Page 57 of Unbridled

He reversed course and ran back down the trail. He wouldn’t be a good resort host if he didn’t check on Heath to make sure he didn’t twist an ankle, break a leg, or have a damn heart attack.

As he rounded the second bend, he found Heath at a dead stop with one hand on his hip, leaning forward slightly and breathing hard.

Once Dayne reached him, he jogged in place so his muscles wouldn’t lock up. “You okay?”

Heath nodded and his words were dispersed between pants. “I didn’t realize this would be a race.”

“It’s not. But you’re in damn good shape. I figured you could keep up.”

Apparently not with the way the man was trying to catch his breath.

“Not on this terrain. Plus, I’m quickly learning that trail running is a whole other animal versus running on a treadmill. I’m using muscles I didn’t even realize I had.”

“That it is.” Dayne glanced at the runner’s watch he wore. “You want to keep going or head back?”

“Is there somewhere along this path that will give us a view of the valley?”

“Not unless you want to run up one of the mountains. We can head back and go at a slower pace.”

Heath peeled off his sweat-ringed T-shirt and used it to wipe his face. “I’ll pass on running up any mountains.”

Dayne grinned. “I thought so.”

His gaze slid over Dayne. “I guess I’ll have to settle with the view I’m currently seeing.”

Dayne stopped jogging in place, pulled out his water bottle and offered it to Heath. When he took it, he squirted some water into his mouth before handing it back. Dayne did the same before squeezing some over his head and shaking it like a wet dog. Water droplets flew, barely missing Heath. “Need to cool off a little?”

Before he could answer, Dayne squirted water on Heath’s chest. With a mumbled curse, goosebumps appeared all over the man’s damp skin.

Dayne bit one corner of his bottom lip. They were out in the woods with no one around. However, they were no longer on the ranch and instead, on state-owned land. Where anyone could come along.

But right now, the risk might be worth the reward. Last night they had concentrated on Cara. They were now in a spot where they could concentrate on each other.

He only needed Heath to be willing.

It was time to find out if he was.

Dayne closed in on Heath until the tips of their running shoes touched. The brown eyes meeting his most likely reflected what could be seen in his own: heat and anticipation.

The man sure looked willing and he did not move away.

Curling his hand around the back of Heath’s neck, Dayne pulled him closer. He murmured, “I’m still thirsty,”before dragging his tongue over Heath’s very firm pectoral muscle to lick away a remaining bead of water.

“I’m sweaty.”

What he just tasted was most likely perspiration and not water, but if Heath thought that would deter him… “A little sweat never stopped me before. I consider that a little seasoning.”

Hell, he once spent a night with a guy who loved to lick armpits. The riper they were, the better.

He quickly pushed that out of his head. Despite the exercise, Heath didn’t smell ripe, he smelled edible. He looked edible, too.

“So, since we’re alone now…out here with no one around…” Dayne started.

“Except squirrels and chipmunks and possibly bears.”

“Are you interested in working up a sweat caused by something other than running?”

Heath glanced around. “Out here?”

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