Free ClaimedbytheCaptain by Tara Kingston Page A

Cathy’s expression
gave him pause. Passion. Courage. A need for him the likes of which he’d never
encountered in his thirty years.
    She desired him. The throaty challenge she laid down before
him sent a rush of blood to his groin. If the wench had intended to provoke
him, she’d succeeded in grand style.
    He watched her ministrations with interest. “So, you intend
to seduce me?”
    Her fingers continued to work the buttons of his linen
shirt, baring his flesh to her touch. Cathy’s inexperienced hands traced a
searing path from the breadth of his shoulders downward, branding him with an
intoxicating heat. Her small mouth etched spirals of sensation from the broad,
hard planes of his upper torso, descending across his belly to the place where
the mat of hair tapered into his trousers.
    He knew better than to let his prisoner get the upper hand
in their battle of wills, but his body disagreed fiercely. His fully aroused
cock mutinied against his intent to maintain control, swelling against the
constraining fabric. His balls ached, craving the touch of her small, smooth
fingertips.
    He bit off a curse as her exploration trailed below his
waist. Christ, was this her idea of revenge for the delicious torments he’d
inflicted upon her? His fingers coiled around her wrist, securing her without
anger.
    “Are you trying to drive me mad? Do you truly want me to
take you here and now?”
    A hint of a smile graced her rose-hued mouth. “Not here. Not
now.” Her perfect white teeth nipped teasingly at his chest. “Teach me to
pleasure you.”
    He hesitated, torn by his desire to teach her a hard lesson
about taunting a dangerous man and the insatiable craving for the pleasure of
embedding himself within her heat.
    “You wish to become a courtesan?” he asked finally,
appraising her with a scathing gaze.
    She shook her head. “Not a courtesan. You are the only man I
wish to pleasure.”
    Struck speechless by her words, he scanned her face, finding
no trace of guile, no hint of coy manipulation. He saw only desire, stronger
and purer than he’d ever seen in a woman’s eyes.
    He swept her into his arms, cradling her against him. At
that moment, she was no longer his captive. She was his woman.
    “Your wish is my command.”
     
    Jason carried Cathy to his cabin, placing her in the bed and
stretching his length along her body. The need in his hooded gaze etched into
her soul.
    Her fingers trembled as she splayed open his shirt, baring
his chest to her gaze. She slid the garment over the corded muscles of his
shoulders. Her breath caught in her throat as she exposed the carved planes of
his upper body. Deep brown hair tapered from his upper chest over a flat,
sculpted abdomen. Her gaze moved lower. His arousal strained against his
trousers, offering silent testimony of his body’s hunger.
    “The trousers,” he managed in a barely audible plea. “Strip
them off.”
    Cathy licked her lips. A heady rush surged through her. She
held such power over him. The realization thrilled her.
    Emboldened by the need emanating from every inch of his
powerful male body, she smiled slowly. “Not yet,” she breathed. He scanned her
features as she removed the satin ribbon that tied back her hair.
    “Do you trust me?” she whispered against his ear.
    “Not for a moment.” His eyes flashed with carnal hunger.
“What evil do you plan to inflict upon me?”
    Her teeth nibbled her lower lip while she considered his
question. “Just a bit of amusement.” Her hands captured one sturdy wrist.
Smiling to herself, she looped the end of the ribbon around his arm and tied a
square knot.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Despite his harsh
tone, he made no move to resist her.
    She didn’t respond. Instead, she wound the length of satin
around a spindle of the headboard, took hold of his free wrist and began to
bind that as well.
    “Do you really believe a flimsy ribbon could hold me
captive?” he scoffed as she finished the