Read Online Cloak of Deceit: An Alex Moore Novel by Gwen Mitchell - Free Book Online

it was impossible not to. There were several interesting scars all over his body. I was sure each one had a story, and I would have been happy to listen…while giving them a closer inspection.
    He let a slow, secretive smile loose, as if he could read my thoughts. “I’m sure we could think of something.”
    I glanced away so he wouldn’t see the effect that innuendo had.
    Julian lifted another sword from its mount. The blade glinted with menace as he waved it in front of him and brought it upright. He took two steps back onto the mat in the center of the room. “Come over here.”
    I gave him a skeptical look, but followed. Whatever he had planned, which judging by the smirk on his face was something at least he would enjoy, it had to beat moping and watching re-runs of The Bachelorette.
    “Spread your legs.” He tapped my thigh with the broad side of the sword.
    I cocked one eyebrow at him. Was this a game of chicken? Or was it just me with my mind in-between the sheets?
    He smirked. “Get in an athletic stance.”
    I decided to humor him and obeyed.
    He stepped up behind me and positioned my hands on the sword and adjusted my grip. His warmth seeped in anywhere he touched me. “This is a Japanese katana. It’s single-bladed, with one sharp side and one dull.”
    I nodded, twisting it in my hands to look at the blade edge.
    Julian moved his hands to my forearms, squaring his chest against my shoulders, and I almost forgot to hold the sword up. He was going to have me sweating before the workout.
    “With a single-bladed sword, the best strike is a diagonal slash, from collarbone to hipbone.”
    He lifted my arms up and to one side and guided me through the motion.
    “Mm-hmm.” I watched the light shine off the blade as we brought it down at an angle, then did the same from the other side. I was more aware of the feel of Julian’s body against mine than of anything he was saying. The scent of him wrapped around me like a cloud of warm caramel. The back of my neck started tingling again. It was an effort to keep focused as he instructed me on the proper stance and directed me through a few more repetitions of the movement.
    His hands slid down my arms. He took his time adjusting my shoulders, feet, and hips, making tiny corrections. Was I just imagining he took every opportunity for us to touch? It seemed things really had changed since last night.
    Julian came around to face me, his expression tinted with equal parts evaluation and…pride? I’m athletic and a quick study, but I’ll admit I was trying hard to impress him. Doubly hard to pay attention and not turn on the flirt.
    “That’s very good.” He nodded with approval as I completed the motion for the fifth time.
    Julian came to take the sword from me, but I stepped back. “Show me some more.”
    He swept his hair out of his eyes, one side of his mouth curving up, trying not to smile. It made me want to see that smile even more — like it was just peeking out the edges, taunting me. “You want a real lesson?”
    “If you think you’ve got something to teach me.”
    That time, his smile came all the way out. Apparently he liked false bravado better than snark.
    Noted.

    My lesson consisted of learning several strikes and blocks, first with hands-on guidance, and then on my own. I felt powerful handling a deadly weapon with a little bit of confidence. I could see why he got off on it.
    Julian’s appreciation of how quickly I picked things up made me feel like a born warrior who just hadn’t found her art form yet. He had a really dazzling smile when he let it show. I found myself enjoying even his serious critiquing. I was having such a good time, for a while, I forgot all about the problems waiting for me outside the confines of that garage.
    Satisfied I knew enough moves, he traded out my real blade with a practice stick made of bamboo, and then things got really interesting. We sparred, and Julian didn’t cut me any breaks. He danced around