The Captain of All Pleasures by Kresley Cole Page A

believe there are other crimes.”
    She looked relieved, which was strange. Why would she care what he thought?
    â€œI was…uncomfortable with the fact that your father wouldn’t race because of my…night with you. I tried several methods to get him released,” he explained vaguely. “I will say that from the way I was turned down, the person who is responsible is in a position of power or threw a considerable amount of money at this problem.”
    After a pause, she said, “Say you were in my position, and desperately wanted someone you cared about released. Who would you target for this? And what would you do?”
    Two thoughts came to Derek at once. One, he didn’t have someone he cared about. Two, she was asking his advice, and he liked that she hung on to his words.
    â€œIf I had to, I’d say it would be a peer, someone of my rank or higher. Someone with a great deal of money, who has a stake in this race.”
    â€œWhy shouldn’t I think you did it?”
    He found her openness refreshing. “Because I will beat your father regardless. I want to defeat your father,” he explained simply.
    She nibbled the corner of her lower lip and looked lost in thought. “I don’t know if I believe you. But if you’ve told me all you know…” She stood to go, taking one last large swallow of whiskey before setting the glass down.
    Derek wasn’t about to let her leave yet. Though he admired her strong will, when she’d touched his face tonight her aloof facade wavered, her defenses breached, if only for a second. But it was at that instant that she became irresistible to him.
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    This was not going at all as planned. She was insane to think she could handle this man. Nicole wasn’t daft—she’d known she could only have a measure of success in managing him if he was intoxicated, and she’d definitely not foreseen any problem in the “Sutherland gets drunk” variable. Yet here he was, facing her without a hint of a slur or any dimness in those piercing eyes. He looked as if he could see right through her and tell all her secrets.
    If he was telling the truth, then she hadn’t received much of a lead. Worse, it would mean he’d already done what she’d come to ask for. She didn’t believe he was deceiving her; he would want to defeat her father.
    Given the circumstances, she thought a retreat would be best. As she walked past him to her cloak, she took a last look at his face, a face so striking even with the angry mask he always wore. He looked like a fallen angel, cold and cruel, but with a lingering shadow of what he’d once been. The shadow was what was driving her crazy….
    Stop gaping at his face. Thank him and leave. “Sutherland, I—”
    â€œThere’s more…,” he promised in a lower, rumbling tone. She tried to convince herself that he meant more information, but failed. When he reached out and gently ran the backs of his fingers down her face much as she had done to him, she didn’t turn away.
    He was about to say something, but scuffling noises and a woman’s raised voice sounded from the deck. She could sense tension radiating from him, and he turned abruptly to the door. He halted before he left. “Nicole,” he said as he pinned her with those silvery eyes, “do not think of leaving this room.”
    When the door closed, her legs went shaky. She’d been a coil of nerves, craving to be kissed again so much that she’d forgotten her true purpose for coming here.
    Wait, what was my true purpose? To manipulate and spy. Oh, yes.
    She hadn’t expected such an opportunity to move about his ship, and she knew she should take advantage of it. Normally she wouldn’t even pause to think, but the warning in his eyes bore some weight in her decision. When he’d looked at her and commanded her, he’d had no inkling of doubt that she’d