Malodorous by Del Robertson

Author:Del Robertson [Robertson, Del]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance
ISBN: 9781927282908
Publisher: Affnity Ebook Press NZ LTD
Published: 2014-08-30T12:00:00+00:00

†

“Here.” Gwen slammed the bowl of custard down in front of Thorne.

It was an almond milk pudding, topped with berries and frosted rose petals. The dessert was one of Rachel’s recipes. Gwen had to admit that the tavern maid must, indeed, be a skilled baker to create such a delicacy.

Thorne immediately dipped the tip of her finger into the pudding. She brought it to her mouth, her tongue flicking out, giving it a lick. Her lips curved into a bow and she slid the rest of her pudding-covered finger into her mouth. Her eyes slowly closed.

“Mmm.”

It was a soft moan, accompanied by a whispery exhalation. To Gwen’s eyes and ears, Thorne looked and sounded very much like a woman on the edge of arousal. Unbidden, her memory brought back echoes of the suggestions some of Bodhi’s companions had made as she’d walked away.

“Something troubling you, Gwen?”

Gwen looked up to see deep green eyes intently watching her. Her gaze drifted over Thorne’s face, to her lips, and down to her hand, specifically to that still-moist finger. Gwen felt decidedly warm.

“Gwen?”

She had to think quickly. She couldn’t very well tell the commander where her thoughts had really been. There must be some safe topic of conversation.

“Um, the curfew,” came tumbling from her lips.

“What of it?” An ebony brow arched.

“It’s harsh.”

“It’s also necessary.”

“I mean, it’s interfering with the natural business of the city.”

“Personally, I can’t think of any legal business transactions that need to be conducted on the streets after dark. Can you?”

“The taverns.”

“May still operate, so long as their customers are in the door before dusk and don’t leave before morning,” reasoned Thorne.

Gwen fell silent. She had no further argument. Besides, if what Thorne had said was true, and she had no reason to doubt that it was, the killer had managed to elude authorities in three other towns. Thorne. It eluded Thorne. Perhaps a mandatory curfew was the only feasible way of keeping the citizenry of Fairhaven safe.

“You aren’t thinking of breaking the curfew, are you, Gwen?”

“Wh…What? No.”

“Good. I’d hate to have to throw such a beautiful maid in gaol.”

“I have no intention of going anywhere, except my bed.”

Thorne’s brow rose.

Gwen’s heart beat rapidly in her chest as she realized what she’d just intimated.

“I mean—”

“I think I should accompany you to be certain.” There was a twinkling cast to Thorne’s eyes and Gwen thought perhaps she was only teasing.

“Don’t you need to be out on patrol?”

“First night of the curfew will be spent informing and educating the citizens. The guards will be lenient, for the most part. We don’t want to lock up the entire city, you know.” Thorne smiled. “So, I have a few candlemarks yet before I’m truly needed.”

Gwen’s breath caught. Not much of a tease, after all.

Thorne paused from where she’d been rimming the edge of the pudding bowl with her finger. She held out her arm across the table, extending her hand and the digit covered in white custard.

“Taste,” she commanded, placing her finger against Gwen’s lips.

Gwen tentatively extended her tongue, touching just the tip of Thorne’s finger.

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