Marked. Part I: The missing Link by J.M. Sevilla Read Free Book Online Page B

control me, and I let him. And now I'm letting myself be fascinated by a very terrifying man. I clearly have issues.
    A loud thump! on the door vibrates my back. I don't move to open it.
    Another thump! , louder this time and it vibrates my whole body. There's only one person I know who can knock on a door in such a threatening way. Anger starts to seep in; I'm done letting him scare me.
    I hop up and throw open the door, “What?!” I say loudly, almost at a shout.
    “I'll help you.” Both his hands are clasped together and resting on top of his head. I can see a weird marking on the underarm of his skin. I stop myself from further examining it. I'm done with this guy.
    “ No thanks.”
    “ Why not?”
    “ I'm scared of you, and I think being around you isn't healthy for me.”
    “ Good. You should be scared and I'm not healthy for you to be around, but you're right, every girl needs to know how to defend herself. Although, it wouldn't have done much good against four guys. You need to remember to not travel alone or go into alleys, ever. I can't believe I even have to explain that last one.” His arms are crossed now and he's at the base of my door towering over me: carbon steel in the form of a man.
    “ I think that's the longest I've ever heard you talk.”
    “ It's not really my thing.”
    “ Talking?”
    “ Yeah.”
    “ I agree. You kinda suck at it.”
    He laughs, “You gonna let me train you?”
    “Train?”
    “ Yeah.”
    “ I only need a few self defense moves.”
    “ I go all in, or nothing.”
    What is wrong with me that I'm turned on right now?
    “ I like a man who goes all in.” Wow, I can't believe I just said that.
    He smirks, enjoying the game we are playing.
    “But no,” I say, and his smirk instantly turns into a frown, which he quickly recovers into a cold-hard stare, but I'm getting used to it so it doesn't phase me.
    “ You came to me,” he reminds me.
    “ And you freaked me out, again . Frankly, it's getting old. You have worse mood swings than a PMSing fifteen year old.”
    “ I actually hold back on you.”
    My turn to laugh, “Why?”
    Jay's eyes soften and he shyly smiles, “That's what I keep asking myself.”
    Silence.
    Heart beating.
    Faster.
    Shit.
    “ You misunderstood me when you left. I wasn't angry because you asked for my help. It pissed me off when you sounded like getting attacked again was inevitable. Don't say shit like that to me.”
    “ Why?”
    “ Because then I'm going to spend all my time worrying about your safety.”
    Ignore your thumping heart, “Why do you care?”
    “When I figure that out I'll let you know.” He swipes his head a few times before continuing, “We train every Friday at three.”
    “ What do I wear?”
    He eyes me suggestively, “I can't give that a straight answer.”
    “Three?” I double check, trying to keep the giddiness out of my voice.
    “ Three,” he confirms.
    That was the weirdest fifteen minutes of my life.
    Jay smirks, “Mine too.”
    Dammit, I said that out loud.
    “You really need to work on that.”
    Dammit, I did it again.
    Jay chuckles and walks off.
    “ Wait!” I call after him, “Today's Friday.”
    “ We clear on the time?” He yells back, not looking at me.
    “ Three!” I yell back a little too eagerly.
    He gives me the thumbs up sign, back still facing me as he heads home.
    “Should I be scared?!” At this point I'm glad he can't see the ridiculous grin on my face.
    He slightly turns his head so his chin rests on his left shoulder. A purely sinister smirk shapes his upper lip and I swear his eyes turn black.
    “Okay, you win. I almost pissed my pants from that look.”
    A deep laugh carries through the neighborhood and makes contact with my chest, knocking me back with apprehension and eagerness: a dangerous combination, but fitting considering the source.
     
     
     
    3:00pm
    I knock on Jay's door and a wave of thrill erupts in the base of my stomach as I wait for him to answer.
    Jay opens