5
He’d scandalized her with his dirty talk.
Good.
With any luck, he’d scared her off for good.Hopefully she’d take the money and go find some good bloke.Some working man who could treat her right.
The thought made his drink turn to acid in his gut.
He took another swig as Beast walked in.
“Is she gone?”King asked.
Beast grunted a yes.“My wife gave her some food and a warm wrap, and Loula’s making sure she got the pay she was due.She should be on her way soon.”
Pay she was due.It was charity, not pay for services rendered.But no one outside these walls would know that he hadn’t taken what he’d bought.
He couldn’t afford to let people think he’d gone soft.
“Tracker’s keeping an eye on her to make sure she gets home safe.”
Home.Where was the girl’s home?No one seemed to know.Not even Loula.And neither she nor Tracker knew why she’d done it.
It was that question that haunted him as he reached for his drink and drained it.
He turned to Beast, who was silent by the door.“What was your take on her?”
Beast didn’t so much as arch a brow in surprise and he wasn’t stupid enough to ask ‘my take on who?’“She’s a good girl.She was kind to Lillian when she first arrived, the other servants and employees do nothing but sing her praises.”
“Mmmph.”He knew as much from his housekeeper.“But you…” He peered at his friend who’d been at his side for so many years.The man who’d fought by his side before King claimed this land for himself.“What’s your take?”
“I owe a debt to anyone who was kind to my Lillian,” he said promptly.And then, after weighing his words.“She is a good girl, King.It’s not for show.She’s…sweet.”
“An innocent,” King muttered.
“Yes.”Beast’s expression was more brooding than ever.“A desperate one.”
King’s chest tightened, the cold rage turning to hot fury all over again.
Desperate.
Yes, he’d guessed it too.Hell, he’d seen it in her eyes.He’d smelled it dripping from her…along with arousal.
His hand clenched around the glass so hard his knuckles turned white at the memory.The way her pupils dilated, the way her lips had parted…
He swallowed hard.
Oh yes, he’d seen desire.But he’d also seen fear—
The glass shattered.
“She’s desperate,” he repeated, his gaze turning to an unfazed Beast.“She’s desperate and afraid.”
Beast nodded.
King leapt to his feet.For a moment he felt like a man possessed.His gaze was clouded with images of her in his arms, waiting for his kiss, and his pulse pounded her name.What was she afraid of?
Aside from him, of course.