Read Because You Are Mine Part I for Free Online Page B

waitressing duties, painting . . . your social life?”
    Her pulse began to throb at her throat. She lowered her head so he wouldn’t notice and pretended to be studying one of the swords on a storage rack.
    “I don’t have much of a social life.”
    “No boyfriend?” he asked quietly.
    She shook her head as she ran her fingers over an etched pommel.
    “But surely you have friends that you like to spend spare time with?”
    “Yes,” she said, glancing up at him. “I’m very close with all three of my roommates.”
    “And what do the four of you like to do in your free time?”
    She shrugged and touched a different sword grip. “Free time is a bit of a rarity these days, but when I have some, the usual—play video games, go out to the bars, hang out, play poker.”
    “That’s usual for a group of girls?”
    “My roommates are all men.” She glanced up in time to see the shadow of displeasure that crossed his stoic features. Her heartbeat leapt. His short, glossy, near-black hair was damp at his neck from perspiration. She suddenly imagined herself slicking her tongue along his hairline, tasting his sweat. She blinked and glanced away.
    “You live with three men?”
    She nodded.
    “What do your parents think of that?”
    She gave him a sharp glance over her shoulder. “They hate it. Much good it does them. It’s their loss. Caden, Justin, and Davie are awesome people.”
    He opened his mouth but paused. “It’s unconventional,” he said after a few seconds, his clipped tone telling her that he’d edited what he’d been about to say.
    “Unorthodox, perhaps. But that shouldn’t seem unusual to you, should it? Didn’t you tell me the other night you were a lot of that?” she asked, returning her attention to the swords. This time she wrapped her hand around the grip and squeezed, liking the sensation of hard, cold steel in her fist. She ran her hand up and down along the column.
    “Stop that.”
    She started at his tone, dropping her hand as if the steel had suddenly burned her. She looked up at him in amazement. His nostrils were slightly flared. His eyes blazed. He jerked his chin and took a rapid swing of water.
    “Do you fence?” he asked her briskly as he set the bottle of water on a table.
    “No. Well . . . not really.”
    “What do you mean?” he asked, stepping toward her, his brow furrowed.
    “I do a fencing program with Justin and Caden, but . . . I’ve never touched a sword before,” she said sheepishly.
    His puzzlement faded abruptly. He smiled. It was like seeing the sunrise over a dark, brooding landscape. “Are you talking about playing on a Game Station?”
    “Yes,” she admitted a little defensively.
    He nodded toward the rack. “Take that end one there.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Take the last sword. Noble Enterprises designed the original program for that fencing game you play. We sold it to Shinatze a few years back. What level do you play at?”
    “Advanced.”
    “You should understand the basics then.” He held her stare. “Pick up the sword, Francesca.”
    There was a hint of a dare to his tone. His smile still lingered around his full lips. He was laughing at her again. She lifted the sword and glared at him. His grin widened. He grabbed another sword and handed her a mask. He tilted his head toward the mat. When they faced each other, Francesca’s breathing becoming rapid and choppy, he tapped his blade against hers.
    “En garde,” he said softly.
    Her eyes went wide in panic. “Wait . . . we’re going to . . . right now ?”
    “Why not?” he asked, taking his stance. She glanced nervously at her sword, then his unprotected chest. “It’s a practice sword. You couldn’t hurt me with it if you tried.”
    He thrust. She parried instinctively. He advanced, and she retreated clumsily, still blocking his blade. Even through her haze of alarm and bewilderment, she couldn’t help but admire the flex of his honed muscles, the coiled strength in