Seducer. Kayla Gray

away from him, her hips swaying provocatively beneath the layers of that blasted fabric. Fabric that hid her glorious secrets from him. Though not for much longer.

      “I am not a pirate.”

      To his surprise, she tossed back her head and laughed. Most women would have breathed a sigh of relief, but not Madelaine. He should have known.

      After a moment or two, she stopped laughing and looked at him, obviously waiting for him to say more. He’d meant to give her comfort, not make himself look a fool.

      “That was supposed to ease my distress?”

      He nodded and shrugged.

      “Pirate is just an occupation, Angel. Men are more than what they do to live. Besides, even if I believed you, which I don’t, you still attacked our ship. You still kidnapped us and you’re going to extort money from Hugh. If you weren’t a pirate before, then you certainly are one now.”

      “Don’t be absurd,” he said, his ire rising. The woman was stubborn beyond reason.

      “I only have my own experiences to go by. If I am wrong about you, Angel, I do apologize. Oh, I suppose your name isn’t really Angel, either, is it?”

      He didn’t answer. He couldn’t tell her his name, especially now that she knew his face so well. Damn, this wasn’t going the way he’d planned it at all. He was muddying his well-honed hatred of Hugh with emotions for this woman that were no less powerful.

      “Hmm, that’s what I thought,” she said.

      “A pirate wouldn’t have bothered to give you a choice in the matter of sharing his bed.”

      “Choice? What choice did you give me? Agree, or leave Olivia to the whims of the ocean and the Oxford’s crew for heaven knows how long.”

      “She’s a maid,” he said, believing he was being reasonable.

      “So, as a maid, she’s not worthy of her dignity?”

      He sighed, lifting his palms for divine assistance. “The world isn’t always fair, Madelaine.”

      “No, it’s not. And speaking of not being fair,” she said, swallowing hard, “there will be no bargain.”

      “What?” His voice was dangerously low, his patience clearly running thin.

      “You heard me. As I told you earlier, I won’t honor that devil’s bargain. I won’t share your bed.”

      “You dare to think I’ll let you out of your agreement?”

      “No, you’re not letting me do anything. I’m doing it all on my own. I’m telling you I will not sleep with you,” she finished, with a toss of honey-colored waves.

      Kane tossed his napkin on the table, then pushed his chair back. He crossed his legs at the ankle, trying to appear calm, despite the raging pulse roaring in his ears.

      “So be it.”

      “You won’t force me?” she asked, in utter surprise.

      “I’m not a rapist, Madelaine. I simply negotiated a trade that suits my needs.”

      She gasped at his crude appraisal of the agreement she’d made with him. He didn’t care that he was being boorish. He now felt an irrational need to hurt her.

      “Your needs are all you care about. What about my needs?” she retorted.

      “Oh, you needn’t worry. I’m more than looking forward to seeing to your needs.”

      “What I need is for you to leave me alone. Take your ransom and be done with it. It’s not necessary to bring me or Olivia into your business with Hugh.”

      “It’s too late, Madelaine. I wouldn’t have come in search of you, but now that you are here, well, it looks like my revenge was written by fate.”

      “I won’t allow it. And you just admitted that you won’t force me.”

      She was trying to sound haughty but didn’t realize she was twisting the edge of her napkin into a tight spiral.

      “And I won’t,” he said smoothly, rising from the table.

      She nearly jumped out of her skin when he pressed a chaste kiss on her closed lips. She tasted like the wine, only sweeter. He straightened and she glanced up at him, her eyelids heavy, her lips parted. Now she wanted more. Heaven help him, he was going to leave her alone tonight. But by God, Hugh owed him and he was going to collect.

      “Sweet dreams, love,” he said, then left the cabin to cool his raging desire in the evening sea breeze.