Free The Man's Outrageous Demands by Elizabeth Lennox

extremely busy man and had a huge amount of responsibility on his shoulders. Not only was he the Minister of Defense for Cordova but he had his own security company that logged billions of dollars in revenue each year.
    She just wished the man were fat and ugly instead of so physically fit and good looking.
     
    Marabeth ignored him and continued running.
    Marabeth’s brother, Prince Maximillian, came into the gym, wearing an identical karate outfit of white and a black belt. “Careful you don’t kill yourself over there, Marabeth,” he called out, noticing how fast she was running and the sweat covering her shirt. With that comment, the two of them moved off to the mats, bowed to each other, then started circling.
    Marabeth couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they were laughing and joking with each other, neither really looked like they were serious about their work out. Then Max moved in and tripped Sam, pushing him flat onto his back. For the next fifteen minutes, the two men went back and forth, grunting as each of them got in a good kick or jab on the other person. Each time it was Sam, Marabeth wished she felt good. It was exactly what she wanted to do to him and the fact that it was Max shouldn’t have made a difference. But she hated each time Sam was hurt. There was one time that Sam got Max back and winded him for a few moments and Marabeth almost cheered, then remembered that she was furious with Sam and stopped herself, feeling like an idiot who had no control of her feelings. She didn’t understand them very well anyway.
    After another five minutes and several painful looking kicks or jabs, Marabeth had had enough. Furiously, she clicked off the treadmill and stormed away, refusing to watch the two of them beat each other senseless anymore. It was an awesome spectacle but one she could do without.
    Sam watched Marabeth leave and that proved to be a very bad mistake. Max turned around and wholloped him, knocking him backwards and flat onto his back again.
     
    Damn, he thought as he looked up at the ceiling. That was twice in one session and both times were for the same reason. Marabeth.
    She looked so beautiful running along. She was incredibly sweaty and he could tell she was still furious with him. He didn’t care. No matter what mood she was in, he thought she was sexy as hell.
    Max appeared in his vision, looking down at him from above with laughter in his eyes and a smile on his face. “What’s up, old man? Why did you ask me to join you for a work out if you’re not going to concentrate?” Max asked and held out his hand to help Sam up off the mat.
    Sam groaned slightly as he took the offered hand. “I guess I’m just slow today,” he said and took the stance again.
     
    They battled for another forty five minutes until both of them were worn out. “I guess my sister leaving gave you back your concentration, huh?” Max joked.
     
    Sam’s eyes snapped to watch Max. “I don’t know what you mean,” Sam said and toweled his face off.
     
    Max only laughed at his friend’s attempt at ignorance. “Give it up, Sam. You have it bad for her, don’t you?”
     
    “No.” Sam tossed the towel into the laundry bin before grabbing another one to towel off his face again.
    Max laughed at Sam’s grimace. “It’s okay,” Max pounded Sam on the back in a brotherly fashion. The men had been friends for a long time. “In fact, it is more than okay. Why don’t you pursue her? I know my father would be thrilled with you as a son in law.”
    Sam wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel and thought about Max’s words. He liked that idea too much but he didn’t answer Max. “I have work to do,” he said and started walking away. “Thanks for the workout.”
    Max watched the older man walk away and considered his next words carefully. “Sam, you know she has to get married soon. Better you than anyone else, is what I’m thinking,” Max called out behind him.
    That got Sam’s