Chapter 29 #2
And these people were more than willing. Hunger lingered in every gaze. Lips were licked and lashes were batted.
It took me only a few minutes to notice the way the women flocked around the balding man in the corner.
He sat, his bulging stomach hanging over the belt of his trousers, with a beautiful woman on each side.
The edges of his maroon jacket were lined in silver embroidery, an intricate show of wealth that set him apart from the others in the room.
Nikolai hadn't hesitated to follow into the brothel after me, taking a place at one of the booths in the back and ordering a pint of ale.
He sat for only a moment before one of the working girls had saddled up to him and placed herself in his lap.
Not that he seemed to mind when she undid that knot in his hair and started running her fingers through it.
In fact, he seemed all too happy to place a hand on her thigh and rub his thumb in circles that rose suspiciously high.
Focus, Iris.
I had far more important things to think about than who was sitting on Nikolai's lap.
With a gentle smile on my lips, I strode towards the couch where the man lounged, pretending that I was on my way to gaze out the window to the small pond beyond the brothel.
Dusk had fallen but the glowing bugs in the air seemed to shimmer over the water.
I kept my stride loose, maintained a gentle sway to my hips.
I was the picture of a woman unbothered by her surroundings.
And he fell for it faster than I would have anticipated.
“What's a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this?”
I glanced over my shoulder, not bothering to turn away from my path and let my eyes trail over him.
I mapped him from the top of his gleaming head to the bottoms of his polished shoes and let him feel every second of my appraisal.
His brows quirked, misreading the attention, and he gave the woman perched on his knee a gentle shove away.
She huffed unhappily as she fell onto the couch beside him.
“Come sit by me,” he ordered, flashing a gold coin.
My smile grew. “You mistake me, sir. I'm a patron here like you. My company is not for sale.”
Before he could even sputter a response, I breezed away, posting myself at the window and shaking out my hair over my shoulders.
The trap had been set and...
“And how does one earn your company if they're so inclined.”
He saddled up to me, leaning heavily against the wall, an expression of smug arrogance on his face.
“Be interesting, I suppose,” I shrugged, turning back towards the pond.
“And you come to a place like this to find interesting people?”
I sighed unhappily. “It was worth a try.”
“But unsuccessful?”
Slowly, I turned matching his position. “I was feeling rather desperate for some excitement, and nothing here has managed to catch my interest.”
“Nothing? Or no one?” He nodded over my shoulder. “You've captured the attention of many and none intrigue you?”
A flicker of irritation bubbled in my stomach. I didn't need to glance behind me to know he was referencing Nikolai. I could feel his green eyes burning into my back and, so help me, if he ruined this, I was going to make him suffer for it.
I lowered my gaze for a moment, glancing at our feet before peering up at him through my lashes. His tongue darted over his lower lip as I did.
“The men here are drunkards and petty thieves,” I explained dismissively. “I am quite convinced that if a man cannot excite me with his words and accomplishments he will not be able to excite me elsewhere.”
“Go to court then. Find some accomplished nobleman to take your breath away.”
“They're born into their wealth and status. It's hardly an accomplishment.”
His eyes held mine, taking me in with a considering hum. I let him drink his fill without shying away or feigning demureness. No, a man like this might want someone with the appearance of an innocent, but more than that he craved someone who could challenge him.
He wanted a woman he could break.
“Perhaps you're longing for someone more...adventurous.” He stepped forward, brushing my hair behind my ears.
“Someone whose accomplishments come from dangerous pursuits that walk the line of morality.
A person like that could tell you the stories of adventure you're looking for. And then he could set your blood on fire in the bedroom if you so wished.”
“And would you know a man like that?” I kept my voice low and breathy, not bothering to shift away when he dropped his hand to circle my waist.
“I am a man like that.”
Doubtful.
I knew a man like that. A beautiful, towering man with copper hair, fine clothes, and a dangerous smirk. He didn't need to brag to take a woman's breath away.
I pushed forward, lifting my chin as I did. His own head dipped in turn, aiming to kiss me only for his lips to land on my cheek as I twisted to whisper in his ear. “Prove it.”
He chuckled softly, guiding me so that my back pressed against the window. His body pushed against mine, the heat and stench of him taking over all of my senses, but I didn't bother to push him away.
“The name is Lorence, love. And you are?”
“Miralynn.” The lie came easily.
“Well, Miralynn,” his hand dipped to trace the line of skirt where I had tied it to expose my thigh. “Should we go upstairs so I can regale you with tales of my accomplishments?"
The sound of a blade piercing the wooden lining of the window above our heads sent us careening apart.
Before I knew it, Nikolai had pressed himself in front of me, his broad shoulders almost blocking the view of my informant.
Although from what I could see of the man his face was turning a rather unfortunate shade of purple.
“What do you think you're doing?” Lorence spewed.
Nikolai shrugged, effortlessly relaxed even as the other man reached for the weapon on his hip.
“Stopping you from slobbering on my—”
“Sister!” I quickly interrupted, exasperation dripping from my voice as I shoved him away. “A sister who neither wants nor needs you here.”
Lorence took a slow step back, his hand still lingering on the hilt of his dagger as his brow furrowed and he looked at the two of us.
Two people who very clearly did not look like siblings.
“Adopted siblings,” Nikolai growled under his breath in explanation, even as his attention locked on mine. “I tire of this place.”
“I don't!”
