Her Wanton Wager (28 page)

She shook her head, a wooden movement.

"Because being pretty gets you buggered. Because if you don't beat the hell out of them first, they'll do worse to you." Gavin's hands fisted at his sides, his eyes burning pitch. "I became a man in that place, and I survived by learning that power is everything."

"You did what you had to," she whispered.

"I lived like a beast," he said darkly. "When another convict tried to steal my food, I cut out his tongue. When a guard flogged me, I took the pain, knowing the scars would toughen my skin. When a whore ridiculed me,"—his knuckles whitened—"I showed her I was a man."

Though she trembled at the savage confession, Percy saw the hidden torment of the man in front of her. For the first time, she began to understand Gavin's complexity. Pieces fell into place ... his ferocity and primal need for parity. His compassion for children who'd had to endure too much. And her heart wept a little.

"I'm so sorry," she said, "so sorry you had to go through—"

"
I do not want your pity
."

The checked rage in his words broke through her numbness. Instinctively, she knew that this was the first time he'd told his story. He was looking at her with a savage expression: as if he expected her to bolt or scream in fear. Oh, her Hades, her scarred hero—did he not know her better by now?

"It's
not
pity. Gavin, I—"

"I am telling you this because you wanted to know about my appetites. For me, control is everything,"—his gaze shot to the rope—"and sex is no different."

She blinked.
Um, that's your revelation?
She might be a virgin, but she wasn't a fool. In the times they'd been together, Gavin had always been masterful. Dominant ... and deliciously so. Her insides grew hot at the notion of what he might do with the objects beside her. She'd always known he wanted her surrender, but she hadn't yielded, not completely, because of the wager. And because she hadn't understood his need the way she did now.

Clarity struck her. He might call it control, but what he truly needed was ... love. Someone to trust. She'd sensed his loneliness from the start, and it had drawn her, his intense need for what
she
could offer. Because she did have something to offer: her heart. In that instant, she knew beyond a doubt that she was fully and completely in love with Gavin Hunt.

"Shocked you into silence, have I? There's a first," he said in stark tones.

With a tremulous smile, she said, "Thank you for sharing this with me. For trusting me."

He stared at her. "You're … thanking me."  

Hopping down from the bar, she crossed to him. Placed her palm against his hard jaw. "I have feelings for you, Gavin. I know how foolish it sounds coming on the heels of my infatuation with Portland; if I were you, I wouldn't believe me either. But there it is."

His hands closed roughly on her shoulders. "You have feelings ... for me?"

Knowing his mistrust of love (and the fiasco with Portland did not help her case), she told herself to ease him into the idea with patience and tact. To try to explain herself in a way Gavin could understand. And believe.

"When I am with you, I feel truly myself—truly
free
as I have never been before. You don't judge me or try to make me into someone I am not. And," she said, flushing yet determined to be as honest as possible, "I desire you. Being in your arms is the best place I've ever been."

"
Percy.
" He sounded stunned.

"Wait, I'm not finished." She put a hand against his chest, his power thrumming beneath her palm. "It pains me beyond bearing to think of the hurt you must have endured. Yet your past has made you the strong, fearless fighter that you are. A man I admire and accept,"—she tipped her head toward the items on the bar—"in all ways."

Flames of need rose in his dark eyes. How badly he wanted to believe her.

"How can you say that when I control your family's future?" he bit out.

She'd asked herself the same question so many times; now, her heart gave the answer. "With Paul—it's about justice, isn't it? You want what's owed to you, and I cannot fault you for that. 'Tis the way of your world."

Expression shuttered, Gavin gave a slow nod. "Aye, justice."

"You've never lied to me, and I won't lie to you: I won't betray my family. If you will not release my brother, then you leave me no choice but to win the wager." Trying to keep her voice from trembling, she said, "And in that case ... would you still want me?"

Her breath held.

"I will always want you."

His arms surrounded her, crushing her to his chest. Her eyelids closed as he took her lips in a hot, demanding kiss. She clung to him, opening herself completely to his passion. His hands gripped her bottom, pulling her tight against him. She sighed at the contact with his muscular form, his erect member so strong and fierce between her thighs.

