Because I Am Yours, Advanced Excerpt

Oh, my. I can’t believe Ian and Francesca’s journey in Because You Are Mine is almost complete. My deepest thanks to all of you who took the trip with me. As I’ve said in several interviews, the serialization process made me feel so close to not only this story, but to the readers as I heard feedback from each installment on a weekly basis. I’ve never had a fresher, more vibrant writing experience. Thank you again.

A lot happens in this part. Here’s a tension-filled excerpt. For those of you unfamiliar with Ian, he’s a bit…worked up here, but I think with good reason.

Adult Excerpt: Because You Are Mine Part VIII

“How did you know where I was?”

“I’ve seen you several times with Dr. Epstein…once in Paris and another time at the penthouse. I heard her mention ‘the Institute’ and Mrs. Hanson told me that she was a doctor.”

He flashed a glance in her direction. “That’s not an explanation, Francesca.”

She shrank in the passenger seat. “I…I noticed that you’d visited the Genomics Research and Treatment Institute website several times while I was borrowing your tablet to study for the driver’s test.” Guilt made her wilt farther when she noticed his outraged glance.

“You checked my history?”

“Yes,” she admitted miserably. “I’m sorry. I was curious…especially about where you’d run off to so abruptly. Then Jacob told me you never took him to London, and I started connecting the dots.”

“Well, I could never accuse you of being stupid,” he grated out, his hands tightening on the wheel. “You must be so proud of your detective skills.”

“I’m not. I’m miserable. I’m so sorry, Ian.”

He said nothing, but his mouth was strained and his skin looked especially pale next to the contrast of his dark hair. His silence effectively stopped her from any more communications until they boarded the plane.

The pilot came on the intercom, saying that had clearance to take off.

“Sit down and buckle up for takeoff,” he said tersely, nodding toward the lounger where she usually sat. “But once we’re airborne, I want you in the bedroom.”

Her mouth fell open at that. Something in his tone told her exactly why he wanted her in the bedroom. She buckled her seatbelt with trembling fingers. “Ian, it’s not going to make you feel better to try and control me because you feel so…”

She trailed off when she saw his eyes flash in barely subdued fury. “You’re wrong. It’s going to make me feel fantastic to turn your ass red and ride you hard. You’ve been on the pill long enough now. I’m going to fuck you raw and come so deep in you, I’ll be spilling out of you for days.”

She flinched, not because of his crudeness—under different circumstances, his raunchy talk would have aroused her. But it wasn’t another circumstance. He’d said what he’d said to intentionally hurt her for having the temerity to see him at his weakest.

“You wanted to gape into my private world, fine. Just remember that you might not like what you see,” he said quietly.

****

Because You Are Mine Part VIII, Because I Am Yours, available on Tuesday, September 18th.