Although it wasn't a mile-long run, apparently the little display of PDA also left Karl in a breathless state, himself breathing in uneven breaths as he looked back down at his partner. He was only half conscious of the fact that he was still holding her around the waist and that there was hardly any space in between them that wasn't skin-to-skin.
While his body was busy regulating his breathing, Karl looked a little upwards at the bruised spot on her face, now having a better look at this range.
His mouth partially opened to say something about it, only to close at remembering her words. Because there truly was times when you had to sacrifice yourself and more for these kind of things, and although there should have been a better way, in this situation, there was none.
"Okay," he tried again once he found his breathing in a steady rhythm. "If the story of an on-and-off guy doesn't work with your cover, we can think of something. I think you should probably go back."
His body didn't shift at all despite his words, eyes searching Alyssa's for an answer.