•7• Running

EVA'S POV

“When are we going on our first adventure?” I asked Adam as I returned after going to keep my luggage in the bedroom I was going to sleep in.

He raised a surprised brow at me. “Wow, I can see you're eager.” He teased, making me roll my eyes.

I knew he was still underestimating my ability to do extreme sports, and I was going to prove him wrong.

"Why don't we start by going for a run through the mountains?" I suggested.

Adam shook his head.  “Look, as much I admire your eagerness, we just arrived from a long drive. Just get some rest first. The slopes here are very steep and navigating them is strenous.”

I jammed my hands on my jean-clad hips, glaring at him. "Try me."

He paused and gave me an assessing look before an amused smile touched his lips. "Fine. Let's see what you are made of."

Two hours later, we returned from our run through the hills behind the cabin. While Adam was still running like we just hadn't run for two hours straight, I felt like I was about to pass out.

My lungs burned from the cold air, my thighs burned, and my whole body ached and dripped with sweat from all the running.

“Why didn't you tell me we were going to climb Mount Everest?” I moaned as I dragged myself onto the porch and slumped into the net swing.

Adam chuckled, a look of amusement on his face. “I told you the mountains were steep and you insisted on going.”

I groaned as my body ached when I tried to turn myself in the swing. “Damn, you're a hard man to keep up with, Wild One.”

“You did well.” He said.

“I did?”

“Yes." He replied.

I couldn't help the smile that fell on my lips. Even though I was tired out of my mind, his validation meant a lot to me.

“You did well.” He repeated, but there was a teasing note in his voice. “Let's just hope that you don't puke all over the place.”

"As if I'm that friend of yours from the party!" I said, cringing at the memory of what happened to June at the nightclub. 

On the night the girls and I went to the nightclub, while Adam and I had been in the VIP room, June had hooked up with one of Adam's friends, the chocolate-skinned one called Raul.

They'd gone to the bathroom to fuck, only for Raul to vomit all over her breasts while he was kissing her neck.

Adam cringed, and I could see that he was also embarrassed for his friend, "Raul's an idiot. He doesn't do too well with a lot of alcohol yet he keeps on drinking. I'm sure he had too much to drink that night.”

I nodded in understanding. "June was so furious. Poor girl, she had a nightmare where your friend was puking into her mouth right when they were kissing."

Adam and I both burst out laughing, but he must've noticed how exhausted my laugh sounded because he frowned.

“Hey, wait here. I'm going to get you some water.” He assured me.

“Do I look like I could walk even a meter?” I grunted.

My legs felt like they had turned into jelly.

Adam went inside the cabin to go get me the water as he said. He probably didn't go for too long, but before I knew it, I was already asleep.

When I woke up about an hour later, it was already evening and I was sleeping on the couch inside the cabin.  Adam had obviously carried me inside.

The sizzling aroma of beef assailed more nostrils immediately. I got up, wanting to inspect where the smell was coming from but my muscles were still aching from the run, causing me to groan.

My groans must've reached Adam because his head peaked out of the kitchen doorway.

“You finally woke up, sleepyhead.” He flashed me a smile that did things to my stomach. “I'm sure you planned it; you woke up just when I finished cooking.”

“You cooked?” I asked, surprised. 

He stared at me. “What? I'm a man so I shouldn't be able to cook?”

His face was blank. Had I offended him?

“I'm sorry." I began to apologize. “I didn't mean it that way. I...”

“I was just kidding!" He burst out laughing, pointing at me. “You should've just seen your face.”

I heaved a sigh, relieved that I hadn't annoyed him but annoyed that he'd only been messing with me.

“Come on. Let's eat." He beckoned for me to come to the kitchen.

“Wow!" I exclaimed once I entered the kitchen and saw what he had prepared

Two large chunks of juicy beef steaks and a bowl of mouth-watering rice pilaf.

I looked at him. "And here I was wondering how we were going to pull through with dinner, because confession time..." I paused for dramatic effect. "...cooking is not my forte."

