Page 30 of Kissed By a Scoundrel
How he wished Endora would stop pestering him. Between catering to the wealthy prisoners and doing her bidding, he was exhausted.
She stopped pacing and pointed an accusing finger at him. “You’re keeping something from me. I recognize that look on your face. I’ve seen it before when I mention Katie Latham. Does that tart arouse you more than I do? Do you want to make her your lover?” She threw up her hands in the air. “And after everything I do for you,” she screamed in her shrill voice. “Do you honestly think sweet Miss Latham would turn her attention to you?” Endora threw her head back and laughed. “She likes pretty fair-haired boys, not brutish goliaths like you.”
She continued to cackle as she pointed out his physical faults.
“You go too far, woman,” Rosco yelled, clenching and unclenching his hands.
“Stop acting like a petulant child,” she snapped as she strode to the small window. Looking out, she uttered another curse. I can barely see the courtyard. I should have a better view…”
His anger was beginning to boil. Her favorite pastime of late was berating him and complaining about her quarters. Ignoring him. Talking with her back to him. Like she always did.
She whirled around. “You haven’t been spending enough time with me lately. Why do you run to Mayfair every chance you get?”
“To do your bidding,” he growled.
“I doubt that!” she screeched. “You have some sort of fetish for the young tart! Had you followed my orders, I wouldn’t be reading about her in the Tattle, every damn day.”
“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Rosco yelled, picking up a chair near the door and flinging it against the wall, splintering it in pieces.
I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! Rosco eyed her lank hair. It was once a rich burnished red. It was the first thing that drew me to her. Now, it hangs dirty, matted, and wild about her shoulders.
He couldn’t understand it. He’d given her brushes and combs, perfumes, soaps. He’d even managed to steal a brass tub for her to bathe in. But when she took to one of her moods, she would go weeks without washing, and still, she would rant and rave at him.
He loved her. He’d loved her from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her. From the first moment she’d called him into this chamber, she stood naked, in all her glory, tempting him with her lush beauty, making him want her more than anything else.
Even now, when she rants at me in that ugly voice, she is still beautiful.
I love her.
I hate her.
How can I feel both at the same time?
“What a dullard you are,” she said, continuing to deride him. Then, she laughed.
Just like the others… When did she become like them? They all laughed at me too, at first. But they soon learned. I saw to that.
“You’re useless,” she raged.
“I told you, I was spying on the girl,” Rosco said, his teeth clenched. “I went to see if she’s back at all the parties like it says in your silly paper.” He wanted to tell her how much he cared about her, but she wouldn’t stop the incessant insults. “The Latham girl has a new toff. I didn’t recognize him. A tall bastard.”
Endora spun around. Her face was a twisted picture of hatred. “I hate her. And I hate you for not having killed her. Her brother and his wife ruined my life. And her fiancé’s uncle put me here. I wanted them all to pay. She should have died with Colborne, so they would all know the pain they caused me. Had you not botched the whole thing up at the theater, they would have felt the sting of retribution. But no! Instead, you did half a job. You say you love me, but you failed me. You always fail me. Just like every other man I’ve ever known.”
“Enough!” he roared, lunging at her. He lifted her in his arms and threw her onto the bed. “No more talking!”
He rolled her onto her back and straddled her, his hands slipping around her neck.
She was still flushed from all her ranting but now she wore that seductive smile he liked. Good. He wanted her to smile.
“Is this a new thing we’re trying?” Her voice was husky as her hands found their way to his pants.
“Yes. It’s something new. Do you like it?” He pressed against her as he added more pressure.
“Yes.” She began to breathe heavily.
Finally, he would make her truly his. No more ranting. No more raving. She would belong to him and only him. Just like the others…
He added more pressure. And her eyes began to bulge.
