Page 62 of The Moonstone Pirate
“You’ll wash it when you get home.”
“What a brilliant suggestion. I’m sure I never would have thought of it on my own.”
“Sarcasm does not suit you, Imogen. Stay down. I’m sure one of the Irishman’s crew is in the crow’s nest with a spyglass trained on me. You mustn’t be seen beside me.”
“Oh, all right. Are you going to stop holding me down so I can sneak back into the house?”
“Yes, as soon as they pass through the mouth of the cove and drop anchor.”
“Are they going to sail right up to the caves?”
“No, the water isn’t deep enough. They’ll enter the cove, but drop anchor about midway or risk getting stuck on a sandbar. Keep down. We’ll be out of their sight in a moment.”
“How will they get to shore?”
“They’ll lower boats off the side and row in from there. Listen carefully, Imogen. I’m going down to meet them. No one can follow me.”
She gasped. “Draco, you mustn’t! That Irishman will kill you.”
“Not this visit, he won’t,” he calmly replied. “I’ll let you up in a moment. Remember my instructions. Hurry back to the house, toss Deandra and my uncle into my carriage along with you, and then head straight to Westgate Hall. Do not look back.”
“And abandon you to these pirates?”
“I will be fine. I want you to get yourself and my family away from here. Do you understand? I will ride over to collect Deandra and my uncle as soon as I am done here. Promise me you’ll say nothing about this to your uncle.”
“I’ll do no such thing! Should I not have him summon Constable Angel?”
“Absolutely not.” He needed to engage these scoundrels, not chase them away.
“Or Fionn? He can bring his soldiers here to capture those—”
“No. Did you not hear me? I do not want them captured. I am going to handle this my way.”
“Oh, really? What way is that? Confront them on your own and have them shoot you full of holes? That is very clever.”
He sighed. “Imogen, I give you my word, they will not harm me today.”
“Only today? How can you be certain? They seem awfully dangerous, Draco.”
“I am just as dangerous.” He knelt beside her. “Stay down, Butterfly.”
“Again I must ask, how am I to get back to the house and carry out your instructions when you are still holding me down? Squatting in this position is quite uncomfortable, by the way. I’m sure I have stained my gown. Draco, I—”
“Stop talking, Imogen.” She had a beautiful mouth and big, lovely eyes. There was one more thing he needed to do before he let her go.
“Why must—”
His lips slashed across hers in a hot kiss meant to turn her insides liquid. Bloody blazes, if he was going to die, he wanted to die with the taste of Imogen’s sweet mouth on his tongue. He wanted to die with the scent of her body on his clothes.
He pressed his mouth deeper onto hers. He wanted to die knowing he had stolen her breath, scorched her soul, and captured her heart.
He wanted all those things.
Mostly, he wanted Imogen.
He was such an arse.
Why was he intent on confusing her? Had he not just warned her to keep away from him? And here he was, desperately tasting her, devouring her. Hopefully setting her innocent body aflame.
