“Yes.” Her fingers went to a row of small beads down the center of her bodice. “But sometimes they…”
I waited for her to continue, but she didn’t. “Sometimes they what?”
Penellaphe shook her head. “Do we even know if he truly is a Descenter?”
The question intrigued me. “Does it matter?”
Her head cut away. “Likely not.”
“He recited the words the Descenters often use,” I said. “I imagine that is what he is.”
She nodded, and I watched her as silence fell between us. I always watched her, but it felt different at the moment. Like I was searching for something. What, I wasn’t sure. I couldn’t even figure it out after I bid her goodnight and returned to the hall before Vikter arrived for his shift. But I had the distinct feeling—one that was so strong, even though I had no idea what it was I looked for—that it would be better if I didn’t find whatever it was.
PLANS HAVE NOT CHANGED
I moved through the hall of one of the upstairs floors of the Red Pearl, a bottle of whiskey I’d helped myself to in one hand and a canvas sack in the other. The floor wasn’t quiet. Moans and grunts came from each side of the hall, so many of them it was hard to tell exactly which chambers were in use and which weren’t.
Taking a swig of the whiskey as I reached the room designated for meetings, I didn’t bother knocking. I pushed open the door.
The smell of sex was the first thing to reach me.
Then the soft, breathy gasp of pleasure turning to surprise.
Lowering the bottle as I kicked the door closed behind me, my gaze swung to the bed—the very same bed I’d laid Penellaphe on.
It was definitely not her on that bed.
The woman on her knees was all lush curves, but her hair was a color somewhere between black and brown. Her eyes, a deep shade of brown, were wide and fixed on me as the hands on her hips tightened, pressing into the flesh. I squinted, thinking I recognized the woman.
“I would ask if you’d considered knocking,” Kieran remarked, the muscles in his hips and ass flexing as he slowed behind the woman. “But obviously that didn’t cross your mind.”
I raised a brow as he lifted the woman’s ample ass that shook with his thrust. “I didn’t realize you’d have company.”
“I assume not.” His skin glistened with a faint sheen of sweat. “You’re earlier than I expected.”
“Clearly,” I drawled.
“Well, since you’re here…” Kieran drew one hand from the woman’s hip, dragging it up the soft skin of her belly and then between her swaying breasts. “Care to join in?”
The woman moaned, rocking forward on the length of his glistening cock.
Kieran chuckled as his fingers curled around the base of her neck and he pulled her back, bringing her flush with his chest. “I don’t think Circe would mind.”
“Not at all,” Circe panted, extending a hand. “Join us.”
It struck me then, as Kieran’s other hand left her hip and delved between her thighs. I knew why I thought she looked familiar. She was a Descenter.
One I was pretty sure I’d fucked.
Kieran’s grin kicked up a notch as he locked eyes with me. Dipping his head, he nipped at her throat, wringing a startled cry of pleasure from her. My gaze went back to his large hand between her thighs, both promising a welcome and pleasant diversion. And considering my cock had just been about as hard as Kieran’s while in Penellaphe’s chambers, I should dive headfirst into what they offered.
But like the morning with Britta, the desire wasn’t there.
“Thanks,” I said. “But I’m good.
“You sure?” Kieran gave her clit a playful smack.
“Positive.” I turned, making my way to the settee. There was something fucking wrong with me. I sat, whiskey bottle in hand as I placed the canvas sack on the floor. “But please, pretend I’m not even here,” I said, knowing damn well neither of them would do that, but both would thoroughly do what I said next. “And enjoy yourselves.”
Kieran made a sound that was a cross between a laugh and a groan. I smirked. Taking another drink of whiskey, I propped my feet on the low table.
Circe must’ve whispered something that earned a warning from Kieran to leave me be. My smirk grew, and I could practically feel his heated glare.
I’d be lying if I said the sounds of their bodies coming together or how Kieran fucked, the tight control of his thrusts, and how he ground on her ass had no effect, but as my gaze flickered over the jut of Circe’s rose-tipped breasts, it wasn’t her body I saw in my mind.
It was hers.
Penellaphe’s.
My fantasies decided to put her on that bed between Kieran and me, and man, just imagining that packed a sensual punch.
Gods, I shouldn’t be thinking of her like that for a multitude of reasons, the least of which was that while Penellaphe was curious about sensuality, this would likely scandalize her into an early death.
It didn’t take long for Circe to find her release, thank the gods. Kieran took her to her stomach, driving into her, and I knew how hard he could fuck—something Circe very noisily approved of. By the time he found his release, I had a feeling she would find herself comparing every future lover to him.
My eyes drifted shut as they disentangled themselves and rose from the bed. Kieran whispered something that made her giggle. The soft click of the door closing announced her departure.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” I asked.
“What do you think?”
I grinned, opening my eyes. “Actually, I’m glad you had company tonight. You could use the practice.”
Kieran snorted as he dipped a cloth into a basin of water. “You feeling okay?”
“Of course.” I took a drink of the whiskey. “Why do you ask?”
“You’re sitting over there with a hard dick,” he pointed out, drawing the wet cloth over his. “By choice.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Not like I haven’t chosen more disconcerting things in the past.”
“True.” He tossed the cloth aside. “Got an update for me?”
“I do,” I said, filling him in on what had occurred, which wasn’t of much interest to him until I got to the part about what I planned to do to the Duke.
“You cannot kill the Duke,” Kieran said, dressing as he joined me.
“Oh, I’m going to kill him.” I straightened my leg. “There’s no way around that.” And if I had the time and opportunity, Lord Mazeen was another dead motherfucker.
So was that damn Priestess.
And I couldn’t forget Lieutenant Smyth.
There would be a bloodbath.
“When the Craven attacked the Rise, she was out there,” I told him, and he did a double-take. “She kept her identity hidden, but she saved guards that night. She’s damn good with a bow and arrow and likely just as skilled with a dagger. She’s a fighter, Kieran. You know what that means for her to have taken what the Duke has been doing to her? To not be able to stop him?”
“Hawke—”
“He has been caning her, Kieran,” I cut him off, anger pulsing through me, chasing away the last of the strange feelings of peace. “And only the gods know what else. He must die. Maiden or not, what is being done to her is inexcusable.”