Lover's Gold by Kat Martin

Author:Kat Martin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
Published: 2013-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

ELAINA SMILED CONTENTEDLY.

Rays of sunlight peeped through the faded muslin curtains that hung at her window. Stifling a yawn, she rolled over, her hand groping the place beside her for Ren’s warm, solid torso. Instead she felt only the cold roughness of the muslin sheet. Bolting upright, she searched the empty room, her heart beginning to pound. Dear God, he hadn’t even said good-bye.

Elaina took a steadying breath and calmed her racing heart. Maybe she was upsetting herself for nothing. Maybe he’d just gone downstairs. Picking up her thin silk wrapper, which had fallen carelessly to the floor, she slipped it on and glanced at the bed. Her breath caught in her throat as memories of their desperate lovemaking filled her mind.

Desperate. There was no other word. Each had known it would be the last. Each had needed the other desperately. Surely Ren would be back—at least to say good-bye. Her eyes teared at the thought of his leaving. This time would be even harder than before.

Elaina straightened the sheets, pulled up the quilt, and fluffed Ren’s pillow, inhaling the musky, manly smell that clung to the rough muslin case. What they’d shared last night was special. Ren would be back. As she picked up the second pillow, a round brass token beside a wad of bills caught her eye. Her hand trembled as she picked them up. Who could have left them there? Who had been in her room?

A wave of nausea hit her like a blow. Only Ren. Only Ren could have put them there and only for one reason. She’d worked in a house of ill fame long enough to know how a whore got paid: in brass tokens that were later redeemed for money. Unable to breathe, she clutched the cold piece of metal against her breast and sank down on the bed, her heart thundering in bitter spasms. Dear God, don't let this be! Her chest felt leaden. Ren Daniels, a married man, had slept with her because he thought she’d become a whore.

She curled up on the bed and sobbed uncontrollably. What should she have expected? She knew he was married, yet she’d given herself to him, let him make love to her as no one else could.

It took more than an hour for her tears to turn to anger. Twice she’d trusted him. Twice he’d wounded her to the depths of her soul. How dare he! How dare he believe her capable of something so low? In that moment Elaina McAllister swore her revenge. She’d pay him back if it took the rest of her life.

Marching to the door, her newfound hatred giving her strength, she leaned into the hall and called out for Benny Thompson, the houseboy, to send up a bath. When the tub arrived, she bathed and dressed, careful to keep her mind a dull blank. Ren Daniels did not exist for her, would never exist for her again. This time she would blot memories of their nights together forever from her mind.

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