Bound: The Mastered Series by Lorelei James Read Free Book Online Page A

I like fighting. I like matching my skill against another opponent. In class, we work the techniques, but we’re always careful not to hurt the students. But on the mat during a match? Pain isn’t a concern. The fighting is raw.”
    The gentle way he touched her hair as he spoke so nonchalantly about violence gave her a surprisingly intimate peek into this complex man. “Do you still fight?”
    “Four years ago a Brazilian jujitsu practitioner publicly questioned my credentials and openly mocked me for claiming I’d studied in Japan and that I was part Japanese. Normally I don’t bother with martial arts politics, but when he brought it into my house? Making those claims in front of my students? I couldn’t let it slide.”
    “Is that why you’ve got security at the front door?”
    “Partially. He did just walk in with twenty of his students and disrupt my classes. I had no idea if they’d brought weapons, so I took preventive measures after that incident to provide better security for my students.”
    “What happened? Was him showing up on your turf like he’d declared war?”
    Ronin smiled. “He said he’d meet me anytime, anyplace, so I suggested a time and a place. He bragged near and far about the public beat-down he was about to dish out.”
    “And?”
    “I lost.”
    Her mouth fell open. “Are you serious?”
    “No. But telling you the truth will put me in a different light in your eyes, and I’m not ready for that. I’m liking the way you’re looking at me now, Amery.”
    She blushed. “Tell me anyway.”
    He kept absentmindedly running his fingers down that same section of hair. “I wiped the floor with him. He wanted it real—I gave him real. I broke his arm and his nose. I dislocated his shoulder. I cracked his ribs. All within five minutes.”
    Amery fought a shiver. “Did he do any damage to you?”
    Their eyes met. “He dislocated my finger and gave me a deep bruise on my hip.” He tugged on the end of her hair. “How did we get so far off topic?”
    “It’s not off topic. It’s stuff I need to know if you and I are . . . ah, working together.”
    He seemed amused that she’d kept her answer professional.
    “I’ll work up some design ideas for the logo.”
    “Perfect. But on the personal side of us
working together
, mark your calendar tomorrow night for the ‘hot chick getting hit on in a bar’ challenge.”
    “Ronin—”
    He held up his hand, forestalling her argument, and took his phone out of his pocket. “What’s your number?”
    Amery recited the digits, watching him plug the numbers in. Then her phone buzzed with a text message.
    “Now you have mine. You decide on the destination at the last minute so you know it’s not rigged.” Ronin scowled at his phone buzzing in his hand. “Excuse me, I need to take this.” He left the table and walked to the far edge of the balcony.
    She stood and straightened her skirt. She picked up the helmet. Ronin’s conversation drifted to her—so odd to hear him speaking in Japanese.
    That reiterated her misgivings. What did she really know about this man? Besides that he fired her blood? No doubt he embodied sexy, exotic, and mysterious—but she reminded herself his life was devoted to teaching the finer points of violence.
    He returned. “I’m so sorry, but I will have to send you back to your office in a cab. Something came up that I need to deal with right away.”
    She placed her hand on his chest. “Are you okay?”
    Ronin dipped his head and brushed his cheek against hers. “Yes. But I appreciate your concern because that shows me you know this is more than just business between us.” He kept his hand on the middle of her back as they walked downstairs.
    At the hostess stand he spoke to Michael and discreetly palmed him cash. He paused in the doorway and looked at Amery. He mouthed,
Tomorrow,
and then he was gone.

CHAPTER FOUR
    “IS this seat taken?”
    Amery glanced up at the tall, lanky man with sandy brown