"Wanna race?" The random question caught Jenna's attention, drawing it away from the trees and the path to Mark, who strode alongside her.
The two of them were on a stroll in the forest on an early spring day. One of those days when the sun was hot on your skin, and thick clothes felt stifling. But the large spots of shade were too cold for anything lighter.
When Jenna answered, her words dripped with suspicion, knowing all too well that Mark loathed any kind of sport. "You hate running."
With a light laugh, Mark spread his hands wide in a show of innocence. "A little exercise can't hurt." But Mark's lips held a hint of mockery when he continued. "Afraid of losing?"
The words made Jenna snort in derision. "I run twice a week and you believe that getting out of the couch for a drink is too much effort. I'd leave you in the dust." Her own mocking smile came to play. "There's just no challenge."
That should have been the end of it when Jenna kept walking. But Mark couldn't leave well enough alone, knowing just where to press as his words trailed off. "I've got longer legs though, less distance for me. But hey, if you're that afraid that an unathletic guy like me could beat you..."
It should have been empty boasting, words without substance. But Mark knew what rankled her, and that challenging glint in his eyes, together with the mocking smirk was too much. If Mark wanted some humiliation, Jenna was all too happy to oblige.
With a roll of her shoulders, Jenna motioned to the end of the clearing. A straight run of about a hundred meters that she could do blindfolded. "Fine. To the big oak over there. On three?"
Still, with that same smile playing on his lips Mark pulled his hands from his pockets and got in a stance alongside her. He began the countdown with a wink. More proof that he was mocking her, with a deep and slow breath, Jenna steeled that determination inside her.
The numbers fell one by one, but Jenna's eyes were fixed on the oak. Tensing the muscles in her legs in preparation. When the final number fell, both of them shot off like rockets, feet kicking hard at the earth as the race began.
For the first few dozen meters they stayed neck on neck. But it wasn't long before Jenna gained the lead, surging ahead as she pushed hard. Forcing her legs to go faster and faster.
The sudden sprint burned, but she wouldn't give in. Not now. Not ever. It was only a little further and the harsh breathing behind her seemed to fall farther away.
Pushing her all into the last few meters Jenna's hand slapped against the rough bark of the oak tree, and she laughed. Victory sang within her in a strong flash of satisfaction. Turning to gloat, she froze. Mark was there, right in front of her with not a hint of loss on him. His breath was harsh and his face red, but Mark didn't mind any of that when he plowed into her.
Instinct took over as Jenna felt his hands grab her just below the ass and lift. Jenna's legs folded around his waist in an automatic reaction. Mark was a tall and lanky fellow, with a habit of scooping her up. Something that always seemed to change the atmosphere between them. It had the same effect now, victory stopped buzzing in her veins, replaced by something else. With big eyes and a shuttered breath, she stared at him.
Mark was close, far too close. The shade of the tree was cool enough to make Jenna shiver, but Mark's breath was hot on her skin. His hands now drew up along her arms, a gentle caress that was at odds with the predatory look in his eyes.
A look that made Jenna feel like a rabbit caught by a ravenous wolf. And she knew that Mark had the sharp teeth to match.
"Got you now." The sing-song tone sent a chill down her spine. Mark's long fingers traced her jaw, sliding along her skin before following the line of Jenna's neck. Sinking lower and lower as Mark sent sparks running down her spine.
Jenna pushed against him with her hips, but couldn't make Mark budge an inch despite how hard she pushed and squirmed. Because Jenna knew what he was doing. Knew it by that thundering in her chest and her shallow breaths.
They had done it before, after all. But always, always in the safety of a bedroom with the lights dimmed. Never out in the open with beams of light shining down on them. And again Jenna tried to push Mark away, but he didn't care. The only thing that would stop him was the agreed word.
Jenna's stomach squirmed as if there was a storm of butterflies raging, still, she didn't plan on saying the safeword. No matter how sparks flew from Mark's touch. Not even when fear made her tremble.
The tops of his fingers traced along the sides of her neck. Nails scraped over the sensitive skin as Jenna twisted and squirmed. What courage she had to resist more fell away when she heard that sharp intake of breath.
Mark's fingers dug almost painfully hard into her skin, and to her horror, Jenna felt her pulse throb against his fingers. A fast beat that stilled her.
Everything inside of her froze to a halt as an icy chill descended on her mind. Because Jenna's heart raced like a galloping horse. Every clop from that rapid pace pressed against his fingers. So fast that there seemed to be no pause between one beat and the next. Her breath came in shallow, uneven gasps as Jenna fought against that tightening of her chest.
Even with her thoughts muddied she knew the reason for the race. It had been a means to an end, a ruse to ensure her heart was beating as fast as it could. And it was. Jenna felt each beat fall into the other, no rest between them.
