Balanced And Barefoot Novels & Stories

I was grateful I had already been wearing workout shorts, so I didn’t have to strip down that much. I stretched my neck as I kicked off my shoes. I could fight better barefoot; when I could feel the ground beneath my feet and connect to the earth. Maybe it was all in my head, or maybe it was because my mate was a Fae, but connecting with the earth always made me feel stronger.

“My feet are fine.” “Good to hear it – or rather see it,” Lacey said with a grin. “I’m sure our footwear will be fine here at the table until we return.” She placed her shoes next to the table. Blake did the same. They began to walk. “How does it feel?” “What?” “The sand – on your feet.” “Warm and gritty,” he answered bluntly. Lacey snickered. “It doesn’t feel freeing to you?” “No. Just a bit strange,” Blake said with slight confusion. “Why do people make such a big deal of walking barefoot in the sand?”

Yeah, that must be it. After completing the dishes, Andrei takes a moment to dry his hands before wandering over to where I'm sitting, his pace leisurely. I stare at his bare feet, my brain momentarily fixated on the sight. “Why no shoes, Mr. Carter?” “Walking barefoot is like a yoga practice. Builds up the balance, strengthens the soles, and gets you in touch with Mother Earth.” I raise an eyebrow, skeptical. How much of that is actually true, I wonder?

She then trudged toward the car step by step. Opening the car door, she found the two cups, held them in her arms, and pressed on. The path was uneven and rocky, making walking extremely difficult. Clarice wobbled with every step, barely advancing a few meters at a time. Walking like this not only risked breaking her shoes but also hurt her feet. She often twisted her ankle after a couple of steps. To protect her delicate feet, she clenched her teeth, removed her heels, and walked barefoot on the uneven ground, moving much faster than before.

Three bare feet. One forever-frozen moment. No hospital gowns. No tuxedos. Just the truth. Just love. Just them.

I don't plan to drink; this is just a momentary weakness. As Jaden explains the interest rate changes to his interlocutor, I set my bag on the coffee table and slip off my shoes, relieved. Since giving birth, my injured knee has bothered me more often, and even walking a few hours in heels leaves me with a dull ache. Jaden has seen me barefoot before, so this is unlikely to negatively impact his libido.

The music swells, my body locks into form. Then — My foot slides. It’s not dramatic at first, just a subtle tilt. But my balance tips with it, weight shifting too far to one side. Blaire’s hands tighten instantly around my ankle, but the platform under me is off. The grip tape feels loose, almost curling up under my shoe.

Buck naked and carrying a set of strategically-placed bongo drums. I blink twice, stopping short as my neighbor casually walks toward me in bare feet. Carrying bongos. Naked. Totally and completely naked, the bongos strategically covering the goods. He’s definitely not a retiree. Nope. Not at all. He’s young and fit and…

"Get your knees higher, Leo. If you don't balance the weight in your heels, the shift will snap your ankles before you even sprout fur." Bianca leaned against the cold marble of the balcony railing, her knuckles white. Below her, the Vane Estate stretched out like a sprawling fortress of glass and steel. It was a monument to a peace that felt more like a held breath. Leo grunted, his small face twisting. Sweat beaded on his forehead, dripping onto the paved training grounds. "It hurts, Mom. It feels like my bones are turning into hot lead."

The fabric was like nothing I had ever felt before, soft like silk with more layers than I could count, but weightless as though I was wearing nothing at all. The black lace flats that adorned my feet are the one item of clothing I was allowed to pick myself after I begged Mae for a pair. I still wasn’t quite used to the whole barefoot everywhere thing. Elirond argued against them, but Adylin pleaded my case and had Mae make me a pair that satisfied us both. As time ticked by, nerves began to bubble to the surface and I found myself fighting back a lump in my throat and tears that threatened to fall on my freshly done up face.