Page 30 of My Three Hometown Alphas

Holy fuck.

Suddenly, this run went from being a silly punishment after a bet to something seemingly deeper. There’s a softness in his eyes when he glances at me. I just give him a small nod because what else am I going to say?

Miles has a flirty, goofy exterior, but he’s really a softy—a golden retriever through and through. And it seems each time I’m with him, I like him more and more.

Sneaking a glance at him out of the corner of my eyes, I suck in a sharp breath that has nothing to do with the fact that I’m currently jogging. It has everything to do with my growing feelings for this man.

I’m actually going to die. Miles is going to have to dig a hole on the side of this road to bury me in.

I pause, resting my hands on my knees. Sweat drips from my brow as I desperately try to suck in air. I’m sure I look like a hot fucking mess right now.

Miles stops, rubbing his hand on my back. “We only have, like, half a mile left,” he tells me. He isn’t even breathing hard, which makes me feel even more pitiful than I already do.

“How far have we already run?” I ask between jagged breaths. Thank fuck my lungs have adjusted to the altitude some over the last few weeks, or I would have perished a while ago.

“Three and a half miles.”

I jerk to stand all the way up, my eyes popping wide. “I ran that far?”

His smile almost looks like he’s proud of me. “I wasn’t going to go that far, but you were kind of killing it.”

“Shut up. I am definitely not killing it,” I say, sucking in another breath into my aching lungs.

“Agree to disagree,” he says with a shrug.

I grip the bottom of my shirt, pulling it over my head. “If I have to run any more, I can’t wear this damn shirt.” I feel like I’m suffocating inside of it.

His eyes dart from my stomach to my chest, and back up to my eyes. I would give him a snappy remark, but I’m really too tired to come up with anything decent.

He reaches behind his neck, pulling his shirt off. Now I’m the one staring athim.

I don’t even bother dragging my eyes away from his sculpted chest and abs. He’s just so pretty to look at. He’s lean, no doubt from all the running, but he’s also toned.

“Good to know I’m not the only one with a staring problem.” He laughs, grabbing my shirt from my hand. “Come on, gorgeous, let’s finish this.”

We run in silence all the way back to his house. I’m out of breath again, but I feel surprisingly happy.

I don’t want him to know that, though. He’d never let me hear the end of it.

I sprawl out on the grass and he stretches beside me. At some point, I must have closed my eyes because next thing I know he’s gently shaking me.

He grabs my hand, helping me stand. My hand remains in his, so I’m forced to follow along as he walks into the main house.

“What are you doing?”

“Giving you your side of the bet, too.”

“A massage?” I ask. I wish I didn’t sound so damn hopeful.

He nods as we start walking up the stairs.

Laying down before stretching was probably not the best idea. Everything is already aching, I can only imagine how I’m going to feel come tomorrow morning when I peel myself out of bed.

“Where is everyone?” I ask, realizing the house is silent.

“They were all going to the store after Lyla got up.”

With his free hand, he opens his bedroom door. As I step inside, I realize I’ve never been in his room. I’ve been all over this house over the last month, but I’ve never been in here.