The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 150

Chapter 150

Emma’s POV:

The suggestion hung in the air between us, weighted with possibility. My face burned hot enough to combust.

Before I could figure out how to respond, Daniel continued.

“I think we need to get you into better shape.”

I blinked, the heat in my face intensifying for entirely different reasons. “My… what?”

He stood, crossing to the bed in three smooth strides. His hand reached out, fingers curling gently around my waist-assessing, professional.

“Your stamina needs work, baby.”

Oh no.

My brain, which had been spinning in entirely inappropriate directions, screeched to a halt.

“You mean- The words tumbled out before I could stop them. “You’re talking about exercise?”

The moment the question left my mouth, I wanted to take it back. Swallow it. Pretend I’d never said anything.

Daniel’s hand stilled on my waist. He tilted his head slightly, and when he spoke, his voice was perfectly innocent. “What else would I be

talking about?”

Shit.

“Nothing!” I said too quickly. “I just wanted to clarify. Because obviously you meant exercise. Running. Cardio.” I was babbling now, words spilling out in a desperate attempt to cover my tracks. “That’s exactly what I thought you meant. The whole time.”

“The whole time,” he repeated slowly, and there was definitely amusement threading through his voice now. “Though you did look a bit flushed for a conversation about treadmills.”

“I’m always flushed after eating hot soup,” I said with as much dignity as I could muster. “It’s a circulation thing.”

His mouth curved into that smile-the one that said he saw right through me and was thoroughly enjoying himself.

“Of course,” he said. “Circulation.”

When I risked a glance up, there was something dancing in his eyes. Something that looked suspiciously like amusement.

He knows.

He absolutely knows what I was thinking.

1/3

9:03 am P p p p

Chapter 150

I made a sound somewhere between a squeak and a groan and pulled the blanket over my head.

His laugh-low and genuinely delighted-made everything so much worse.

“When we get back to Boston,” he continued, voice calm and matter-of-fact, “I’m taking you running. Early mornings, before I head to the hospital.”

I yanked the blanket down so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash.

Running.

Early mornings.

In college, I’d hated exactly two things, ranked in order of increasing dread: 8 a.m. classes, and anything involving physical fitness requirements.

The PE credit system at BU had been my personal nightmare. Forty gym check-ins per semester. Plus that godforsaken one-mile run test.

And now Daniel wanted me to do this voluntarily?

“Does it have to be running?” My voice came out slightly whiny, and I didn’t even care. “Can’t we… I don’t know… not?”

He raised an eyebrow.

I tried again, switching tactics. Sat up straighter, clasped my hands together in front of me like I was praying. “If we have to run-and I’m not saying we do-can we at least wait until spring?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify