Page 82 of In the Long Run
I arch a brow at her.
‘Should I call the Army guys?’
That gets me on my feet and into a robe with Gen’s help.Then we shuffle towards the bed.
‘We need some recovery time,’ Gen muses before pushing me down and fussing with the sheets until I’m covered.She slides in next to me and curls into the nook between my neck and shoulder.
We sleep for hours, waking to the sounds of our phones going off with questions about whether or not we’re coming to the team dinner.All I want to do is stay in bed with Gen forever, finish what we started in the shower, but we drag ourselves out of the cocoon we’ve made with our bodies.
There’s teasing when we arrive at the same beer garden as yesterday, but it’s lighthearted and nice.It’s even more packed tonight, and Gen doesn’t hesitate before sitting on my lap.
I wouldn’t want her anywhere else.
29
GEN
Does sex count as cardio?Because my training schedule has an easy recovery walk on it, and the plan was to stroll along the river with everyone else from Croissants and Kilometres.Stop and get breakfast somewhere in Bright before we all head back to Melbourne.
But sometimes plans need to change.
At least that’s what I think when I wake up sprawled across Knox’s body, my leg hitched over his hip, my hand splayed over his heart.His eyes are closed.Slices of sunlight peek through the plantation shutters, casting shadows across his high brows, the full lips that make me feel a bit drunk when they’re against my own.Last night, after dinner, we’d come back and fallen into bed … and fallen asleep.
But this morning?I haveplans.
‘I can feel you watching me,’ Knox mumbles, his voice thick with sleep.
‘You’re pretty cute, you know.’
His chest rumbles underneath me.‘No man wants to be called cute, Gen, especially not first thing in the morning.’
‘Would you prefer “adorable”?’
‘You looking to start a disagreement, Halliday?’
I bury my smile in his chest.‘Maybe.’
‘I’m onto you,’ he says, tipping my face towards his.Just-woke-up-Knox should come with a warning:Danger.You will lose the ability to speak.To think.To function.
If I could squeeze my legs together, I would.
‘How are the muscles this morning?’Knox runs his hand along my thigh, down my calf.It’s like he read my mind.
‘Bit sore.Yours?’
‘Pretty good.’Knox stretches like a cat in a patch of sun, and the movement shifts our pelvises closer together.The baguette is back, and I’d argue that our muscles are about to feel very, very good.
I walk my fingers up his chest, letting my nails scratch through his chest hair.He makes a sleepy, contented noise that ends in a soft groan I never want to forget.
‘What time’s the walk this morning?’Knox asks.
‘Not for another hour.’
Knox angles my face towards his, dropping featherlight kisses on my forehead, my cheeks and then finally my lips.The man’s about to get mauled.We’ve waited so long for this, I can’t be held accountable for my actions.How convenient that we’re both nearly naked, too.
‘We should make sure we warm up properly,’ he says.
‘Because we’re serious and dedicated athletes,’ I agree, climbing on top of him.His hands settle on my ass.
