Her hand shook, causing her to grip her glass tighter. Cade could see the wild emotions darkening her eyes as she glanced at him.
“No movement in your room, Marly. You don’t leave the house without Cade beside you.”
Marly was breathing with quick, hard breaths. She drained the half full glass then rose shakily to her feet to pour another.
“I don’t think so.” Cade moved in front of her, gripping her hand before she could pick up the first bottle.
“Please.” She kept her head lowered, and his chest tightened at the fear and pain in her voice.
“Drinking won’t help, baby.” She flinched at his soft endearment.
She shook her head, and he could tell her control was hanging by a thread. He couldn’t stop the move that had him pulling her into his arms, bending over her as her head lay on his chest, in a gesture of protection.
“I won’t let him hurt you,” he whispered out, agonized. “Not again, Marly.”
Her nails dug into his chest, and for a moment, just for a moment Cade thought she would loosen up enough to allow him to comfort her. But she pushed away from him instead, her head lowered as she sat back down. She seemed to curl into herself, to retreat from everyone.
Rick glanced at Cade with a concerned frown.
“Marly, I know this is hard,” Tara said softly. “Bastards like this don’t deserve to live, and nice people like you sure as hell don’t deserve the pain. But it’s here, and if you want to live, then you have to help us.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t cooperate.” She raised her head, staring the woman in the eye defensively. “But I want to sleep in another room.”
“And I understand why.” She wasn’t the least sympathetic to Cade’s cause. “But your life is more important than your pride, or his.”
Marly flashed Cade a hateful look. He almost flinched from the searing look. Never had Marly looked at him like that, challenging, furious. His eyes narrowed on her. He smiled at her, slow and sure, his gaze heavy lidded. He watched her flush with a flare of satisfaction. Yeah, fight baby, he thought. Fight all you want, but when the score’s tallied, we’ll see who wins and who begs.
“Fine.” Marly didn’t sound fine with it, though. Her lips were pressed tightly together, her eyes flashing in anger and determination. He liked that flash. He crossed his hands over his chest and watched her with a quirked smile.
“Okay then, boys and girls. If my hunch is right, we won’t have to wait long on him to make his move.” Rick clapped his hands together in a gesture of finality. “I suggest we all get a good night’s sleep, and get started tomorrow drawing the little prick out.”
Marly’s head turned suddenly.
“What do you mean? Drawing him out?” she asked him suspiciously.
“Well now, baby, what do you think he means?” Cade leaned against the bar as though relaxed and ready. “Sex with me is what draws him out, so we’ll see if we can’t tempt him a little bit.”
Marly was on her feet in a flash, shock rounding her eyes as anger pulsed in her body. Son of a bitch, if she wasn’t the prettiest damn thing he had ever laid his eyes on. Her face flushed, her body tight, tense, her breasts heaving with anger. Like a volcano, boiling and ready to blow, she teetered on the edge.
“I hope to hell you aren’t suggesting what I think you are,” she exclaimed loudly.
Cade widened his eyes, smiling in pleasure.
“Well, honey, this afternoon my windows were replaced with bullet proof glass. And you know how much I love leaving the curtains open to stare into the starry skies at night.”
Her face paled, her eyes glittered. It was all Cade could do to hide his shock at the unwilling excitement he saw in her eyes. She was shocked, furious, holding onto her pride and her sense of morality, but he knew that hot little glitter in her eyes for what it was.
“Bastard,” she growled. “There’s no way in hell I’ll let you touch me with the damned curtains closed, let alone opened so some pervert can watch it.”
Fury, blistering and hot vibrated through her body. Her fists clenched, her muscles visibly trembled.
Cade shrugged.
“Tara brought a pretty black wig with her. We can let her—” He barely ducked in time to escape the flying glass she launched his way.
“Bastard. Fucking creep!” she screamed furiously, her body shaking with rage as she turned on Tara. “Do it, by God. You’re more than welcome to his lying ass.”
She stalked from the room, her body rigid, her face flaming. Cade could only watch her in surprise and arousal. Son of a bitch, that was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen in his life.