Although he would have rather slit his own throat than admit it, Alec was actually secretly glad for the break. Normally he could have covered that distance without even breaking a sweat. He could have even ran the entire way. But tonight there was something deeply wrong with him.

Stopping to catch his breath was fine by him. He tried to keep his breathing shallow so the Frenchman wouldn't pick up on it and mock him incessantly, or worse, imply that he should spend the night in.