“If you think your back is strong enough,” he quips, looking back over his shoulder at me.
A breathless laugh sprints out of me. “You need a new joke.”
“Still made you laugh.” He twists his head forward.
“Thank you,” I say, gratitude nestling deep in my chest.
He may worry. He may encourage. He never says to stop. Though, I imagine that’s the hardest thing for my protective friend. Instead, he shared just another piece of himself and allowed me to come to my own decision.
“You’re a good service human.”
“Thank you,” he says with a little tug of the rope that somehow feels as if he squeezes my hand in his. “Mile six we run, okay?”
“Okay.”
With the increasing level of cheers, we increase our pace. From everything I know, the last leg of this race will be loud on top of loud. The entire course is flanked by spectators cheering on runners with an array of noisemakers. The heavy beat of rock music and booming voice of an announcer calling out end times for different runners, which are transmitted from the little tags we wear, greets us.
“Finish line!” Garrett yells.
“Congrats, Runner 1530, for finishing their first 10K race,” the announcer says, eliciting loud hoots and cheers.
“That’s me!” My shout is breathy as I realize I’m Runner 1530.
“Sure is!” Garrett laughs as he starts slowing our pace until we eventually walk.
I did it!Tears gather in my eyes, but I blink them away. This moment is too sweet for me to cry, which is why I’ll probably cry at some point. Right now, I’m just going to let this high ride.
Chest heaving, mouth pulled up into a large grin, and heart feeling as if it will burst, we slow to a stop. “I did it!” My squeal is breathless.
Without thinking, I jump in the air and Garrett catches me. Lifting me into his arms, I circle his nape and my legs fold around his waist. Not one bit of me questions how natural this feels.
“You did it!” He leans away, allowing me to take in the shit-eating grin visible from below his cap’s brim.
“Wedid it.”
“That we did,” he breathes, his mouth inches from mine.
This should be weird. I’m still tethered to him by the rope. Not to mention, he has a vise-like grip on my backside, and my legs are wrapped tight around him. The intensity of his gaze on me thrums within me. We’re connected in so many ways, but one.
Reminiscent of wildfire threatening to consume everything in its path, desire burns inside me to claim him. The charge arcs between us like a dare. Just a few inches and my lips could meet his, sealing us together.
I trace my fingers along his jawline, delighting in the rasp of his stubble. His low groan and fingers’ kneading into my ass urge me on. I trail my finger slowly to his mouth, tracing its outline.
“Jensen.” He nuzzles his nose against mine. It’s slow and gentle, as if testing the water’s temperature before diving in.
“Garrett.” I lick my lips.
“Jensen,” he repeats my name like I am both the thing he wants, and the only one who can give it to him. His hot breath teases against my lips, sending a shudder up my spine.
“Garrett.” I cradle his face to anchor myself to my target.
That fire within me destroys any resolve to stay away. I don’t want to think about all the reasons this is a bad idea. I don’t want to think about tomorrow. I just want this moment, and if that’s all I have of him, I’ll take it.
“Sorry to interrupt.” A high-pitched female voice chuckles. “But we need to move folks along as we have more runners coming. There are far better places to stare longingly into each other’s eyes than the finish line.”
“Sorry,” Garrett says, placing me on the ground.
“We weren’t staring longingly,” I mumble, even though that’s exactly what we were doing.
