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She took a step back.
"Amaya, come with me. Talk with me." He was so grateful that his voice was calm, but urgent.
No quaver of need showed.
"Your chance to ask that of me died when you took my job away." The quaver in her voice was
clear.
He ached. Moving toward the stairs to block her escape he paused on the bottom step, looking
up at her. "I will help you find a new duty. Please, come walk with me."
"Walk?!" her voice was full of scorn.
"Walk." He went up to the second story landing. "No work, no pleasure tonight, Lady. Walk
with me, and talk."
She looked down at Kent in the street and his cat went wild in rage. He curled his hand into
the banister, his nails scraping on the stone.
"It’s more serious than a high-handed flirtation, love. I think you should go with him."
Kent’s encouragement didn’t soothe his cat.
He moved up another set of stairs, until he was within reach. His cat settled, pacing.
"Amaya. Do not fear me."
"Oh, I don’t think fear is the right word," she spat at him.
The tear tracks glistening on her cheeks cut worse than her anger. "I know. It would have
been kinder to stop you before you entered, but I’m struggling right now. I needed you to
know I am your path, now. There can be no question."
She grabbed the banister in front of her and shook it. It being stone, she ended up shaking
herself. He was a little alarmed at the feminine snarl that rose from her closed throat.
"Question! Question? There’s an idea! Have you ever tried asking? Eledi learned it when
she was two! I’m not a thing you can take, or a child to direct without choice! You took my
belongings, you took my job, and you think I will accept you? Is this how you think
'partners' work?" Leaning down, she bared her teeth at him. They were sharp and smooth and
gleaming in the shadow of her hood. He caught his breath to see them. "Ass." The word
whispered like a caress, then she was hurrying past him in a wave of Kent-scented woman.
He caught her arm and ducked her swinging slap. She pulled so strongly from his light grip
that she stumbled on her long skirts and tumbled on the stairs. He leaped and caught her
before she landed, his heart in his throat. "Enough. You are going to hurt yourself." He
bared his own teeth back at her, swung her up, kicking in his arms, ignoring her braced and
pushing hands on his neck and jaw.
"Put me down! I’ll scream for the guards!"
"We are the guards," Kent laughed.
Amaya panted as he came down the stairs.
"Never knew you were so woman-stupid, Ruse. Good luck."
"Kent!"
Amaya’s wail went right to his cock. She called another man?
"You’ll be fine, love. He’ll never hurt you." Kent went back up the stairs.
"He’s carrying me away!"
"Ruse..." Kent paused, warning him, asking with his eyes if he had to watch out for Amaya.
Ruse’s cat roared, but he recognized the man’s honor. "I’ll take her home. That’s all I’m
doing."
Kent nodded at him once. "Come see me tomorrow if you need to, Amaya."
Ruse spun in the street and roared with gut shaking fury at the threat.
Kent just laughed and bounded back up the stairs into the pleasure house.
Amaya struggled in his arms so fiercely he feared his firm hold would harm her.
"You don’t control me! Put me down!"
He put her down. She staggered back and blinked at him, surprised.
"I just need to talk to you, Amaya. Don’t. Run." His cat was crouched, trembling.
She swallowed. Huge eyes scanned his face. She’d worked with Truxet men for years. He
prayed she knew enough not
to-- Fuck. She ran. Her skirts were in her fists, her loose
hair shining where the hood fell back. And everything would have been fine if he hadn’t
caught the wisp of her woman’s scent from beneath her layers of clothing. Hot, rich, damp.
The scent that came from a woman’s core when she was aroused.
His dick went hard as a spike as every muscle in his body shivered to chase. He closed his
eyes, willed himself to breathe. His claws pricked his palms in his clenched fists, he could
control this...
Then she laughed. Throaty, taunting, pleased. "If you can catch me, we’ll talk."
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