Free Romancing the Pirate 01.5 - Beneath The Water's Edge by Jennifer Bray-Weber Page B

’Twas madness. Of course, it could have been the Captain’s touch, warm and calloused, behind her loose talk. He held her firm and possessive. Much like the crocodile smile he wore.
    “Do you want me to kiss you?”
    Rum. Rum. Should I drink more rum? Would he be angry if she emptied the bottle? “It would be imprudent to expect as such from you.”
    “And if I do kiss you?”
    “I will have taken what I want from you—vilifying you. But you are not the contemptible man you want me to believe you to be.”
    In a move so fast, the room spun in a blur, he twirled her around and planted her onto his lap. She yipped, dropping the bottle on the floor. The rum gurgled out, spreading an amber pool onto the worn wooden floor. Her hands splayed across his expansive chest. She labored to control her rapid breathing, to swallow down the heartbeat pulsing in her throat. Lord help her for she had fallen into his eyes, ablaze with fire and hunger. And he was about to devour her. Hurry, please.
    He seized her mouth, ravaging, pillaging, delving deep with his tongue. His brandied taste drove her to take him in kind. Boldly she explored his mouth. Wild, undisciplined, wanton, she cared not. She was awash in his passion.
    He held her firm by the crook of her hip. But he needn’t worry with holding her still. There was no other place in the world she’d rather be than in his embrace. His other hand slid up her waist, rounding under the crimped lace lining her bodice to cup her breast. The rough pad of his thumb rubbed across the tender pucker of her nipple. Shards of tingles shot pleasure straight to her crux.
    Elyssa swallowed much needed air when his lips left hers. Before she could protest, he tugged her bodice lower and captured her breast. She moaned and arched her back, giving him more of her bosom. He seemed obliged as he groped and tweaked her other breast. The hard planes of his chest gave way to the rise of his shoulder. Grateful to be able to feel his taut back again, she explored every inch of him she could reach. She badly wished to remove his tunic. Worthless piece of cloth was in the way.
    A chill cooled her damp chest. Blackthorn had abandoned her nipples for the dip of her throat, suckling, kissing, and making his way up to her jaw. By God. How could devilish kisses along her jaw be so pure? Nothing could be more sensual. Until he reached her earlobe. His wet mouth landing upon her ear had been enough to cause surrender. But the invasion of his playful tongue was a downright dirty trick. Her flesh had come alive. She shivered with the thrill skittering down her arms and across the tips of her nipples. What wonders this man did to her body.
    The captain’s nimble hand had the hem of her skirt bunched up to her lap. He made long strokes up and down her thigh. A whole new sensation rapidly roared to life. Squeezing her knees together served to make the throbbing worse between her legs.
    “How far can I go before you fear me, Elyssa?” His hot breath fanning in her ear sent a fresh wave of ripples all the way down to her toes. “How far?”
    Lost in a feverish haze, she wanted him to take her as far as the endless sea would go. She could think of nothing more. ’Twas impossible to think beyond that very moment.
    “I will not…fear you, Captain…Blackthorn.”
    “Bran.” He dragged his tongue down her neck and back up to her ear. “Call me Bran.”
    “Bran.” She wasn’t in so much of a fog that she didn’t realize the implication of using his given name. ’Twas a stout name, deservingly so, and she liked the power it gave her to say it. “Take me as far as you dare.”
    He growled into her neck, searing her with another wicked kiss. “Don’t tempt me, lass.”
    “But I must.”
    Bran leaned back to stare into her eyes, no doubt gauging his next move by her reaction. Was she foolish to dare him? Perhaps. No matter, she offered him an impish pout anyhow. He swooped her up into his arms, kicked his chair