Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
The moment her violet and mint scent hit him, part of him calmed and yet another part roared even more to life, demanding he claim her as his own.
A hint of fear crept into the gorgeous green eyes as she backed from him. His smile, he knew, wasn’t the slightest bit kind. Rosamunde retreated and he pursued until their inevitable dance took her to a corner, where the wall at her back prevented any escape.
Hands on either side of her head, he blocked her in with his body. She licked her lips and he experienced an answering kick in his groin. God, what he wouldn’t give to have her on her knees, sliding his dick between those lips.
“I still don’t think you understand what you’ve unleashed.”
“Let me go.”
“It’s too late.”
She licked her lips once more. Her swallow was hard, as if she’d suddenly realized the reality of her situation.
“Bryn?”
The tremor in her tone may have encouraged him to back off. Before. Not now, because the thought of her putting herself in danger, deliberately, made his blood boil, made him see red.
“Yeah, you’re smart enough to be scared now, aren’t you, lioness.”
It wasn’t a question.
Chapter Eighteen
Rosamunde swallowed down the scream that hovered, waiting for the right moment to escape. This was Bryn, the man who’d defended her to her own family.
Right? Yes, yes he was.
The man who had delivered her to such ecstasy.
And yet, it wasn’t.
His blue eyes were hard as ice. Nothing was soft on him, in more than just his physical appearance. Before she’d often been able to see a hint of levity in his expression as he teased her or his friends. That no longer existed.
His strong jaw was firmly clenched, showing how much he struggled to keep from yelling. The desire was there, she knew the look well. So yes, he was right, it was too late.
For either of them.
And he’d been correct on something else. She was scared, she wasn’t used to this side of him. Even when he boxed, she watched his power and grace. The man had a tight hold on his emotions, never allowing that control to slip. She no longer saw that in him.
“I didn’t know you were here.”
Flames flickered in his eyes as that stone jaw somehow grew harder. “Not helping your case.”
Her stomach flipped over and words rushed out in a desperate attempt to get him to understand she had a legitimate reason to be down here. “We got a new baby at the orphanage, they said her mother had worked here. An Indian woman. I think. She’d been beaten and died from her injuries.” She lifted her chin. Was the woman someone he’d been with?
Why does it matter? You’re here to help the baby, not to find out about the women he takes to his bed.
“And what, you thought you’d just come down here and demand the owner help out a whore’s baby?”
She gulped. “You’re an ass. I don’t like you right now.”
His laugh held no humor. “I don’t care. You came down to this gaming hell, demanding to talk to one of, if not, the most dangerous man in London. What the hell were you thinking, woman?”
She didn’t flinch from the fury in his tone. Despite his anger, she didn’t fear for one moment he would hit her like others in her life did.
“I was thinking the baby should have someone stand up for her since apparently men like you think it’s okay to fuck then toss a woman to the side, who cares if she has another person to take care of in her life. It’s a woman, she means nothing so long as she spreads her legs like a good whore and doesn’t complain about the beating laid on her.” She shoved him. “Right?”
“Now’s not the time to push me, Rosamunde.” His words escaped on a low thread of fury.
“I don’t care,” she bit off, pounding her hands against his chest.
He rumbled low and moved closer, his thick thigh finding its way without hesitation between her legs, no matter all the clothing around them. Bryn thrust his thigh up, lifting her on her toes. Her body clamored for her to rock her hips against his hard muscle. Seek the relief that this man had provided her once before.
“You should.”
Defiance filled her as she tipped her head back to hold his smoldering gaze. “Was she one of yours? Is this where you come to find pleasure?”
The blue of his eyes deepened and swirled with warning. “Stop while you’re ahead, lioness.”
Wisdom told her to heed his advice. However, when she opened her mouth to reply, she bit his chin.
A low growl rose from his chest, vibrating through her where they touched, even that most intimate of places.
“Let me go,” she snapped at him.
He gripped her chin, tipping her head back, and put them nose to nose. “You bit me.” A bit of shock lingered. Even so, she couldn’t deny the hunger there either.