Page 66 of From Duke Till Dawn
“There’s more, and you know it,” he insisted. “Yet it’s easier to think of yourself as just a pickpocket.”
Was it? She didn’t have to believe herself capable of anything more than survival. She could rest comfortably thinking that she didn’t have to worry or think about others, not when her own neck was on the line.
“You could take a portion of your earnings from the club and give it to a charity,” he suggested. “Start a school for girls to learn trades. Anything.”
Her mouth curved wryly. “I’m not ready to become entirely altruistic. Nobody’s going to look out formeif I do.”
“Maybe you have more friends than you realize.” He gazed deeply into her eyes, and warmth stole through her.
She had no answer. Nothing clever or quick to keep that burst of light from filling her. So she said nothing.
Looking across the room, she noticed a tall, dark-haired man with the stubble of a pirate talking to the club’s manager, Amina. The manager leaned against the wall, her hands behind her back as her chin tilted up, her chest on prominent display. The pirate gent braced one hand high above Amina’s head, his body angling toward hers. As they talked, the pirate grinned in true buccaneer fashion, while Amina’s smile was smaller but frequent. Even without hearing what they spoke about, it was clear that both were captivated by each other’s company.
“Didn’t think our fine club proprietress would spend time making eyes at one of the guests,” Cassandra noted to Alex, glancing at the flirting couple.
Alex followed her gaze and guardedly nodded.
“You know him,” she deduced.
“Hard to know anyone’s identity in here.” He tapped his mask.
“But youdoknow him.”
He shrugged.
“Whoever he is, he’s made his intentions clear.” The pirate dipped his head lower, as if to steal a kiss, but Amina turned her head away, so the pirate’s lips grazed her cheek. At his disappointed look, Amina laughed.
The pirate must have sensed that the power wasn’t in his favor, because he stood back, bowed at Amina, and quickly strode from the chamber. Amina straightened, but rather than return to her duties, she watched the doorway through which the pirate had exited, as if her gaze could draw him back.
“I feel sorry for the both of them,” Cassandra murmured. “Neither can get what they want.”
Alex gazed at Amina. “It’s in her control as to whether or not they’ll get their desires.”
“If she yields,” Cassandra explained, “she gives up everything. Her power. Taking a guest to bed would make her fully human, and vulnerable. She’d give herself what she wants, but she’d lose a piece of herself in the process.”
Alex turned his attention from Amina to Cassandra. He said nothing, but his look spoke eloquently.Who is it you speak of?
“Let’s play our own game,” Cassandra suddenly announced.
“Cards and dice are in short supply,” he noted.
“There are other games to play.” She nodded toward a man standing alone in a corner. “Tell me his story.”
“I don’t know anyone here,” Alex insisted.
“But you canguess,can’t you? Come now,” she chided, “surely someone so influential can judge a person from their outward appearance. How else can you manipulate others so effectively?”
“Through the strength of my character,” he said.
“And...?” She looked at him encouragingly.
“And through assessing them and using their hidden strengths and weaknesses to my own benefit.”
“Aha! You admit being human, at last.” She downed the last of her wine. “I’ll drink to that.”
“I never said I wasn’t human,” Alex grumbled. “I’m only a man.”
There was nothingonlyabout him as he leaned against the arm of the chaise, large and shadowy in his evening clothes, guarded by his mask. He was her opposite in so many ways. Dark where she was fair. Sharp where she was soft. Decidedly masculine in contrast to her femininity. He radiated with potency, made all the more compelling by the fact that he’d pleasured her so thoroughly. There was so much more pleasure to explore with him.
