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“What the deuce?” he said as he went towards her

His first thoughts were confused He had asked for a fresh young beauty with experience be sent to him, and they sent him Sassy? How could this be? Sassy? Sassy was a part of this?

It was as though she had ripped the heart from his chest, and all he could do was stand there and watch as a beast devoured it His reaction was an angry sneer “I see Well, well, Sassy, I was not expecting you”

“Who were you expecting then? Were you expecting someone from Netherby?” she deh I have never known you”

His eyes lashed her fiercely, wanting to hurt her as he was hurt “I was expecting a whore or perhaps so about to embark upon the worthy old profession! I know I professed a preference for you, but never thought …”

Sassy’s hand went to her heart She held onto a nearby chair back, looking as though she were about to collapse

He saw the ulf herself in a circle of protection “How … how could you?”

It infuriated hier he dispelled the protectionher, he demanded, “How could I?” He sneered at her “Do you knohat you have lost this night? I was going to offer you everything—my heart, my life, my devotion …”

His lips tore at her own brutally He wanted her to feel his agony, and he poured it into that kiss as he pressed her hard against him He wore only his shirtsleeves and breeches, and he set her aside to remove even those

“Stop!” she cried

“Oh no, madam We are in too deep to one another to stop now,” he said, feeling the heart she had reassembled over the last feeeks break beyond repair “Tell me, Sassy—how many have you had before me?”

“What? What is wrong with you? What are you saying?” It dawned on her He thought she was the girl they had sent over “Oh! You odious scoundrel—it is not what you think”

He laughed mirthlessly “Oh, but you are every bit of what I think you are! I was going to ask you to be ad what a fool I turned out to be”

“You were going to ask irl for the evening? It is I that am saved, not you, my lord”