Two Fellows are Better than One
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve liked to run. I think in some odd way it makes me feel like I can get away from something. If I’m sad, I run from it and beat that temporary weakness out through the soles of my tennis shoes. If I’m angry, I run until I’m wheezing, spitting the madness out with each breath. And when I feel empty, I run until my chest is filled with air and the wind whipping through my hair fills me with joy, even if it doesn’t last much longer than the last step of my sprint.
I was running just after dawn when I saw Pike. I’d done three solid laps around the commu
nity when I passed the sandbox, an area set up with different kinds of wooden blocks and bars used for strength and conditioning.
Pike was there, doing pullups, shirtless. My eyes were drawn to his muscular, tattooed upper body. He was magnificent. His breath came out in misty puffs in the cool morning air and his sweaty hair stuck to the sides of his face, making his blond beard look as if it stretched all the way around his head.
I challenged myself to divert my eyes and keep running.
“You need a better sports bra!” he called out. “You’re gonna hurt yourself like that.”
I lost my challenge and dropped down to a slow walk, turning and making my way toward him. I placed my hands on my hips and drew in a few deep breaths, trying to calm my chest enough to speak without sounding out of shape. He’d just make fun of me and that would piss me off.
Pike was good at pissing me off.
He did a few more chin ups before dropping from the bar and giving me his full attention. I wished he’d keep working out. There’s nothing like the sight of a man, sweaty, physically exerting himself. Pike’s six pack abs and chiseled chest and arms were quite an exquisite show.
“You don’t have to stop on account of me,” I said.
“I’m stopping because I need to move on to my next station.”
Egg on my face. Asshole.
“Have fun then,” I called out as I picked up my pace and headed away from him.
“Wait!” he called out from behind. “Stop. I was just kidding with you.”
I stopped and turned.
“I came out here to see the sun rise, thinking it would brighten up my day a little more,” he said. “It didn’t. Not even a little bit. Truth is I’ve been feeling a little bit down. You know, like something’s missing.”
I knew what he meant. I was feeling the same way and I didn’t know how to explain it. Dominic had been great. He’d made three square meals per day and snacks in between. He pleased me in bed, the way an average guy could I supposed, but something was lacking. I was a woman. A Dove. I was in control. I loved being in control. But sometimes…sometimes I think I wanted someone to challenge me a little, to seriously ravage me.
And as I watched Pike reach up and hold on to the pullup bar, just standing there beneath it, his ink stained body stretched out and looking magnificent, I wondered if he was the one to give me what I needed.
“I’ve always liked sunsets but haven’t really been up early enough to see it rise,” Pike continued. “I guess…I don’t know…it wasn’t all I thought it would be. The setting is better, prettier, I think because it’s when things settle down. All the craziness goes away and it’s just calm. Yeah, I dig sunsets more than sunrises. So this morning wasn’t all I expected it to be.”
He was like a bad boy lyricist with horrible poetic style. But he did try.
I smiled at him and turned away. I needed to finish my workout.
“Until I saw you,” he said loudly.
I stopped.
“The fucking sun doesn’t mean anything to me. But you…when I saw you running my way…that…umm…that brightened my day. I know what that sounds like but I’m trying to tell you how I feel and I’m just fucking it up as usual.”
He was doing a great job in my book. Cheesy pickup lines always sounded ridiculous but hearing a man stumble over his words, trying to say how he felt, it was adorable. I wanted to rush to him and kiss him. I felt a familiar flutter at the crease between my thighs.
I wanted Pike. I knew I did. I think I always did. I was getting wet thinking about his ripped body holding me down in the sand.
“Forget it,” Pike said. “I’m never gonna be able to speak to you like a gentleman or any of that shit. It just doesn’t work on me. I try and I sound like a buffoon.”
I walked closer to Pike. He had his head down, staring at his feet, his arms still stretched out and holding on to the bar. I set one hand on his massive bicep and realized I was trembling a little. I was nervous. I tried to be in control all the time but Pike made me anxious and that’s probably why I hated him so much most of the time.
Most of the time. But not right now.