Beneath This Man (This Man, #2)(42)

We emerge into the dawn sunlight to birds chirping and the hum of delivery vans – the same sounds I recognise from my previous punishing pre-dawn torture session.

I start to stretch before any instruction from Jesse, and he smiles as he watches me, at the same time carrying out his own muscle sweep. I want to be a grump, but he is just too delicious in his black shorts and tight, white vest, his hair a disheveled mess on his head and his morning stubble at just the right length.

‘Ready?’ I chirp, as I bounce off toward the pedestrian gates. I punch in the exit code and start jogging towards the Thames. I feel better already.

‘Just think,’ he muses, as he joins my side and we start running steadily together. ‘We can do this together every morning.’

I cough on a sharp inhale of air. Fourteen miles every morning? I don’t think so, the mad bastard.

We jog at a steady pace, and I’m reminded of the relaxing advantages of running at this time of day. It really is very peaceful and mind cleansing. I glance up at my beautiful man every now and again in the hope that he is at least displaying some sign of fatigue. Of course, I’m sorely disappointed each time. He’s like a machine. I make a mental note to have my iPod ready for the next time he heaves me out of bed at this God forsaken hour.

We hit St James’s Park and the early morning runners come into view – all women, who start faffing with their running vests and straightening their backs. Oh yes. How many of them time their runs just right?

Jesse puts his hand up to many of them as they smile brightly and bash their fake lashes at him. I want to throw up, or trip them up. Are the fancy earphones and bum bags with pouches of energy shots loaded into them really necessary?

I feel his eyes on me, and I know he is checking to see how I’m doing. I feel okay, as it happens, but if he increases his pace, then it might be a different story.

We conquer The Green Park and make our way onto Piccadilly, passing the point at which I collapsed the last time. I glance across to the spot where I sat every morning, picking at the grass and soaking up the dew through my trousers. I can see myself there – a pasty, empty waif – a half complete woman.

‘Hey.’

I snap from my daydream and look up at Jesse, finding a concerned face. I’m sure he can read my thoughts. ‘Fine.’ I puff, shaking my head and giving him a reassuring smile.

I shake off my sad thoughts and mentally applaud myself. I’m going to do this. I feel Jesse’s elbow nudge me, and I glance up to see a look of recognition to my achievement on his non-sweaty face, but then I do a quick calculation in my head and figure that we’re probably two thirds gone. At the thought of at least another four and a half miles, I hit the proverbial runner’s wall…again. My lungs seem to drain of all air and my body starts burning up along with them.

I’m not going to do this.

I battle on for a few hundred yards and then enter the park at the next entrance, dramatically collapsing on the damp grass…again. I heave valuable air into my scorching lungs and pant like a dog on heat. I must look like I’m having an asthma attack.

I watch through my slightly blurred vision as Jesse approaches me and stands over me. I shield my eyes from the low morning sun and get my focus on him. ‘I did better than last time.’ I splutter between dragging in long, wheezy breaths.

He smiles. ‘You did, baby.’ He drops to his knees besides me and lifts my leg, rubbing firm, slow circles into my calf muscle. It has me groaning and him laughing. ‘I’m proud of you. Give it a few days and you’ll fly through it.’

What? My eyes bulge under my closed lids. If I had enough breath, I would cough in disgust. Has this man ever heard of the term, baby steps?

I lay on the grass as he works his magic hands on every burning muscle. I could lie here all day, but all too soon, he pulls me up into a sitting position and waves a twenty under my nose.

‘I came prepared. Coffee?’ He nods past me, and I look to see a Starbucks over the road.

I could kiss him. I throw my arms around him in gratitude for his forward thinking. I’ve been rubbed back to life, and now I get a Starbucks. The run was worth it. He laughs and stands with me still wrapped around his neck.

‘Stretch your legs.’ he demands softly, unlinking my arms from him. I comply immediately, remembering the last time he told me to stretch after our run – I didn’t. I was too busy being distracted by his unreasonable demand to have me work at The Manor constantly. As a result, I spent all day drawing my foot up to my backside to try and alleviate some of the aching.

He stands and watches me as I see through my muscle stretches. He looks so happy, his eyes twinkling, his frown line nowhere to be seen.

‘Come on.’ He takes my hand and we stroll over to Starbucks, getting served super quick due to the early hour. I’m hungry, but if I eat anything I’m only going to load my body back up with the calories I’ve just burned off. Everything smells so fresh and yummy, though.

‘Do you want something to eat?’ Jesse asks. He must have seen me staring longingly at the pastries.

‘No.’ I answer quickly, dragging my eyes away from the mouthwatering temptations in the glass cabinet.

He smiles and wraps his palm around the back of my neck, pulling me into him and resting his lips on my forehead before turning his attention back to the swooning sales clerk. ‘A cappuccino, extra shot, no chocolate, a strong black coffee and two blueberry muffins, please.’ He smiles brightly at the young girl, who giggles nervously. He returns his eyes to me. ‘Go and get a seat.’