Ahoy!
Thank you to Mel, Jill, and Gemma!
FOUR
"You!" I hiss, throwing her hand from mine. I'm on my feet swiftly, and she settles deeper into the chair. How does she always manage to sneak up on me? She is far too good an actress and I am not nearly practiced enough at spotting her kind of deceit.
"It really is good to see you again, Captain," she murmurs, her smile coquettish. The fury in me grows with each word she speaks. "To hear that you've spent the last three years looking for me." She shakes her head, her hand fluttering to her chest. My eyes are momentarily distracted, following the path of her small hands. Her shift is boldly open, exposing an expanse of her delicate neck and shoulders. Two ties dangle enticingly down the front of her dress, and I know if I were to pluck at them, she would be fully exposed.
I have to tear my eyes from her and pace away to distract myself.
"You took something from me," I snap, glancing quickly at her. She smiles, one of her legs crossing over the other under her skirt. From my angle, I can nearly see through the thin fabric, despite the darkness of the room. I turn away from her again.
"I took quite a bit from you, as I recall," she says, and I'm furious to hear humor in her voice. "Can you be more specific?"
I turn to glare at her. "How dare you," I snarl. "Do you have any idea how you've ruined my life?"
Isabella stands, and when she moves, I'm caught off guard by the sway of her hips, by the curtain of her hair that is being held back from her face by not more than a single pin.
"You are in one of the biggest port cities in the Caribbean, drinking some of the best rum there is to be had, alone in a room with me." She steps toward me, picking up the glass and taking a sip. I'm momentarily mesmerized as I watch her lift the glass to her lips. I watch her throat bob, her cheeks flush a delicate pink with warmth as the spirit runs through her. She brings the glass from her mouth and licks a single golden drop from the corner of her smile. "What more could you possibly want?"
It is sinful, the way she moans the words, and for a short time, I'm unable to answer her because I cannot remember.
Isabella smiles, stepping toward me, holding the rum out to me. "Drink," she tells me, her hand bringing the glass to my lips. "Discover the taste of pleasure."
My mouth opens, and she gently pours the rum between my lips. Unlike the last one I drank, I let the flavor of the rum wash over my tongue. It is sweet, rich, and dark.
I imagine she tastes just the same; bold, rich, complex, addictive…
The thought jerks me out of my fantasies, and I step back from her. "Do not try to tempt me," I spit, turning from her to regain some of my composure.
She laughs, and the sound is luxurious and warm. "Are you so easily tempted?" she asks. I risk an angry glance at her. She smiles and finishes off the rum, setting the glass on the little table. "I know you've been looking for me," she says. "So has half the empire." She stops, searching out the small window of the room. "You, unlike the rest of the empire," she says, turning to me. "Have found me." She flashes me a devilish smile. "Now that you have me, what will you do with me?"
Her voice goes breathy, and I feel my own blush steel over my face. I turn from her once again.
"I intend to make you pay for your grievances against me," I say, unable to stop myself from glancing at her as I speak.
Her smile is truly wicked.
"Oh now, that does sound promising."
I pace away from her, lost for words.
"Well, Captain, I do think that your revenge will have to wait." She sighs.
I spin around again to glare at her. I am starting to get dizzy with all the turning.
"How can you think so? Do I not have you in my grasp?"
"Not yet, but I am more than willing to see how that goes too."
My blood goes hot: with desire or anger, I cannot say.
Isabella steps away from the window, stalking toward me. "You see, dear Captain," she says, her hips swinging as she steps toward me. "You think you've been hunting me." She stops in front of me, her hands traveling up to my shoulders and sliding down my chest. I stop breathing. "But the truth is, I've been luring you to me. You found me because I wanted you to."
I try to swallow past the tightness in my throat. "And why would you want such a thing?"
Isabella smiles, her hands trailing back up over my shoulders. "Because, Captain. I have a proposition for you."