Chapter Nine
THE FINAL DAY of the race was the most grueling challenge. Ty and Aiyla hiked several miles to the base of another steep mountain, the last major obstacle before the finish line. Once they reached the peak, they would have to cover almost a mile of rocky, though mostly flat, terrain to reach the finish line. It was a bittersweet goal. Aiyla didn’t want their adventure to end. Like their time in Saint-Luc, she and Ty had become so close it was as though all those months in between didn’t exist. And out here in the wilderness, it felt like they were living in a world of their own, despite being among dozens of competitors and volunteers.
Selfishly, she wanted more time alone with him. But she wasn’t a selfish person, and she hated holding Ty back. People were passing them at a quicker pace now, fueled by the scent of the finish line, but Aiyla’s leg was beyond fatigued. They’d been walking for hours, and her leg throbbed like a son of a bitch. She couldn’t take another step.
She jammed the walking stick Ty had made for her from a tree branch into the ground, leaning on it to take the pressure off her injury, and dropped her backpack to the dirt. “Ty, you should go ahead. I need to rest my leg.”
“Here, baby, sit down.” He guided her to a boulder and knelt before her, placing her backpack beneath her foot to elevate her leg.
“Ty, really. I can get up the mountain, but this is going to take me some time, and I don’t want to hold you up. You’ve been great. You’ve stuck with me and done more than any boyfriend ever would. But we’re not needy people. You know I won’t be upset if you go ahead, and I know you realize I can handle the rest on my own.”
He scrubbed a hand down his face with an irritated expression. He was so very worried and caring.
She reached out and took his hand. “Go. I’m fine.”
“I think the heat is messing with your head, babe.” He set his gear beside him and fished out a chemical pack and some Motrin and Tylenol, handing it and a bottle of water to her. As she took it, he activated the ice pack and secured it to her leg with a bandage. “If you think for a minute that I give one shit about what place I come in, you’re wrong.”
“But, Ty, I didn’t know you were going to be at this race. If you hadn’t been here, I’d be doing it on my own. I can get through this and you don’t have to lose out by hanging around with me.”
“Lose out?” He sat on the boulder beside her and leaned his forearms on his thighs, rubbing his hands together. “Maybe I’m the dense one. Are you trying to get rid of me?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Not in the sense you’re asking.”
“Then don’t take this wrong, but shut up.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and stared deeply into her eyes. “I’m making the rules this time. We’re chasing our destiny together, so put all those silly thoughts about winning or anything else to the side. Got it?”
“Yeah, I get it.” She wound her arms around his neck. “I’ve got it bad, but I still hate slowing you down.”
“I can think of many ways you can make it up to me tonight when we’re in our nice, comfortable bed at the resort.” He touched his lips to hers, as light as a whisper. “And in the lake.” He buried his face in her neck and kissed her there. “And on the grass.”
She closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his warm lips teasing over the hollow of her neck, stirring the embers he’d been stoking all day with intimate touches and furtive glances. He kissed the edge of her mouth, her chin, and finally, his lips met hers, as insistent as a hurricane, sending shock waves through her entire body.
His hands moved to her shoulders and down her arms. She was aware of the roughness of his fingers, the firmness of his palms, as they slid all the way to her fingertips, interlacing with her hands. He smiled against her lips. Boy, she loved when he did that. It was so…Ty. Such a positive, happy sensation, sprinkling light over the cloud of her injury. She wanted to lie with him right there on the ground among the rocks and tufts of grass and kiss into the night. But she refused to be the cause of Ty Braden’s worst race in history.
Forcing herself to pull away, her heart fluttering like the wings of a thousand butterflies, she said, “We have to climb.”
“Even after that kiss you’re still thinking about the race?” Laughter slipped from his lips. “I adore you, Aiyla Bell. You fricking blow me away.”
“Good. Then get your lazy ass up and let’s conquer this mountain.” She gritted her teeth through the pain as they put away the ice pack and rewrapped her leg. After too many Are you sure you can make its, they finally began their upward journey. Every step came with a spear of pain as Aiyla navigated around jagged rocks and ruts in the land.
“Want help, babe?”
She shook her head.
“Thank God you’re as strong as you are stubborn,” he said with a disapproving shake of his head, which warred with the glimmer of respect in his eyes. “You’ve got this, babe. And when you need me, I’m right here.”
She knew it was killing him not to be able to help her, but she needed to do this on her own. She bulldozed her way with every step, leaning on the walking stick and fueled by Ty’s support. The incline was too steep, the sun too hot. All around her, climbers were bent over, as if they were pulling weeds, their packs rising off their backs like humps of a camel. People shouted encouraging words to each other. But it was all Aiyla could manage to grit her teeth, willing herself to make it up the mountain.
“Come on, baby,” Ty urged. “One more step.” His tone was purely supportive, and it helped her focus. “That’s it. Use the stick, Aiyla. You’ve got this.”
She used that stick every step of the way. One more step. I’ve got this, played in her head like a mantra. She wasn’t going to let herself, or Ty, down. Using mental bribes of finish-line kisses and two solid weeks of babying her leg, she plowed forward.
With the peak in sight, she felt a rush of adrenaline, but the pain was excruciating, and despite her best efforts, painful sounds of hurt and frustration escaped.
Ty begged her to give him her pack, but she refused. He put his arm around her waist, trying to take the burden off her leg, but it made her feel weak and ridiculous. She was an athlete, and a damn good one. Maybe not on Ty’s level, or the level of many other competitors here, but she could—would—make it up this frigging mountain even if it was the last thing she did.
