"15... keep going... your form is still good..."

this was already 5 more reps than shark usually did. their arms were moving slower, they were tired, they were warm.

"16... there you go... very good... you can do a bit more. just a bit more... that's right..."

his encouragement wasn't what they were expecting from a personal trainer at all. it was so gentle, so slow.

"17... you can make it to 20... it's alright, if you slow down... just focus on the full movement... don't rush it... there you go. 18... very good. almost there..."

their breath was heavy. their muscles were burning. they trusted that he wasn't pushing them to the point where they'd hurt themself, since he already knew their general physical health and fitness and everything, but it was a little surprising how far they could safely be pushed.

"19... you can really feel it now, can't you?" he said softly. "it's good to feel a bit of a burn... it's good to get as close to your limit as possible... just one more now."

their head was swimming. they were pretty sure it wasn't just the physical exertion, either.

"20... that's right... and put the weights down nice and slowly... just like that. that's perfect. you did very well. just take a little break now..."

they were panting, their heart pounding, their blood pumping through their whole body.

"it feels nice, doesn't it? it's more satisfying when you've pushed yourself properly..."

why did he have to be so seductive about it? they didn't know if it was on purpose, or if it was just them. but when he said it like that, it did feel good. that feeling of relief, that feeling of weakness, that burning, that pulsing.

they gasped between sips of water from their bottle. really, when they were feeling like this already, they should've been dreading doing more. it was so much more work than they were used to. normally they would've wanted to just phone in the rest of the workout.

"alright, shark. it's time for another set, now," he said, his voice still quiet and relaxed.

they picked up the weights, even when a part of them really didn't want to.

"good," he said, the praise running right through them, melting all of their hesitation. "you've had a chance to rest... you can handle another set now."

they pushed through the set, their personal trainer continuing to give them that same guidance and encouragement. the more it went on, the more tired they became, they more effort it took, and the more that quiet, gentle coaxing to keep going and the reassurance that they could handle it went straight to their dick. when they were struggling like that, they couldn't even think. they wondered if the sounds they were making were as sexual as they felt.

it's not like they wanted to make it weird. but he was hot, his voice was hot, and they must have had some kind of masochism thing that they'd never discovered until now, because it felt amazing to pant and groan and sweat while the guy urging them to keep going was completely calm. really, his tone was almost condescending at times, even. it would have pissed them off, if it didn't also feel good.

their next break felt even better. they didn't even know how to describe the feeling running through their body.

"it really is nice, isn't it?" he said. "you can enjoy this feeling every time you work out..."

they were too tired to stop themself from thinking vulgar things. he really could've told them to kneel down and suck his dick right that second, and they wouldn't have even hesitated.

of course, he wouldn't have done that, because they still had another set to do. well, it didn't matter. just the workout felt like some kind of act of domination. they could settle for rubbing one out thinking about it later.

"your break is over now," he said simply, more directly, a little more firmly.

the more direct tone was amazing. they picked up the weights, starting the last set, not even caring how tired they felt.

every now and then he would compliment them on their form, reminding them how closely he was watching, and the genuine pleasure he took in seeing them do well. of course, he didn't mean it in any kind of sexual way, but that might have actually made them like it even more. even that eagerness to please him made them feel weak and kind of pathetic, and that was hot, too.

they were genuinely trembling by the end.

"are you feeling alright?" he asked, his voice soft.

"yeah, i'm fine," they said breathlessly. "i'm just not... i'm not used to... doing all that..."

"just take a moment to catch your breath, and then i have your shake right here. and i have something i'd like to discuss with you, when you're ready, as well. just something you might consider. you did very well today."

they were still panting as they sat down and turned to him. "what is it?"

"take a moment to relax first. you can hardly talk right now."

he was still talking to them like that. fuck.

it did shut them up. they were quiet as they sat there, drinking their shake, their mind slowly coming back to them, even when their body still felt so good.

"it wasn't too difficult, was it?"

it was the same kind of voice you'd use to reassure a child after they got a shot, or went to the dentist, or something.

"i mean, it was a lot, but like... it was fine," they said.

"of course it requires exertion and energy. it can't be effortless. but it helps if you don't have to spend extra effort just to get yourself to move, doesn't it? just to decide whether or not you're going to continue. that's what really makes you stop earlier than you should, isn't it?"

"yeah, i guess so..." they mumbled.

"i wonder if that would be even easier for you with hypnosis."

their mind went blank for a second, completely caught off guard. there was no way their weirdly hot personal trainer just suggested that they should try hypnosis.

well, honestly, considering that weird tone of voice he always used, maybe they shouldn't have been surprised. he really did seem like a hypnotist, actually.

"you mean that?" they asked.

"i do," he said. "in fact, i wonder if you might have gone into a bit of a trance earlier."

"are you serious?"

"you followed quite automatically, even when it must have been very physically overwhelming, especially compared to what you're used to."

they couldn't tell him that it was just because he was hot. "i don't know, like, i don't know if that's really the same thing..."

"well, that doesn't really matter," he said. "it might still be worth trying, if you would be willing to."

normally, they wouldn't have been interested. in this situation, the only thing that made them hesitate was the thought that they might like it too much. that they might explode, or something.

"i mean, i'd try it..." they muttered.

"very good," he said. "now, you're done with your workout today, but we could try a session now, just so you can feel what it's like to be hypnotized. if you'd be up for that now."

he was gonna kill them. "sure... i mean, if you want..." they laughed for a second, an awkward, quiet laugh. "you're not gonna like, tell me to stare into your eyes or anything, right?"

"that won't be necessary," he said. "you only need to listen. you can do that, can't you? you can just listen, very closely... just focusing on me... and relaxing... it feels very good to relax after you've worked so hard, doesn't it?"

their spine tingled. they could feel it in their head, a kind of pull. it was like a physical sensation.

"that's right... you've earned this relaxation... just sit back..."

they melted into the chair. their face must have been bright red, and now they didn't even have the excuse of physical exertion to hide it.

"good. very good... it's completely automatic, isn't it? you're already used to following my words... as you should be... it makes things simple for both of us."

it felt amazing. their head was getting hazy again.

"how do you feel?" he asked. "do you feel different?"

they nodded. "yeah, i, uh... yeah."

"do you feel hypnotized? already?"

"yeah..."

"is it hard to think?"

"kind of..."

"it is hard to think," he said.

their thoughts stopped in their tracks, immediately.

"it's difficult to think... because you're just focused on listening... you don't need any of your own thoughts getting in the way... isn't that right?"

they nodded.

"i'm here to help you... and that's why... it's good if you just listen... and follow..."

they really couldn't tell if he was being seductive on purpose anymore, but it didn't matter.

"you're never going to be lazy with a workout again," he murmured. "it feels good to push yourself."

"it feels good..." they murmured.

"that's right, shark. it feels very good. think of how hard you worked today... focus on that feeling in your muscles... that warm, pulsating, swelling feeling... just appreciate that sensation... can you feel it now?"

they nodded. they hadn't really noticed it before, but they did feel it.

"you're going to get much stronger..."

he just barely touched their arm as he spoke.

"much stronger..."

in that moment, they had more confidence than ever in the fact that they really were going to do whatever he wanted them to do.