’s difficult and makes you wince, but there seems to be a decent range of motion still. “Yes.”

Nien’s grip loosens slightly, holding your biceps rather than gripping them. “Do you want to make them stronger?”

You slowly nod, eyes warming up for some reason. “Y–Yes. Yes, I do.”

Her fiery gaze cools back down to a warm beam, her hands pushing aside the damp hair stuck to your forehead. “Then we do one more—you know what? Let’s just go for six reps this set. That’s it. Then we’re done.”

“Just six?” you croak, lighting up a bit.

“Yup! Just six.”

“Okay.” Your nods are firmer, more certain. “Let’s…let’s do this.”

“Attaboy,” she grins, tapping your shoulders and stepping aside. Letting out a long exhale, you grit and get back onto the leg curling machine, groaning loudly as you get in position.

“Ready?”

“Yup.”

“And go. Up! One.” Wow. Your hamstrings immediately protest, but you just about manage. “Up! Two.” You can’t let their protests drown out your desire though; another hefty pull. “Three!” Fuck, you’re real tempted to just let them win, unable to do this one without shaking. 

“Four! Let’s go, you got it, babe!” So you’re shaking. As long as you move, that’s all that matters. “Don’t stop now, come on! Up! Five!” Oh jeez, no way you’re going all the wa—okay, just…maintain your form. Prioritize that. Just one more. 

“And…up! Six!” Let’s. Fucking. Go! “Urghh! There! Wow! I did it! I d—”

“I didn’t say we’re done!” she spits, clapping her hands. “Up! Come on! Keep going!”   

What the fuck? Didn’t we agree to six—oh, whatever. You’re in the flow of compliance, so you pull another rep, snarling the whole time as it’s the only way you’ll breathe properly. 

“Seven! Good, one more!” You don’t know how you got here; your legs would be screaming on top of their lungs if they had a pair, your whole body is shaking, and yet. You grind towards another rep, your vocals matching the raised hurdle. 

“Eight! Awesome! Just one more now, one more!” 

“Oh my—honey! Nien! Please!” you wheeze, borderline sobbing. “I can’t—”

“Uh–uh! Don’t say that—don’t say anything! Just…try! Pull! Come on!” She leans in, closer to your head. “Up!”

“Urghh!” It feels impossible, sounds impossible, but you bite down hard and somehow thinly manage another rep, even if you only go half as far. “Nine! You’re doing great. One more, baby!”

Forget questioning it. This ends when she says it ends…or when you break. Whichever comes first. “Pfffff!” Try as you might, summon every molecule of reserve energy you have, you can’t do it. You bounce back weakly, not enough breath to verbally protest.

“Well done. Great job, baby,” Nien coos, helping you off the machine. You stumble and fall right into her arms, she lowers to the floor to accommodate. 

“You said—” Your throat’s dry from all the panting, only airy wheezes until she hands you the water bottle that’s actually for drinking. “Shhh…slowly, baby. Well done, you’ve earned it.”

   “You said we…we were only doing six!” you scowl, looking away from her to sulk. Nien chuckles and starts caressing your temple, lightly playing with your hair.

“And look how many you could actually do,” she whispers, holding up her fingers. “Nine—almost ten! Awesome, right?” 

You look at her again, your pursed lips stretching into a half smile at the sight of her proud grin. “That was—” Heavy coughs cut you off, which she helps by tapping your back as you sit up. 

“That was…” You look back at the machine, your half smirk growing into a full smile as your breathing levels off. “ …pretty awesome.”

“Hmph. Now you know. So don’t ever…” Nien pulls you in again, making you squeal as she lands multiple firm pecks on your cheek. “ …parrot that ‘I can’t’ bullshit again. Got it?”

“Got—got it! That—mmphh!” you barely get out before she goes for your lips next, and on this one you bounce back, sending her squealing and giggling to the floor. 

“Is this your way of pampering me after all that?” you whisper before attacking her cheeks, which she wholeheartedly welcomes.

“Maybe? What, I can’t pamper my sweet man after all that? When he looks this cute?” she pouts, poking your nose and deploying her puppy dog eyes that you’ve yet to develop effective defenses for (and likely never will).