Uncovering You 3: Resistance Read Free Page A

to find a young man standing at the entrance to the dining room. His head is lowered. He is holding a circular tray full of steaming dishes.
    Stonehart notices him, too, and beckons him forward with a quick motion of the fingers. The young man sets the tray down and distributes the food between us, keeping his eyes on the floor. He does not look my way once.
    Only after he leaves, and our dinner is set out in front of us, do I ask Stonehart, “What happened to Rose?”
    He clicks his tongue. “Really, Lilly,” he says in a pitying sort of way. “Have you forgotten the third rule already?”
    I don’t back down. “It was an innocent question,” I say.
    “But a question nonetheless.” He glances up at me. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say you are trying to test the boundaries of my patience.”
    “I still have to know what I am and am not allowed to do.”
    “You signed the contract. Things haven’t changed.”
    “And so far, I’ve lived up to that document, haven’t I?” I challenge.
    He raises his eyebrows. “Another question?”
    “A rhetorical one.”
    Stonehart chuckles. “Very well, Lilly. I can see you weren’t disingenuous when you said you got some thinking done. This is the type of behavior I’ve expected from you all along.”
    “That sounds an awful lot like another compliment,” I say, knowing full well that I’m pushing my luck.
    “Maybe it is,” Stonehart considers. “Before we eat, however, I’d like to ask you a question, if I may?”
    “You don’t need my permission.”
    “No. You’re right.” A small smile plays on his lips. “But the pretense of civility can go a long way in certain situations, I’ve found.”
    I bite my tongue to stop a snarky retort from coming out. Instead, I just nod.
    “All right, Lilly, here it is: Why you?”
    I wait for him to add something else. When he does not, I shake my head. “ ‘Why me’ what?”
    “Why do you think that all of this—” he sweeps his arms around us to encompass the whole room, “—is happening to you ? Why are you the one sitting across from me right now, and not some other woman?”
    I open my mouth to say that I haven’t the foggiest idea, but he stalls me by holding up one finger.
    “Think carefully before you speak, Lilly-flower.” His voice has taken on a dangerous undercurrent. “We’re about to enter murky waters.”
    My insides squirm as if a family of worms has taken up residence there. Stonehart looks at me from across the table. His features are calm. But I can tell this is one of his expert poker faces. The warning he’s given me makes his question more ominous than it sounded at first.
    “I don’t know,” I say finally. Stonehart’s eyes haven’t moved from me. I feel like I’m being scrutinized by his most domineering gaze.
    “Please,” he says softly. “Don’t insult either of our intelligences. I know some things that we do are an act .” He emphasizes the word by almost hissing it. “This dinner, for example. But there is a reason for maintaining a semblance of normality in our relationship. Why do you think that is?”
    “Uh—”
    “Again,” Stonehart says, “think carefully before you answer. If you recall, I told you once that I want your mind.” He lowers his voice to a whisper. “Prove to me that you’re still the person I met that day.”
    I swallow the newly-formed lump in my throat. Something about the path of this conversation is making me very uneasy.
    But, I told myself that I would act like the woman I am, didn’t I? I already decided that I need to keep my backbone around him. I can’t pretend that I’m not a prisoner. But, that doesn’t mean I have to act differently from when I was free.
    That seals my resolve. I take a deep breath, and answer in a strong, clear voice.
    “I think that you’re trying to acclimate me to your presence. You want me to let my guard down around you.”
    A genuine smile spreads across his lips. “Very good, Lilly. I