Which I’m not. Well, not really. I am ambushing her workout, but that’s not necessarily nefarious.
After my accusatory outburst yesterday, I want to make it up to her. I bought her the apology she wanted even though I knew it was a bullshit demand. She didn’t think I could do it. But I can do anything. I’m fucking Dominic Montclair. So, every surface of the room is covered in vases of roses, a diamond and ruby chocker sits on her nightstands, along with a handwritten apology.
Harold looked at me like I was crazy when I demanded he retrieve everything she demanded. I would’ve gone myself if it weren’t for meetings I had previously committed to. I picked out the thirty-grand necklace and even bought the matching earrings and bracelets for the next apology.
“Well?” She arches a brow at me expectantly.
I crack a smile at her cuteness. Even when she’s questioning me, she’s gorgeous. Her frosty eyes and white locks reflect the coldness inside me. She’s my perfect ice queen. But I know the heat I can invoke in her when I ignite her fury.
“I’m joining you for your workout,” I say in a calm tone. I turn to my closet, ready to get dressed.
“You weren’t invited,” she snaps at me, but I can see the glint in her eyes. She doesn’t fully mean it.
“I’m not waiting for an invite. It’s my gym,” I throw back at her.
“I’m not starting in the gym today. I’m going on a run. You can come if you can keep up.” Her tone tells me how much she doubts my endurance. There’s no doubt in my mind that I can keep up with her. She’s a woman, and I’m a man.
…
“How… much… longer?” I gasp out between pants.
I didn’t realize my wife is Wonder Woman. Or the Greek goddess, Artemis. Because only Amazonian or godly women could have this stamina. This endurance.
At one point, I distracted myself by fantasizing what that means for her in bed. I bet she could go forever with stamina like this. But fuck, I’m too exhausted to even think of that.
“Oh darling, we’re only halfway there. We’ve only run five point three miles.” She doesn’t even sound winded. This warrior isn’t human. I cannot comprehend how my wife, no matter how trained and in-shape she is, can be this athletic. I know her long legs are helping her, but damn it, mine are longer!
“Perfect,” I wheeze out. I can’t tell if I’m being blinded by the sweat in my eyes or if I’m tearing up by this news.
We’re only halfway there.
Fuck.
This can’t be the same five miles I used to run. I’ve never run much more than this, but it was very doable back then.
It’s not just that we’ve run five miles. It’s the speed we’re going. I can barely keep up with this Amazonian. I think we’re running a sub-seven-minute mile pace. I feel pathetic that thirty-five minutes of running has me this nauseous. But I just can’t compete with her. It’s absolute torture.
And she knows it.
I see her grin when she thinks I’m not looking. When she sees my struggle. I hid it for a good twenty minutes, but now I can’t. I’ve lost this one. But it’s not my fault she’s insanely athletic.
“Unless you need us to cut it short?” I can hear the laughter in her voice. She’s making fun of me.
“No… I’m doing… great!” I gasp out. I can’t let her win.
“Then you won’t mind speeding up? I like a bit of a challenge.” I look at this creature, and she raises a challenging brow at me.
What the fuck do you mean this isn’t a challenge?Is she fucking insane? This is the hardest I’ve ever pushed my body. The most pain I’ve ever been in. And I’ve been stabbed and shot. By her! I’ve been stabbed by her, and yet, this is the most pain I’ve ever been in!
“Sure.” I brace myself for the worst. I remind myself that running is mental. It’s all about how you think. But fuck, I don’t think I can do this.
She speeds up, and I focus on picking up my legs and keeping one in front of the other.
I’m blinded by my own sweat dripping into my eyes. My nose leaks like a faucet. My mouth is drier than the Sahara. My chest holds the weight of the world on it. My legs have thousand-pound weights holding them down.
“One more mile,” an angelic voice says.
It takes me a moment to realize it’s my beautiful wife. I’m in such a daze of pain and suffering that I forgot the outside world. I forgot she’s the one causing my pain and suffering.
