She reached across the table. “And it’s a shame because you have a lovely mouth.” Her fingertips may have been brushing my lips, but I felt the effects farther south.
“No, you have a lovely mouth,” I whispered. The color of a blush rose. Plump and soft and made for kissing. “Whereas I have a wicked mouth that does terribly wicked things.”
The cord between us dragged so tight, my ribs dug into the edge of the table.
Her tongue nipped out, catching my thumb for the briefest of seconds, lighting me ablaze. I’d been bedded by some of the most beautiful women on this island and yet with one miniscule swipe of this infuriating woman’s tongue, I was full sure I’d melt.
Her pupils blew out. “Like what?”
Feck this.
We were leaving.
I shifted coins, slammed them on the table, and held out a hand. This woman was about to be mine.
And the ring. The ring was what really mattered.
“Come with me, and I’ll show you.” I’d show her everything she didn’t know she was missing. I’d take my time. Have her trembling against my wicked mouth, tasting and savoring, and then I’d rid myself of these curses once and for all.
The moment her fingers laced with mine, my heart began to sing.
And then the feckin’ guardian from hell evanesced behind her, taking Keelynn’s hand and telling me to stay here.
I didn’t want to stay in this pub that smelled of drink and old wood. I wanted to go with Keelynn. And she wanted me to. He knew that. He must’ve heard. I’d given her a choice, and she’d chosen me.
“I don’t meant to overstep, milady,” Padraig muttered, taking her arm, towing her away. “But believe me when I say that nothing good will come from . . .associatingwith someone like him.”
Someone like me.
A monster.
A murderer.
A whore.
It was all true, but I didn’t give a shit because she had chosen me. That was how this worked. She chose me. I get her. Grinding my teeth together, I fought the darkness welling in my chest. Keelynn would never forgive me if I painted these walls with her coachman’s blood, but if he didn’t let her go, that’s what would happen.
Maeve evanesced to the door, halting their exit. “Leaving so soon? I was hoping ye’d stay a bit longer. We could have thatcardgame.”
Padraig’s gaze flicked to me. “I need to see my lady safely to the inn.”
I was disengaging his hand from Keelynn’s before he realized. “Allow me to escort her.” This time, I played the perfect gentleman and offered my arm.
“I don’t think—”Padraig.
“Ye should stay—”Maeve.
“What are you—”Padraig.
“Enough!” Keelynn roared. “I am an adult.” When she tried to prop her hands on her hips, they slipped. “I will make my own decisions.” To Padraig, she said, “Stay with Maeve. Tadhg will escort me to the inn, won’t you Tadhg?”
Feckin’ right I would. “I will, of course.”
Padraig caught me by the collar, light blue eyes starting to glow as his glamour slipped. “Lady Keelynn is drunk and doesn’t know what she’s after doin’. If ye try ‘n bed her tonight, yer gonna meet the wrong end of that dagger in the morning.”
She wasn’t that drunk. Was she? Perhaps her eyes were a little more red around the edges than I’d originally thought. And she swayed a bit as she stood there watching us. A little tipsy was a far cry from sozzled. Still, I knew better than to bed a drunk woman if I could help it. “You have my word.”
Padraig let me go with a stiff nod.