Page 25 of Greed: The Savage
He thinned his eyes into dangerous slits and kept Addien in his sights.
Kara pressed her pale hands against her cheeks. “Perhaps you’d like it if we were talking about…”
The name was lost to a chorus of “oohs.” But it was enough to know the crew of courtesans were gently ribbing a blushing Addien.
Thornwick’s ears pricked up. Now, what was this that had her all pink in the cheeks like a lily-white virgin?
“Can we please return to the assignment?” Addien implored.
Their assignment or yours, Addien?he silently mocked from the corner.
The courtesans weren’t having it. They were stuck on Thornwick and there they would stay.
“Ye wanna know about Thornwick? I can tell ye,” Delilah volunteered for the new girls. “Too good he is. He won’t spend a night with anyone of Dynevor’s girls.”
He gritted his teeth. He didn’t because he didn’t play where he worked.
“Entertains the fancy sort. We ain’t good enough for him,” Delilah drawled.
“All the better for us,” Ruth interjected.
Her comment was met with a chorus of laughter.
The anger that had been slowly stirring like a storm inside kicked up, and every snickering comment and fun they were having at his expense because of Addien sent him into a rage to rival a tempest.
“Oy.” Addien thumped a fist on the table, instantly bringing the room round to silence.
She had an impressive way of effectively managing staff here. He’d never admit it to anyone.
“Oi,” she said, “as I was saying, it doesn’t matter what’s on the pages.”
Oh, that’s what she thought, did she? What an unfortunate surprise the chit was in for.
“How about you, Ruth?” Addien tried the youngest of the courtesans. “Why don’t you read?”
“Don’t want to,” Ruth whined.
“Fortunate for you,” he heard himself say in a silky, dangerous warning whisper, “you needn’t bother as the book you have there is meant for Miss Killoran.”
A round of surprised gasps went up in an instant. Every last lady gathered about Addien and sailed to their feet. Their cheeks bloodless, their eyes round and startled.
No, not all the women.
Thornwick sharpened his gaze on the true source of his rage.
Unlike the soundless, uneasy quartet around her, Addien remained seated as calm and confident as the Queen of England herself.
“Leave.” That whispered order immediately sent their audience scurrying, leaving Addien alone.
The obstinate minx didn’t possess so much as a hint of unease, proving once more just how much of a fool she was. After he drew the door shut slowly behind him, sealing them off together, he sauntered over on slow, deliberate, sleek steps until he stood across from her.
She remained seated, boldly glaring up at him. Even with him towering over her small, imperious figure, Addien exuded a stubborn strength—and worse, she did it with flashing violet eyes and wild black hair spilling like a banner of defiance, beauty that made his gut tighten, his body mutinying against him.
She managed to look down her nose at him, that pert little tilt making her seem at once insolent and untouchable—and it drove his lust higher.
Thornwick remained locked in a silent battle with the hellion; all the while torn between lust and loathing.
And he conceded a point to the blasted hellion. He might despise her. He might resent her. But as a warrior, he was wholly in tune with the rare type that she was—a fearless warrioress, a fighter in her own right, and he wanted her in his bed.
