at sea, I report to the queen and then attend my lands. I’ve not the drive he had.”
“Lands? Do ye have many?”
“My holding in Gravesend is of decent size.”
“Have ye a family?” She bit her lip, as though she didn’t want to ask the question, and it had slipped out without her permission.
“An older brother, a younger sister.”
“No wife?” she asked. “A titled man with land and power, and yet no wife to give him heirs?”
“None.” He met her gaze, unsure why he was admitting so much, but feeling comfortable and compelled. “None that has struck me as worthy. Yet.”
“ Yet. How funny. Ye think to find a woman worthy of ye at court?”
“I dare say I won’t.”
“Why is that?”
“Why do you think?” His gaze slid over her form and then back up to her smiling, dancing eyes.
Antónia let out an exaggerated smile and lay back on the bed, stretching her arms over her head. “Because ye’re already falling madly in love with a pirate, and no ordinary woman will do.”
Titus’ heart lurched. He shoved off his chair and stalked toward the bed. Pressing a hand on either side of her, he leaned down until his nose was just an inch from hers. “Fall madly in love with a pirate?”
“Aye,” she whispered, then bit her lip.
“Have you a friend you want to introduce me to, then?” he teased.
Antónia laughed and playfully swatted his chest. “Ye’ve met him already. Tall, Viking Scots, he is. A gallowglass warrior who’ll take ye to task.”
Titus laughed, and bit her lower lip, tugging gently. Her hands came up around his waist, tugging his weight full down on top of her. He settled between her lithe thighs, the warmth of her body seeping into his.
“If only I’d been able to bargain three days instead of three beddings,” he murmured as he trailed kisses along her neck.
“We’d have all out war then,” she murmured back, scraping her nails softly down his naked back. “But perhaps we should both dock at Calais. Find a tavern with a room to let, plenty of whisky to drink, many a roasted chicken to eat, and another desk to plunder ourselves upon.”
“Oh, what a wondrous foray that would be.”
“Aye.” She licked her lips, eyes flashing emotion as she locked them on his. “I’ve never met a man like ye, Titus. And I shouldn’t be telling ye that. But ye’re… different.”
Titus brushed hair away from her forehead. “I feel the same way.” He shook his head. “It’s maddening really.” His chest tightened with unspoken emotion. “You’re the single most enticing and fascinating creature I’ve ever come across.”
And then, because he had to shut up before he begged her never to leave, he kissed her again, languidly. Exploring. Their first coupling had been maddening, furious and full of lust. Now he wanted to tease, to discover every part of her. What she liked. What she didn’t. What made her squirm, what made her sigh.
A quick rap at the door alerted them Ward had brought their meal.
Titus stared at her with longing as he climbed off the bed. “Now we dine.”
“And then we feast,” she finished his sentence.
“Aye.” He opened the door, quickly wiping the smile from his face when he faced Ward. “On the table there.”
Ward nodded, placing a tray heavily laden with chicken, bread, stew and a bottle of claret.
“Cap’n, if I might have a word,” Ward said.
“What is it?”
“In private?”
“I am busy. Can it wait?” Irritation made him bristly.
Ward had the astuteness to look worried, but still, he did not back down. “I’m afraid it cannot, Captain.”
Titus glared at his valet. “Someone better be dying,” he growled, then nodded to Antónia. “Excuse me, madam.”
Out in the corridor, Titus shut the door and faced his valet with arms crossed over his chest.
“Cap’n the men are worried. This goes against all protocol.”
Titus was a little surprised it had taken this long for someone to say something, and yet, he
“Lands? Do ye have many?”
“My holding in Gravesend is of decent size.”
“Have ye a family?” She bit her lip, as though she didn’t want to ask the question, and it had slipped out without her permission.
“An older brother, a younger sister.”
“No wife?” she asked. “A titled man with land and power, and yet no wife to give him heirs?”
“None.” He met her gaze, unsure why he was admitting so much, but feeling comfortable and compelled. “None that has struck me as worthy. Yet.”
“ Yet. How funny. Ye think to find a woman worthy of ye at court?”
“I dare say I won’t.”
“Why is that?”
“Why do you think?” His gaze slid over her form and then back up to her smiling, dancing eyes.
Antónia let out an exaggerated smile and lay back on the bed, stretching her arms over her head. “Because ye’re already falling madly in love with a pirate, and no ordinary woman will do.”
Titus’ heart lurched. He shoved off his chair and stalked toward the bed. Pressing a hand on either side of her, he leaned down until his nose was just an inch from hers. “Fall madly in love with a pirate?”
“Aye,” she whispered, then bit her lip.
“Have you a friend you want to introduce me to, then?” he teased.
Antónia laughed and playfully swatted his chest. “Ye’ve met him already. Tall, Viking Scots, he is. A gallowglass warrior who’ll take ye to task.”
Titus laughed, and bit her lower lip, tugging gently. Her hands came up around his waist, tugging his weight full down on top of her. He settled between her lithe thighs, the warmth of her body seeping into his.
“If only I’d been able to bargain three days instead of three beddings,” he murmured as he trailed kisses along her neck.
“We’d have all out war then,” she murmured back, scraping her nails softly down his naked back. “But perhaps we should both dock at Calais. Find a tavern with a room to let, plenty of whisky to drink, many a roasted chicken to eat, and another desk to plunder ourselves upon.”
“Oh, what a wondrous foray that would be.”
“Aye.” She licked her lips, eyes flashing emotion as she locked them on his. “I’ve never met a man like ye, Titus. And I shouldn’t be telling ye that. But ye’re… different.”
Titus brushed hair away from her forehead. “I feel the same way.” He shook his head. “It’s maddening really.” His chest tightened with unspoken emotion. “You’re the single most enticing and fascinating creature I’ve ever come across.”
And then, because he had to shut up before he begged her never to leave, he kissed her again, languidly. Exploring. Their first coupling had been maddening, furious and full of lust. Now he wanted to tease, to discover every part of her. What she liked. What she didn’t. What made her squirm, what made her sigh.
A quick rap at the door alerted them Ward had brought their meal.
Titus stared at her with longing as he climbed off the bed. “Now we dine.”
“And then we feast,” she finished his sentence.
“Aye.” He opened the door, quickly wiping the smile from his face when he faced Ward. “On the table there.”
Ward nodded, placing a tray heavily laden with chicken, bread, stew and a bottle of claret.
“Cap’n, if I might have a word,” Ward said.
“What is it?”
“In private?”
“I am busy. Can it wait?” Irritation made him bristly.
Ward had the astuteness to look worried, but still, he did not back down. “I’m afraid it cannot, Captain.”
Titus glared at his valet. “Someone better be dying,” he growled, then nodded to Antónia. “Excuse me, madam.”
Out in the corridor, Titus shut the door and faced his valet with arms crossed over his chest.
“Cap’n the men are worried. This goes against all protocol.”
Titus was a little surprised it had taken this long for someone to say something, and yet, he
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