Chapter 16
Wyatt
Twigs snap loudly underfoot as I glide up the hiking trail, finding it even easier than I remembered, despite the labored breath I hear around me.
After being in the SEALs, not much comes as a struggle physically, I guess that’s one thing to be grateful for.
I try to control my stride, slowing my usual brisk pace so as not to get too far ahead of everyone else. It’s difficult, since this is pretty much a walk in the park for me, but I manage to stay close enough.
Just behind my right side is Ruby, trudging with deliberate footsteps as the incline increases. I turn my head, skimming my eyes over her in a way that I hope isn’t too obvious.
There’s something going on with her.
Ever since we picked her up from work, she’s been acting strangely. Different from the girl I remember. Now I know that could easily just be the passage of time, she could just be different now…I certainly am.
Somehow though, I doubt it.
I turn back to the trail ahead, wondering at the cause of the far-off look in her eyes, of the odd smiles that she occasionally throws my way.
I wonder if it has anything to do with me. After reading her journals, I’d have to be a fool not to think so. For the umpteenth time, I find myself wondering, were those just the words of a teenage girl with a crush or something more?
I’m still hoping for something more.
“Are you okay back there?” I ask, throwing the question over my shoulder with a smirk.
She huffs in response, blowing her fiery red hair from the front of her eyes. “Never better. Just enjoying the scenery.”
I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles from my lips.
“Sure.”
I hear her picking up the pace, her crunching footfalls quickly approaching me. She materializes at my side a moment later, her eyes burning with challenge.
“How about you?” she asks, “You’re not exactly moving like Speedy Gonzales.”
I laugh again, shooting her an incredulous look. “I’m just trying not to leave you in the dust.”
She laughs, her eyes falling downward to focus on her footing. “Good excuse.”
“You think I’m kidding.”
“I think you’re lying,” she says, finally looking up to flash one of her breathtaking smiles at me.
I feel a grin pulling at my own lips in response. “Wanna put that theory to the test?”
“How so?”
“Well, a race, of course. I bet I can beat you to the next checkpoint, no problem.”
That look of challenge flashes back across her face. Her lips pull back in a devious grin.
“You’re on.”
“Alright,” I say, coming to a halt. “Count of three.”
She nods.
“One…two…three!”
We take off as one. Our shoes kick up clouds of dust that hover in our wake. I hear a delighted chuckle escape her as we go, her eyes tearing over to me inquiringly.
I wasn’t kidding when I said this trail was easy. Even running it is damn near laughable. My legs eat up the distance easily, my breath still coming slow and steady.
I start to pull ahead almost immediately but hesitate. Without even thinking, I slow my pace, keeping myself planted firmly at Ruby’s side.
She glances over at me repeatedly, gauging my stride with those fucking gorgeous eyes of hers.
“Fuck, Wyatt,” she finally says, her breaths coming in gasps, “and here I thought I was supposed to be left in the dust.”
I chuckle. “We’re not finished yet.”
She scoffs, putting more effort into her sprint. I match her new pace easily, feeling more like I’m strolling through a park than running up a mountain.
I can’t seem to stop my eyes from going over to her, running over the length of her perfect body. Those long legs. That smile and, not to mention, those tits.
I position my gaze forward, trying not to stare too long at her bouncing chest. Despite my best efforts though, I can’t exactly unsee them. My cock’s already getting hard in my pants.
My hands itch to touch her.
“Maybe I should have been a SEAL,” she jokes, “‘cause if this is your best, then it’s probably a cake walk.”
Usually even the mention of the SEALs starts my mind racing, but coming from her mouth, it feels like just another word. Harmless and simple.
“You wouldn’t last a day,” I throw back, turning yet again to look at her.
Her face is getting flushed. Her chest heaves.
I smile wickedly, picking up speed just the barest notch, wanting to challenge her.
She follows suit, her legs moving desperately to match my own.
“Getting tired?” I ask, hearing her gasps more loudly now.
“Not even a little.”
“Fuck, you’re full of it.”
She shoots a glare in my direction but doesn’t respond further. My guess is that she probably can’t.
It would be so easy now to just pull ahead, to actually leave her struggling in a cloud of dust. I chuckle at the mental image that the thought brings to mind, but keep my restrained speed.
Sure, it would be fun to take off now; show her what a man like me can really do. But watching her run beside me, eyes sparkling in determination, is much more entertaining.
She throws a smile in my direction, radiating confidence as we continue to glide side by side up the trail. Our strides sync perfectly together.
I feel a thrill run through me at the situation, at the sight of her.
All semblance of the gangly teenage girl I once knew is gone, erased perfectly in this moment. I stare in wonder at the gorgeous woman at my side, skin glowing, eyes shining, her red hair streaming behind her in a blaze.
Fuck, she’s gorgeous.
Any awkwardness that’s been between us the last day vanishes as she runs, so confident and determined that I can’t even imagine taking this victory from her.
I slow my pace incrementally, wanting her to win without knowing that I let her.
She pulls quickly ahead, throwing another gorgeous smile over her shoulder at me as she goes.
The last thing in the world that I want right now is to erase that smile by winning. I force an exasperated expression on my face, heaving air in my best imitation of exhaustion.
It’s been so long since I’ve actually felt physically tired, I can only hope that I remember the signs right. Her echoing laugh as she turns her head back to the trail implies that I have. I smile, continuing my reduced speed. Ruby deserves a win.
Besides, getting to see her from this new angle is victory enough.