As I Fade (One Breath at a Time: Book 1) (25 page)

by Leilani Bennett

(read on for excerpt)

“
Safe,” I repeated to him. It brought to mind a book I’d just read, where having a
safe word
was established and, of great importance between the two lovers. The thought caused my heart to swell for a fraction of a second. God, what was I doing with this complete stranger? This beautiful stranger.

Rain continued to reassure me in his sweet way. “I sensed your hesitation when we first came in. If I’d said
dungeon
instead of chamber...I could understand your trepidation.” He half-laughed, teasing me, and squeezed my hand. Unlike New Yorkers, I’d found strangers in Paris were much more trusting of one another.

“
It did throw me for a second. Hey haven’t you read:
Fifty Shades of Grey
?” I asked, immediately wishing I hadn’t.

“
No, can’t say I have. What is it about?”

“
Aaah, well,” I paused. “It’s about a super wealthy guy named Grey—that was his last name. Christian Grey,” I shot out. “He had this room in his home that was painted red he and referred to it as his chamber.”

“
So did he torture people in there—prisoners?” Rain asked curiously.

“
Actually, no. He, uh...he—well—the book is about romance, sort of,” I stuttered. “It caused a craze amongst women readers everywhere.” End of subject, I hoped. It was my fault for bringing the stormy subject up in the first place.

“
Really? Why? What was so special about this book?” he asked a string of questions. My face heated. I didn’t have the nerve to tell him. “What was the hook...in general?” he coaxed me, raising a single brow.

“
A sexy, rich, leading man. A beautiful, naïve girl next-door type, it was the perfect combination for a novel, like the movie
Twilight
but with a twist.”

“
Darn, no vampires I take it?” He snapped his fingers facetiously.

“
None. It was a totally different hook.” I quickly diverted the conversation, and avoided telling him what that was.