She dropped her gaze to the deck where a highly polished plank gleamed beneath them. Damn these navy men and their obsession with appearance.
Now, she’d lost.
Tears pricked her eyes as the cheers of the Lieutenant’s men roared in her ears.
No.
Her throat constricted while her mouth opened and closed with no effect. She couldn’t breathe. An ungodly fire burned inside her lungs, and Samantha’s knees buckled. She sagged against the solid form behind her as her vision spun and blessedly, the heavy pressure of the arm beneath her breasts lessened a degree. She sucked in a breath as the lieutenant leaned in and set his lips at her ear.
“If I had known you were so eager to throw yourself into my arms, I would have forgone the fight altogether.” The low words rumbled against her skin and she jerked her face away while he sheathed his sword.
His free hand came up and toyed with the laces of her mask. “I think it’s time for you to stop hiding your face.”
Her blood went cold.
Never.
She thrashed to the side and jerked her head up, smashing it into his chin.
With a growl, he yanked her back. “Hiding something?”
Something? More like everything. Tears threatened to spill when he lifted his hand again. Before he could touch the laces again, she pressed the back of her head into his chest. If he couldn’t reach the ties...
“I could just rip it off.” His fingertips brushed over the bottom of the leather.
“Not here, Lieutenant.” She injected as much authority as she could into her voice, but it still cracked.
He paused. Pulled her flush to him.
“Later then?”
She gritted her teeth. “My mask stays on.”
He let out a soft chuckle. “As if you’re in any position to make demands on this ship.”
His chest heaved against her back, and she was suddenly aware of each hard ridge of him pressing into her, especially the one jutting into the small of her back. With an outraged gasp, she attempted to angle her body away from him. He held tight.
“Release me.”
“I rather like this position.”
Heat flooded her cheeks. “Please.”
“My, my, suddenly so polite.” He shifted his grip. “You promise not to do anything reckless?”
Reckless.
There was that word again. She might have laughed if she were not still plastered against him. What could possibly be more reckless than this?
His fingers slid up and down her side and an odd warmth spread from where he gripped her. She squirmed and his breath hitched.
“Careful, Red, or you’ll make me do something indecent in front of my men.” She stilled. “Now, do I have your word?”
Samantha managed a curt nod, and his arm slipped away. As soon as she was free, she jumped from him. His men had crowded close with lecherous gazes pinned to her. She glanced down and groaned. She may as well be naked for how much her shirt revealed.
With a grimace, she brought one arm up to cover herself and stared at the deck. A pair of boots came into view as a discreet cough sounded. She swallowed and lifted her head a fraction. The first officer stood there and held her jacket out to her. Thank God.
She snatched it from his grasp and shrugged into it. When she’d buttoned it, she met his amused gaze. “I’m glad to find that at least one person on this ship has some decency.”
