He glances back at me with that smile. “Isn’t that right.”
I ignore him. I’m too busy cataloguing Merc from the floor up. Is there blood on him? If Thale knows the cook’s death is his doing, will there be trouble? The big man certainly seems like the type to take a pound of flesh out of anybody for even the smallest offenses.
Which making him look for a new cook could well be among.
When I reach Merc’s eyes, they’re not on me. And he’s looking like he’s ready to use that knife with the long hilt on Thale.
“Don’t look so aggressive, friend,” the other man says to him. “Nothing happened here. I do rounds and check the rooms when the storms last this long.” He points to our lantern without turning away. “You are almost out of oil. That is the extent of things. Do not let your head spin away.”
Neither man moves, and the standoff attracts attention. Down by the stairs, the drunks have noticed and they’re pulling together, like an audience for a fight.
When Merc stays silent, Thale’s voice drops even lower, to the point where I can’t hear what he says. Then he steps around Merc, their shoulders knocking as if he intends the contact.
In the aftermath, Merc watches him go.
I brace myself for the door to be slammed, but he closes it quietly.
As he turns to face me, I blurt, “What happened—”
“That man did not come up here for the oil. He wouldn’t do a woman’s job. What was he doing in here—”
“We are almost out of—”
“Don’t lie to me.” Merc looms over me. “And before you tell me it’s none of my business, I killed a man for you tonight. So you can bloody well be honest with me.”
“The cook is dead,” I breathe.
“Yes.”
Rubbing my aching eyes, I shake my head. “I tried to find her in the kitchen. I don’t know if we aren’t too late—”
“What was he doing in here.”
I drop my arms and lock eyes with him. “I asked Thale for help. For the maid. I asked him to protect her after you’re gone and I’m… wherever I am.”
I can’t stay in the lodging house permanently, after all. Not until I can figure out how to melt down Mare’s gold.
Merc’s black and white gaze goes to the bed. “And what exactly did you give him in return.”
“Nothing.”
“You expect me to believe a man like him would provide anything to anybody for free?” He looks back at me, his stare raking down the front of my blouse. “You’re lying. And do you have to bed every man you’re around?”
I glance down. The buttons are all undone, my chemise showing. From when I’d intended to fix the buttons.
Merc steps in to me. “You know what, I think I will collect. After everything I’ve done for you, especially tonight, I want what we agreed to in the beginning.”
His hands go around my waist, and between one blink and the next, I think back to being in Thale’s lair, with that man touching me. I felt nothing then. But when it’s Merc, now? My body comes alive, heat rushing to my breasts and in between my legs.
With a jerk, Merc pulls me against him, his arousal obvious.
“Will you deny me after you had him,” he growls. “You’re still in charge.”
Leaning back in his arms, I turn my hands into fists as I grip his leather lapels. I do some jerking of my own, roughly bringing his mouth to mine.
Though I have battled death for what feels like centuries, tonight it seems to be prowling around, looking for a way into me, and I feel the futility of any mortal contest against the grave. I’m also tired of worrying over so many strangers, the ones here, the ones back in my village… even though they’re all I’ve ever had.
And then there’s the parting with this man right here.
