Shadowdance(65)

Mary ought to be afraid. Or, at the very least, unnerved by what she’d revealed to Talent. Instead her mind acted like a dogcart stuck on a track, constantly driving back around to the image of him coming undone.

Blast him. She did not feel like herself anymore, didn’t recognize this woman she’d become. An invader had taken over her skin. Logic had fled like a frightened spirit. Instead she felt. Everywhere. Everything. Her bones thrummed. She was at once too heavy yet oddly buoyant. Her breasts ached and tingled, as though the flesh there had been asleep and now needed to be rubbed fully back to life. A horrid thought, and yet the very idea of big, rough hands rubbing over her tender flesh… God almighty, she quivered. Intolerable.

It was endless, this feeling. When she walked, she felt the length of her own legs and the curve of her bottom, where the fabric of her drawers moved and teased. And she felt her own slickness between her legs, a strange slip-slide that sent little judders of sensation over her, an uncomfortably hot syrup that coated her inside and out.

How was she to live like this? The shift from stasis to this shivering, heated… bloom of feeling was most unwelcome.

The worst part was that it was his fault. And hers. Hers, because she’d spied on him, watched as he handled that big, hardened length of flesh, and now she could not get past the horrid feeling of want. And his because he’d deliberately done it to taunt her.

She hated him. Lousy, dirty bounder. Devil incarnate. Possible murderer to boot. God above, she was feeling this way for a man who might be guilty of horrendous acts.

“Are you going to brood during the whole of our walk?”

Daisy’s voice snapped Mary out of her brooding. Devil take it, she had utterly forgotten the woman was next to her. Shortly after Mary had confessed that she would continue to spy on Talent if necessary, Daisy had waltzed into the room. “Take a walk with me, old girl?” was all she’d said, and Mary had been grateful for the escape.

Now heat flooded her cheeks. Daisy couldn’t read her thoughts, but the mere idea that she’d been having them was bad enough. Because it was a bothersome truth that GIM felt each other’s emotions keenly. Even when they did not want to.

Daisy’s breath floated away in a ghostly puff as it hit the crisp evening air, and she continued as if their walk had just begun. “Such a lovely night. I confess, I quite needed it after that heavy meal.”

“Is that why we’re out here?” Mary had her doubts, crafty as the Ellis sisters were.

“Well, that, and the irritation blasting off you was giving me the twitches.” Daisy looked at her wryly. “I thought you might need some air as well, pet.”

Mary could only muster an inward sigh.

Daisy’s bright blue gaze traveled over her, taking stock of all that Mary sought to hide. “How goes it with Mr. Talent?”

Likely Mary would never meet another soul more astute at ferreting out sexual agitation in others. She tucked her hands farther into her cloak pockets and set her concentration on the road before them. “Do you want to know about the case? Or if we’ve done each other grievous bodily harm?”

Blue eyes looked at her askance. “You aren’t limping, so he hasn’t yet tupped you.” When Mary stumbled, Daisy caught her arm and laughed.

“I was referring to giving him a swift kick in the bollocks,” Mary muttered, before wrenching away as Daisy merely laughed more.

“However the two of you like to play is entirely your business, Miss Mary.”

The back of Mary’s neck stiffened. “You are unconscionable. Has anyone ever told you?”

“Plenty of times, dearest.” Daisy caught her arm again and huddled close in the way Mary had seen female friends do. The touch, while warm, made Mary’s skin tighten. She wondered if she’d ever get accustomed to contact with others. Daisy, however, did not appear to notice and prattled on. “Look, Jack Talent is an ass. We all know it.” Daisy shrugged. “Why he feels it necessary to be a particular ass to you, I cannot say. But he cares with his whole heart. And his loyalty is not to be matched. For heaven’s sake, he lost an arm defending me.”

“An arm?” Alarm shot down Mary’s spine.

“Mm-hmm, that mad werewolf intent on getting me tore it clean off when Jack tried to stop him. Right from the elbow.” Daisy blanched as if remembering the sight.

“Extraordinary,” Mary murmured.

Daisy winced. “He lost an eye as well. But did he convalesce like he ought? No. He came to sit with me for fear that I’d be distraught.” Her blue eyes went soft and glowing. “He hates to hear it, but I do love that man.”