He chuckled, and said, “Not surprised.”

I glared at him. "Hey, I didn't say I don't know how to cook. I just said it's not where my strength lies."

"Oh, please don't put words in my mouth. I couldn't possibly." He said innocently, obviously holding back laughter. "In fact, I know you cook so well that the last time you boiled water, it ended up burnt."

"Huh, your belief in me is very refreshing." I said sarcastically, and I couldn't help but join in when he laughed.

After washing my hands, we sat down to eat. We ate in comfortable silence with me occasionally asking him about any ingredient that I tasted in the food. He answered them all.

His love for cooking paid off because the food was exquisite, and I made sure he knew that.

“I'll do the dishes.” Adam said after we'd finished eating, getting up to gather the plate. “You go take a shower.”

“Well, aren't you the perfect host?” I said teasingly as I got up.

My muscles instantly reminded me that they were aching, causing me to groan as I rubbed my arms.

“Oh God, why is my body aching so much? I feel like I've been carrying the whole world on my shoulder.” I complained, looking at Adam. “I hope there's a massage parlor around here because I'm definitely going to need a massage.”

Adam cocked a brow at me. “Why do you need to go to a massage parlor when you have a professional masseur standing right in front of you?”

I scoffed. “The last time I checked, masseur wasn't part of your profession.”

“Who says you need to be in a profession to be professional?”

“Isn't that what 'professional' means?” 

“Whatever." He grinned cockily at me. “Just go take your bath and come back, and you'll see just how good of a masseur I am.”

A frisson of excitement ran through me at the thought of Adam massaging me as I turned and went to the room I would be sleeping in.

After a hot shower, I turned off the faucet and began toweling my body dry. My muscles were still aching, reminding me of Adam's offer to massage me.

Massages have always felt intimate, but it was different when it was a stranger doing it. I probably shouldn't allow Adam to give me a massage, but my body wants it against my better judgement.

After drying off, I stepped out of the bathroom into the bedroom to put on my pyjamas since I didn't think wearing nightwear was a good idea around Adam. 

I was just about to go out of the bedroom when my phone on the bed began ringing. It was Victoria calling. I quickly answered.

“Hello, girlfriend.” Vic's excited voice boomed through the speakers.

“Hey babe,” I said, matching her excitement.

“You won't believe what just happened.”

Knowing that she won't continue unless I say something, I smiled.  “I'm sure I won't.”

“June and the puker met at Katie's bar tonight!” She announced as if it was the most exciting news of the twenty-first century. “You should've been there. They were practically ripping out each other's throats.”

Vic burst out laughing, causing me to laugh too. But I was also worried. When June was angry, she didn't care about causing a scene anywhere.

“But none of them ripped each other's throat, right?” I asked.

“Of course not, but God, it was hilarious?!” Vicky laughed some more. “I miss you, Eva. If you were here, we would be giving June such a hard time together.”

“Miss you too, girlfriend.” I answered, knowing very well that I was lying.

Throughout the day, my thoughts had only been arrested by Adam and his all too alluring presence, the way my heart beat out of rhythm whenever he came close.

“Anyways, I guess I should leave you to rest." Vicky said after a while. “You're probably exhausted after a day of dealing with grumpy businessmen. What's up with your mother anyways? Sending you off alone on a business trip for a week.”

Oh right. I forgot that I lied to my best friends about where I was going before coming here.

But I had to keep up the lie for now. “Yeah, of course, it was an exhausting day. Talk to you later, Vicky.”

After Victoria hung up, I let out a sigh, feeling guilty about lying to her and June. But I had to.

If the two of them knew that I was in Jackson Hole with Adam planning to do extreme sports starting tomorrow, then they would both freak out.

So would my mum.

That's why I lied to June and Vicky that my mum had sent me on a business trip and then lied to my mum that I just needed a small vacation to myself. 

Shoving my guilt aside, I eagerly hurried out of the bedroom, my aching muscles rejoicing at the thought of Adam's hands running all over me.

I just can't wait for this massage.