The Pleasure Master by Nina Bangs Page B

her well.
    â€œThe Pleasure Master doesna have friends. ’Tis like the clergy, lass. I canna speak of those who come to me, trust me wi’ their secrets. ’Tis not allowed. If I claimed a friend, the people would suspect I told their secrets to him. The Pleasure Master must hold himself apart, live apart from others.”
    â€œWow. The Pleasure Master sounds like such a great job, I can understand why you and your brothers are fighting over it. I mean, who wouldn’t?”
    He recognized her sarcasm, but didn’t understand it. “
’Tis
a great honor. Many know about our clan because of the Pleasure Master. ’Tis a source of pride. And those who come share their wealth wi’ the village.”
    She frowned. “The village? Don’t they pay
you?
”
    It was now his turn to frown. She didn’t understand the Pleasure Master at all. “I wouldna take payment for teaching others.”
    â€œWhy not? You’re the one doing the work. That’s the basis of good old capitalism.”
    She seemed truly outraged for him. “Lass, if I took payment for what I do, ’twould make me a . . .”
    â€œRight. It would make you a . . .” She quickly glanced away. “So what’re we going to do today to help me go home?”
    He smiled at her obvious change of subject. “We canna
do
anything ’til we’ve formed a plan, but I thought ye might go wi’ me to visit Colin. I must tell him of my choice for his challenge.”
    â€œPoor Colin,” she muttered as she raised the container she still held and sprayed a vile mist into the air around her head.
    He’d leaped back before he could control himself. “God’s teeth, woman, ye poison the air we breathe wi’ yer noxious vapors.”
    She shrugged, then smiled. Obviously, his reaction amused her. The vixen.
    â€œHey, it’s a small price to pay for great hair.” She cocked her head and studied him. “Why don’t you let me work on your hair a little? I mean, you havewonderful hair, but I could even the ends, do a little of this and that—”
    â€œI would rather cut off my head and offer it to the Mackays.”
    â€œI don’t think that’s the part they’re interested in.” She cast him a scornful glance. “Well, if you want to go around looking like Braveheart Unchained, hey, who am I to interfere?”
    â€œWhat is braveheart?”
    â€œA movie.”
    â€œWhat is a—”
    â€œForget it.”
    He did some glaring of his own now. How could he learn if she’d never explain the strange words she used? Then he allowed himself a smile. Once she was in his bed, there would be time afterward for talk. She would explain all to him then.
    Kathy eyed him suspiciously. She didn’t trust the way he was smiling at her—sexy, confident. “What? What’re you thinking?”
    â€œI’m thinking of ye in my bed.” He raked his fingers the length of his still-damp hair.
    â€œIt’ll never happen.” But even as she said the words, her gaze followed the path of his fingers through his hair, and she wondered what it would feel like to do the same with
her
fingers, what she would feel with his bare body touching hers.
    â€œCome, lass, ’tis a long walk to the village.” He started toward the cave entrance with Kathy tagging reluctantly behind. “’Twould be easier if I had my horse, but the Mackays took him in their last raid, and I have yet to get him back.”
    â€œWhy can’t I stay in the cave? I have to figure out how to get home.” She also had a few other things to figure out. Like what she could use to replace her deodorant. And toothpaste? She’d never gone one day in her whole life without brushing. She
had
to brush. Then there was coffee. Kathy wouldn’t even think about the agony of caffeine withdrawal. And kick her if she ever took a flush toilet for