Taming of the Beast (Scandalous Affairs #2) - Christi Caldwell Page 0,45
our bellies so they can relieve us of our comfortable shoes and garments, is the height of cleverness.”
The lady dug her fine leather boots into the cobblestones, and he was forced to stop…or bowl her over.
“You are being sarcastic, Tynan.”
Tynan raised his hands and brought his palms together in a silent, slow clap.
“Your points are all duly noted,” she said stiffly. “I shall refrain from—”
“Stop talking,” he bluntly ordered.
“Yes, I will refrain from—”
“Then do it, Faye.”
This time, thankfully, she did.
“Let’s go,” he ordered, and not waiting to see if she had enough of a brain in her head to follow, Tynan resumed walking at a quick march, determined to get this meeting over with, determined to give her enough of what she sought to be free of his debt. For there could be absolutely no doubting that if he didn’t give her something, he would be stuck with her. She would keep coming around, and there was no place that would be safe from her.
They’d reached the end of the street when a long, loud, tortured groan went up, spilling over the streets.
Faye rested a hand on his sleeve.
“What now?”
“Surely you don’t mean to just ignore someone who is struggling.”
A lifetime ago, he would have been the manner of pathetic person to have been bothered by the disappointment that filled her voice and eyes.
“That is precisely what I intend to do,” he said flatly, starting forward once more.
He made it three paces before registering that he continued the journey alone.
Tynan stopped, and scrubbing his hands up and down his face, he made himself turn back.
Faye stared back with that military man’s set to her shoulders.
“This is your time. Do you really want to waste it looking after someone who doesn’t need or want your help?”
“Actually, I do,” she said quietly, and it was another reminder of just how naïve she was.
But then, all ladies he’d had any dealings with didn’t have so much as a clue about anything ’round these parts.
Just then, another one of those animalistic wails split the quiet. Nudging his chin forward, Tynan headed in that direction, and Faye followed so quickly that the heels of her boots beat a damningly loud staccato as she marched. Those sounds, however, were drowned out as they converged upon the suffering she was so determined to stop.
“Here we are,” he said from the corner of his mouth as he brought them to a halt at the edge of the alley from where those cries came.
A stocky fellow with his trousers down pumped himself between the legs of a woman. He had her pinned against the brick wall, sawing away at her.
The man’s piglike grunts melded with the moans of desire from the woman, who scraped her hands down his back.
With a wry grin, Tynan stole a sideways look at Faye.
A wide-eyed Faye stared at the pair who were fucking.
“D-do you think…?” Faye lifted uncertain eyes to his.
“He’s forcing her?” he finished for her. He lowered his lips close to her ear. “What do you think, Faye?” he asked when she’d returned a reluctant gaze to the couple. “Watching them as you are, do you think she looks to be there against her will?” he whispered.
The woman’s face was tipped back toward the London sky, and the raspy spurts of her ragged breathing and the way in which she lifted her hips into her partner’s, matching his exuberant thrusts, hinted at a woman who was finding enjoyment herself that morn.
She might have no choice but to sell herself, but there could be no doubting that she was taking pleasure in the exchange.
Uneven respirations belonging to someone other than the mating pair filtered into the quiet, and he glanced down. Faye’s lips were slightly parted, her eyes hooded. The lady was aroused by the sight before them. And the sight of her filled with desire by the sight before them sent a wave of lust through him.
“Do you want to remain?” he whispered teasingly against her ear.
“N-no?” The lady blinked slowly and then gave her head a slight shake. “No!” she repeated, this time forceful in her declination.
Just then, the whore cried out, her release echoing throughout the Rookeries as her lover joined her in her surrender.
Faye’s cheeks flamed crimson, the color deeper than the previous shade of red the cold had brought to her cream-white skin. Drawing her hood up closer about her face, she marched off. “You did that on purpose,” she muttered when he caught up to her.