Chapter 5

J UDE WAS NOT A man easily phased. So how could a woman get so under his skin in such a short amount of time? And what had she done to get there? And how on earth could he remove her from underneath him? Because if he was sure about anything regarding this nameless woman, he did not want her underneath him, or anywhere near him.

Overjoyed that the dance was over, he certainly did not want to hold her in his arms for even a minute longer. And he couldn't possibly imagine her underneath him on his bed. Or up against a wall with her head thrown back, pinned there by his body. Her moans were sure to irritate him to no end. Even his cock was twitching at the thought. So no. Not underneath him or anywhere within his breathing zone.

Except for right now. Because he needed to clear the air. He needed to make sure she understood who was in charge in this situation. Any and all situations really. He was the captain, damn it.

So of course he was currently marching right after her, in her aqua costume with a light frilly fabric—of which he didn't know the name, but now knew the feel of— that reminded him all too much of a mermaid.

Damn her and her mermaid dress.

Her steps picked up their pace as she darted out of the main ballroom and down the corridor. Where the devil was this siren going?

While he peered around a corner, he watched as she slipped into one of the rooms. Now was his chance.

Checking the corridor once more, he dashed down it and swung the door open. Only afterward did he even reconsider his actions. For all he knew she could have planned an assignation with any of the men in attendance. Now that he did not want to interrupt. A sharpness stung his chest. He wasn't completely calloused, perhaps he would have still interrupted, had he known. It would do her no good to ruin her reputation. Assuming she had one.

One of his hands gripped his hair while the other shut and locked the door behind him. He knew nothing about her, yet the fluster continued.

At the click of the door, she whirled around. "What are you doing here?"

Oh. The disdain. It dripped off her lips like treacle and it was tasteworthy. Wait. What?

"I'm here to—" and before he could start on his tirade of how he was there to set the record straight and all of that, she was up in his face.

"Did you even think about the consequences of following me and being found alone with me?"

His thoughts were whirling in his head. Like some tempest at sea had formed and was suddenly all around him soaking him. Wet.

There she stood with a darkness in her eyes that he couldn't quite interpret due to the low lights.

He needed a drink. Or three .

"What are you doing here? In the—" his eyes scanned the room— "library?" Drat. She was now tarnishing one of his favorite places. Libraries and books were always a welcome escape. One would think a pirate—ahem, privateer—would have no need for an escape, seeing as how his whole life was one giant escape, but really, everyone could benefit (often) from the new world a book provided.

"It's a library," she said, hands akimbo. "What do you think I'm doing here?" Then she turned her back on him and went, assumingly, in search of a book.

"You came to a ball to read?"

She merely shrugged in response. Shrugged? As if she couldn't put in more effort and provide an actual response. Shrugged? As if he wasn't worth words from her luscious ruby red lips. The gesture had tapped something within him that was bound to explode if he didn't diffuse it right away. And what was the best way to diffuse something? Or numb it so that he could no longer feel it enough to be upset by it?

"I need a drink."

"Figures."

"Now what's that supposed to mean?"'

"I've never envisioned a pirate without a drink. That's all." The words were spoken with her back still facing him. Her lithe back that swelled into hips with grippable curves. Aggravating, that.

"Well, since I obviously live to please you, I should like to find that drink." He ambled about the room knowing any good library worth its weight in books would have a bottle hidden somewhere.

He wanted to slam shut the liquorless cupboards he opened, but knowing it might create too much noise, he used all his energy to gently close them instead. Thankfully, it only took a few minutes to open several drawers and cupboards and discover what he'd been searching for. Really, if anyone could find liquor, surely it was a pirate—privateer, damn it.

Her mislabel of him was indelibly stuck in his head.

He poured himself a tumbler of the amber liquid and shot it back before she even noticed. Then he poured himself a second. Gulp. Then a third.

"Are you quite done with that?"

"No." He shot back a fourth drink. "I blame you."

"I'm so honored to be credited with that. I do aim to inspire."

"Ha—" he choked back his laugh. She was not amusing.

"Do you know who I am?" he shot a glare at her that caused greater men to wither.

"You're a pirate." She waved her hand loosely at his clothing. "Do you know who I am?"

After his clever grunt, she filled in the obvious blank. "I'm Lady Agatha Cross."

"Aggie, such a pleasure," he grumbled as he poured another drink.

Instead of a shrug, she curled an eyebrow up at him.

"What?"

"You don't know me. And you do not get to call me Aggie." Her firm voice should not have sent shivers up his spine and down his…cock.

"Oh, yes I do. I know exactly who you are." He poured the liquor down his throat. How many was that now? Bah! He wasn't counting. He didn't need to count his drinks. "You're a lady ." He let that word roll off his lips. "Just like every other lady out there. In search of a high ranking husband. Faking smiles and conversation until you snag some poor, unknowing halfwit."

God, how he wished she would take off that mask, he felt as though he was at such a disadvantage not being able to see her whole face. Oh, he had detected her ocean blue eyes and sharp cheekbones, but he hadn't been able to put all the pieces together in one frame.

"Well then, if you know me, I must ask again? What are you doing here? Alone with me? Surely I'm only here to snag a husband. Are you going to admit that you have fallen into my trap?"

"You call this a trap?" He lifted his hand and gestured the cup around the room, sloshing liquid over his hand. He pulled it back to his face and licked his finger, only to have some drip down his chin.

"You're here, aren't you?" she answered smugly. And he wanted to kiss—wipe—that smugness right off of her face.

But now he was really vexed. She hadn't known he would come in search of her and then lock himself in a room with her. She couldn't have predicted it, could she have?

"Now…the question is…what am I going to do about it?" her voice had turned sultry.

And then she was right in front of him, her toes between his. Her breasts pushing up against his chest. And suddenly his priority was no longer the drink in his hand but the heavy swelling between his legs.

His voice gruffer than he expected, he asked, "What exactly are you going to do?"

She tapped her chin and then danced those same delicate fingers on his shoulder. "I think I'm going to get some experience."

What the devil does that mean?

"I'll tell you what that means."

Had he truly just asked that question aloud?

"Yes, you did. Now are you quite done interrupting my moment?"

"Ye—"

Her soft warm finger was on his lips, pushing them with just enough force to stop movement .

"I was—" Trying to speak only moved his lips against her fingers, thus sending a flash of warmth down his spine. It was better not to talk.

"Better," she murmured. And that once unreadable darkness in her eyes could now be properly interpreted.

Arousal.

Lust.

Carnal attraction.

Salacious intentions—

He could feel his own eyes widen as he watched her raise up on her toes, still not quite able to reach her destination. And he didn't know what possessed him to do it—in all reasonableness, he could probably blame his male nature—but he bent his knees and dipped his head. Her murmur of approval sent another shockwave through him.

"Good pirate," she murmured.

Yes. That's exactly what she said right before she kissed him.