Dance for Me

Chapter Eleven

I've managed to stay away for a solid week. Having a class with Ransom makes this a nearly impossible feat—like reaching the summit of Mount Everest without a guide and lacking any survival skills.

To keep myself busy, and my mind off anything having to do with him, I throw myself into my studies. On the days I have to work, I use dancing to distract myself, which is also harder than hell, because every few minutes I find myself searching the corners for a pair of familiar dark eyes.

Thankfully, Ransom keeps his distance, too. I don't know if he was trying to scare me off, but it works—kind of. Try as I might, I can't stop thinking about him, about the kiss, the sex. Everything. He completely dominates my every thought. There's no escape.

It's driving me crazy, wanting to touch him, but forcing myself to stay away. It's better for both of us this way. At least, that's what I keep telling myself. I just wish I didn't have to see his face every day.

That's why I've ditched yoga for running. I've found that it helps me clear my head far better than the downward facing dog. For just a little while, I can get lost in the steady rhythm of my feet slapping the pavement and the whirring of my breaths in my ears.

I don't have a lot of stamina, but I can get a good mile in before I have to take a break. This morning, I hit the streets early while it's still cool enough out to break a comfortable sweat. The path I take circles the campus. I pass a couple runners while I'm out, but it's still pretty early, which means I have the trail mostly to myself.

I am coming up on the half-mile marker when someone falls into step beside me. Focused on the music between my ears and the sidewalk stretched out ahead, the interruption startles me and I misstep, nearly falling on my face.

"Whoa, careful there, grace."

Ripping the bud from my ear, I glare up at Ransom. "You scared the hell out of me!"

Grinning in amusement, he holds his hands up in front of him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I was just out for a run when I saw you. I didn't know you ran."

"I just started," I grumble.

His gaze drifts down my body, and I can't help feeling a little self-conscious. I don't have any makeup on, I'm sweaty, and I probably stink. "Yeah? How far do you go?"

"Up to the dorms. About a mile or so."

He looks ahead thoughtfully. "You could do more," he decides.

I shake my head in annoyance. "No, I can't. I just started. I need time to build up stamina."

"You were going pretty hard. It took me a minute to catch up with you. If you slowed down a bit, you'd be able to hold out longer. Plus, it's less wear and tear on your knees."

I mull over this as I catch my breath. "Thanks for the advice. I'll keep it in mind. I should get back to it though before my heart rate gets too low."

"Mind if I run with you?"

I do, actually, but it's hard to deny him when he's looking at me like that, as if he's hoping I'll say yes, but worried I'll say no. I want to turn him down. The voice in my head is telling me if I don't walk away now, this last week will have been for nothing, but I find myself inclining my head and saying, "If you think you can keep up with me."

His smirk is paralyzing. "I'll do my best."

We fall into a comfortable silence as we run side by side. The pace that Ransom sets is slower than my usual, but I find it's easier to breathe when my heart isn't slamming against my ribcage, and by the end of our run, we've covered a good two and a half miles, a whole one and a half more than my usual.