Page 16 of Breath From the Sea
He’d left the window open for Storm, the dog’s scent was slightly overpowering when at sea. Impressive that she could have climbed the side of his boat. That took strength, agility, daring. Why did she have to be such an amazing woman? He wanted to hate her, but with every breath he found himself drawn more to her.
Well, no matter how fascinated he was, he couldn’t let her leave. “Stop right there.” Titus aimed the gun toward her chest.
She didn’t stop moving, but her smile widened. “Ye’d shoot a woman?”
“Have we not had a similar conversation regarding whether I’d dare harm you?” Even he could hear the lie in his voice.
She shrugged, her gaze shifting about his room in a manner he recognized—she was looking for another means of escape. He’d give her that. Antónia was a crafty lass. And blast it, but he admired her for it.
She thrust out her chest, perhaps a move that might have worked to gain his attention had she not bound her supple breasts, but she had, and he could see the irritation in her eyes when he raised a speculative brow. An annoyed huff came from her luscious lips and she straightened.
“I’ll make a deal with ye,” she said.
“I don’t make deals with pirates.” But he did lower his pistol.
She did the same, a gesture of good faith. Interesting.
“An agreement then, Graves, one that benefits us both.”
Titus crossed his arms over his chest. “I am intrigued.”
Antónia swallowed, pursing her lips, and a little more red came to her cheeks than was already there. “The ring, in exchange for a… favor.”
“A favor?”
“Aye.”
Titus grinned. “What favor could I possibly need from a pirate? Especially a pirate who is in my cabin with no way of getting out? I could arrest you right now. Take you back to the Tower and be done with it. Why, I could even house you in the same cell your uncle rotted in a decade ago.”
That caused her to pale a fraction, but instead of backing down, she straightened her shoulders and faced him square on. Damn, but he liked that about her. She was brave, even if she was foolish.
Fear was quickly replaced with anger that flashed in her eyes. “Ye can try, Graves, but I’ll not allow it.”
He grunted.
“About the favor. ’Tis one, given your earlier… attentions, that I think ye’ll be more than willing to satisfy.”
“My earlier attentions?” Titus frowned, not quite following her line of thought.
The lady had the temerity to look almost offended. “The kiss.”
“Ah.” Now he knew exactly where she was going and he liked it—and so did his body, judging by the tightening of his groin. Alas, he wanted to toy with her a bit more. “You want to kiss me in exchange for the ring? An ancient relic that if I do not deliver to France my queen will most assuredly reprimand me for it, for a mere kiss?” He clucked his tongue and shook his head.
“I’m certain ye could find another ring to replace it with. Every port is full of gypsies selling their knock offs. And if a kiss is all that is required, than aye.”
Again, Titus grunted. He recalled vividly the touch of her lips, the sting of her teeth grazing his tongue, the lushness of her body crushed to his. Heat flickered in his veins and he shifted to hide the way blood surged between his hips. Apparently, his mind wasn’t the only thing that recalled how good it felt to kiss Antónia.
“What do you mean if a kiss isallI require?”
“I’m willing to… pay a little more. I want the ring, Graves, and if it didn’t endanger my family, make no mistake, I’d put a bullet between your eyes to get it.”
Titus grinned, having no doubt she’d do it. “How much are ye willing to pay?” Ballocks, but he would strip her bare if she let him.
Antónia’s gaze roved from his face down the length of his torso settling on where his desire pulsed. He could have groaned aloud, but gritted his teeth instead.
“I’ll allow ye to bed me. Once.”
“And if I want more than once?”
