Page 183 of Tempted By her Daddies

“No, I’m not.”

“If I say you’re done, you’re done.” Alexei slowed it right down until she was walking.

She heaved for breath, her legs shaking.

Shit.

How long had she been running for? Maybe it was time to stop.

However, she wouldn’t admit that to him. No need to make his ego bigger than it was.

“You know, being this commanding isn’t necessarily attractive.”

He brought the treadmill to a stop and stepped behind her as she got off. As he wrapped an arm around her waist, he leaned his mouth down beside her ear.

“You like it. You find it attractive, even if you like to protest that you don’t.”

“Arrogance is also not an attractive quality,” she informed him haughtily.

Damn him.

How did he know that she found him attractive even when he was being an impossible, cranky meanie?

It really made her wonder about the state of her mind.

He chuckled. “You sure about that? You wouldn’t be lying right now, would you, naughty girl?”

Urgh.

She crossed her arms over her chest as he placed two fingers over the pulse on her neck.

“I’m fine.”

“Stay still and quiet. I’m checking your pulse.”

She thought it unnecessary but did as she was told as he counted her pulse rate.

“Fast,” was all he said before he lifted her off her feet. She was now dangling in the air, her back pressed to his chest.

And she wasn’t at all happy about it.

Nope.

All right, maybe her body liked it. Just a small bit.

Then she remembered that she’d just been running for . . . oh heck. She gaped at the clock. Over an hour?

No wonder her legs felt like jelly.

“Can you put me down? Please?” she added grudgingly.

“Good job remembering those manners,” he said.

Oh, what she wouldn’t give to smack him one. Not too hard, she didn’t actually want to mess up his face.

But just to wipe away some of that arrogance.

Oh, who are you kidding? You love that arrogance.

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