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find a job at an inn in Docking Bay. Something just to get her through the winter.
    If only she could stay with Maxum’s men without this idea of servicing their sexual needs hanging over her head. She could probably gain a small amount of prosperity if she stuck with them. It could be the turn in her fortunes she had been needing. Perhaps she could renegotiate the terms of their agreement, she thought.
    But one look at the hungry way he was devouring her from across the way quickly dissolved that notion. As she narrowed her eyes on him she thought he looked freshly bruised along his cheekbones. As if he’d been punched in the face and broken his nose. There appeared to be dark circles under his eyes.
    No. That had to be a trick of the firelight and darkness. How could he possibly have gotten into a fight all the way out here? Wouldn’t he have said something about it?
    He was still staring at her and she looked away, terribly discomforted.
    Maxum was toying with her. It was cruel, he knew, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Of course, it wasn’t all that hard for him to imagine himself taking advantage of that supple young body. He had come close to it the night before only to be denied in a cruel twist of fate. The fact that she had conned him hadn’t seemed to put a damper on the way his body had wanted hers. Neither did hours of being crushed beneath the rock and soil. He had found himself a stream to wash up in after the dirt had spit him out, but he still felt the grime of it under his skin and he still was healing broken bones.
    Still he wanted her. He had to admit that. His appetite for her had not waned. In fact, it seemed to be growing. Damn her for teasing him…for kissing him. He couldn’t seem to forget the sweetness of her flavor, couldn’t keep himself from wanting more.
    But he wouldn’t take her until they were on equal footing. He didn’t want her to give herself to him because she felt she had no other choices. He would wait until she had some fortune in her pockets…until she no longer needed to be with them…until she only wanted to be with them. Then he might take her.
    Might. He wasn’t going to give it too much thought. He had other goals. Bedding a little thief should not be one of them. Bedding her would not get him what he needed.
    Still, that didn’t mean he couldn’t entertain himself in the interim.
    He made a show of stretching out and yawning.
    “All right, boys. It’s time for bed. Come on, little thief. You’ll be sharing my bedroll tonight.”
    He watched her pale in the firelight. She stood up and he could see her hands were shaking. But she took a deep breath and followed him to where he’d laid out his bedroll. He dropped down onto it and pulled off his boots. Other than that, he didn’t disrobe. He never did when they were on the road. He wanted to be able to move at a moment’s notice if needed. Sometimes he didn’t even take his boots off. But he wanted to give her the impression he was undressing so he pulled his shirt free of his breeches.
    The panicked look that entered her eyes almost made him laugh and give himself away. But he wanted to enjoy this to the last possible second. Payback for her stealing from him.
    “I have my monthly woman’s blood!” she blurted out suddenly.
    He froze for a minute, absorbing the missile. Then he smiled and said, “So? I do not care. I am not squeamish about such things.”
    He reached out for her and she yelped and jumped back. He grinned, enjoying himself a great deal.
    “Come now, a bargain is a bargain. It’s me or…if you’d prefer the rest of the men…” He trailed off meaningfully.
    She looked from him to the other men. Doisy chose that moment to give in to a bout of flatulence. Kyno was picking at his nose. Kilon was scratching his ass. Maxum couldn’t have orchestrated the moment any better. She deflated. “No,” she said glumly. “You’ll do.”
    He ought to have been insulted. And he was. But that