“An equal exchange,” she said after a moment. “You are asking me to share a secret from my past. In return, I wish to be privy to your deepest secrets.”
Glory swallowed. “What…what do you mean?”
The proprietress flicked her gaze between Glory and Wei. “The two of you will pleasure each other while I watch.”
“Out of the bloody question.” Wei’s chest surged with outrage. “We will not be pawns in your perverse games. Glory, we’re leaving.”
“Leave, and you will never find out what happened to Kray.” Mrs. Swann’s eerie singsong statement was threaded with steel. “I guarantee it.”
Glory’s breath lodged, for she knew the woman was speaking the truth. Wei was so close to achieving his mission; all they had to do was gain Mrs. Swann’s cooperation. Although the proposition was outrageous and ought to have been abhorrent, Glory felt a strange tingle inside.
A thrill of wanton curiosity.
“Let’s go,” Wei insisted.
He held out his hand to Glory and looked surprised when she didn’t take it.
Instead, Glory directed her gaze at Mrs. Swann. “Why?”
The proprietress quirked a dark eyebrow. “What do you mean, dove?”
“Why would you wish to…to observe such a private moment?”
Mrs. Swann’s mouth curled at the corners. “Why does your lover wish to find Kray?”
“To get the justice he is owed,” Glory replied.
“Then my reason is the same. I want to get back what was taken from me.” Mrs. Swann propped her elbow on the chair, leaning her head into her hand. “You have my promise of discretion, of course. I will be viewing from another room; you won’t even know I am there. You may pleasure each other in whatever fashion you wish as long as you do so honestly. There is to be no playacting, no faking, nothing but authentic desire. Trust me, if you hold anything back—from me or each other—I will know, and you will forfeit our bargain.”
“This is ridiculous,” Wei snapped. “We don’t need to bargain with her.”
But we do. Glory knew it was only a matter of time before Wei arrived at the same conclusion. And what she wants is within our ability to give. If we wish to.
She knew with certainty what she wanted: Wei. Always Wei.
Did she really care if Susanna Swann knew it?
“Mrs. Swann, will you give us a moment?” she asked.
The proprietress rose. “Ring when you have come to a decision.”
As soon as the door closed, Wei bit out, “We are getting out of here. The very idea of what that woman is asking—”
“It is the only way to get to Kray. Unless you have another suggestion?”
Wei raked a hand through his hair. “I am not subjecting you to—”
“No, you’re not. I am choosing to do it. Willingly.”
When Wei stared at her, Glory felt her cheeks heat, but she didn’t look away.
“I love you, and I like…like being with you,” she said haltingly. “There is no shame in that, is there?”
His eyes simmered with emotion. “Of course not, sweeting. That isn’t the point. What happens between us is a private matter, and the bloody woman has no right to be a part of it.”
“But she wouldn’t be. She’ll be in another room. She said we won’t even notice her watching.”
“You cannot seriously be considering this.”
