Free Romancing the Pirate 01 - Blood and Treasure by Jennifer Bray-Weber

woman with needs. It had been a long time and she craved a man’s touch. But whose touch? She inwardly groaned at her confusing indecision.
    If Blade’s dimples got any deeper, there would be no doubts. His sheer animal attraction drew her in, fast.
    “Compassionate? Unequivocally,” Blade stated. “So much so that I dare say you will ache for my charity until the end of time. Honorable? Well, that depends on my mood. And right now, your toying wit and pretty lips are destroying any chance of my behaving virtuously.”
    “You are certainly cocksure. A bit fanciful, to be sure.”
    Blade turned to lean on the rail, shoulder to shoulder with her. “I couldn’t have said it better myself, sweet lady.” His voice hummed low, nearly a whisper, as he stared at her mouth. “How about I offer up a little generosity now?”
    He leaned in to kiss her. So close was he that his green eyes seemed to look down into her very soul, rendering her useless, a gelatinous mess. The rest of the world faded away. He made her dizzy, his musky scent washing over her. His slightly parted lips lingered just above her mouth, ready to swoop in for the taking. She instinctively wet her lips, anticipating him.
    “Ahem.”
    Damn . Not again. What does a girl have to do to get a kiss on this blasted ship?
    Lianna and Blade abruptly turned around. Her blood iced over. Zane stood only three feet away, his hand rested on the pistol at his hip, and appearing rather waspish.
    “Looks like I got here just in time, eh, brother?” The anger flashing in his blue eyes was the only movement on Zane’s stony expression. Lianna was quick to notice how he kneaded his pistol grip as if to keep his fury in check.
    “’Tis a pity, too.” Blade sighed ruefully, without regard to Zane’s agitation. “Miss Whitney has been a delightful conversationalist and I was just about to show her my gratitude.”
    “I’m sure a ‘thank you’ will suffice,” Zane said flatly.
    Blade took a step back and bowed to Lianna. “It has been a pleasure, sweet lady. I do hope I get another chance to engage you in more talks of principled conduct. I am sure we can come to an agreement in the character of morality.”
    “Only if you embrace my viewpoint, Mr. Tyburn.”
    A knowing smile flickered across Blade’s face. He winked at Zane before he headed for the main deck.
    Lianna avoided eye contact as the weight of Zane’s stare crushed her. Cowardly, she turned to look out at the sea, searching for anything to occupy the uncomfortable space that began to suffocate her.
    “Oh, look. Dolphins!”
    “Come. Walk with me.”
    Zane didn’t offer his arm and she had to take quick steps to catch up and keep pace. Lianna didn’t care to be put off. Pertly, she wrapped her arm around his. The muscles in his forearm tensed, but he said nothing as they made their way to the back of the brigantine.
    “Will we be at Tortuga soon?” His silence worried her, scared her even. ’Twas glaringly obvious that he burned hot with anger. But how hot and at whom? Well, of course, he had to be upset with her. Again. All men blame women for their carnal overtures. Doesn’t the doe entice the buck in a chase? Aren’t women the root of all that is corrupt in a man? She understood that jaundiced eye all too well. Still, she wanted to get Zane talking, feel him out. Lianna didn’t want to enrage him to the point that he reneged on his promise.
    “We will arrive late tomorrow night.” No inflection varied his tone.
    “Will I be taken to shore then?” She fished for answers. Was he as honorable as Blade said?
    “No.”
    Don’t panic. He probably would rather wait for daylight, she reasoned. “In the morning then. It’s just as well. I would much rather go ashore under the safety of the sun than cloaked in the risk of darkness.”
    “No. Not the daybreak either.”
    Lianna’s eyes grew wide. “What? We had an agreement.” Damn him. She snatched her arm away from him and stood firm on