“Will you just get out?” she demanded shrilly. “I’m no’ ready to talk to you yet, mon!”
“So I see.” He threw her nightcap across the room. “But I don’t particularly care whether you’re ready or not, my dear.”
She gasped when he reached for her. Her hands flew up to hold him back. Her action worked only because he allowed it—for the moment.
“Recall the first condition of this marriage, Roslynn. I’m to get you with child, at your own insistence. I agreed to do just that.”
“You also agreed to the second condition, andyou’ve done that too. It’s the lying that came after that has changed things, mon.”
She didn’t doubt that he was angry now. It was there in the hard glint of his eyes, the clenched jaw. He was a different man, a frightening man—a fascinating man. He stirred something in her that was primitive, unrecognizable. Shouting she could have dealt with. But this? She didn’t know what he would do, what he was capable of, but a part of her wanted to find out.
But Anthony was angry, not crazy. And that spark of desire that flashed in her eyes as she pushed away from him mollified him to a degree. She still wanted him. Even in her fury, she still wanted him. Assured of that, he found he could wait until she got over her pique. It wouldn’t be a pleasant wait, but he wasn’t about to have her crying rape come morning, putting him right back where he started, only with another grudge for her to hold against him.
“You really should have pinched your nose, my dear. I might have believed that.”
Roslynn blinked, doubting her ears. “Oh!”
She shoved against him with all her might. He obliged her by leaving the bed. But his smile was tight as he stared down at her.
“I’ve been patient, but I give you fair warning. A man’s patience is a fickle thing. It shouldn’t be tested too often, especially when he’s got nothing to apologize for and nothing to feel guilty about—yet.”
“Hah!”
Anthony ignored that as he walked to the door. “It might help if you told me how long you intend to punish me.”
“I’m not punishing you,” she insisted stonily.
“Aren’t you, sweetheart?” He turned to chill herwith a parting shot. “Well, just remember that two can play this game.”
What he might have meant by that bothered Roslynn for the rest of the night.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Ajab. Another jab. A left hook, followed by a right cross. The man was down, out cold, and Anthony stood back, swearing because it was over too quickly.
Knighton tossed a towel in his face, swearing too as he jumped into the ring to examine Anthony’s partner. “Jesus, Malory! No wonder Billy tried to beg off today after he got one look at you. I always say the ring’s a nice place to work out frustrations, but not for you.”
“Shut up, Knighton,” Anthony snapped as he tore off his gloves.
“The hell I will,” the older man shot back angrily. “I’d like to know where I’m going to find another bloke stupid enough to step into the ring with you. But I’ll tell you this. I ain’t even going to bother looking until you’ve bedded the wench and got it out of your system. Stay out of my ring until you do.”
Anthony had laid men flat for less, but Knighton was a friend. He nearly laid him flat anyway for his bloody insight in calling it too close to the mark. He stood there, the urge overpowering. It was James’ voice, breaking into the haze of his rage, that checked him.
“Having trouble finding partners again, Tony?”
“Not if you’re still willing to oblige me.”
“Do I look like a fool?” James glanced down at his apparel in mock surprise. “And here I thought I was done up quite smartly today.”
Anthony laughed, feeling some of his tension drainaway. “As if you didn’t think you could make short work of me.”
“Well, of course I could. No doubt a-tall. Just don’t want to.”
Anthony snorted, started to remind James of the going-over Montieth had given him, even if James did come out the winner, but changed his mind. No point in putting it to the test when he had no quarrel with his brother.
“I get the impression you’re following me, old man. Any particular reason?”
“As a matter of fact, I’ve a bone to pick—outside of the ring, of course.”
