Free A Captive of Chance by Zoe Blake Page B

forfeit.”
    Belle held her breath in expectation of what he would ask, not daring to admit what she secretly hoped.
    After a dramatic pause, Chance said, “You shall forfeit a few inches of skin.”
    “What!”
    “Yes, that is it,” exclaimed Chance, warming up to the idea. “You shall raise… or lower… that troublesome linen that is covering up your delectable body from my sight.”
    “And what shall be your forfeit?”
    “What does mon petit trésor want?” His voice a seductive purr.
    “Answers.”
    Now it was Chance’s turn to look perplexed.
    “You must answer my questions,” clarified Belle.
    “We have ourselves a game!” he declared. “Ladies first.”
    She was the white pieces, of course. Belle boldly moved her knight forward. Chance followed suit with his own dark knight. After several moves, her white pawn was the first to fall.
    “Forfeit!” said Chance with a wink.
    With a saucy smirk, Belle raised the linen a few inches… above her ankle. She laughed outright at his boyish pout of disappointment. Her king then promptly captured his pawn.
    “Forfeit!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands.
    “Ask away!”
    Belle knew what she wanted to ask but lost her nerve and instead queried, “What is your real name?” While her whole situation was disconcerting in the extreme, it was especially so to learn you do not know the true name of the man who just bedded you.
    Chance gave her an amused, knowing look. There was no hiding the intent off her expressive face. He knew that was not really the question she wanted to ask him. “Chance is the name I answer to for a select few, but that also is not my real name.”
    “ ¿Qué diablos es ésto? ” she blurted out. Her desire to know his name overriding any shyness or reserve.
    Rising in one fluid motion, Chance dropped into a perfect, courtly bow before taking her small hand in his powerful one and gently kissing the soft skin. “Captain Jacques Tavernier “Le Chanceux” at your service, Miss Esmerelda Leonor Isabelle Catalina de Recalde el Rojo,” he said with a sly wink.
    Belle blushed prettily and lowered her lashes not wanting him to see how pleased she was to learn he remembered her full name. Although at first, despising it, she had come to like the name Belle, especially how he always seemed to use it as an endearment rather than just her name.
    To break the sudden tension, she asked, “So Chance?”
    “After several good turns with hauls filled with booty and goods, I got the moniker “Le Chanceux”, The Lucky. My first mate and closest thing to a brother thought it was amusing and started to call me Chance as a consequence. He is the only one permitted. The rest of my crew call me Captain.”
    The wine was having an effect on Belle. Her blue eyes shining like cobalt, she boldly asked him, “And what should I call you?”
    Chance leaned in close, whispering against her lips, “You, my Belle, can call me whatever you want.”
    To Belle’s embarrassment, her lips followed his as he pulled away to take his seat.
    They continued to play, Belle playing aggressively. Moving her bishop and king to advantage, but unfortunately she was not shrewd enough. Chance’s knight captured her own.
    “I believe that is a forfeit.”
    Feeling emboldened by the wine, Belle fingered the edge of the bed linen covering her right breast. To his chagrin, Chance found himself holding his breath in anticipation. Belle laughed and pulled the sheet up high just over her knee, exposing a trim ankle and shapely calf.
    Frowning in frustration, Chance lowered his brow and leaned closer to the board, suddenly taking the game much more seriously.
    Belle had her revenge when her white pawn vanquished his black knight. “Ha! Your noble knight fell to my little pawn! You owe me a forfeit!”
    Chance leaned back in his chair and stretched out his arms in an open gesture.
    “Why are you… How did you become… Why are you a pirate?” she blurted out.
    “What’s wrong