The Millionaire Door Prize (Erotic Romance) Read Free Page B

eyes. “He was always violent with me,” she continued.
    “Why did you stay with him?” he asked , watching her.
    “Because I was a stupid kid . I didn’t know any better. One time I did take off his ring and he . . . he punched me in the stomach. He said if I took it off again he would kill me.”
    “What finally saved you from him?” he inquired.
    “He got a full scholarship and moved away. I cried for three days. Not because he was going across the country, but because I was no longer his . . . slave. I had said I applied for the same college because he wanted to continue to reign over me. I pretended to get refused. I played the whole worried girlfriend part and begged him not to leave. He smacked me and said I was never good enough for him. That was the last I ever saw of him,” she confessed.
    “I’m sorry ,” Xander whispered.
    “I’m not. I felt such a relief. I went to a local college and was able to find a job here in the city. I actually thought to change my name so he couldn’t try to find me. I was always afraid he would try,” she said. Her breathing had increased with those horrifying thoughts of the past.
    “Apparently he found someone else to torment.” It was not a question.
    “I hope not,” she said, knowing what that poor girl would have to endure. There was more awkward silence. “So, what do your parents do?” she asked out of the blue, needing to change the subject.
    He lowered his gaze to the floor. “My mother died giving birth to me, and my father died when I was fifteen.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry.” She again had tears in her eyes.
    “It’s okay, you didn’t know,” he said with a faint smile. Then it faded. “And that’s why I’m here . . . my uncle took pity on me and he has allowed me to stay here.”
    “You live in this room all the time? Do you ever go out? Don’t you have any friends?” she asked, feeling a bit sorry for him.
    He laughed , then licked his lips. “Friends, not really, just family-type acquaintances—I guess that’s how they can best be described. As for going out, well, I have no one to go out with, so I would have to say no. Again, when I do, and that’s rare, it’s with those family acquaintances I mentioned.” He leaned back against the couch to stare at the ceiling.
    “I guess we all have our own private hells to live ,” she said softly.
    “Yes , that I do agree with; in one way or another, I believe so.” Silence followed.
    “Thanks for putting up with my clumsiness ,” she said, not knowing what to talk about.
    “You weren’t clumsy ,” Xander replied, turning his head to admire her.
    She softly laughed , disagreeing with him. “Granted, I was a cheerleader, but I never really was much of a dancer, at least for the fancy stuff. And after these past seven years after graduating, I never had time for much of anything.”
    “Funny, all I have is time to do whatever ,” he replied.
    “So you ’re saying you know all those ballroom dances?” she asked, seeming intrigued.
    He laughed , throwing up his hands. “Guilty as charged.”
    “The Foxtrot, Waltz ,” she said, beaming. “The Cha-cha-cha,” she added a second later in a breathy voice. Then she bit her lip and looked embarrassed.
    He smiled at her. “Yes, all of those and most importantly . . . the Mambo, Samba, Rumba and the Argentine Tango.” Seeing a hint of a smile, he watched as she sensually licked her lips.
    “Wow !” she mumbled.
    “Now don’t go getting all excited. I pretty much know them, but I’m not very good at all of them,” he stated. “Have you watched the TV show with all the stars?”
    “No, my . . . my boyfriend said it’s gay crap. If it isn’t sports, action movies . . . or porn, it’s pretty much gay. He’s an ass like that,” she said.
    Xander cleared his throat. “Well, then, if I admit that I have all the seasons on disc, will that make me gay?”
    “You have them all?” she asked again , beaming.
    “Does it make me gay,