Free Between A Rake And A Hard Place [Pirates of London Book 2] by Emma Wildes writing as Annabel Wolfe Page B

was protective and he’d never seen that before.
    This was going to be complicated.
    Damn all.
    “Eavesdropping?”
    Marcus turned, wine bottle still in hand. His smile was wry. “No.” He signaled Captain Haldon that they should move down the deck a little. As soon as they were far enough away, he murmured, “I was going to bring the bottle of wine Christopher requested, but I think he is much more interested in a different type of activity at the moment. I must concede the wager.”
    The captain chuckled. “Did you ever really think—”
    “I did,” Marcus interrupted but then smiled ruefully after a moment. He admitted grudgingly, “Well, maybe at first I did. But he’s been in hell on this voyage and note how he refused to leave her behind. I hope this doesn’t destroy him. Usually he’s careful to avoid trouble and her father is very powerful.”
    The captain tilted his head toward his cabin. “Since they aren’t going to enjoy that fine vintage, shall we go back to my cabin and drink it ourselves instead?”
    That seemed appropriate enough and served Christopher right.
    Marcus shrugged. “I’ll be more than happy consume his favorite wine.”
    “Or take his place with the winsome young lady, eh?” The captain gave him a sly wink.
    “I’m not that foolhardy. First he would skewer me, and second, while she is delightful in every way a female can be, I would not be invited into her bed. From the very beginning of our little adventure, she has looked at him differently. If I had a romantic soul, which I do not, I would attribute their meeting to fate. Instead, I am just afraid he has made the mistake of a lifetime.”
    “Ives can defend himself.”
    “Against her father, yes,” Marcus agreed quietly, thinking about what might happen when they arrived in England. “But against her, I somehow doubt it.”
    It was then the captain turned into the breeze, his face suddenly remote. He touched the railing of the yacht and then stood still again a minute before he turned around. “Drink the wine yourself. I think we are in for a devil of a storm. I can smell it coming and I suspect I’ll need my wits about me.”

Chapter 8
    He’d lost his mind, but at least he was going to go mad in the most pleasurable way possible. Christopher stood and fumbled with the fastenings on his breeches, freeing his straining erection and taking in a breath of relief. The urge was, especially after the days of self-denial, to lower himself on top of her and satisfy his starving body at once, but that wasn’t really an option.
    She was prepared for consummation now that she was wet and relaxed, but sexual congress was not just about physical satisfaction, or at least in this case he didn’t think it was. Her eyes were deep pools, and the acquiescence implied in her supine position gave him pause.
    His sense of self-preservation was usually honed to a razor-sharp edge. He was a decade older, and infinitely more worldly than the still innocent young woman lying in delicious dishabille in the tumbled sheets, so he knew better than to take this further.
    She looked a little dazed from her first experience with sexual release, her luscious body languid and flushed.
    But he wasn’t going to be wise.
    To his own amazement he wanted to claim her, to make her irrevocably his forever. As her first lover a voice in his brain whispered, he would never be forgotten.
    “That was…what did you…” She stopped as she finally seemed aware enough to focus on his prominent erection, her eyes widening.
    In response he slid on top of her, not wanting to give her time to be alarmed. He nibbled on her ear. “We’ll fit together perfectly. Your body is ready for me, and as you can see, I am very ready for you.”
    “I didn’t know.”
    His laugh was an exhale across her smooth temple as he adjusted his position, using his knees to urge her legs apart. “There are some advantages to being male, but one disadvantage is that we cannot