Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“I’ll just be a moment.”
She was still gaping at him. Strange little thing, wasn’t she? Then she turned and walked out. He shook his head.
“What’s going on?” Liam asked sharply.
“Just corrupting the maid. Nothing new.”
Liam sighed. “Don’t go causing Regent’s staff to quit. You know how pissy he’ll get, and we need to stay there to have access to Lottie.”
“I know the plan. It’s not my fault she took offense to listening to me talk about a natural bodily function. Maybe if she did it more often she wouldn’t be so shocked.”
“Nicolas,” Liam said in a warning tone that made Nico smile in pleasure.
Maybe he was crazy. He didn’t give a shit. He was how he was.
“Liam,” he said back.
“You’d try the patience of a fucking saint.”
“Hey, boyo, don’t know what pill ye took, but you’re no feckin’ saint.”
“That was a terrible Irish accent, and I don’t even have an accent.”
Liam had Irish blood on his mother’s side, but he was born and bred in New York city.
“If you could get your mind off your dick and stop terrorizing the maids, I’d appreciate getting back on topic. Where’s Lottie?” Liam asked.
“Not here.”
“I gathered that much. At least I fucking hope you weren’t talking about jacking off in front of her.”
“Why wouldn’t I? If she’s going to be ours, that’s something she should get used to.”
“What? You speaking about inappropriate topics at the breakfast table?”
“See now, that’s just the way you were raised. This is the step-monster’s fault. She taught you that only certain topics were acceptable while eating. But the opposite is true, you should be free to talk about anything you like.”
“So, you often talk about cranking one out in front of your parents and siblings?”
“Fuck, no, my mother would chop my hand off.”
“That’s what I thought. Where is Lottie, Nico?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a sigh. “God, scrambled eggs taste like crap when they’re cold.”
“I don’t give a shit what you’re eating. I care what she’s eating.”
“Jeez, you give a man your innocence, take his hand in marriage, and suddenly, he doesn’t care about you anymore.”
“You didn’t give me your innocence. Hasn’t she eaten breakfast?” Liam asked in a low voice, sounding concerned.
Why Liam thought himself unredeemable, Nico had no fucking idea. But he guessed it was his job to make Liam see sense. Someone who was all bad wouldn’t worry over anyone else.
“Not unless she got up early and ate before I got downstairs. I’ve been here close to two hours. It’s more like snack time now. Do you suppose they serve beignets around here?”
“It’s not a restaurant,” Liam reminded him. “And I doubt she was up that early, she was awake late last night.”
“But does she really sleep?” Nico had his doubts because of how pale and exhausted she looked.
“Go find her.”
“I was planning on it,” he replied calmly. “But then you called me.”
“Make her eat something.”
Lord, oh Lord, help him.
“Liam I can’t force her to eat.”
“Of course, you can. Sit her down, put food in front of her and tell her she’s not getting up until the food is all gone.”
“Liam, seriously, are you listening to yourself?”
“What?” Liam replied in a surly voice.
“She’s not a child. I can’t sit her down and tell her she’s not moving.”
Liam grumbled. “If she was ours . . .”
“If she was ours, we’d be encouraging her to eat. We wouldn’t be going all Captain Caveman on her ass.”
“Why not?”
“Because this takes some finesse.” Something Liam lacked. Nico admitted he wasn’t great with it himself. But he was better than the big bruiser he’d married. “Because she needs to trust us and gift us her submission. Because maybe she has an issue with food and trampling all over what’s going on with her will make it fucking worse.”
“Fuck, I didn’t even about think that. Do you think she does?”
“I dunno. I’m going to see what I can find out.”
“My informant hasn’t said anything.”
“I can’t believe you have a spy in the household.” He looked around as he whispered that part.
“You disapprove?”
“Fuck no. Just can’t believe you got someone to agree to spy on Regent Malone without threatening bodily harm.”
“What makes you think I didn’t?” Liam said in a low, silken voice.
Right. Christ, he needed to end this call before his balls fucking burst.
“Go find her. Make sure she’s eating. And don’t jack off.”
“Sir, yes, Sir.”
“I’d say stop being a smart ass, but I know that’s impossible for you.”
“Pretty sure it’s in my DNA.”
Nico found her in the sun room. She was wearing a long metallic gold skirt that had pleats in it. A long-sleeved, oversized black shirt was tucked into the skirt.
Fuck, she was tiny.
They looked like designer pieces, expensive, but he’d expect nothing less for the beloved sister of Regent Malone.
Still, they were odd clothes to wear while painting. She had an easel in front of her and was so focused on her work that she didn’t even see him approaching.