Aislynn glanced at “Cord” and lifted a similar brow, matching his earlier expression. “Oh, do not worry about that, Mary. I have encountered adversaries much fiercer over the years. I think I can handle him.”
Chapter
Eight
Cordell wanted to be angry at Aislynn, he really did. Her impulsive, fiery nature was going to wind her up in serious trouble, or worse—dead. But at the same time, he had the urge to throttle her, he found her determination rather admirable. There were few ladies of his acquaintance who would dare to venture forth on such a dangerous venture unless it was Mary. Perhaps it was one of the things he’d liked about her from their first meeting at the Coach and Horses. She had slugged a man in the jaw, sending him down to the ground with one dynamic punch. After that, he knew she could be a formidable ally. He had yet to be proven wrong. She was eager to stand up for the rights of women. It might sound ironic coming from the woman who ran a successful brothel but as she claimed, the women there had chosen that lifestyle. A few of the girls had gone on to become noted courtesans in society. They seduced the men of power with dark promises if they would but enact more rights for women. It was one of the best confidence tricks that he had witnessed.
Until he met Aislynn Sims. She had the art of powerful allure down to an art.
He could not get the promise she’d made to “The Wolf” out of his mind. It had tormented him long into the night. What he wouldn’t give for her to promise to suck his cock to gain what she wanted. He would happily oblige. Unless it meant putting herself in unnecessary danger—like hunting a known murderer bent on further evil.
“Cord, huh?” As they entered a hackney and set into motion, he glanced across at his lovely companion. “I prefer Cordell myself.”
“How so?” he drawled, almost curious to her answer.
“Cord, while it makes a nice, shortened version of your given name, it seems entirely too informal. As an inquiry agent who is trying to make a name for himself, Cordell has a much nicer ring to it.”
Too bad you aren’t screaming it underneath me right now… Cordell clenched his jaw and turned away. “Mary is the only person who has ever called me that.”
“And she will continue to be.” She brushed at her skirts. “However, at this point, I feel it is a bit excessive to continue using such formalities considering our continual association. You may call me Aislynn.”
“Very well. Aislynn.” He said the name slowly, savoring the feel of it upon his tongue.
“Wonderful.” She smiled brightly. “Now that I feel we truly are friends who can trust one another, there should be no issue with me joining you to investigate Miss Flynn’s death in detail.”
Damn. She really is good at manipulation. “You can flash that sunny smile at me all day long and it will not change my mind in the least. If your offer to call you by your given name was nothing more than a ploy to sway me to your will, then I must continue to call you Miss Sims.”
With a frustrated sigh she crossed her arms. “You are being nonsensical.”
“I am?” he emphasized with a harsh exhale. The woman also knew the quickest way to annoy him. “The fact that I am trying to keep you safe so that you might live to enjoy another evening on stage makes me illogical?” He nodded his head. “Yes, I can see where that is true.”
“I do not appreciate sarcasm, nor do I appreciate you continuing to think I am in need of rescue.”
He leaned forward. “Might I remind you that it was you who appeared on my doorstep just last evening?”
She had the good grace to blush, her cheeks turning a charming shade of red. “I rather wish I had not done so if you insist on tossing it back at me in such a crass way.”
He forced his tone to soften. “I am glad that you had the foresight to come to me. Truly. But do not refuse my offer of safety and rush headlong into danger if you want my help.”
“Help, yes, but not to be locked in a tower until the evil dragon has been slain. This is my dragon. I should be the one to wield the blade. He took two of my best friends away from me. They were the closest I had to a family, to sisters, and now they are gone. Can you not understand my desire for revenge, as their senseless deaths come before my cowardice? We all shared the same dreams and now their memories will be lost forever, faded like old wallpaper coverings unless I do something about it.”
Her voice cracked at the end of her tirade and he could clearly read the emotions flashing across her face. It was humbling, and for the first time, he understood the root cause of that passion she held so dear to her heart. It was the same determination that caused him to continue looking for an explanation that might explain his father’s mental deterioration. There had to be a cause for his actions, an underlying condition that had caused him to commit such heinous acts. If not, that would mean his sire had just been… evil and that was incomprehensible.
He reached out and took her hand. “I vow to you that I will do everything in my power to see that your friend’s deaths are avenged. I would want nothing less myself. For years I have been searching for the truth. I do not want you to have to endure a similar suffering.” He paused meaningfully. “I understand how much this means to you and I am sorry I did not see it earlier. I knew you were saddened and felt guilt for it but not how much they meant to you. We will face down this villain as a team, a combined force.”
She laid a gentle hand over his. “Thank you. Believe me when I say I will not take any unnecessary risks. It is not as though I want to die.” She offered a tight smile. “My adoring public needs me.”
He couldn’t seem to look away from her, enchanted by her spell. “They are not the only ones who vie for your attention.”
Her green eyes flashed and before Cordell could think better of his actions, he leaned forward and kissed her.
Unprepared for the embrace, Aislynn was even less prepared for the fire that immediately burst across her thighs when Cordell’s mouth pressed against hers. He tentatively nibbled at her lips and shock caused her to open where the true onslaught began. Flames licked up and down her midsection and she could feel her heart starting to race although she was sitting still.
Was this the dangerous attraction she had been warned to stay away from for so many years? Until now, she hadn’t been under the threat of falling prey to any man but Cordell Steele wasn’t like anyone else she’d ever met. He was enigmatic, strong, confident and more than pleasing to look at. While she wasn’t shallow enough to say that was the main reason she was enjoying his kiss, the expertise with which his mouth moved across hers and the enticing smell of his skin—clean and virile—was a heady combination. She wanted to cling to him, to beg for more, but she knew that would be the height of folly to give in to such persuasive temptation.
She was about to push him away and offer a slight rebuttal when he pulled back and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Forgive me. I cannot say what prompted that.”
“All is well. We shall forget it happened.”
