Golden light spread a blanket over the room, chasing away the shadows and revealing Captain Keene, shirtless, gripping the edge of his desk as if it held the answers to all his questions. The cross and golden emblem dangled before him. Without glancing her way, he grabbed an open bottle and poured himself a shot of rum. Sipping it, he finally faced her.
Terror spun so violently in her head, Emeline feared she’d faint. But she stood her ground. If this monster intended to ravish her, she’d not make it easy.
Then, as if a dark cloud swept from his face, he smiled and gestured to her attire. She’d forgotten that Charlie had given her a pair of clean trousers, shirt, and waistcoat to wear while her gown dried.
“I find nothing amusing, Captain, about summoning me in the middle of the night in order to ravish me.” She despised the quiver in her voice.
His brows raised, but his smile remained. “I’m merely admiring your new garments, Miss.” Setting down his glass, he moved toward her, examining her like one would a fresh baked pie he was about to devour.
She swallowed…hardyet maintained her stance.
He halted before her, the muscles of his bare chest glistening, the scent of rum and male overpowering.
His eyes scanned her. “Alas, I have no intention of ravishing you, Miss Hyde.” He cocked his head and gave her a curious look. “But believing so, you still asked if I was ill?”
Confusion ripped through her mind, her heart pounding. She had no answer for his question, no reason that would satisfy a man devoid of a heart. Still, if he had no desire to steal her maidenhood…why had he commanded her here? “Why did you rescue me from the Jesuits?” she blurted, wishing he didn’t stand so close. His warmth, his very breath, wafted over her, his presence paralyzing.
Rather than answering, he ran the back of his fingers down her cheek, softly, gently, not in the salacious way she expected. Who was this man? Vicious pirate or noble champion? She sensed both battled within him.
Then, as if the tender action upset him, he pivoted and strode away. Back to his rum.
“You had the Ring. Why?” she pressed.
He tossed the remainder of his drink to the back of his throat. Dark hair hung down his back just below his shoulders as his muscles rolled beneath his skin, displaying a strength she’d only sensed when near the man.
He could snap her like a twig, have his way with her, and there would be naught she could do. Instead, he’d caressed her cheek tenderly and walked away.
“Have a seat, Miss Hyde,” he said as he strode to the stern windows and gazed out.
“You did not answer my question, Captain, nor why you have summoned me in the middle of the night.” Against her better judgement, she did as he asked and slid onto the velvet stuffed chair.
“As to the first,” he began, “I simply cannot allow any man, Jesuit or not, to gain the victory over me.” He shifted those mysterious, almond-shaped eyes her way, a twinkle of mischief within them. “As to the second, perhaps I do feel a need for female company.” The twinkle turned licentious as his gaze scanned her again.
Thoughshe knew his words were meant to frighten her, to keep her compliant, she sensed they were not true. Nay, a deep cut of pain sliced across this man’s heart. More than one. Deep and festering—unhealed. ’Twas what drove him. She knew that now.
Sitting up straight, she clasped her hands in her lap. “Then either send me back to my cabin or get on with it, Captain. I grow weary of the exchange.”
His eyes narrowed. “’Twould not be prudent, Miss, to tempt me.”
Fear sent her breath heaving in her throat.
He studied her. “You will stay here tonight.”
She pushed to her feet. “I will do no such thing!”
Shock, followed by admiration, flitted across his gaze. “You have no choice.”
“Then youareto ravish me.”
“Nay.” He shrugged. “Not tonight.” He nodded toward his cot. “You may sleep on my bed. You’ll find it quite soft. I will lie on the floor.”
Surely it was a trap of some sort. “I don’t understand.”
“’Tis not too difficult, Miss.” He gestured to the bed. “Now, if you don’t mind, it grows late and I’m weary.”
“If you wish to ravish me, be done with it. I cannot stand these games.” She forced back the tears burning in her eyes.
“If I wished to ravish you, I would have already done so. Off to bed with you!” He strode to his cot, grabbed one of the coverlets from atop it, and promptly blew out the lantern.
