“Eighteen minutes, six seconds. If you hadn’t paused at the top of that last one, you would have done it in under fifteen minutes.”
“Well, fuck.”
He laughs and takes my hand, but I wince and tug out of his grasp, and his face immediately darkens.
“What’s wrong?”
I shake my head and turn away, but he catches my wrist and pulls me back to him, scowling when he sees my hands.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Jesus, you need to tell me—”
“I’m just a trainee, remember? Do you hug and kiss and coddle everyone who finishes the course, Lieutenant?”
His face hardens, and if I’m not mistaken, hurt moves through his eyes.
“I didn’t think so. I’ll clean up when I get back to the house.” I pick up my sweatshirt and tug it on, wincing when the cotton scrapes against my hands. “Why do my hips hurt so bad?”
“Because of the rings. The swinging back and forth.” He crowds into me and wraps my ponytail around his fist, then tugs my head back so I’m staring up at him. “You’re notjustanything. Do you understand me?”
I will not cry.
“What are we doing next?”
“I’m taking you home, and I’m going to tend to your hands and get you comfortable.”
“Would you—”
“Be very careful, Lena. You’re pissing me off.”
“I’m just treating you like I would any trainer, Gideon.” His lips firm. “Doesn’t feel good, does it? You can be tough on me, that’s fine. I can take it. But you don’t get to fuck me one minute and then speak to me like I’m a stranger the next.”
I start to walk away from him, and swear at myself when I limp, my right side already so sore.
Suddenly, I’m in Gideon’s arms, and he’s carrying me bridal-style back toward the house.
“D—”
“Shut that beautiful mouth,” he growls. “No, I wouldn’t carry anyone else. Damn it, cut me some slack. The rules shifted less than twelve hours ago, and I’m figuring it out.”
Okay, now I might feel a little bad.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I sink my fingers into his hair and my face against his neck and hug him close.
“I’m sorry,” I say softly. “You hurt my feelings, and I got mad.”
“That’s not ever my intention.”
“I know. I just need to remember that grumpy is your standard factory setting. I was scared of the obstacle course.”
“Obviously, you didn’t need to be. You kicked ass today. You did far better than men who have been through the military and come here to train do. Most don’t make it through on their first day.”
I freeze, staring at him in shock.
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not kidding. I’m grumpy, remember? I don’t have a sense of humor.”
