Page 154 of By His Rule

“I’ll take you home after this, and you don’t have to see me again until Monday morning.”

A smile spreads across her lips before a laugh spills free. “Oh, it’s going to be so peaceful.”

“And if I win…” I pause for effect, even though she doesn’t think she stands a chance at losing. “Then you have to come out for dinner with me tonight, and everything is my choice.”

“Normal day for you then,” she mocks.

I shrug.

“So, what do you say?”

She laughs again. “I’m excited to see you lose for once in your life.”

“Let’s see, shall we?” I say, gesturing for her to step in front of me beneath the bar.

“You’ve got it, sir.”

She rolls her shoulders and shakes her arm out as if she’s actually going to give this her best shot.

Then she looks up and realizes her mistake.

“Wait, I can’t even—” She shrieks when I wrap my hands around her waist and lift her up.

“Got it?” I ask before letting go.

“Yep.”

Releasing my hands, I take a small step back.

“Go on, then. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Her entire body locks up and her arms tremble as she attempts to pull herself up.

To give her credit, it really does look like she tries. It’s pointless, though. She doesn’t move an inch.

“See? I can’t do it.”

“Hmm…Try again.”

“Nope.” Before she gives up, I jump from the ground, grab the bar beside where her small hands are holding it, and wrap my legs around her waist.

“What the fuck are you doing?” she screeches, wriggling against me as if she thinks she can escape.

“Proving that you can do this,” I say. My lips brush her ear as I speak, and she visibly shudders as my breath rushes over her heated skin.

“I think I just proved well enough that I can’t.”

“We’ll see. Now, engage your core. We’re going to lift.”

“Oh no, no, no, no,” she chants, finally figuring out my plan. “This is not what I agreed to.”

“Funny, because I don’t remember there being conditions.”

“You dared me to do it alone.”

“No, I didn’t. I dared you to do it. There was no mention of support. Three, two, one.”

I lift, and with my legs around her waist, she has no chance but to come with me, completing her first pull-up.

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