was so angry she didn’t think to question
his odd behavior. “I am wiry. Not all men are blessed with bulbous
muscles ‘neath their shirts.”
He cocked a brow.
“Have you been measuring me ... as I bathed?”
Alex felt her face
flame. “Why wouldst I do that?”
“I know not.
Unless, perhaps you have not set your eyes on my sister a’tall, but a lord
worthy of your perversions.”
“Perversions!
W-what--” She gritted her teeth, fuming in silence, sure he was referencing
his catamite obsession once again. She feared dressing as a young lord may
have been unwise. She was not so vain to think her femininity outshone her
boyish appearance.
At her lack of
response, he said, “Mayhap I have acted hasty in my negative assumptions,
missed the pleasures to be found in court. One such as yourself could
have something to teach me....”
She looked at him,
terror in her eyes. He seriously thought her … that she would…. Saints, the
prospect of fulfilling his fantasies hobbled her mind. Her mouth dropped open,
forbidden thoughts assailing her.
“I have no idea
what this catamite business is but I--”
He released her arm
suddenly as he broke into laughter, a bad habit he had developed quickly at her
expense. His shoulders shook with his mirth, his breathing harsh and broken as
he guffawed.
“Y-you jest?” When
he nodded, she punched him in the arm with all her might.
He stopped
laughing. She smiled in triumph, then considered the repercussions as his
brows drew down in anger.
“Ow!” Bronson
rubbed his arm. “Mayhap there is hope for you yet, pup. Come, I apologize for
my farce. Get you to bed. No more training tonight.” He looked at her
meaningfully, as though he doubted her word. Alex thanked the lord matters had
not turned out for the worst.
They went upstairs
and he confiscated her rope, his face steadfast and serious despite her
protestations of innocence. He left her then, a bemused smile on his face that
puzzled her. The man delighted in her torment—it was obvious.
Alex flung herself
onto the bed, thankful he had developed a sense of humor instead of being ...
of wanting.... She shook her head, swearing to think of it no more. Now if
she could only have him wield it in another direction....
Closing her eyes
against the fire’s dim light, she went to sleep, the soft image of Bronson
leaning close for a kiss teasing her mind.
* * * *
Alex was driveling
happily into her pillow when her warm blanket was torn from her body.
She drew her legs
up to her chest and shivered in the cold air, wondering when her fire had gone
out. Mind enshrouded in the fog of sleep, she had only enough fortitude to
recover her warm bedcovers. Groaning, eyes closed, she groped for the covers
to pull them back on. Fingers straining, searching, she encountered the bane
of her existence instead of soft, comforting cloth.
“Get up, boy. ‘Tis
time for the training I promised you last even’.” He sounded decidedly
cheerful. ‘Twas unnatural. She would rattle his brains for disturbing her
slumber.
Alex mumbled
something unintelligible, words too much a trial to speak, and buried her head
in her down pillow, her arms clutched around it in protection. Her peace
lasted but a moment when two massive hands encircled her ankles and pulled.
Alex came up with a
godawful shriek, kicking her legs and swinging her arms in retaliation, teeth
bared to strike as she growled at her assailant.
The hands released
her abruptly, and she slid to the floor on her arse with a loud
his odd behavior. “I am wiry. Not all men are blessed with bulbous
muscles ‘neath their shirts.”
He cocked a brow.
“Have you been measuring me ... as I bathed?”
Alex felt her face
flame. “Why wouldst I do that?”
“I know not.
Unless, perhaps you have not set your eyes on my sister a’tall, but a lord
worthy of your perversions.”
“Perversions!
W-what--” She gritted her teeth, fuming in silence, sure he was referencing
his catamite obsession once again. She feared dressing as a young lord may
have been unwise. She was not so vain to think her femininity outshone her
boyish appearance.
At her lack of
response, he said, “Mayhap I have acted hasty in my negative assumptions,
missed the pleasures to be found in court. One such as yourself could
have something to teach me....”
She looked at him,
terror in her eyes. He seriously thought her … that she would…. Saints, the
prospect of fulfilling his fantasies hobbled her mind. Her mouth dropped open,
forbidden thoughts assailing her.
“I have no idea
what this catamite business is but I--”
He released her arm
suddenly as he broke into laughter, a bad habit he had developed quickly at her
expense. His shoulders shook with his mirth, his breathing harsh and broken as
he guffawed.
“Y-you jest?” When
he nodded, she punched him in the arm with all her might.
He stopped
laughing. She smiled in triumph, then considered the repercussions as his
brows drew down in anger.
“Ow!” Bronson
rubbed his arm. “Mayhap there is hope for you yet, pup. Come, I apologize for
my farce. Get you to bed. No more training tonight.” He looked at her
meaningfully, as though he doubted her word. Alex thanked the lord matters had
not turned out for the worst.
They went upstairs
and he confiscated her rope, his face steadfast and serious despite her
protestations of innocence. He left her then, a bemused smile on his face that
puzzled her. The man delighted in her torment—it was obvious.
Alex flung herself
onto the bed, thankful he had developed a sense of humor instead of being ...
of wanting.... She shook her head, swearing to think of it no more. Now if
she could only have him wield it in another direction....
Closing her eyes
against the fire’s dim light, she went to sleep, the soft image of Bronson
leaning close for a kiss teasing her mind.
* * * *
Alex was driveling
happily into her pillow when her warm blanket was torn from her body.
She drew her legs
up to her chest and shivered in the cold air, wondering when her fire had gone
out. Mind enshrouded in the fog of sleep, she had only enough fortitude to
recover her warm bedcovers. Groaning, eyes closed, she groped for the covers
to pull them back on. Fingers straining, searching, she encountered the bane
of her existence instead of soft, comforting cloth.
“Get up, boy. ‘Tis
time for the training I promised you last even’.” He sounded decidedly
cheerful. ‘Twas unnatural. She would rattle his brains for disturbing her
slumber.
Alex mumbled
something unintelligible, words too much a trial to speak, and buried her head
in her down pillow, her arms clutched around it in protection. Her peace
lasted but a moment when two massive hands encircled her ankles and pulled.
Alex came up with a
godawful shriek, kicking her legs and swinging her arms in retaliation, teeth
bared to strike as she growled at her assailant.
The hands released
her abruptly, and she slid to the floor on her arse with a loud
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