He turned back to face her. His words died, and his body stilled.
She aimed the muzzle of her small pistol at the center of his chest. It was primed and loaded, ready to fire.
“You’re under arrest,” Jessica said.
3
Jessica remained, her gun still on him, as he crossed his arms over his chest, the muscles flexing with the movement, and quirked an eyebrow.
“A fine way to repay me for an afternoon’s pleasure.” His gaze flicked down to where her legs and sex were still uncovered, her stomach damp from where he’d spilled all over her.
She sat up, tossing her skirts down to conceal herself. She got to her feet and put as much distance as she could between them. Her legs were decidedly unsteady beneath her.
“Repayment is what this is about,” she answered. “You have stolen from hundreds of travelers on the Essex road, and the time has come for you to recompense them for their losses.”
He hadn’t moved. “Are you the law?”
“Adjacent to it.”
“Someone hired you.” At her obstinate silence, he cajoled with a flirtatious smile, “Come now, you have me at the firing end of your barking iron. The advantage is yours. Surely there’s no harm in telling me who engaged your services.”
After a moment, she said, “Sir Harold Mowbray.”
Whatever teasing smile Ezra had been wearing fell away. “What do you know of Mowbray?”
“What I know of him is of little consequence in this matter. Get dressed. Make haste, but no sudden moves.”
“I can’t make haste without sudden moves.”
“Now,” Jessica snapped.
“As my Lady Vixen wishes.” He pulled on his shirt and waistcoat, but didn’t bother with his neckcloth. “If your intent all along was to arrest me, it seems a precarious diversion for us to fuck.”
“I recognize a good time when I see one.” It had been a rash impulse, but she couldn’t quite regret it, not when she’d had the best swiving of her life.
“Perilous, all the same. I could have found your pistol, should I have insisted on disrobing you.”
“Easy enough to explain being armed on a dangerous highway.” A wash of heat moved through her at the thought of his hands removing each garment from her body, until she was naked.
It was a shame they couldn’t have that. There was only going to be this one encounter.
He paused in the act of donning his coat. “You like the risk.”
She hadn’t before.
“I don’t need to explain anything about what I like or don’t like.” She gestured with her pistol. “Hands up and head out. We’ve an appointment tonight, and we aren’t going to miss it.”
Ezra held his hands up and left the room. Before Jessica left the little chamber, she scooped up his pistols, as well as a satchel that slumped in a corner. She placed the pistols into the bag, slung its strap over her shoulder, and followed Ezra into the main area of the house. Tej and Rhys weren’t inside, so Jessica pointed to the fabric covering the open doorway.
“Out,” she commanded.
Wordlessly, Ezra did as she bade. There was a small clearing in front of the cottage, and Tej and Rhys were crouched there, reviewing the contents of their take from the carriage. Their voices joined in deep murmurs.
They both looked from Ezra to the pistol in Jessica’s hand, both men lifting their brows in surprise.
“Didn’t enjoy yourself, my lady?” Tej asked.
A hint of heat crept into her cheeks. Owning one’s pleasure was not shameful, but even so, she didn’t precisely relish the idea of anyone else listening in.
