Seducer. Kayla Gray

studied him carefully, no doubt believing the same would be true about him.

      “I see. The man who wants to marry me so badly he has waited the entire summer to become engaged, simply to please my father, won’t care about my needs? But you—a criminal who lacks the courage to face his enemy, but instead blackmails the man’s betrothed into submission—you will show me care? You must think me daft, Captain Angel. Or you have mistaken me for a naïve girl who knows nothing of the ideas of men. Either way, you have proven to me you have no more insight than any other of your boorish gender.”

      Kane chuckled and lifted an escaped curl off her shoulder, winding it around his finger. “I see. Have you been with many men, then? Just how experienced are you? Does Hugh—oof.”

      She had balled up her fists and punched him low in the stomach. Kane couldn’t have been more stunned.

      Or captivated.

      She was a hellion. Albeit, a fetching one. With an angel’s face and a luscious body blessed with curves meant to be caressed. He couldn’t wait to collect on their bargain.

      “You are bad mannered and insulting and the number of men I’ve had intimate acquaintance with is none of your business.”

      “My apologies. Well, then, I should imagine you’re looking forward to our night as much as I am. Perhaps you’ll show me something I’ve never seen before.”

      “I’ll tell you what you’re never going to see—me in your bed. Consider the bargain between us annulled.”

      “Madelaine,” Kane warned, “your word is your honor.”

      “You are questioning my honor far beyond just my word. You are basically calling me a…you know. And if that’s what you believe, then certainly it wouldn’t surprise you if I went back on my mere word.”

      Kane caught her around the waist before she could escape his reach. He pulled her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her, feeling an inexplicable need to comfort her. His teasing had gone too far; he knew that. He hadn’t meant to be cruel, but something inside him snapped at the thought of her being intimate with Hugh.

      “I know you are innocent to the act of making love. I could tell easily enough when I kissed you before. Whatever else you’ve experienced that has colored who you are and why you’re marrying Hugh is none of my business. But I’ll wager he doesn’t make your blood quicken. When he’s this close, your body doesn’t tremble with need for him,” Kane whispered close to her ear.

      Her head was tilted away from him, giving him complete access to the satin skin of her neck. He denied himself the pleasure of tasting her, knowing he had to progress slowly so as not to frighten her even more.

      “If I am trembling, Captain Angel, it’s only because I am unaccustomed to being groped by a filthy pirate.”

      “Ah, but you don’t truly find my touch distasteful. Admit it—you feel more alive right now than you ever have in your fiancé’s embrace.”

      “What I feel is disgust,” she complained, though her breathy argument and feeble struggles belied the truth.

      He released her just enough for her to turn and face him. Her sooty gray-green eyes gleamed with passion she had no idea what to do with. He was getting desperate to show her. The railing was at her back and he felt she was going to try to lecture him in an attempt to diffuse her own desire.

      He lowered his head until he was close enough to feel her ragged breath as she stared up at him. “I am much more than a pirate, Madelaine. I can show you what it feels like to be with a man who wants you so badly he would lower himself to give you no other choice. Let me show you all the pleasures you will never know with him.”

      “You are terribly arrogant,” she scolded weakly.

      Her white teeth tugged at her full bottom lip, nearly undoing him where he stood. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, and the realization made him rock-hard.

      “I prefer to call it confidence,” he teased.

      She raised a delicate brow, as she tilted her head to just the right angle. The sun was setting into the ocean, the reds and oranges lighting her hair with brilliant color as errant waves danced in the breeze. Her skin had taken on a seductive flush, and he longed to taste every bit of her sweet flesh.

      Kane only had to move an inch and their lips would meet. To his complete delight, she closed the distance herself. Her eyes were closed and her lips were parted as they grazed his. She moaned, barely audible, but enough to ignite his blood to steam. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and held her gently, letting her inexperienced lips explore his in an innocent kiss. When he couldn’t bear any more, he slanted his mouth across hers, demanding entry into the untried cavern of her mouth. She made a low noise in her throat. Then as he explored her tongue with his own, he felt her melt against him and he pulled her hips tighter against his aching body. She matched his every move, growing more daring in her exploration of his mouth.

      Kane was in awe at her bold curiosity, her innocent sensuality. He’d been with plenty of women—some eager, some even desperate for affection. But Madelaine was different. There was nothing coy or practiced about her. Nothing fraudulent. She was like a spring flower coming to life after a long winter.

      Untouched.

      Innocent.

      Breathtaking.

      Kane pulled back, breaking the kiss as guilt hit him like a blow to the gut. How could he go through with his plan to seduce this spirited beauty? What would she suffer because of him? He knew Hugh well enough to know he wouldn’t wait for the wedding night to bed her. He would be furious to find his future wife was no virgin.

      Kane smoothed a strand of hair from her forehead, tracing the line of her jaw and ending with his thumb rubbing gently along her swollen bottom lip. Anger replaced the guilt as he thought of her willingly giving herself to Hugh. With no coercion, no blasted bargain. But simply because she wanted him.

      Damn the bastard. And damn her!

      Chapter Nine

      The captain had escorted Madelaine to his cabin, taken some clothes from a built-in wardrobe and then left her alone. He hadn’t spoken except to tell her that her supper would be brought soon.

      Madelaine freshened up, washing her face and finger combing her wind-tossed curls. She tried to pin the fallen tresses back up, but some strands refused to be tamed, and she had to be content to let them frame her face.

      Her stomach growled in anticipation as three young sailors brought in tray after tray of food. The wiry tall one moved a small round table to the center of the room and set it as expertly as the most tutored butler, complete with a brocade linen tablecloth, silver candlesticks and exquisite red-and-gold-patterned china. The others set the trays up on a rolling buffet, and then the young men politely excused themselves, saying the captain would be joining her soon.

      The door swung open and Captain Angel walked in, hanging his overcoat on a peg behind the door. He had changed into a white shirt, open at the collar, revealing his chest. The shirt was tucked into fawn-colored breeches that were tight enough to show off the cords of muscle beneath. Ending at the knee, the breeches met the tops of his high, black, polished boots. His dark hair hung long, the candlelight creating a shine on the damp strands. He had shaved, and now his masculine face held a mischievous, boyish expression as he caught her staring.

      “Good evening, love.”

      “Stop calling me that.”

      “Why?” he asked gruffly. “Is that what Hugh calls you?”

      “That’s none of your business,” she replied hastily. If she was going to continue with this ruse she would have to steel herself against the lies she would have to tell. She crossed her arms and tried to forget the way his lips had made her body burn. “Is it your intention to starve me, or is this food to be eaten?”

      His