truly is. But I will give her the chance to come to that conclusion on her own. Better that she grows tired of him, or vice versa.” He let his hand stroke along her lower back slowly, enjoying the feel of the soft skin beneath the rougher pads of his fingers. It always brought him comfort.
“Do you know how you would do the deed?”
“Mmh. Yes. And it is cruel. I will wait to see if I can win her to my side without resorting to such things.”
“Wouldn’t it be kinder to save her from him sooner, rather than to let it linger?” Amanda nuzzled in closer to him as she talked.
“If there is even a ghost of a chance that they may know what it is to feel love for each other, then I cannot be the one to tear that apart unless I know I have no other option.” When Amanda laughed at the notion, he chuckled. “I know. It seems impossible. And it very well might be. But on the chance—the chance—that they are in love, and that I might even still convince her that what I am doing is just…then perhaps all this can be avoided.”
“You are too soft.” She poked him in the side.
“Bah!” He laughed and flipped them over, caging her in easily with the broadness of his body. He grinned playfully down at her. “I thought you liked the fluff.”
“I love it.” She scratched his goatee again. “But that wasn’t what I was talking about, and you know it.”
He hummed, tilting his head so she could get at the portion of the stubble on his neck. “I know. You think I’m showing weakness, being kind to them.”
“No. I think you’re doing the right thing. Cora is a sweet girl. And if she’s found the ability to love him—which I still worry is because of some terrible manipulation on his part—but if it isn’t, then she should be happy. She’s been dealt a terrible hand. She should get some comfort where she can.”
“The corrupting force on her is Simon, you’re right. But I don’t think it’s anything he did intentionally.” He leaned down and kissed her gently. “We all are drawn to those we Sponsor. And they to us in return.”
“Oh, don’t give me that sob story again.” She tapped him on the nose. “I’m not with you because you Sponsored me, Ringmaster. I’m with you because I love you.”
“And you love me because of what I did.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Oh, shush.” She wandered her hands over his chest and smoothed over his sides. “I would rather you make love to me instead of all this sulking.”
“I am not sulking.” He leaned in to kiss her again, taking his time. When he broke away, her eyes had slipped shut. She was so beautiful. So perfect. He smiled teasingly. “I’m brooding.”
“Mmh. There’s a difference?” She was half listening to him as she spread her legs to let him nestle between them.
“There is. A very important difference. Sulking is a child’s game. Brooding is manly. Dignified.”
Amanda laughed and opened her eyes to smile up at him. There was such love and humor in her eyes it took his breath away. It always did. “I see, I see. My mistake. Now…shut up, my manly and dignified Ringmaster…and kiss me.”
How was he to say no to that?
The quiet whistle of his tea kettle was what woke Simon out of his slumber.
He grunted quietly and opened a single eye. He was lying on his stomach. It took him a long moment to remember what had happened the previous night. It was all a blur of pain, blood, and the crack of a bullwhip.
I’ll get my revenge someday, Ringmaster. Just you wait.
He stretched, feeling the muscles in his back flex. He felt tight—overly tense. He would need to try to convince Cora to give him a backrub later. Oh. That really did sound divine.
As if that wasn’t enough on its own to rouse his libido, the memory of how she had stormed into Ringmaster’s tent to fetch him threatened to finish the deed. He smirked. She had walked in there unafraid, demanded he be freed, confessed her involvement in their dismemberment, and put the blame squarely back on Turk.
And lied through her teeth the entire time.
Wicked creature.
He saw her there, pouring hot water into a mug. She must have rustled through his cabinets to find his loose tea and infuser. He would never stoop so low as to