Her head fell forward and her gaze was hateful. Resenting him for everything he was doing to her. For everywhere his hands touched.

For everything she knows I'm going to yet do to her.

"Hate me all you wish. It won't change what I'm going to do. Over and over...And again." He pressed his lips to the shell of her ear. "Whenever I wish."

He lifted her off him dispassionately and tossed her back on the bed. "Be ready to ride a horse at first light."

His gaze skid over her from head to toe. Eyeing ever bit of bared flesh hungrily.

He rose and aimed for the door.

"Good! Leave." She lurched up to shout.

He stepped through the door and leaned to talk through it before closing it. "Don't worry, Sweetheart. I'll be back later if I've more need of you tonight."

"Don't you dare!"

"Oh, I dare." He smirked.

"It was lovely by the way." He gave her body a last, lingering look.

"Get out! Get out!"

He closed the door slowly to antagonize her.

His triumphant grin turned to full laughter as the first object hit the door where he'd been. A concession followed. Chased by profanity as she called him every filthy name she could conceive.

Good. She's learning the way of it now.

How it's going to be.

She's going to hate it. I'm going to love every minute of it. Vengeance had never felt better or tasted sweeter.

He could still feel the heat of her lingering on his staff.

***

"What'd you do to her?" Lonnix asked from the doorway of his room as he saw Disseus strolling the hall.

"The least of what I'm going to." Steel glinted in Disseus's blue eyes and a muscle in his jaw ticked.

"That's why you agreed to help her?" Lon asked suspiciously.

The way his face brightened was confirmation enough. He vowed. "I'm going to make her miserable."

Every second I'm in her presence.

Lonnix eyed the recently closed door, still rattling as things violently struck against it.

"Looks like you have a good start." He said dryly as his gaze landed back on Disseus.

Disseus smiled brightly. "Aye. And that was when I agreed to help her."

Disseus tossed over his shoulder. "Get some good sleep."

"Why?"

"Cause that woman won't be sleeping."

She's too angry.

And if I decide, I'll visit her again. Ride her until she's too sore to mount tomorrow. His teeth gnashed as he thought of her again.

Lonnix blinked dumbly. Having never seen his friend so virulent.

"I want her on a horse and riding before the sun crests the horizon. I want birds singing to her as the day begins." His voice had a razor's edge.

While she's exhausted.

"That seems rather harsh." Lonnix complained.

Whipping around Disseus snapped. "She nearly killed me once."

Lonnix was silent a long moment. "I meant harsh toward me."

***

Despite his intent to ride out early, Disseus was too restless to sleep. Hearing laughter and men roaring in merriment, spurred him downstairs.

Lonnix found him back at the tables consuming pitchers of ale in a way Lonnix had never seen. "Good to see her presence is having a positive effect..."

Men chanted and Disseus responded by guzzling appropriately.

Lonnix drew close enough to Disseus, to eye the other men warily. "Seems clear to me that taking the most violent mercenary to ever cross Ardae, putting him in a brawling temperament and then pouring ridiculous quantities of ale in him, seems of poor choice."

"Does it?" Disseus paused, tankard in hand, to raise a brow at his friend.

I don't give a damn.

"Disseus, My Friend, perhaps we should join our beds?" Attempting to help Disseus rise only resulted in a hearty shove.

Disseus teetered a moment. "Or perhaps I hers."

To bend her again.

"Oh...I don't think that'd be wise."

Disseus gave him a quick look. "I don't give a damn what is wise." He belched. "Nothing ever is when it comes to her."

Staring up at the closed door, he made his upstairs. Boots thudding as he reached her door.

It was tossed open, and the point of a blade protruded from the doorway.

Disseus laughed and her blade went higher.

"We'll see about that!" Disseus batted it away. Eyes on her like a vicious predator. He stepped into her chamber and slammed the door.

"No." She whispered.

"Where'd you get clothes? You had none earlier."

"They were already up in this chamber when I came down to see you." She refused to give him ground so he was standing over her. Feeling her breasts pressed to his lower chest.

She's a little thing. Vicious. But small.

He eyed the deep scooped cleavage of the blue nightdress. "It's a pretty sleeping gown. Shame." He sighed. "Remind me to buy you another."