Something in the lieutenant’s gaze softened and after a tense moment of silence, he nodded to the man standing guard next to Griff. “Untie the blasted man.”
When his bonds fell away, Griff strode toward Samantha. Isaac stepped between them and held his hand up.
Griff let out a growl and fixed his gaze over the officer’s shoulder on the lieutenant. “If you hurt her—”
“That’s enough. Return to the ship and wait there.” Samantha turned from him before he could say anything else and flashed the lieutenant a cold smile. “I have business to conduct.”
Moments later, the lieutenant clicked the door shut behind them.He released his hold on her and she retreated to the middle of the cabin, pulse beating at her temple while she chanced a quick look away from the lieutenant to scan the room. Exactly as she remembered, save for an extra chair pushed up to his desk.
A soft click echoed through the space as the lock slid in place. Trapped. The stark emptiness of the cabin closed in on her and she took a shaky breath when the lieutenant turned to face her.
In slow, deliberate footsteps, he approached and she fought the urge to dart away. Nowhere to hide. One hand extended her way and she flinched. With a raised brow, he slid behind her and his hands closed on her shoulders. When she stiffened, he rubbed his thumbs in half circles of pressure.
“Relax, Red. I’m not going to hurt you.”
His hands moved up and down her shoulders, continuing to apply the pleasant pressure. She couldn’t help dropping her head when his fingers swept across the bare skin at the nape of her neck.
After a few moments passed, he dropped his hands and stepped in front of her.
He held one palm out. “Your coat.”
Tension flooded back through her quick as a wave crashing against the shore.
You can do this.Samantha’s fingers shook as she began to unbutton the garment. Each time a button slid free, her heart rate increased a little more. Finally, there were no more buttons and she had no choice but to slip from the garment. She handed it to him and he ran his fingers along it in a quick but obvious perusal. When he finished, he tossed it across the back of a chair.
“I hope you won’t object, but I’m going to search you for weapons.”
“I...” She fell silent and hung her head. She would do the same thing.
His hands went to her shoulders and slowly ran down the lengthof her sides. Without missing a beat, he slid them over her breeches. She shifted just enough for his palm to miss the vial hidden in her pocket. His fingers continued their search, skimming down to her ankles and then back up along her inner thighs. Gooseflesh spread along her skin and a subtle warmth pooled in her belly.
Mortification washed over her and she stared at the floor. How was she supposed to lie with him? She hadn’t an idea of what to do. Her eyes pressed closed. She was a pirate. He would expect her to be knowledgeable about the act.
She had tread out of her depth. How could she fake experience without any inkling of the act itself? If only she’d spent more time listening to her crew’s bawdy talk of women and whores. She sighed and opened her eyes.
Her gaze settled on his lips and a little shiver went down her spine. Would he kiss her? She found herself hoping he would. She couldn’t bear the thought that he might take his pleasure quickly. Then again, perhaps it might be best. Get it over with and get out.
He waved his hand at a chair. “Sit.”
Sliding him a wary glance, she lowered herself into it.
She forced herself to take several steadying breaths while he retrieved a bottle and two tin cups from a cabinet in the wall. He lit two candles and sank into the other chair.
“You’re nervous.”
Samantha blinked at him and he nodded toward her lap. “Fists clenched, erratic breathing.” He slid his gaze to her face. “And you keep biting your lip in the most delightful way.”
She relaxed her hands. The damn man noticed everything.
“If you forgive me, it’s not every day that I conduct my business this way.” The confidence she attempted to inject into her voice fell flat.
He poured two glasses of wine and held one out to her. She reached for it and he paused.
“Take off your mask.”
Chapter Eight
Samantha froze, herfingers dangling over the cup. “No.”
