“It took me twelve goddamn minutes to gather your things and get here. That’s pretty damn good time, Sadie.”
Surprise, maybe it was heat that flashed in her eyes. “Yes, well, it felt like a lot longer than that.” Sadie stepped back and nodded for me to enter. “Did you bring what I asked?”
I arched a brow at her question. “Have I ever let you down, Sadie?”
“Not yet, but there’s a first time for everything.” Her words lacked their normal scorn, so I paid them no mind.
And I held on to her bag. “What have you been up to?”
She smiled and raised a brow at my question. “Jealous?”
“Should I be?” Sadie might be a cold bitch to the world, but she never mentioned or forced me to acknowledge the rare times she took another lover.
“You should be.” She pushed the door closed, locking it and engaging the safety latch for good measure. “You missed out.”
She sauntered past me, her lavender and cream scent teasing my nose, tempting my senses.
“On what, exactly?” A coy Sadie usually meant trouble, so I tread carefully.
“Revenge. It was fucking glorious, Thomas. I satisfied my inner pyromaniac tonight, setting whorehouses, flophouses, and stash houses ablaze all over town. Crusaders were inside every building, screaming like little bitches to get out. I can’t believe that Rhymer—O’Connor, whatever the fuck her name is—bitch let them rebuild. Did I mention that I blocked the exits too?” She let out a girlish laugh that surprised me. “Fucking beautiful is what it was, Thomas.”
No, you’re beautiful. As she reveled in her actions, she was more beautiful than I’d seen her since she first became an Ashby. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were clear and bright.
“Impressive. Why did you go alone? It’s dangerous out there.”
She waved a dismissive hand my way. “This was for me. I mean it was also to protect the family, but The Crusaders have been a thorn in my ass for a long time, Thomas. You know that.” She shook her head and poured a tumbler of whiskey.
Was she drinking again? Was she drinking again? She handed it to me and wave of relief washed over me.
“They’ve been going after my business and my family since Colm and Cillian died. That’s all over now.”
She wasn’t wrong. It was a big part of the reason Cillian asked me to keep her safe once he and Colm were gone. He knew his son wouldn’t last long in this world, not with the way he mishandled his personal and business affairs, and he also knew Ronan Rhymer would pounce the moment they were both gone. They had, and it was a nonstop shit show from that moment forward.
“Congratulations.”
Her cheeks turned a darker shade of pink, and I shoved my hand in a pocket to avoid reaching out to her.
“Thanks.”
I raised my glass in the air with a smile. “To motherfuckers dropping like flies.”
Sadie’s smile widened and raised a glass of mineral water to me.
“I’ll fucking drink to that.” She finished the glass in one impressive gulp and slammed it down on the table as if it were actually whiskey.
“You got rid of your clothes?”
She nodded. “It’s been handled.”
“Good.”
“My clothes.” She held out a hand for the bag at my feet, her expression expectant. Impatient as usual.
I reached down for the bag and handed it to her. “It’s just for the night.”
“That’s all I need,” she said and gave the bag her full attention, pulling everything out, item by item, until the bag was empty and everything lay on the bed.
I watched her movements, so meticulous and deliberate, and I knew she was up to something. Either she wasn’t done exacting her revenge on The Crusaders or…fuck if I knew. “Is there a problem?”
“None at all.” She turned to me, the wrap dress in one hand and the teddy in the other. “This is what you chose?”
“It is.”
“Which do you want to see me in?”
I blinked at the question. Sadie never, ever asked for anything. I took in her appearance, fresh-faced and naked save for the plush towel, and my cock grew hard at the unsure look on her face.
“Nothing. I prefer to see you in nothing at all.”
“Ask me nicely.”
Fuck that. I marched across the threshold of the bedroom to where she stood beside the bed and grinned.
“No.” With a flick of my wrist, the towel loosened and fell to the floor. “Much better.”
Her breath hitched, and pale pink nipples hardened at the growl in my voice. “That wasn’t very nice, Thomas.”
It was a long damn time since playful Sadie made an appearance, and I enjoyed it.
“I’m not a very nice man, Sadie.”
“Bullshit. You are the nicest man I know. Period.”
I didn’t let the backhanded compliment impact me—much. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Sadie didn’t like nice guys. She didn’t respect them.