Morning Ride
"Stay with me, Peloton! For three, two, one!"
Grabbing onto the handlebars, she copied the virtual instructor on the screen.
"Now, saddle down."
When her Apple watch pinged, she lifted her arm, bringing her wrist close to her face. Since she wasn't wearing her glasses, she had to squint to read the notification. The screen showed a new text message from her chief of staff. Last night, she'd promised Nadine she would touch base with her in the morning. After she finished her workout, she would call to discuss the situation in Sweden. Ignoring the text for now, she focused on the instructor.
"Are we ready? Yes, or yes?" On the screen, Ally Love stared into her soul, daring her to keep up. "Add it on! Take it up in three, two, one."
After turning the dial, she pushed up, hovering over the seat as she pedaled. God, her thighs really burned today. Already fifty minutes into the ride, she was looking forward to the minute of cooldown at the end.
"Take it down!"
With a huff, she plopped her butt down on the seat before she spun the dial to the left, taking off the resistance.
When a pair of hands landed on her hips, she jumped. "Good morning, Babe," her husband mumbled against her ear. Surely, if her shoes hadn't been clipped into the pedals, she would have fallen right off the bike. Biting her bottom lip, she tried to suppress a smile when he kissed her neck.
"Henry, I'm all sweaty," Elizabeth complained, teasingly swatting at his chest.
Pressing himself against her back, he looped his arms loosely around her waist. Then, he kissed her again. This time, his lips landed just below her left ear. "I still like you when you're all sweaty," he told her.
Given the cardio ride that she'd chosen to do this morning, she probably looked a mess. Even with the small fan pointed her way, sweat dripped down the side of her face. And she could feel the pieces of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail sticking to the back of her neck.
"I have ten more minutes of my ride."
Nipping the skin of her shoulder with his teeth, Henry said, "Come ride me instead."
"Henry," she whispered, continuing to pedal.
After his hands fell away from her waist, he stepped in front of the bike, so they could see each other's faces.
"Elizabeth, I'm feeling left out." Using his hand, he motioned to the bike. "You've replaced me," he said, giving her his best pout.
Throwing her head back, she couldn't help but laugh. Yes, they'd decided to buy a Peloton for the family as a Christmas gift, but their sex life hadn't taken a hit because of the new machine. It hadn't taken a hit at all! If anything, her morning rides had kicked her sex drive into gear.
"This is our last climb, Peloton," the instructor said.
Instead of following along, she stayed in the saddle, staring at her husband.
Holding her gaze, he took one of her hands and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "Come back to bed," Henry pleaded.
How could she turn him down with those big brown eyes?
When her feet slowed, he smiled.
"You want me to ride you?" Elizabeth asked as she kicked her heel outward, clipping out, one foot at a time.
"I would like nothing more."
Stepping down onto the floor, she smirked. "Are you sure you can keep up?" Once she swung her leg over the bike, she reached out, grabbing for her water bottle. "Yesterday, I beat my personal best."
"Baby, we'll blow those numbers away."
She arched one brow. "Oh, I'm blowing now too?"