She sauntered over to him with a smile. “You must be starving, dear. Are you sure you don’t want a bite to eat?”
“Lost my appetite the moment you revealed your face.”
Her smile slipped. “What a rude thing to say to a lady.”
“A lady?” Saville snorted. “A title that does not suit the likes of you, madam.”
“Perhaps I shall send you to another room, earl. Your voice is quite unpleasant to the ears.”
Warrick shot a warning glance at his friend.Keep your mouth shut.He did not want to be alone with this unhinged woman in a chamber. In a brothel, no less.
Saville averted his gaze with a scowl.
Warrick drew a deep breath. “You never struck me as a fool, Lady Ridgeland. But this—are you sure you are ready for the consequences?”
“Of course, dear.” He flinched at Lady Ridgeland’s purring tone.
“Stop calling me that.”
“But I do so enjoy your death stares whenever I do. It makes me want to punish you even more than a pinch on the arse here, a candelabra there.”
His veins turned to ice. “You were behind those incidents?”
“You rejected me so many times; I had to find a way to vent my frustration.”
Heat rushed to his chest as shock sparked through his body, but only momentarily. In its wake, relief remained. He’d beenpunished. Byher. A living, breathing woman. Not random acts brought on by any curse. He didn’t have to speculate anymore. However, that still didn’t excuse her damn actions. “You are a bloody nuisance to society, madam.”
“Oh, don’t be like that, it was nothing serious.”
“Why target me, then?” Warrick demanded. “There are many men who would be happy to give you what you ask. Why did you latch onto me?”
“Because unlike those men, you didn’t fall for my abundant charms, and I do so enjoy a challenge.” She trailed a finger over his exposed skin. “And you do have a body that is to my taste.”
If Warrick had any hair left at all after this, he would bloody rejoice. “Do not touch me.” He felt damn violated.
“Are you a lightskirt, madam?” Saville asked from the side.
Her head snapped to the right. “What did you just call me?”
Saville shrugged. “I didn’t call you anything. I merely asked if you are a doxy. I mean, it’s not that farfetched a question. You brought us to a brothel, and now you are fondling a man against his will.”
“Men have done far worse to women over the ages.”
“Not all men, and that doesn’t excuse your behavior. You do realize when we will leave this place, there will be consequences for your deeds.”
“You underestimate us, my lord.” Her hand paused. “It shall be your word against all the people who will vouch for my whereabouts. You are merely two men who went on a two-day run of debauchery.”
The chafing of his wrists and ankles would prove otherwise, Warrick thought darkly, but said, “So you have thought of everything then.”
She smiled at him. “You shall find I am a very thorough woman.”
And you will find, madam, that I am a very unforgiving man.
“Shall I place a kiss on this body of yours? Show you what you have been missing?”
“Don’t you dare,” Warrick growled, just as a knock sounded on the door. He’d never been so relieved by such a timely interruption.
“Enter.” Lady Ridgeland straightened, but her paws didn’t leave his body, only shifted to his shoulder. He would need a bath—two, no, three baths—to wash away her touch.
