Brazen and the Beast (The Bareknuckle Bastards #2)(74)

Removing his coat, Devil went to his wife, handing it to her, along with his walking stick. Felicity’s eyes lit with confusion and then delighted understanding. “You’re to fight?” she asked, breathless.

“You could be a touch less excited by the prospect of me in the ring, wife.”

“Do you plan to lose?”

Devil’s affront was palpable. “I do not.”

Felicity’s grin widened. “I shall be certain to give you a proper prize when you win, then.”

“We’re tradin’ one Bastard for another tonight, lads!” Sarita crowed from the center of the ring. “Who’ll step forward to fight the Devil himself?”

A handful of senseless underdogs immediately lined up to have their asses handed to them, clearly thinking that Devil, long and lean and rarely in the ring, was an easier battle than Beast. They were wrong.

Devil pulled his shirt over his head, and a cluster of women to Whit’s left dissolved into sighs. Not that his brother had eyes for any of them; he was already hauling his wife close, lifting her off her feet, and kissing her thoroughly before turning to the crowd, arms wide, smile on his brutally scarred face.

“You’ve had Beast, gents! Now Beauty takes his turn!”

The crowd went wild, charging Sarita to lay their bets.

In the melee, Whit finally found himself able to face Hattie. Hattie, who had pushed past Devil and was coming for him, worry on her brow, unable to take her gaze from the gash on his side. She came up short, her breath coming fast, her full lips slightly parted. Her eyes lifted to his, tracking over his face. “I’m very angry, but I don’t wish you dead.”

He pulled her to the outskirts of the circle, away from the notice of the rest of the assembly. The crowd dropped away. She swallowed, and he was drawn to the movement of her throat, his own mouth going dry as he thought of leaning down and putting his lips there. Licking over it. Scraping his teeth across her soft skin.

He could hear the sigh she’d make. The cries he’d wring from her.

His cock throbbed with the promise it heard.

No promise. He couldn’t touch her.

He was danger to her.

He met her eyes, seeing the heat there. Feeling it everywhere. “I’m taking you home.”

She swallowed again, and a low growl came from deep in his throat. She looked down at the wound she’d given him. “It seems only right that I should bandage that.”

A vision flashed, of her soft fingers on his body, healing him. Pleasuring him. He grunted his approval.

She cleared her throat, forced ice into her tone. “And if you think I’m leaving before we discuss your betrayal, you are quite mistaken.”

He shouldn’t. He should pack her off with Nik, mere feet away, and send her home. Safe. Far from him. He shook his head. “There’s nothing to discuss.”

Hattie’s eyes flashed. “I should like to discuss your being a proper ass.”

Nik coughed her amusement at the words as Nora grinned and said, “If you think she’s going to let you disappear on her, you’re severely misguided . . .” She paused, then said, “What should I call you?”

“Beast,” he said.

Nora tilted her head. “I think I prefer bastard, what with the way you have mistreated my friend.”

This time, Nik turned wide, amused eyes on Nora. “I like you two.”

Nora winked at the Norwegian. “Wait until you get to know us.”

That wouldn’t happen.

And was that a blush on Nik’s cheeks?

He didn’t have time for that. Instead, he scowled at his second and growled, “See her home.”

Nik nodded, no hesitation.

“First, I’m perfectly aware of the location of my home,” Nora said, and Whit gritted his teeth. Deliver him from women who thought they owned the world. “And second, I’m not leaving unless she tells me she wishes to be left.”

He ignored the pleasure that thrummed through him at the woman’s loyalty to Hattie, who deserved it from the wide world. As she couldn’t get it from him.

“I assume you came in one of your carriages?” he asked on a growl.

Nora tilted her head in confusion. “Yes.”

He looked to Nik. “You’ll have to find the gig, too.”

“Someone’s stolen my curricle?” Nora said, outraged.

Nik turned to her, her amusement clear. “You left a hitched carriage in this neighborhood in the dead of night. Yes. Someone’s stolen it.” Nora groaned as the Norwegian added, “No worries. I’ll get the boys on it; they won’t have taken it far.”

“Perhaps I should—” Hattie made to leave him, to go with her friend, and Whit gritted his teeth, wanting to pull her back, to keep her close, but resisting the urge. He wanted her to leave. He wanted her far away. He wanted her safe.

He wanted her.

Nora shook her head and waved Hattie back, her eyes on Nik. “I shall be fine with—” She turned a questioning gaze on Nik.

“Annika.”

“Annika,” Nora said softly. “It is very nice to meet you.”

If it hadn’t been a blush before, it was a blush now.

Nora pulled her gaze away from Nik and said to Hattie, “You came for a purpose.” A knowing smile flashed. “And now you leave with it.”