Page 23 of Urban Gladiator

He rose from bed without saying a word. And after what we just shared, it hurt. It was stupid of me to get attached in any way. But it still left me aching, feeling like I was being discarded.

I couldn’t keep my displeasure inside. “So is this what my life is going to be now? To be used as your fuck toy whenever you want? And then you leave me naked and locked in the room?”

“I didn’t hear you complaining,” he shot back over his shoulder.

I shot up into a sitting position, uncaring of my naked state. “Seriously? You’re going to be that big of a dick?”

He sighed and wiped his hand over his face with a scowl of frustration. “No. But it’s complicated.”

“Bullshit. It’s only complicated if you want it to be. What are your plans for me beyond fucking me whenever you decide you want it? And do those plans involve clothes because while I don’t mind walking around naked, other people might take offense.” Although that would be one way to distract them when I enacted my vengeance upon them.

“I’ll have Bixby bring a selection of clothing to you today, along with your meals.” He shoved his legs into his pants.

“And that’s it? You’re not going to tell me what you have planned for me?”

“I’m working on it.” He grabbed his shirt, jamming his arms in the sleeves.

“Great non-answer. In the meantime, what do you propose I do? Sit in this room and twiddle my thumbs? Watch bad daytime television?”

“I don’t care what you do as long as you don’t get into trouble.”

“That’s a very broad non-answer. It leaves a lot of wiggle room.”

“Just stay out of trouble,” he demanded with a frown.

“So I can leave the room then?” Would he give me what I wanted? A chance to scope out the palace and figure out my method of attack.

“I’ll have Bixby escort you around the palace and give you a tour.”

I smiled. Some freedom at last. All I had to do was play the long game, and I would be victorious. “Great. I hope he brings shoes. I’d hate to have to walk barefoot.”

He finished buttoning his shirt and studied me intently. “Don’t make me regret giving you a little bit of freedom.”

Too late. He would regret it. He just didn’t know it yet. But I gave him a flirtatious smile. “I won’t.”

I could tell he didn’t fully trust me. The feeling was mutual.

Rowan studied me, attempting to determine the truthfulness behind my statement. Before shaking his head, he left without a word.

Once he was gone, I opened my hand. In my palm I held a few strands of his hair. It was the only way I could figure out what was going on. I wouldn’t blindly trust him, not until I knew what his endgame was for me.

9

It didn’t matter that I enjoyed fucking him. And boy, did I ever. It was, far and away, the best sex I’d ever had. There was a promise of more between us. It had hung in the air when he’d been buried inside me. If he was a wizard, I’d be all up in his business and locking his ass down. But he wasn’t. He was my enemy.

I might hate that he was in that category. But I couldn’t change the facts. He was a wolf shifter, and I was a witch. We were supposed to be two unmixy things. Regardless of whether we gelled in bed, there was a mess of issues to deal with outside of it. The clans would revolt if we became a couple in the real sense of the word.

Bixby materialized, and I was proud of myself for not jolting. Ghosts could be unpredictable under the best of circumstances. I closed my hand around the hairs. There were a few supplies I would need to properly cast, and he might be the best angle to achieve my aims.

“Miss, I have some clothes here for you.” His arms were full. He reminded me of a proper Victorian gentleman in dress and mannerisms.

“You know, for a ghost, you’ve mastered the art of touching and moving objects.” I complimented him, my voice sugary sweet.

“Thank you, miss. Although, I’m still not solid myself. There are certain things I still can’t do that I did when I was alive. But on the whole, I’m enjoying my afterlife.”

“I could help you.” I dangled the carrot, wondering if he’d bite.

His black gaze sharpened, and he studied me with a discerning eye. “Could you now?”

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