Page 152 of By His Rule

“Go and get ready for your run. Then we’re going to see if we can leave those demons of yours in our dust.”

He spins me around and gently pushes me toward the door.

I glance back over my shoulder just in time to see him pull his cell from his pocket and focus on the screen.

Grabbing my purse from the hallway from the night before, I take out my own cell and put it on charge as I do as I’m told.

By the time I’m dressed, it’s powered up and showing me a whole host of notifications. But it’s the top one that really catches my attention.

A whole-staff email from none other than Kian Callahan.

Subject: URGENT - GYM CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE

“Motherfucker.”

His knock on my bedroom door makes me jump a mile, and I drop my cell on the bed.

“Ready?” he asks before poking his head inside and letting his eyes drop down my body. I might be wearing leggings and a sports bra, but they’re skin-tight and leave very little to the imagination.

My blood boils, my core clenching with excitement.

No. I’m most definitely not ready.

36

KIAN

Lorelei and I walk into the gym side by side.

There was a moment when I thought she was going to point-blank refuse. But then she glanced at the rain lashing the windows and I knew I had her.

She needs the escape that running gives her, but she didn’t want to get soaked.

“I can’t believe you did this,” she murmurs as we step inside the deserted gym.

“I can do what I want,” I say arrogantly.

“Not sure your dad or King would agree.”

I scoff. “Fuck them. I hold just as much power as they do.”

I’ve no idea what she hears in my voice, but from the way she looks up at me, I fear it’s far too much.

“So, where do you want to start?” I ask, hopefully diverting the conversation.

“Treadmill. I’ve never really used any of this equipment before.”

“You’ve never used a gym before?” I ask.

She shrugs. “Wasn’t ever really an option,” she says, dropping the bag she brought with her and taking off toward the machine.

I’m frozen in place as I watch her ass sway in her leggings. Effortlessly, she steps up onto the machine and studies the buttons before her.

I smirk and wait.

“Need some help, Temptress?” I ask, taking off after her.

I’m still wearing the gray sweats I slept in. How could I even consider changing when she looked at me the way she did? Shame I had to pull on a t-shirt, really. There was something more than a little addicting about the way she studied my body. It reminded me that last night was real. The almost innocent kiss we shared was actually real.

---