Copper brows arched from behind her mask. “Go on then.”
He let his lips turn up in a roguish grin. “A night with you.”
She sucked in a breath and her eyes flashed—a ripple of blue and green escaping the shadows so effortlessly hiding her face. Chuckles came from his men.
“Captain.”
The gruff warning came from her ship and the older man strode to the railing. His face had gone red. Christian’s gaze flicked between the two of them and his stomach twisted. Were they lovers?
The way the man looked ready to commit murder certainly suggested it. Christian couldn’t help the scowl that pushed forth. No. That man must be three times her age. Her father, then?
She kept her eyes on Christian, ignoring the distraction. “A night with me? Impossible.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Those are my terms. Take them or leave them.”
She turned into the sun and something else entered her eyes.
Fear.
The first vulnerability she’d shown thus far.
Good God, what had overcome him? A night with her? A pirate? He nearly laughed. A navy man on assignment, he had no business sleeping with the enemy. He opened his mouth to take it back, but her soft words cut him off.
“Very well.”
An awed murmur swept through her crew. They hadn’t expected her to agree.
She spun back to him. “Let’s get this over with.”
His men cleared the deck and she turned to her ship where the older man held her rapier.
“Bring it over,” she commanded.
He stood still, staring at the blade. “And if I don’t?”
She brought her hands to her hips. “You should know better. Twenty lashes.”
He lifted his head and Christian almost felt pity for the fool and the look of agony on his face. Almost.
“I would take them.” The man’s voice was quiet.
With a huff, she threw her hands in the air and turned her back to him. “Then I’ll borrow a blade from one of the lieutenant’s men.”
The pirate cursed and grabbed a rope, landing on theFalcon’sdeck a moment later. When she turned to face him, he shoved the slender sword at her. She took it and he grabbed her shoulder.
“You better win, or there will be hell to pay.” His fingers flexed and she winced.
A stab of anger shot through Christian. He closed the distance between them and pushed the old man away. “Touch her again, and I’ll finish the job I started last time we met.”
The man lifted his lips in a snarl but backed away. Christian nodded to two of his men who immediately flanked the pirate. His focus was drawn back to... he pressed his lips together, not sure what to call her.
She did not notice his attention and ran her fingers up and down her blade with reverent affection. For a split second, he imagined those fingers stroking him the same way. He hardened at the erotic picture. With a shake of his head, he cleared his throat. No distractions.
“What’s your name?”
She went stiff. “It’s not for you to know.”
“Then what shall I call you?”
