Page 9 of Good Duke Gone Wild

“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 beensearching 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 wasnotamusing.

“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 whoIam?”

After his clever grunt, she filled in the obvious blank. “I’mLadyAgatha 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 alady.” 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.”

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