“You lost, little warrior. Now you get to play by my rules.”
Setting the cup down, he reached for her face. She jumped to her feet and clutched a hand over the soft leather. If she took off her mask, it would all be over.
“I cannot.”
He tilted his head. “Is there a scar? A disfiguration? Is that why you didn’t want to me to remove it earlier?”
“You wouldn’t understand. Please don’t make me...” Her voice trembled and she took a step back. “It wasn’t part of your terms.”
Her last words came out in a strangled whisper and he stared hard at her. Silence curled around them and she began to take another step back.
He dropped his hand. “Alright. No need to flee.”
Samantha blew out a slow breath and sat back down, taking the glass of wine. She tilted it back and took a small sip. The smooth blend filled her mouth with a velvety fruitiness that lingered on the tongue. When she took another sip, her hand drifted to her pocket and she rolled the vial between her fingers.
Could she get it out and pour it without him noticing? Doubtful. It may be her only chance, though. One of her uncle’s sailors had shown her a trick when she was young. He’d closed a coin in his hand, and when he spread his fingers, the coin had disappeared. She’d begged him to show her how to perform the illusion. Luckily for her, he gave in to her pleas.
With a slight movement, she slipped the little bottle free and popped the cork out. Lowering her cup to her lap, she forced herself to keep her eyes on the lieutenant’s face as she remembered the old seaman’s advice.Never look down at your mark. It’ll give you away.
One shot. If the lieutenant caught her . . .
“What’s wrong, Red?” He held her gaze and she passed her hand over her wine, flipping the vial at just the right moment before she lifted the cup to the table.
She set it directly next to his. He caught her hand before she could draw back and flipped it over. The smooth glass of the vial pressed into her other palm and she sent up a silent prayer of thanks that the transfer had worked.
“Why have you chosen this life?” The lieutenant studied her hand and his lips pulled into a soft frown. “Or were you not given a choice?”
“It’s none of your business, Lieutenant.”
His thumb stroked down her open palm. “Contrary. It’s very much my business tonight.”
She pulled her hand away, trying to shake away the curious prickle of warmth his touch had sent through her. Quickly, she grabbed a cup of wine. His cup.
After another swallow, she dropped her gaze to the table. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“You keep saying that. Red, I’d very much like to understand.”
The words prodded at a deep part of her. The part that yearned to be able to share her dreams. The part she’d grown very good at keeping locked up. His gaze remained earnest and she sighed.
“I think it would be in your best interest if you stopped trying to understand me, Lieutenant. It’s the life I chose. Let’s keep it at that.”
He picked up the other cup and drank deeply. When he set it down, she couldn’t help but sneak a quick peek. Half empty. Her heart sank. Not enough.
He sprawled back into his chair and gave her a quiet perusal. “Why did you do it?”
Her eyes snapped to his. “Do what?”
“You know what I’m talking about. You could have killed me and avoided this. You would have won.” His eyes shone in the candlelight and she pushed to her feet in the silence.
“Come here.” He gestured with one finger, and like a moth to a flame, she closed the distance. When she came to a stop, he reached for her wrist, his fingers stroking the exposed skin beneath her sleeve cuff.
“Why?”
She sucked in a breath at the whispered word, trying to ignore the burst of heat his touch caused. “It would have been the move of a coward.”
His eyes narrowed briefly at her soft retort and she cringed. She should not have used the very wording he’d used with her at the ball. Too risky.
He moved his thumb in a lazy circle and pressed his lips together.
