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Jonas Vingegaard stared at the ceiling of his hotel room, his mind racing despite the exhaustion seeping into his bones after days of cycling. The yellow jersey draped over a nearby chair seemed to glow in the dim light, a testament to his dominant performance in the time trial and his virtual lock on the Tour de France victory. Yet, amidst the thrill of his impending triumph, one thought kept pushing to the forefront: Tadej's kiss.
For Jonas, getting the Slovenian out of his head was becoming an impossible task. With just closing his eyes, he could perfectly relive their intimate moment - the softness of Tadej's lips, the warmth of his breath, the intensity of those hazel eyes. A blush crept across Jonas's pale cheeks and spread to the tips of his ears. Unable to contain it, he groaned, covering his face with his hands. How was he supposed to process this?
Jonas wasn't the best at expressing his feelings - in fact, he was probably the worst.
Jonas cringed, remembering how Wout and Sepp had teased him mercilessly that night when he'd confessed that Tadej had kissed him during the rest day. Wout's playful grin and teasing tone, coupled with Sepp's probing questions, had left him feeling incredibly shy and flustered.
Wout's teasing still echoed in his mind: "Our little Jonas, all grown up and kissing his rival!"
Who was Wout to crack jokes, anyway? When it came to kissing rivals, he'd take the cake for his long-standing, under-the-radar relationship with his eternal rival, Mathieu Van Der Poel.
Jonas fidgeted with the hem of his shirt before rolling over to hug his pillow tightly. His heart was pounding so hard he could hear it echoing in the room.
His gaze drifted to the coveted yellow jersey, and once again, thoughts of Tadej took over. He wondered: When exactly had his feelings for that crazy Slovenian, always ready to attack on every climb, shifted from rivalry to... something more?
Tadej, being his direct competitor in the general classification, had always been on Jonas's radar. He admired the guy's fighting spirit, his explosive attacks, and most of all, his warmth off the bike. Jonas had always thought his feelings for Tadej were simply respect and admiration born from healthy competition. But somewhere along the way, those feelings had evolved into something more intimate, simmering slowly.
"Oh, come on," Sepp had said after a stage in the second week, playfully elbowing Jonas. "You light up whenever Tadej's around. It's adorable, really."
Jonas hid his face again as Sepp's words replayed in his mind.
In the silence of his room, mind in chaos, Jonas accepted that sleep would be elusive tonight. He contemplated the idea of sneaking out, maybe seeking the answers he needed to clear his head and heart. In other words, to seek out Tadej.
Jonas felt courage building up inside him. Still full of doubts, fingers trembling, he tossed aside his pillow, threw on a jacket without his team's logo, and hurried out. He grabbed a couple of essentials before slipping out of his room.
The cool night air hit his flushed cheeks as he stepped outside. Jonas walked cautiously through the streets, making his way to Tadej's hotel.
Just days earlier, Tadej had taken his hand once they were away from prying eyes, and without hesitation, handed Jonas a card. The attached note read: "When you're ready, come find me. Let's finish what we started on the mountain."
Jonas nearly stumbled as he finally stood before Tadej's door, clutching the card tightly. For a moment, he considered using it, but this was Jonas Vingegaard, the shy Dane who'd already used up all his emotional energy just getting here.
Heart racing, Jonas hesitated, tempted to abandon his plan. But drawing on hidden reserves of courage, he took a deep breath and, with determination, knocked on the door.
The door swung open to reveal a surprised Tadej, hair tousled as if he'd just taken off his helmet. "Jonas? What are you-"
Before Tadej could finish, Jonas stepped forward, took Tadej's face in his hands, and kissed him deeply. This wasn't the gentle, fleeting kiss from before. This was passionate and full of emotion.
When they finally broke apart, both breathless, Jonas rested his forehead against Tadej's. He might not be good with words, but he hoped this sudden burst of courage spoke volumes.
Tadej's smile was radiant, and he wasted no time pulling Jonas into the room and closing the door. The look in the Slovenian's eyes was intense, clearly wanting more.
Jonas felt his cheeks heating up again as Tadej's eyes sparkled with mischief. The Slovenian's outgoing nature was both exhilarating and terrifying for Jonas, pushing him far beyond his comfort zone.
Words failed Jonas, but he was grateful for the unspoken connection they'd built, a bond they could easily interpret through body language alone.
Tadej chuckled and wrapped his arms around Jonas's waist. Jonas could feel the warmth and strength of Tadej's heartbeat in their close embrace.
Jonas let Tadej guide him to the bed. They sat side by side, Tadej's thumb tracing circles on Jonas's hand. Tadej's smile was dazzling, leaving Jonas feeling overwhelmed by the Slovenian's presence.
"You know," Tadej said playfully, "I've been trying to get your attention for months. I was starting to think you were immune to my charms."
Jonas ducked his head, a little smile tugging at his lips. Finally finding his voice, he replied honestly, "I noticed. I just... didn't know how to respond."
Tadej leaned in close, his breath tickling Jonas's ear and sending a shiver down his spine. Their faces were so close their noses almost touched. Tadej's smile softened, and he planted a gentle kiss on Jonas's cheek.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Tadej spoke again, his tone more serious. He brought up the recent stages, praising Jonas's strength during the tour's decisive stages. For a moment, Jonas felt a pang of guilt, remembering the day after the time trial when Tadej had cracked on the mountain, effectively ending his bid for the yellow jersey.
Tadej, quickly picking up on Jonas's body language, reassured him. He reminded Jonas that he had no reason to feel guilty for being the strongest rider. After all, Jonas had proven himself a worthy competitor, and that fighting spirit was one of the things Tadej admired most about the Dane.
Tadej's arms encircled Jonas again, this gesture accompanied by another kiss on the cheek. Relief washed over Jonas, and he found himself relaxing into Tadej's embrace. They reclined on the bed, Tadej's fingers playing with Jonas's hair, their legs intertwined.
Tadej pulled back slightly, his gaze locking with Jonas's. The intensity in his eyes left Jonas breathless. It was overwhelming, but in Tadej's arms, all his doubts and confused feelings seemed to fall into place.
Slowly, giving Jonas time to pull away if he wanted, Tadej leaned in and captured his lips in a tender kiss. This kiss was different from their previous encounters. It wasn't rushed or uncertain. It was a promise, a beginning.
When they parted, Tadej's smile was softer, soothing the storm of emotions inside Jonas.
Tadej asked Jonas to spend the night, and Jonas agreed without hesitation, feeling a wave of affection for this man who challenged him to be his best, both on and off the bike.
As they drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms with Tadej's face nestled in the crook of Jonas's neck, breathing in his scent, Jonas realized that for the first time, he felt truly at peace. The road ahead might be unpredictable, full of challenges both on and off the bike, but with Tadej by his side, Jonas was ready to face whatever lay ahead.