Dropping the dress to the ground, she tugged her tunic over her head. Hair flung into her eyes and it took a second for her to brush it away from her face. When she did she found him staring. The heat in his gaze snapped through her like wild fire. He sat absolutely still, barely even breathing as his hungry eyes took her in.
She worked hard to keep a healthy body, ate right, worked out six times a week. It was nice to see appreciation for her efforts.
Cocking her hip out, she planted a hand on her waist. “Like what you see?”
“I like the black lace on your red bra. I wonder, Trishelle, if deep down you knew you were coming to me?”
She’d always hated her full name. Hated how long and old fashioned it sounded, but hearing it fall from his lips, with his deep burr…it’d never sounded sexier. “You wish, Romeo. Red just so happens to look killer on me, even if it’s not my favorite color.”
“Dress, or we’ll not be leaving this room any time soon.” His voice was thick and rough and she was so tempted to tell him to hell with wherever he wanted to take her. She had an itch that he needed to scratch. Just because she was stuck here didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy her stay, it didn’t have to be all bad.
But she didn’t, because contrary to popular myth, she really wasn’t easy, even when she wanted to be.
Grabbing the dress, she stepped into it. The fabric was soft as satin and draped across her body like water, moving in flattering ways as she posed. Deciding it was time to beat him at his own game, she turned and slid her hair over her shoulder.
“Zip me up? Or are you too chicken?”
The cool air prickled on her skin, making it shiver and race with hundreds of goose bumps as she waited. She waited so long she thought maybe he’d called her bluff, and just as she was about to laugh at herself, a warm hand and a cool piece of steel slid up her back.
“You should never taunt a tiger.” His scent of salt and man wrapped around her nose, made her body tremble as he leaned in, nose scraping the tip of her ear.
“Why is that?” she asked in a breathless whisper.
She could feel his smile brush the back of her head. “Because it bites.”
Then he was zipping her up and when he finished, he didn’t pull away as she’d expected, but instead allowed the curve of cold steel to hook around her neck, forcing her to tilt her head back. His lips moved against her hair.
“I’ve decided.” He paused and her lashes fluttered as she lifted high on the tips of her feet, causing her cheek to brush against his whisker roughened one.
“What have you decided?”
Who knew a hook could be so sexy? But the way he ran it against her soft flesh, the play of sharp tip with the gentle glide, it made her want to slam him onto the bed and be as easy as she’d always been accused of being.
“That I will have you.” Blunt teeth nipped the lobe of her ear and she couldn’t help it, she moaned.
It was a sound full of want and need and heat and she wasn’t the slightest bit embarrassed because while she’d always enjoyed sex, she’d never had such good foreplay, and they’d not even gotten to second base yet.
Head swimming with lusty thoughts, she smirked.
“You are very confident. But I don’t think you will, because you see I’m cursed.”
Growling, he twirled her around. “I’m not talking of Talia or past lives, I could give a flying—”
Placing her finger over his lips, she cut him off and shook her head. “And neither was I. I don’t care who says what, I’m not her, never claimed to be. They obviously grabbed the wrong girl, but there is another curse you should worry about.”
Heat burned like a glowing brand in his devilish eyes.
Wanting to touch him, refusing to overthink it, she framed his face and leaned in as close as possible without actually pressing her lips to his. “Because,” she whispered, “I’m addictive, and when it’s all over, you’ll fall in love with me.”
“I will never love again. And besides, if anyone falls in love, it’ll be you.”
“We’ll see.” She stepped back, drawing a deep breath before saying, “And don’t hold your breath, because that’s the other part of my curse. I have never loved a man, and never will.”
Chapter 8
Trishelle walked up the steps, headed toward the upper deck. The dress was a vision on her. It draped over her body, leaving nothing to imagination. And yet, it didn’t make her look like a whore, there was barely even a cleavage line on the thing. But his breeches had grown tight all the same. And though she was dressed as a lady would, he knew his men would drool all over themselves at the sight of her.
With her long, gold spun hair and curvaceous figure, she looked a seductress no matter what she wore. For the next three days she was his and though he was captain of this ship, there were always those who’d seek to dethrone him. A pirate loved treasure and she was one worth hoarding. Stepping up, she paused before turning to look back at him. “Are you looking at my butt?”