“I sought you out to give you this.” She reached into her cloak and slid whatever was in her hand across the drink-splattered table. Rían’s cufflink. “You helped Padraig. In return, I would like to offer you proper lodgings.”
“I’m perfectly capable of acquiringproper lodgingswithout your assistance.” If I played my cards right, the barmaid would be helping me with my “problem” in her apartment upstairs as soon as she finished her shift. “Go back to your room before thescary creaturesget you.”
Nuala laughed.
Keelynn’s eyes darkened. “Are you staying with her?”
“Does it matter?” As long as I showed tomorrow, she shouldn’t care what I did with my free time.
“If you want to debase yourself, be my guest. But if you’d like a clean, comfortable room at the inn, it’s yours.”
Something behind me broke. A bottle? A window? Damn, I was drunk.
She couldn’t be saying what I thought she was saying. I must be missing something.
I gulped from my glass, rolling her words around in my mind. “You wantme. . . to come withyou. . . toyourinn?” That’s what she’d said, right? Surely, she knew the implications of such an offer. With our ability to evanesce whenever we pleased—at least those of us who weren’tcursed—the Danú didn’t need inns. We stayed in them, sure.
But not to sleep.
Her head tilted slightly; her eyes roved from my hair to my waistcoat. For the first time since we had met, I was sorry I hadn’t worn something a bit more respectable. Not that it would have made a difference.
“It’s the least I can do after you helped Padraig.”
“The least you can do . . .” I repeated.
Finally.
Finally.
Something was going my feckin’ way. I wouldn’t need to speak to the Queen and I wouldn’t have to spend another day in that damned box. I’d convince her. I would. And I’d enjoy myself doing it.
“Well?” she snapped.
“How can I resist such a magnanimous offer from a generous human such as yourself?” Oh, I was going to enjoy this. What sort of stay kept her so rigid? What color would it be? Probably black, like her gowns. And she was probably the type of woman who liked everything to match. Black knickers. And black stockings as well. I’d take my time slipping her out of those. Or maybe she could leave them on. I shouldn’t be as excited about this as I was. Definitely the drink.
Keelynn’s nose wrinkled as she gestured toward my clothes. “Wash the kohl from your eyes and fixthisso we can be on our way.”
I flipped the cufflink, caught it in my waistcoat pocket, and told her to wait for me outside so I could pay and make myself appear respectable.
Ha. Me. Respectable. What a feckin’ joke.
Nuala hurried from behind the bar, hips swaying in time with her wide skirts. “Come with me,” she rushed, twisting toward a door at the back of the pub.
I didn’t want to come with her anymore. I wanted to come with Keelynn.
Unfortunately, my cursed feet followed of their own volition.
The door closed, enveloping me in darkness. Hands tore at my belt. Unfastened my breeches. Slipped down to my groin. I groaned when Nuala’s cold fingers clasped around me.
This was the hardest part. Reminding myself that this was a curse when it felt so feckin’ good. When the moments stolen in darkness allowed me to forget what happened when daylight returned.
I caught her skirts, dragging them up to her waist.
Nuala’s grip tightened as her warm, wet tongue traced the column of my throat. Her teeth grazed my jaw, but I turned my head away.
“Aren’t ye going to kiss me?” she whispered.
My hand stilled on the waistband of her undergarments. “You don’t want me to do that.”