Then she barked a laugh in his face—sharp, mocking—and damn if that old fire in her didn’t make him harder still.
Their eyes locked.
Her amusement faded.
“I mean everything I say, Meghan,” he whispered. “Everything.”
And with that warning, he tapped his boot against the carpet she had laughed over with Greyhold.
“My family will kill you,” she said softly, neither threat, nor promise. Just a sadly stated little fact.
“They will try,” he promised. “But that is all they will do.” His hands pulsed at his side.
A flicker crossed her eyes.
Pain? Fear for her kin? For him?Surely not the latter.
Ah, yes. Culross scoffingly recalled her profession last evening. She took them for friends—correction,formerfriends now.
Either way, she had never been that to him.
Friends did not want to rip another friend’s skirts off and bury oneself ballocks deep in the other one the way Culross did her.
“Now.” He gestured. “Get in.”
Shoulders back, Meghan glided over. She stopped two feet from the carpet. Her glittering eyes held his—and then she spat on the Axminster.
His jaw slipped. “Given your exchange with Greyhold, I take it you have a problem with the carpet.”
Meghan notched up her chin. “You could lay down Dacca muslin, dip it in chocolate, and I still would not step on your carpet.”
A muscle jumped beside his eye. “Would you have me fetch Greyhold, as you seemed all too eager to oblige him?”
“Oh, yes.” If sarcasm were a person, its name would be Meghan. “And let you leave so you may play the coward twice this day, my lord?”
His eyes bulged.
“No,” she scoffed. “I’d far rather take my chances keeping off that carpet with you than with the seven-foot tree you planted in my room this morning.”
The rage that had filled him at seeing her cozy with the viscount eased.
His lips twitched.
Oh, Christ.
He caught his mistake too late.
Her brows dipped. “This is amusing to you?” she demanded, storming over.
Culross fell back. “No—ow.”
Meghan drew her finger back to flick him a second time. This time he ducked.
“I know better than to use my finger against you men and your big, stupid chests.” The lady pointed accusingly at the offending area.
He glanced down.
His mistake proved costly.
