Page 17 of Breath From the Sea
Now she was gritting her teeth. “Twice, then.”
Titus laughed. “Why is the ring so important to you, that you’re willing to sell your body to keep it?”
“That is none of your concern. Do we have an arrangement?”
Titus backed up, shutting his cabin door and locking it. “Get undressed. I want to view the merchandise before I agree to pay such a huge price.”
She huffed a breath, her tiny hand fisting at her side. “Merchandise—” But she cut herself off before she said anything more.
Emotions flickered across her face that gave him a moment’s pause. What price was she willing to pay to get her hands on the ring.
Titus stiffened. “Bloody hell, you’re a virgin.”
Her mouth fell open, appalled. “I am not.”
“How many lovers have you had?”
“Enough,” she answered.
“I don’t bed virgins.”
“I’ve likely had more lovers than ye.” She jutted her chin and he was inclined to believe her.
“Will I be another notch on your pirate wench’s bed post?” Titus teased.
“That remains to be seen. I only carve a mark for those who can perform.”
“Perform?”
“Not all of your gender know what they’re doing,” she taunted. “I find men as arrogant as ye often bed a woman in the same fashion as they run their ships. Orderly and efficient.”
“You insult me. I assure you when I bed a woman, ’tis as thoroughly as I keep my ship’s manifesto—nothing gets left uncharted.”
The wench actually grinned at that. “That remains to be seen, Graves.”
“Then get undressed so I can tell you whether or not I agree to your arrangement.”
“And if ye don’t like what ye see? What do I get for baring myself to ye?”
“I’ve not seen a woman I didn’t like.”
“A man of many tastes?”
“A body is a body, they are all beautiful to me, but ’tis a woman’s passion that makes a difference.”
“In that case, ye’ve already examined what I have to offer ye when ye kissed me.”
Titus tapped his chin. “This is true, but you did slap me afterwards.”
“Fine, then, another kiss.”
He leisurely shook his head, grinning. “Undress.”
Antónia frowned. “All right.” She placed her blunderbuss on the desk beneath the porthole, and then slowly raised her hands toward the laces at her chest, the ruby Lucius Ring flashing in the light coming through the porthole.
“’Tis a good look for you, madam.”
“Wet garments?” She finished untying the shirt and tugged it open, revealing the tautly wound linen beneath.