"I've missed you." The admission sounded ragged, torn from a place deep inside him. "I've never wanted anyone like I want you, Percy."

"I'm glad," she said, linking her arms around his neck. "Because if you did, I'd have to scratch her eyes out. And that doesn't sound very pleasant."

At that, his brows raised. "Possessive, are you?" 

"
Mine
goes both ways," she informed him.

He kissed her again, this time with a tenderness that made her heart sing. "You have nothing to worry about," he murmured.

Actually ... she did. Recalling the purpose of her visit, she felt her belly flutter. Gavin had entrusted her with so much today; could she show the same faith in him?

"There's something I need to tell you. It's about my brother." She faltered and forced herself to say, "He's ... he's in trouble again."

Gavin released her. "What sort of trouble?"

"Cards. This time he lost money to a man named O'Brien—do you know him?"

"Aye."

Biting her lip, she said, "I gave Paul all I had, and it still wasn't enough to cover the debt. And I'm afraid he'll only lose more. I don't know what else to do, Gavin. So I thought I'd ask for your advice." She gave him a hopeful look. "Surely you've encountered men with the same affliction?"

Expression neutral, he said, "You trust me when it comes to your brother's welfare?"

"You gave your word that you wouldn't harm him," she said.

His knuckles grazed her cheek. "And my word is enough?"

She nodded.
Please prove me right.

He sighed. "I have seen this many times, Percy. Once a man starts down the path to ruin, no one can turn him back but himself. And that usually doesn't happen until the ground falls from beneath his feet."

"That can't be." Her insides turned to ice. "I won't let that happen to Paul."

"It's not your choice, buttercup." Gavin rubbed his neck. "If it puts you at ease, however, I will pay off your brother's debts and request that O'Brien bar him from the premises."

"You'd do that for me?" she breathed.

He does love me as much as I love him …

"For you—and also to protect my own investment. Fines won't be of much use to me if O'Brien gets to him first," he said in wry tones.

Um ... or maybe not.

Sighing, she told herself the reason did not matter; for now, the fact that Gavin would intervene on Paul's behalf filled her with gratitude and relief. Until another thought occurred to her. "But what about the threats on your life? You said other proprietors might be involved. Is it
safe
for you to go to O'Brien?"  

"I'll be fine. As I said, I can take care of myself." When she made to argue, he placed a finger against her lips. "I was planning on paying O'Brien a visit anyway."

Was he just saying that to make her feel better? "For what purpose?" she said.

He hesitated. "Robbie Lyon was murdered last week."

"
Murdered?
" she gasped. "By whom?"

"That is what I aim to find out," Gavin said.  

Her stomach roiled with apprehension. "Do you think Mr. Lyon's death is related to the threats on your life?"

"He is the second club owner to perish in six months. More than mere coincidence."

"Then you must have a care! You cannot go traipsing about as if you're invincible."  When he raised a brow that clearly said
I'm not?
, she said in exasperation, "Can't the magistrates look into the matter?"

"Charleys don't know their arses from their elbows," he said derisively.

"A private investigator, then. Bow Street Runners or ..."—she hit upon an inspiration—"I know a member of the Thames River Police. A Mr. Kent. He is a friend of Nick's and ever so clever. I could contact him—"

"Over my dead body." The sharpness of Gavin's tone took her aback. "No policeman is getting involved in this. Nor are you to interfere with my affairs, Percy."

"How can you expect me not to concern myself over this? I love you, you stubborn lout!"

He grew still. His eyes hooded.

So much for patience and tact.
"I know your opinion on love," she said, straightening her shoulders, "and that you take no stock in it. But it means something to me, and I cannot allow you to take unnecessary risks. Even for my brother."  

"You're worried for me—over your brother?"

She frowned; it wasn't an either-or situation. "I'm worried about you both. But there's no danger to Paul's life at the moment. Whereas with you there's more afoot than you've led on."

