The Pleasure Slave Read Free Page A

very large man—stood just in front of her. He wore nothing more than a pair of black, skintight pants and—Omigod! A long, menacing sword dangled at his waist. A scream rose in her throat at the exact moment a hard lump formed, preventing any sound from emerging.
    Terrified, she scanned the kitchen, looking for a way out. The back door was bolted shut. The windows were closed. Sweat beaded across her forehead.
    It didn’t matter that the man was, well…gorgeous, that his seductiveness hit her like an uncontrollable whirlwind. He didn’t belong here, didn’t belong in her home. Alone. With her. With her panic intensifying, she assumed a karate position and prayed with every fiber of her being she appeared menacing and lethal.
    Why had she never taken self-defense lessons?
    Stupid, stupid, stupid.
    “I know karate,” she forced out. “My body is a dangerous weapon.”
    He merely arched a brow.
    He knows I’m lying. At least she could memorize his description—just in case she survived. Concentrate.Concentrate. His towering height pushed toward the ceiling. Inky shoulder-length hair framed a strong forehead, a straight nose and high, bladelike cheekbones.
    Yet it was his eyes that truly drew her attention. They were pale violet, almost lavender—wait. They were blue, a light aqua. No, no. They were emerald green. But that wasn’t right, either. She blinked, shook her head and realized his eyes weren’t one color. They were all colors, shimmering like a sea of constantly changing purples, blues and greens. Glowing with a life of their own, catching her attention until she almost forgot where she stood—and why she was standing there.
    Look at the rest of him, Anderson.
    His skin was bronzed, sexy and ridged with muscle. Lord, what strength! His stomach muscles formed a vee that pointed her eyes lower, lower still, directly between his legs. She gulped. He was like a savage romance novel warrior come to life in her home. Everything about him oozed carnality yet screamed with danger.
    He stared at her a long while before taking a step toward her.
    She recoiled.
    The chair stopped her retreat. A slow grin lifted the corners of his full, mouthwatering lips, revealing perfect white teeth. For some reason, the smile seemed less than genuine. Almost predatory.
    Her heart galloped then skipped a solitary beat.
    “You summoned?” he asked.
    Summoned this gorgeous warrior? In her wildest fantasies, perhaps, but not in reality. She hadn’t evenknown such beauty existed. Besides, the man had a sword that looked like it could chop her in half in less time than was required to blink. He wanted to kill her, or worse, so no! Julia hadn’t summoned him.
    “Me? Summon you?” Eyes impossibly wide, she shook her head. “I promise I did no such thing.”
    He ignored her denial as if he hadn’t heard her or didn’t care. “What do you wish of me?”
    She had to escape. With the back door locked, she had only one option—the front entrance. Perhaps if she inched around the chair…She managed one tiny step to the right. Two.
    “Do I now kiss your naked body or let you kiss mine?” His slightly accented tone dripped with boredom and still managed to be the most compelling, erotic voice she had ever heard. Honey-rich, warm, like refuge on a stormy night.
    Even still, the word naked twisted terror through her stomach.
    She gained another step. Did he plan to rape her? She had to know, had to prepare. “What do you want from me?” Each word ripped from her throat. “Why are you here?”
    “To please you, of course.”
    “I don’t want you to please me. I don’t even want you within a hundred yards of me.” Another step.
    He studied her and frowned. “Do I frighten you?”
    Never admit your fear. Over and over her sister’s words drummed through her mind. Never admit your fear. Julia gulped, inched to the right just a bit more.“Yes. I mean, no! I’m not afraid of you. I’m not afraid of anything.”
    “That is