Page 45 of Greed: The Savage
Finding his grounding and strength in her compliance, he strode along the graveled path, kicking up stone and rock as he went.
The stable lads and gardeners bustling about spared him a look, and though they were not his staff, they clearly recognized a man who commanded space and wisely quit the courtyard, leaving him and Addien alone.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demanded when he’d reached her.
“I think it should be as clear as what you were doin’ just now with the baroness, Malric.”
Heat scorched his cheeks, chased by something sharp and unwanted. Guilt? Devil take it, what had he to feel guilty for? He had not even been able to rouse himself for the baroness. For that matter, Addien would hardly care whose bed he kept warm.
The next stone-hard words to leave her lips confirmed as much. “What are you doing out here with me when you’ve got a baroness to bed, Malric?”
Shedidn’tcare.
But the thought scraped him raw all the same.
His jaw locked. He’d be damned before he let her indifference sit easy.
Lost in his head, it took a moment to register Addien had taken off once more.
“By God, you have a job to do,” he clipped out.
“Same as you, Malric.” For the first time since he’d come outside, Addien looked at him. More specifically, she glanced all the way up.
He followed her stare to the baroness, tousled gown and all, watching them with open disapproval.
“You’ve got yerclientwaiting, after all.” Addien managed to pack more disdain and vitriol into that one word than the entire ton combined when they’d hurledtraitorat him and his family. Somehow, her disapproval cut deeper.
Addien took off.
Cursing, he strode after her. “She is not a client.”
“Does Dynevor know that?”
“I mean,” he said, teeth clenched. “She isnotmy client.”
Addien whipped around and dropped her hands on her hips. “Then maybe ye shouldn’t be getting your jollies on Dynevor’s time, Malric.”
The jab landed square.
Thornwick scrubbed his hands over his face. “She isn’t my lover, Addien.” Why did it matter that she knew that?
When he let his arms fall, he found she’d already stalked off.
No, she wouldn’t waste a thought whose slit he buried himself in.
Burning with frustration—at himself, at her, for God knew why—he went after her. She’d set a bloody quick pace, one even he had to work to match.
“Don’t walk away from me, Addien,” he barked. When he caught up, he seized her lightly by the arm.
Addien flinched.
By God, she’d recoil from him? Rage—and something darker—surged.
“You can’t even look at me?” he jeered, the taunt landing as intended. “Never say you’re afraid I’ll—”
She faced him.
All the jibes and sharp words he’d meant to hurl at the headstrong beauty died on a whisper of air.
