Page 34 of The Retreat

Imogen had no idea what she’d been expecting from a work retreat, but it sure as hell wasn’t this. Getting themselves into poses straight out of the Kama Sutra had not been mentioned when Talia had pitched this.

She took a deep breath and braced herself for the next round of poses. Lorna, who had way too much get-up-and-go for someone in stretchy pants, clapped her hands again. ‘Next up, we’ll try the Double Tree Pose!’

Imogen’s stomach plummeted as she shot a glance at Talia.

‘Double Tree Pose?’ she repeated, her voice cracking slightly.

‘I’ve never seen a tree do that,’ Talia said, watching Lorna and Jade (who was clearly performing for an audience) press flush against each other, hip to hip, palm to palm, their free hands sliding over each other’s waists in a way that looked less like yoga and more like foreplay with core strength.

‘You’re a natural, Jade!’ Lorna said.

‘It’s been said before,’ Jade smirked.

Lorna eased out of the pose, and Jade let her go reluctantly. ‘OK, OK! You’ll stretch and hold each other’s hands for balance. This is a trust-building pose, so really commit, everyone! No wimping out!’

Imogen would have loved to wimp out. She came from a long line of women who backed out of things. It was practically her legacy. But Imogen was up to her tits in this one. No escape.

‘Ready?’ Lorna asked, though it wasn’t a question.

Imogen and Talia exchanged a look. There was no escape. They both got into position.

Talia bent slightly, arms lifted, legs braced. She looked calm. Capable. Gorgeous in a way that made Imogen’s eyes feel like they were glowing.

‘Hold on to my hands,’ Talia said quietly, her voice low and steady.

Imogen stepped in, placing her palms in Talia’s. Talia leaned back just enough to balance them, her core tightening with effort. Imogen followed instinctively, trying not to focus on the line of Talia’s neck or the way their hands fit together a little too well.

‘You alright?’ Talia asked, barely above a whisper.

Imogen couldn’t answer. Her brain was a mess. The heat between them was ridiculous.

She nodded mutely, even as Talia’s fingers slid slightly down her arm in a move that made Imogen’s knees want to give up and call it a day.

They were meant to be building trust, but all Imogen could feel was how perilously close they were to tipping over—in every sense. With Talia’s back arched and her chest leaning forward, Imogen’s grip tightened slightly, too aware of the warmth in Talia’s hands. Her thumb brushed against Talia’s wrist.

She couldn’t keep doing this. It wasn’t just weird. It was confusing. It was tempting in a way that felt completely beyond her control.

For a split second, Imogen tried to back out of it, the self-preserving part of her mind screaming that if they kept this up, she was going to make a noise that would give the game away.

But then Talia’s other hand reached out to steady Imogen, sliding down her arm, and everything inside her froze.

‘You good?’ Talia’s voice came again, her voice just above a whisper. She wasn’t making eye contact. That was a small mercy.

Imogen opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Her thoughts scattered, and she couldn’t quite grasp the words.

They held the position a beat too long. And then another.

Imogen’s brain was yelling at her to move, to break free of the touch that was becoming too real. But her body? Her body was responding to Talia’s, moving with her in a synchrony that made no sense.

Talia’s grip on her hands tightened just slightly, and Imogen’s thoughts scattered even more.

‘OK, let’s break!’ Lorna said.

They released. Imogen didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed.

Then Lorna announced, ‘Now, onto Partner Boat Pose! Sit facing each other, soles together, hold hands, and balance your legs off the floor!’

Imogen and Talia swapped a glance but obediently sat down, soles touching. They held hands again, legs trembling as they lifted into the pose.

‘Now, let’s see some serious eye contact,’ Lorna ordered.

But of course. They were in the seventh circle of hell already. Why not add eye contact?

Imogen looked into Talia’s grey, usually unreadable eyes and whatever mask Talia normally wore… slipped. For a split second, Imogen saw it all. Confusion, frustration, desire, and vulnerability all played out in Talia’s nervous look.

For a moment, it was like they were both caught in the same impossible web, neither willing to say it, but both knowing it was there.

Imogen’s heart raced. She wanted this. No, she didn’t just want this—she needed it, and it terrified her. It was too many things.

But seeing that mirrored in Talia’s eyes? It made it too real. Too possible.

And then somebody, somewhere behind them, let loose a long, unmistakable fart.

There was a beat of silence.

‘Happens all the time in yoga,’ Lorna said brightly as if someone hadn’t just ruptured the space-time continuum.

Talia snorted.

Imogen clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with horror and the barely restrained threat of hysterical laughter. The spell was broken. The moment was gone.

Thank god. Or whoever had beans for breakfast.