His Destiny Bride. Christyne Butler

glancing over his shoulder. Moving in close, he placed a hand on her lower back and guided her through the crowd.

      “Move it, me buxom beauty.” He leaned in, his breath stirring the hair at her temple. “They be creepin’ up our starboard.”

      Katie did as she was told, liking how his pirate swagger sounded even as the quick pace made her woozier. She looked for one of the bouncers when they reached the large double doors, but none were around.

      What now? Did they go their separate ways? Did the pirate have a way home? Was he able to drive?

      He had seemed to enjoy himself, even after this game of cat and mouse started, and she wasn’t going to leave him stranded in the parking lot. Not with that jerk and his friends around, spoiling for a fight.

      “Be honest, girlfriend,” she muttered. “You don’t want this night to end yet. Or for him to go anywhere.”

      “Did you say—”

      “Nothin’. Never mind.” Katie cut him off and glanced back again.

      Yep, they were still being followed.

      She pushed out the doors, shivering in the night air as they stepped onto the wood plank sidewalk that ran the length of the building.

      Yeah, insisting she wouldn’t need a jacket for the short walk back to the boardinghouse had been dumb. The chill made her shiver, but then the wind and icy temperature disappeared, cut off by the warmth of scratchy wool enveloping her shoulders, not to mention the rest of her.

      He’d given her his jacket. How sweet! No one had ever done that for her before.

      She shot him a quick smile. “Thanks, pal.”

      “You’re welcome, Miss Quinn.”

      He recognized whom she was dressed as! A crazy thrill raced through Katie over that fact, but then angry shouts from behind had her slapping his hat against his chest.

      He took it and she grabbed his hand again, the solution to their problem coming at her as bright as a lightbulb. “Follow me.”

      She hurried across the parking lot, weaving through the now leafless cottonwoods that separated the bar from the boardinghouse. It was snowing lightly, enough that their footprints would be visible, but that couldn’t be helped.

      Her breaths came out in wispy puffs as she raced up the porch steps to the outside entrance, thankful they didn’t have to go through the main lobby to get to the room.

      She stopped at the door, her pirate right behind her blocking the wind. She couldn’t see their assailants, but their voices carried as they found the two sets of footprints leading this way.

      “I’m guessing you’ve got a bloody key...”

      His husky voice faded when she dug into the left side of her push-up bra, having tucked the keys Peggy had given her earlier there. Her heart slammed inside her chest as her first attempt at unlocking the door failed. An unladylike but very Harley Quinn–like curse fell from her lips.

      “Here, let me.” He grabbed the keys, working one into the lock. Nothing. The shouts of their pursuers were louder now. “Which one is it?”

      “Darn if I know.” Katie stomped her feet, her toes now frozen. “Those guys are crazy! And getting closer! Hurry!”

      They should’ve stayed at the bar. Should’ve found security and had those jerks kicked out. Here, they were alone, short of waking up the other tenants. She hated the idea of anyone ending up in a fight because of her—

      Just then her pirate’s strong arm slid beneath the jacket and grabbed her around her waist as the door opened and they stumbled inside. The warmth of the room slapped against her cheeks and the cold disappeared.

      Seconds later she heard their pursuers on the porch, right outside. Had they see them come in here? Would they—

      Fists pounded on the door as angry voices called out.

      Katie jumped, grabbing at his shirt.

      The click of the dead bolt sliding into place echoed in the air. “Be still, lass. The blasted fools will give up soon.” Her pirate’s voice was calm as he whispered at her ear. He tightened his hold. “It’ll be all right.”

      Moments later, the voices faded and the footsteps continued on until there was nothing but silence. Well, except for her punching out breaths in an attempt to slow the adrenaline racing through her. He was right there, too, his chest rising and falling in a tempo that betrayed his soothing words.

      She looked up, wanting desperately to see him, but they were in almost total darkness. The only light came from a night-light on the far side of the room, but his wide shoulders cut out most of it. With his wig and mask she could barely make out his features.

      She lifted her hand and traced the edge of his beard, from his ear down to his chin, the sharp intake of breath his only reaction to the contact.

      “Thanks, Cap’n,” she whispered, “for saving my butt...”

      Her words faded as a light thud sounded—his pirate hat hitting the floor.

      His fingers brushed aside the bangs of the wig that hung to her eyes. His touch was hot, radiating through her mask as he traced the material down her temple until he reached her cheek and then her mouth.

      Her breathing grew short and choppy again as he slowly rubbed at her bottom lip with his thumb, the friction igniting a burst of need inside her. Of its own volition, her tongue darted out, licking the tip of his finger.

      A low groan filled the air. His groan. He pulled her up hard against his chest.

      Grabbing at wide shoulders, she stretched onto her tiptoes, bringing their mouths to within inches of each other as his hand moved to the nape of her neck.

      Anticipation crackled between them and then his mouth crashed down on hers.

      Her lips parted, giving permission to the hunger in his kiss, and he took it, deepening the connection in a searing and demanding way. She welcomed his desire and returned it, having never felt like this before.

      This alive, this connected.

      His jacket fell from her shoulders, the loss of the warmth causing another shiver to race through her, but he tightened his hold as the kisses went on and on. Finally, needing to breathe, they broke apart, his mouth moving to her neck. He made his way to her ear as his hands dropped to cup her backside, tucking her tightly to him.

      “Should I go?” he whispered. “Tell me now.”

      A flicker of awareness at his soft words stole through her.

      Did she—was he someone she—

      He pressed her even closer, the heat of his mouth on her skin incinerating her thoughts, replacing them with halfhearted mental protests. This was crazy. All of it. The whole night. She didn’t do this kind of thing anymore. The careless girl she’d been all those years ago was gone.

      To be this way, with him...now...tonight wasn’t what she’d been looking for.

      But was it what she needed? What she wanted?

      The arguments rattled her brain. Yes, she should tell him to go. Ignore everything in her that screamed how much she wanted the exact opposite.

      The last hour or so with this man had been the most fun, most wild, most perfect in a long time. This was reckless and wrong and she’d be anguished over her actions come morning, but would she regret more not taking this moment?

      She didn’t know, didn’t care.

      She wanted this. Wanted him.

      “Stay,” she breathed as he sought out her lips again. “Stay with me tonight.”

      As soon as she spoke, he leaned back. She could almost feel his gaze on her. Fear that he’d changed his mind lanced through her like a sharp stick.