“Are you together?” I wheeze out between strokes.
He spits out a mouthful of water. “I’m paying for a mistake.”
Well, that’s cryptic.
“Keep up.”
“I am. Worry about yourself,” I bite out.
“I’m fine. I don’t want to do another one hundred laps because you are out of shape.”
Who cares that I was starving and homeless? Pushing forward, I keep pace, never slowing so he can blame me if we go another round. Fortunately, we don’t have to.
Anniston stops us when it looks like we are seconds from drowning. My arms are like jelly when I hoist myself on shore, gurgling out water with a moan. Theo’s not fairing much better, crawling alongside me, blue and shivering.
“Fifty push-ups.” She’s eyeing Von Bremen.
Wordlessly, he extends his legs and starts counting them off.
“Major! I said fifty.”
I drop down, nearly unable to even hold my body weight. Props to Theo for making it this far. I take a hard hit to the ground, collapsing in a heaving mess. I’m spent. I can’t do one more.
“Major. Do you have any leftover energy?”
I moan out a “No.”
“Good. Go shower. I’ll be up in a minute.”
I nod and drag myself to a sitting position. I just need a second before I walk all the way back to the house.
“You going to puke?” I look at Anniston, ready to respond, but realize she’s asking Theo.
Theo is still rising and falling. The man is a damn machine.
“Yes,” he gurgles.
“That’s enough,” she tells him.
He lies on the ground unmoving until she rolls him onto his back, grabbing his face like only a lover would do. “You good?”
I start to feel the jealousy bubble up.
He nods as best as he can with her restraining him. Roughly, she smashes her lips to his, swallowing his moans of pleasure.
I take that as my cue and get the hell out of there.
