What the Groom Wants by Jade Lee Read Free Book Online

at him.
    “Did I ask to pay you?” he said, the humor in his voice making her cheeks heat. “What I meant—”
    “I know what you meant,” she said as she pushed harder. He did not move. “The answer is no.”
    He trailed his thumb along her cheek, and she turned away from the touch. He leaned forward to whisper into her ear. “I had not thought you a coward. Why do you run, Wendy? I will make all your dreams come true.”
    She snorted, her spine straightening as much as he allowed. “You know nothing of my dreams.”
    “Really? Shall I prove you wrong? You dream of a safe home for yourself and your mother. I offer you that at fair terms. You wish for a man to appreciate your talents and your intelligence. I do, Wendy. And you wish to know what other women know.” He raised his hand and boldly tweaked her nipple. She would have slapped him no matter who he was, but he stepped out of her reach.
    She bit her lip, feeling her mind swirl in darkening circles. Her body was aroused—she knew that much—but her heart beat like a terrified rabbit. This man was a demon, and her mind churned in confusion. She didn’t want to dance—in the most carnal way—with this devil. She didn’t! There had to be another way out.
    “I’m going to my table now,” she said as she pushed off the railing with shaking arms. He didn’t let her go far. She was still caged by his body, but he allowed her to straighten to her full height. Over his shoulder, she caught the sight of his guards standing there with blank faces. She knew that at a single nod from Damon, they would gut her like a fish. “Damon, you’ve had your fun,” she said. “Let me go.”
    “Where will you go tomorrow? Where will your mother sleep?”
    She closed her eyes. She didn’t know! And she had no time to figure it out.
    He finally bit out a curse. “One month free rent, Wendy. I offer that to no one else. And my men will move everything tomorrow.” He touched her chin, his fingers pinching tight as he pulled her to look at him. “Do not play the fool, Wendy. You know, if you refuse me now, I will be angry, and things will go worse for you.”
    Chilling words, and she felt the blood drain from her face. “And you wonder why I fear you?” she rasped.
    “I never expected anything less,” he said. “Shall I tell you a secret? You like the fear. It makes your heart race and your skin tingle. It draws you to me as surely as—”
    “A moth to flame?”
    He smiled. “I was going to say, a woman who knows a man who can satisfy her.” He folded his arms. “You are saving your virginity for what? One of those gentlemen?” He gestured disdainfully at the gamblers on the floor. “They are not worthy of you. An altar boy who will bring you posies and kiss you chastely on the cheek?” He rolled his eyes. “He will bore you and then betray you by cutting his association the minute he learns of what you did here.”
    “I have done nothing but deal cards.”
    He flashed a feral smile. “That is not what I will say.”
    She felt her cheeks heat. It was true, and she had known what he was doing when they’d walked up here.
    Meanwhile, he shifted to look laconically over the floor. “I believe I shall rent the flat to—”
    “I will take it,” she pushed out. What choice did she have, really? “For a month. Free of rent.” She swallowed. “With my thanks.”
    He sketched a mocking bow. “But of course. My men will be at your home first thing in the morning to help you move.” Then he waved a negligent hand at her. “You may go back to your table now.”
    She left, but her steps were slow and her mind whirled much too fast. What had she done?

Four
    Radley was whistling as he crossed into the area where he’d grown up. He was blocks away from his mother’s rooms, but home was as much about the neighborhood as the place where he slept. He noted the small differences as he moved. One building had been painted. Another looked to have been scorched by