"I've told you more than I've shared with anyone." His voice grew hoarse, and he seemed to struggle to get the words out. "You are … important to me, Percy."

'Twas the closest he'd come to declaring his feelings for her. Hope blossomed within her. He
was
capable of love; surely with time he would come to return her feelings.

"As you are to me," she said. Then, looking to the clock, she sighed with frustration. "Dash it all, I
have
to go, but can we talk more about this tomorrow night?"

He hesitated. "For your safety, perhaps it would be better to postpone—"

"Oh no. You're not getting rid of me that easily. I took great pains to convince Lisbett to let me stay over at my friend Charity's tomorrow night." Rising on tiptoe, she pressed her lips to his scarred cheek, and the large, ferocious lord of The Underworld actually
trembled
at her touch.

He rasped, "
All
night?"

"Yes," she said. "And who knows when I'll have another opportunity like this one?"

His answer was a slow, wicked smile. "Then tomorrow we will have to make the most of it."

TWENTY-SIX

The next morning, Gavin faced Finian O'Brien in the sumptuous office of The Emerald Club. A pair of armed men flanked either side of O'Brien's ornately carved chair, and Gavin had his own men outside, ready to act at a moment's notice. Tension crackled as palpably as the logs in the fireplace.

 "'Twas horrible what happened to Lyon," Finian said in his high, nasal tone. "Such an unfortunate way to go, with one's vices exposed for all the world to see."

The hair rose on Gavin's nape at the hint of smugness. "'Twas a cowardly act to kill a man who could not fight back."

Finian stroked his thin moustache. "Cowardly? Yes, I suppose. But effective." His teeth flashed. "Though one oughtn't speak ill of the dead, Lyon will not be missed, will he? The fellow pissed on just about everyone—yourself included, Mr. Hunt."

"I didn't kill him," Gavin said evenly.

"I would never suggest such a thing. We are friends, after all." Finian fingered the emerald stick pin in his fussy cravat. "Friends do not accuse friends of murder."

Water was easier to pin down than the slippery bastard. Gavin decided to switch tactics.

"With Lyon gone, there's more for the rest of us, eh?" he said lightly.

Finian grinned and tipped his glass. "I'll drink to that."

"Speaking of business, there's a matter I want to speak to you about. Concerns a fellow by the name of Paul Fines. I think you know him."

"Might ring a bell."

Lying bastard. Finian's memory was legendary. He could recite the name, address, and background story of every cove who owed him money. Gavin didn't buy for an instant that the other man didn't recall Fines.

Gavin still could not believe what he was about to do. He'd told himself that bailing Fines out of trouble was part of his plan for revenge, yet who was he fooling? The truth was he'd been swayed by Percy's distress. By the need to soothe and protect her.

I love you.
'Twas the first time he'd heard those words. They'd hit him like pellets of sunshine, dissolving the dank chill in his soul. At moments, he could almost let himself believe that she'd meant what she said … Well, he'd have his proof soon. If Percy truly had such strong feelings for him, she'd surrender to him tonight. He would make her his, get the bloody wager over with … and perhaps even tell her about Morgan.

If she loved him, wouldn't she take his side? For his part, he wouldn't give her cause to regret him and was proving it that very moment by bargaining with a damned cutthroat for her brother's life.

He kept his tone casual. "The thing of it is, Fines owes me a load of blunt. I aim to collect it, and I don't intend to wait in line to get my due."

"Ah, now I have it. Blond fellow with an appetite for hazard." Finian's smile had a razor's edge. "Owes me a hundred quid."

Gavin reached into his pockets, causing Finian's men to twitch. He withdrew his wallet and counted out banknotes on the desk. "Two hundred pounds," he said, "and my thanks for barring Fines from further play."  

"I pride myself on running a hospitable establishment," Finian said mournfully. "Who am I to cut a cove off?"

Narrowing his eyes, Gavin added another note to the pile. "I am certain you can make an exception in this case."

 "The cull must owe you quite a sum." With a satisfied smile, Finian reached for the money. "Ah well, there's no getting blood from a stone, is there? I will leave you to get what you can from the gent."