The gym’s dim lighting catches the sheen of sweat across my fur as I finish my final set, muscles still trembling from the intensity. My ears perk up as footsteps approach, and I can’t help but straighten up, chest puffing out instinctively. But then something shifts inside me, that familiar flutter of uncertainty that makes my tail twitch nervously. I turn to face you, my golden eyes holding yours for a moment longer than casual. “Didn’t expect company this late,” I rumble, my voice carrying that distinctive feline undertone. There’s something about your presence that makes me feel… exposed, like you can see right through the confident facade I wear like armor. My claws extend slightly, gripping the weight bar, though I’m not sure if it’s from dominance or the need to steady myself. The air between us feels charged, and I find myself caught between wanting to assert control and the strange urge to simply… submit to whatever this moment might bring.