After what seemed like hours, but in reality was probably more like one, they crested the hill and she set her feet on flatter ground. Relief swept in, but it wasn’t enough to alleviate the bone-deep treachery going on in her leg. All around them spectators cheered, lining the final leg of the race to the finish line. The magnificent resort loomed in the distance. But the pain was too great, and as Ty threw his arms around her and lifted her off her feet, she managed a smile.
“You did it, baby cakes.” He kissed her hard. “You’re a beast! We’re on the homestretch.”
When he set her on the ground, a tortured cry flew from her lungs. The fear in Ty’s face was as palpable as the tears of frustration she struggled to hold back. “I’m okay. I’m fine. I’m okay.”
With one strong arm around her waist, he lifted her off her legs again. “Fine my ass.”
TY WAS DONE messing around. He couldn’t stand by and pretend Aiyla was okay any longer, or let her do any more damage to her leg.
“You can put me down, Ty,” Aiyla complained. “I can finish the race.”
“Yeah, I can put you down. And I can also throw you to the fucking wolves. But neither of those things are going to happen. If you want to finish this race, you’re doing it attached to me.”
“Aiyla! Ty!”
They turned at the sound of Trixie’s voice and found her sitting on the ground a short distance away. Jon knelt before her, wrapping her ankle. Ty tightened his grip on Aiyla’s waist and lifted her higher. Using his hip as leverage against her belly, he carried her like an extra appendage, her feet dangling above the ground.
“I can walk,” she insisted.
“No.”
“Ty—”
“Don’t waste your breath,” he said, weaving around competitors as he made his way toward Trixie and Jon.
Trixie motioned toward Jon. “I twisted my ankle. It’s a good thing there’s a doc in the house, but the freak insists I call him ‘Dr. Jon’ or ‘Dr. Butterscotch’ instead of ‘Speed.’”
“Now, sugar, you know that’s not true. I told you you could call me ‘Fifty Shades of Sweetness.’” Jon flashed a cocky grin and winked.
“He also said I could lick him if I was into butterscotch.” Trixie rolled her eyes. “Why are you holding Aiyla like she’s a rag doll?”
“She’s injured.”
“I’m fine,” Aiyla insisted. “Sort of,” she admitted. “I can walk, but he won’t let me.”
“That makes two of us,” Jon said. “This pretty little gal isn’t walking either.” He shot a challenging look at Ty. “You up for a little manly competition?”
Ty scoffed. “Up for it? Always.”
Jon pushed to his feet. “Set your packs down with ours.”
He offered a hand to Trixie, helping her up as Ty shrugged off his pack and gently lowered Aiyla to her feet. “Do not try to put weight on that foot.” He placed her hand on his shoulder. “Lean on me.”
“When did you get so bossy?” She held on to him as he helped her off with her pack and set it with the others.
“When you refused to honor your body’s need for rest.”
“What type of caveman idea do you have now?” Trixie asked Jon.
“Piggyback race. Best man wins.” Jon turned his back to Trixie. “Hop on, sweet thing.”
“Seriously?” Trixie looked at Aiyla.
“It’s better than the way he’s been carrying me,” Aiyla said. “But I warn you, my man will blow your ride away.”
“As much as I’m all for love is love,” Jon said with a wolfish grin, “if there’s any blowing to be done, it’s by this hot mama, not that scruffy dude.”
“In your frigging dreams,” Trixie said. “I’ll limp to the finish line.”
“No limping, no blowing.” Ty glared at Jon. “Think you can behave long enough to get her to the finish line, or do I need to put you to shame and carry both of them?”
Jon scoffed and crouched before Trixie. “I’ve got this. Climb on Dr. Jon, sweetheart.”
“If you so much as put a hand on my thigh,” Trixie warned, “I will personally see to it that you cannot use your favorite male body part for at least a month.”
Jon cringed. Ty and Aiyla laughed.
As Aiyla climbed onto Ty’s back, she said, “I fully expect you to do as much groping as possible, got it?”
“Man, do I like you, sweet girl.” He turned as far as his neck would allow and kissed her. Jon sprinted off. “Fuck—”
Ty was on his heels in seconds, and then they were neck and neck, the girls cheering them on.
“You’ve got this!” Aiyla yelled. “Go, baby, go!”
“Faster, Speed! Show him who’s boss!” Trixie hollered.
Ty leapt over a rock, holding tight to Aiyla, and stole a glance at Jon, who was ducking under a limb to avoid running into a group of competitors.
“Hang on, baby!” Ty pushed faster.
“You’ve got nothin’ on me, Braden!” Jon hollered from a few feet away.
Aiyla’s hands roved over Ty’s chest, distracting him.
“If you win, I’ll do everything you want tonight,” she said in his ear.
Adrenaline and lust coalesced, rushing through his veins, and he surged ahead, out of breath and pushing himself harder than he had all day. He heard Jon’s fast footfalls beside him and knew better than to look. Looking would slow him down.
He focused on the flags up ahead, the cheering crowd, and the promise of the woman hanging on to him for dear life as he bolted toward the finish line, crossing it two steps before Jon.
Aiyla squealed, her lips covering Ty’s cheek as he slowed to a walk. Trixie and the crowd cheered. Jon mumbled a curse.
The smile on Ty’s face hurt his cheeks, but it was his heart that wouldn’t let him lower Aiyla to the ground. He shifted her along his side, her legs winding around his waist as they came face to face and their mouths collided in a fiery kiss. This was the most magnificent win of his life. The most rewarding, the one he’d remember long after he’d forgotten the feel of the air on the highest mountain peaks.
“I love you, baby,” he said between kisses as hikers breezed by, and the crowd hooted and hollered. “I fucking love you so hard I can’t even—”
“Then don’t,” she said quickly. “Whatever it is you can’t do, I don’t care. Just love me, Ty, because I love you. I’ve loved you since Saint-Luc.”