Free Love's Abyss (St. John Series) by Lora Thomas

holding Andrew and his crew hostage.
    “Where is it?” she heard the pirate question Andrew.
    A malevolent smile crossed the Commodore’s face as he looked up at the pirate. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, pirate ,” he answered in a smart aleck voice, condescension apparent in his tone.
    “I was hoping you would say that,” the pirate replied as he took his large fist and hit McClain’s face. Madison cringed. The pirate placed the sword back up to Andrew’s throat, “I’m only going to ask this one more time. Where is the necklace?”
    Before the Commodore could reply, Madison jumped out and pointed her sword at the pirate’s throat. “Drop your sword and let them go.” She ordered with bravado.
    Alex glanced at the beautiful woman before him. A woman on this ship! How odd. His eyes slowly traveled up the blade, up her dainty arm, and then to her face. She was stunning. Her curly, long auburn hair had fallen down and was sitting at her waist. Her emerald eyes were glowing with rage, and her full pouty lips were slightly parted as she breathed heavily with fear. He scrutinized the woman before him. His amusement showed as he gazed at the beauty who barely came to his upper chest.
    “As you wish, my lady. Max, guard McClain,” he bellowed as he turned towards the red-headed splendor before him.
    “Release them!” she demanded again.
    Within a blink of an eye, Alex took his sword and twisted it with the one she was holding. Her sword went flying into the air. He caught it in his free hand and quickly pointed one at her and the other at Andrew.
    “Max!”
    Max was watching the show with comic interest. A smile crossed his face and then a thunderous laugh came from the dark man before them.
    “What’s so damn funny?” Alex demand.
    Max laughed again. “Oh, I never dreamed I’d see the day when the Commodore would have his rescue attempted by a red-headed imp.” He pointed his pistol at McClain.
    Alex glared at his first-in-command. His eyes returned to the woman who tried to threaten him. He slowly looked her up and down again. He couldn’t help but admire how beautiful her body was. The pale green dress she was wearing outlined every inch of her figure, leaving little to his imagination. The pale pink sash around her waist helped outline her hourglass figure, which she did not need a stay to achieve. Her full breasts rose up and down with each of her quick breaths. A shimmer of something between them caught his eye. He walked towards her.
    She glared up at the towering man before her as he took his large hand and tenderly traced her cheek. She jerked her head away. “Get your hands off me!” she spat through clenched teeth.
    One side of his mouth came up in a sneer. His hand went back to her face. He slowly traced her jaw and allowed his long fingers to travel down her delicate neck. His index figure traced the gold chain around it and followed the chain to the object nestled between her breasts. She gasped as she felt his fingertips along her breasts.
    Her hand was quick as lightning as it struck his face. His head turned slightly from the force of her blow. He turned his head back to face her and an evil sneer crossed his handsome face. He quickly grabbed both of her hands and held them above her head. “If you hit me again,” he seethed coldly, “I’ll see how well you can swim in a dress.”
    “Go to hell!” she shouted at him.
    “When I’m through with you, love.” he told her with a demented gaze. His free hand went back to the trinket that was resting safely on her warm flesh. Her struggles were useless against his strong grip. He picked up the trinket, looked at it, and with one quick move ripped it from her neck. He pushed her towards another pirate. “Hold her, Slim,” he told the man.
    His eyes took in the delicate opal-backed cross. He slowly twisted the dainty chain around his fingers and turned towards McClain who had been observing the entire encounter. “You