Page 20 of Good Duke Gone Wild

She was a miscreant. She had drugged a man.

A pirate. A known rogue. A wild man with no consideration for others. Had no qualms when it came to taking what he wanted, simply because he wanted it.

A man that could do anything he wanted to her. Her body shuddered at the thought of what he might want to do to her.

Watching him slumped over on the table, she felt foolish. But for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel helpless.

She felt as though she was actually taking her life into her hands and following her heart. Because she needed to write, she would do whatever it took to make her writing great. She would not quit. She would never give up on her dream.

Drool pooled at Jude’s chin as he dreamed. About what? She had no idea, but the look he cast her on his way down indicated he might have some visions of her in his slumber.

She glanced toward the bed and back at him, feeling pity for him in his awkward position. Really, she should try to get him onto the bed so that he didn’t abhor her too much when he woke.

Awkwardly, she placed herself between his arms, with her back to his rumbling chest. God, the man could snore. Her eyes darted back to the bed. It was only a few paces away. If she used all her might, she should be able to lug his body draped over hers and then heave it onto the bed. With a grunt, she pushed up with all her strength.

Nothing.

Well, just a moan. And a mumble from him. Had he actually said,Siren?

Stuck between his chest and the table, his arms tightened around her. Damn. She hadn’t expected this.

His nose nuzzled into the nape of her neck and his warm breath set fire to her skin. Surely her hair would be ablaze and that would be the end of her. Incinerated by a drugged pirate, alone together in his cabin. That’s how she was about to leave this planet.

No. She needed out. She needed a little more time.

Shimmying out of his arms, she rose to her full height and resigned herself to the fact that he would loathe her—and then some—tomorrow.

For tonight, all she could do was get a good sleep in preparation to fend off his attacks in the morning.

At the first crack of sunlight, Agatha scurried out of bed. Jude was still out, whether now in a sleep or unconscious, she didn’t hover around to find out.

The plan for now was simple. Get on deck, get ahead of Jude, and tell the crew that she was Jude’s guest and then tell them her story. Oh, not dramatically, just authentically. As though it were no big deal for her to be aboard their ship without a chaperone. It was just like any other day.

She smoothed her hair, found some powder to rub into her teeth, cleaned her face, and walked out. Completely ignoring her dress. Because oh yes, of course she had to be wearing a mermaid styled gown on privateer’s ship. Because of course the night she had chosen to take charge of her destiny had to coincide with wearing the most unorthodox gown a lady could wear. Because…well, of course. That was fate’s backhanded slap on her face.

Take that. Go ahead and try to live the life you want.Fate taunted her. But she stood tall, shoulders back and told fate to back off.

Simply because there was no other choice at the moment, she feigned ignorance to her appearance as she stood on the deck, feeling the seabreeze drift through her hair.

And for one elated moment, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply of her freedom.

Then a few throats cleared.

When she opened her sunbathed eyes, she stared into a multitude of grimey faces belonging to several of the most calloused looking men she had ever laid eyes upon.

Show them no fear. Show them no curiosity.Show them nothing.

“Good morning,” her voice rang out with more confidence than she felt.

A couple of the men had some decency to reply to her with a mumble.

“Who might you be?” A giant stepped up to her but she didn’t recognize the voice. This wasn’t Big John then.

She tipped her head back. Her eyes met his chest. She tipped her head back further, finally meeting his eyes.

“I’m Lady Agatha. And you are?”

“Sprat.”

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