Nikolai reached for me, grasping hold of my hand and ripping me away. I stumbled after him, both of us leaving Lorence fuming by the window. With a growl I tore my hand from his, earning a stare of pure rage.
“We're leaving,” he insisted.
“Wait here!” I took a step backwards. “And give me one minute to salvage what you just ruined.”
I ran back to Lorence, not waiting for Nikolai to protest again. He stared after me, chest rising and falling in irritation before he turned on his heels and stormed out of the brothel.
“Your brother is an ass,” Lorence commented when I was at his side once more.
I inclined my head in agreement, running my hands over his chest. “Yes, but my father won't let me out of the house without him. He's usually not such a spoil sport.”
Lorence caught my wrists. “So, are we going upstairs or not?”
His flirtation had faded, replaced with anger and impatience. He was no longer intrigued with the mysterious woman who wanted more than this room could offer.
“I have to go,” I confessed.
He pulled my arms from around his neck, but I latched on harder pulling him to me and pressing my mouth into his.
I gave him everything he needed. I pressed into him, let my tongue dance against his, released a breathy kind of sigh that had him hardening against me. He needed a taste of success to continue this game with me. So, I gave it to him and I prayed to the Gods that Nikolai stayed outside while I did.
“I would like to see you again,” I told him. “I would like you to prove it to me.”
Lorence's gaze lingered on my mouth as indecision wavered in his eyes. The women he'd left behind started calling for him, promising to offer him everything I was refusing, but I kept my fingers in his hair and my breasts pressed tightly against his chest.
Just take the bait. Just take it. Take it. Take—
“There's a party tomorrow. The estate to the west of town. I think you'll find it's filled with the kind of men you're looking for.”
My grin could have lit up the darkest of rooms.
Nikolai lingered outside, leaning against the wall with a foot kicked up. That irritated frown was still on his face as I pushed the brothel door aside and stepped into the frosty night air.
I didn’t even slow my pace as I stalked past him.
Kicking off the wall, he followed silently, remaining a careful few paces behind as I made my way back to the inn we were staying.
I felt his presence even though I couldn’t hear his movements.
When we finally reached the dilapidated inn, I threw open the door so forcefully that the hinges still shook as I marched up the stairs to our room.
The lock clicked as he followed me into our room and shut us in together.
“Bird,” he called as I made my way to the vanity.
Glaring through my lashes, I set about undoing the heels on my feet without deigning to give him a verbal response.
“Bird,” he tried again, his tone tinged with impatience.
Once I had undone the many straps and fully removed my shoes, I threw them at him with all my strength.
“Iris!” he chastised, catching one in his right hand and dodging the other.
“What was that?” I yelled, lurching to my feet. “What happened to staying out of my way? I had him, and you almost ruined the whole thing!”
Nikolai dropped the shoes, his eyes seething with anger as he stepped forward. “He was seconds away from bending you over and bedding you right there in front of everyone!”
“And so what if he did?” I threw my arms up, my anger pouring out of me so intensely that my magic rippled and my form shifted momentarily into my true form before I pulled the illusion back into place. His eyes flickered as he noticed the brief change.
“Would you have gone upstairs with him?” Nikolai’s jaw worked as he struggled to get the question out.
“Yes!” I didn’t bother softening the word, even as Nikolai flinched against the truth. “If that’s what it would have taken to get information about where to find the collector, I would have done what was necessary.”
I didn’t understand why that was difficult for him to grasp. The mission came before everything else. It was more important than him, more important than me.
He stepped towards me, pointing an accusing finger at me. “It wouldn’t have been necessary, Iris.”
I met his approach, taking a step forward of my own with narrowed eyes, refusing to back away from this argument.
“That’s not for you to decide. I knew exactly how to get him to talk—which he did, by the way, if you’re wondering! I thought you, of all people, would understand how this works, Nikolai, but apparently I am the only one willing to do whatever it takes.”
“No, you were trained to do whatever it takes!” he roared, ice coating the windows as his own magic flared.
His eyes burned with emotion. Tension coiled in every muscle, keeping his body like a wire pulled taut.
“You do not have to do that. Ever. I do not want that for you. I do not want you to feel as if you must ever give away your body again for the sake of a mission.”
Again.
That single word stole every retort that had been on the tip of my tongue as it seemed to echo around us.
Nikolai turned away, running a hand through his hair as he worked to steady his heavy breathing. The only sound in our tiny room was the whisper of his heavy inhales and shaky exhales.
“Nikolai,” I stumbled over his name, unable to stop myself from rushing forward to put a hand on his shoulder. “When you and I—”
He nodded, not turning to face me. “I know.”
That had been different. That was so entirely different. When I had offered myself to him that night, it had been because I had wanted it.
I had wanted him.
I hadn’t slept with him because I felt I needed to manipulate him or follow my orders. I had chosen to do that because of the way I had felt for him.
And yet, to him, it wasn’t different at all.
And that knowledge seemed to chisel off a tiny piece of my heart and crumble it into pieces.
“Regardless,” he breathed after clearing his throat. Shaking off my touch, he turned and lifted his chin. “You deserve more than forcing that upon yourself.”
I swallowed, stomach turning as I became all too aware of Lorence’s drying saliva on my face.
“Do not offer more than you wish to give someone, Iris,” he said, the command more of a plea. “Please.”
Iris.
Not bird.
I wet my lips, subtly wiping my mouth with the back of my hand before nodding. “Okay.”