The Dream Thief by Kari Kilgore (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

He stepped closer, and now Loretta could smell his sweat. If she'd had any mind to, she could have leaned forward just an inch or so and touched his groin with her forehead. Right now she'd rather touch it with her teeth.

"You paid me, sure," he said. "I thought we might have a little fun for old time's sake. A little fun and a little information, just between friends."

"You were never my friend, Rhysto. You did a job, and I paid you well. That part of my life is over now. I don't have any information I'd be willing to share with you."

He squatted, and Loretta wished he were still looming over her. His dark, heavy-lidded eyes were worse than his vaguely threatening crotch.

"That's where we'll have a difference of opinion, I'm afraid," he said. "You'll tell me what I want to know, we'll have our fun, and I'll go along my merry way. If those things don't happen, I might have to visit your lady friend after all. After I deal with you, of course."

Loretta summoned the appearance of nervousness she was not feeling. She knew very well how to deal with Rhysto. The solution would be more pleasant than not if her memory of how to direct his mood served. She was certain it did.

All he could get out of her was the payment, and only the one she'd just gotten. Her safe was well hidden and protected enough that he'd never possibly find it.

"How did you get in here?" she said.

He grinned, showing far too many teeth. "Ah, that. I explained the situation to your young man, and he understood what I was trying to accomplish. He understood that getting in the way would lose him more than his job. How does he do in your bed? Better or worse than the young woman?"

Loretta shook her head, not having to feign her disgust. She only hoped Gus was still loyal and not too frightened to return after any sort of conversation with Rhysto. Her guards didn't know enough to betray her. Not even Bess.

"I don't know, since I've never been with either of them," she said. "There's not a chance of that if he sold out for you. Just ask me your questions and get it over with, rudder mouth. I have other things to do tonight."

Rhysto laughed, a big booming sound that didn't match his intimidating appearance. Not for the first time, Loretta thanked her insistence on soundproofing this room for her frequent daytime sleeping habits. Bess didn't know the history between them, and neither of them would react well to a confrontation. He finally stood and moved away.

"Well, good thing for you I'm in a generous mood tonight," he said. "I'll be glad to let that smartass remark go. Deal with your turncoat however you want to tomorrow, if you can. Tonight you'll be dealing with me."

Loretta wished she still had her boots on, with easy access to her sharpest knives and one of her tiny clockwork revolvers. The knife hidden in the back of her corset might do, but she'd rather have the gun with someone like him.

No matter, as long as she kept control of the situation, Loretta knew how to distract him. And please herself at the same time.

"Answer my question first, Rhysto, then we'll see about yours. How did you get in here? The guard you spoke to doesn't have a key. I know you didn't get past the woman."

She slowly leaned forward, reaching toward her boots.

"I didn't have to get past anyone," he said, strolling around the room. "Your fancy clockwork locks, the kind no one else in your neighborhood has any need of? Who do you think brought them down from the Northlands to begin with? I always know how to unlock anything I carry on my shaw, and that includes people." He pointed to her fingers, barely an inch away from the revolver, his gesture far more casual than his words. "Touch those boots and you lose both hands."

She slowly sat back, putting the gun out of her mind. She couldn't get it, so it no longer mattered. Loretta did have other means of keeping herself safe.

"I'll ask again," she said. "What is it you think I know?"

"Kick those pretty boots into the closet. Then sit down here with me and we'll talk about it."

Rhysto sat on her bed and patted the space beside him. His other hand lifted his vest just enough for Loretta to see the revolver and knives.

"I can hear you just fine from here," she said.

She kicked the boots away and closed the closet door. He had certainly investigated for a safe in there, but it didn't hurt for him to think something valuable had escaped his attention. He'd just moved himself into range of her best, and far less messy, weapons.

"Ah, but this isn't about you, now is it?" he said. "Resisting is a different game when we're out of our clothes and our imagined roles as civilized people. All it does right now is cause you more trouble in the end."

Loretta sat as far away as she could, her hip against the carved oak pillar at the head of her bed. She might be able to move fast enough to get him with her short knife if other methods failed, but that revolver forced her to wait. He'd have too much time to pay her back for her many, many sins.

"That's so much better, isn't it?" Rhysto's long arms had no problem getting to Loretta's face, and his rough, calloused hand scratched across her cheek. She refused to flinch away. "Now, we'll have plenty of time for our play while the rest of your quaint little neighborhood goes on about their evening. You can answer me nicely, and things will go a bit easier for you. Refuse to answer or lie to me, and even you can't imagine how long the fun will last."

"I don't know, Rhysto.