I climbed into bed, relaxed and ready for the next day.
As much as I’d wanted to toss and turn with worry over Max, I didn’t need to do that anymore. Not only did I have a clear head and a plan that had proven effective already, but I’d have the opportunity I needed.
Because every day, for the next week at least, Max Dread’s ass wasminefor sixty minutes.
And I planned to use my time well.
Chapter Eleven
Our first day of training thrust each Maiden into her schedule for the coming week. With ten back-to-back sessions each day, I hit the ground running.
Literally.
When Izzy and I got dressed the next morning, I put on my special outfit from Gia. I ignored the quirk of Izzy’s brow as she glimpsed the sheer nude material, and we both pretended a knowing smirk wasn’t on her face once I snapped the too-tight pieces in place over my ass and boobs.
The things one did for a surly brute, I tell ya.
My session with Max wasn’t until the end of the day.
To satisfy my impatience, I hunted for meaning on the four-by-six scrap of paper listing my sessions in the order I’d train with each Knight. “This place loves their S words, huh?”
She picked up her schedule, and we compared. “I noticed that, too. No idea why.”
Of the ten sessions, three started with the letter E, and the rest began with S. Izzy’s first session wasEscapewith Tristan. Mine wasEndurancewith Landon, and I quelled the anxiety brewing in my gut with some good ol’ fashioned deflection.
“I hopeEnduranceis code foryou know what.”
With an exaggerated wink, I tightened my ponytail, then pulled on athletic wear to cover my risqué workout attire.
Izzy laughed. “We all have that lesson with Landon, not just you, so I’m pretty sure you don’t want it to mean that.”
A soft growl rumbled in my throat, but I quickly cleared it. “You’re right. No code words for things on the list, please.”
Dressed and ready, we stepped onto Camelot Courtyard before splitting off. I met up with Landon on the back lawn, and he confirmedEndurancetraining wasn’t code for sex.
I didn’t even have to ask.
He just knew.
“Let’s go, horndog.”
When he winked at me, his broad smile did not lessen my arousal, especially after the prior night’s tryst.
“Please.” I smirked as I stretched my quads. “You love it.”
He ran his heated gaze over my body, a smile curving his lips since he knewexactlywhat I had hidden underneath my track pants and T-shirt. Even beneath the lingerie.
But before his dark amber gaze lured either of us into full distraction, he turned and took off at a run.
I sighed, accepting my fate included cardio, and chased after him while admiring the view.
He guided me through a loop of the grounds, mostly around the lake, but veered sharply into the woods near a cluster of lemon trees. His attempt to keep my spirits high for the run were noted, but it wasn’t necessary.
On the list of all my favorite things to do in the morning, running a mile, even at my slower, more out of breath pace, didn’t make the cut.
But I’d joined The Quest to win it.
So, I focused on my breathing and did my best.
