“Cake and a latte? Someone’s breaking his own rules.” I wink.
“Those aren’t rules. They were suggestions.” He shakes his head. His warm grin is evident with the lightness that underscores his words. “You can have anything you want.”
Not anything.
“But first, let’s stretch. There’s a patch of grass about ten feet forward we can use.”
“Do we need to stretch? I mean, we only power walked. It wasn’t exactly high-intensity.” I wrinkle my brow.
“True, but we should get into the habit. It’s part of conditioning your body and helps aid in muscle recovery. That way, you’re not stiff or experiencing muscle ache. Have you been doing the stretches I recommended after your morning runs?”
“You said those were suggestions.” I point at him and hope the dim light from the lamp posts situated around the track hides the guilt flushing my cheeks.
“Highly recommendedsuggestions to avoid injury and muscle stiffness.” He steps closer. “Have you been extra achy the last few days?”
“Isachythe medical term?” I make air quotes with my hands.
“Yeah. Achy.” A defiant smirk plays in his joking exasperation.
Only Garrett can somehow be both annoyed and impish at the same time. It’s the strangest combo, but somehow he wears it perfectly, like it’s a jacket made just for him. It seems like as much as I may drive him batty, he enjoys it.
“Well… Maybe just a little achy,” I say, ignoring the twinge in my calves.
“Come on then, doctor’s orders.”
I snap the rubber band twice against my wrist after experiencing the little clench low in my belly with the pitch of his low bass. Who knew this training session would reveal an unknown bondage kink and desire to be told what to do that I apparently have. Next week’s session with Dr. Nor is going to be wild.
We claim the small patch of grass near the track’s outside ring. The lone oak tree at the edge serves as a perfect barrier for us to do calve stretches. My calves almost sing with relief from the stretch.
“Oh god,” I hum as I yank up my leg for a quad stretch. My palm flat against the tree to steady myself.
“See.”
“I told you so’s aren’t cute.” I roll my eyes.
“I’m always cute.”
Laughter barks out of me.
“See.” He bumps me with his shoulder, causing me to lose my balance. “Whoa…” His hands come to my hips, steadying my swaying body.
I release my leg, which falls to join the other on the ground, and my hands come to the tree’s trunk.
“I got you,” he rasps, pulling me against him.
A breathy laugh escapes, but stops at the realization that my back is pressed against his front. For a moment, I sink into the strange, cozy sensation of his firm chest. The mix of his body’s heat, the scent of sweat, and his spicy cologne envelops me. It’s reminiscent of being tucked in at night—snug, safe, and warm.
“We should get on the ground.” His hot breath whispers along my skin.
“What?” I breathe into the electric charge that zings from where his fingers press into my soft flesh. Even through my yoga pants’ thin layer, his touch brands me.
“Hamstring stretches.” He steps back, but his hands remain on my hips.
I look over my shoulder and nod. “Okay.”
“Okay.” He releases me. “Sit on your butt with your legs in front of you.”
“Okay.” I flick the rubber band a few times before crouching to the grass.
