Between A Rake And A Hard Place [Pirates of London Book 2] Read Online Free PDF

elegant crystal glasses, a fine bottle of claret, and a bottle of some cool, golden wine that he was assured was perfect to soothe a lady in distress.
    That very lady, he found when he opened the door of the stateroom, was still in her bath. The slight splash of the water behind the screen unfortunately conjured images of silken limbs and wide violet eyes, and he did his best to carefully ignore both as he uncorked the wine.
    He poured himself a glass first. He needed it the most, he reasoned wryly.
    There was another splash.
    This was going to be a long evening.
    * * * *
    Cassandra was gradually coming to realize they’d given her some kind of drug. When the woman who’d brought her the sweet drink had insisted she take it, not accepting her instinctive refusal and a request for water, she’d been forced to drink it because she’d been so thirsty. The almond flavor had not been unpleasant but it was unfamiliar, the honey used to sweeten it not enough to cut through the narcotic taste.
    And now she was adrift in the aftermath, not just of her dramatic rescue, but of the reason for it. The Sultan had wanted her pliant and receptive, and perhaps it was why she’d been so willing to jump to the roof without trepidation, or for that matter, ready to leave with the English stranger in the first place. The rest of it, too, had been out of character, for normally she was a lady. For heaven’s sake, she’d climbed a ladder in front of four men who had seen her half-naked and she should be more mortified, if nothing else.
    That she didn’t care more was rather damning evidence.
    Languid in the water, her body was so sensitive that when she took a cloth to wipe away the vivid red rouge on her nipples, she was startled at the spike of pleasure and made an involuntary sound. Cassandra bit her lip, the flush in her cheeks not just embarrassment. Ives had returned, she could hear him moving about the stateroom, but while she might normally be horrified at the idea of a man in the same room while she bathed, he’d seen every bare inch of her already, and under the circumstances, she could hardly object.
    “Here’s my dressing gown,” he said, his voice a low, masculine sound as he hung the garment over the top of the screen. “It’s the best I can do, I’m afraid. There are no other women on board. When you are finished, there’s a glass of wine waiting, and food is being prepared. I’ll sleep below deck in the crew’s quarters, but I hope you won’t mind if we share a meal. I’m famished.”
    “I am hardly so ungracious, Mr. Ives, as to complain about whatever you wish to do.” She reached for a towel and rose, even the droplets of water running along her thighs and down her breasts shockingly pleasurable. It made her voice tremble. “I am deeply in your debt.”
    “I feel certain your father will be able to pay it in your stead.” His voice held a hint of amusement easy to discern even without being able to see his expression. “He offered a rather princely sum for me to find you. Granted, I think it was well-earned, but nonetheless, there’s no need to thank me.”
    “Mercenary or not, your chivalry is still appreciated.” That was better. At least she was able to modulate her tone.
    “Make no mistake, I am never chivalrous, but as we are exchanging compliments, may I say I appreciate that despite your beauty and your privileged background, you are not a whining, spoiled twit like most aristocratic ladies.”
    Cassandra had to admit she had no idea what to say to that. If that was a compliment, it was unlike one she’d ever received before.
    She dried off as quickly as possible, and slipped into the navy silk robe, the hem pooling on the floor as she knotted the sash around her waist. There was a small stand holding a comb and brush, so she quickly worked the tangles from her hair, emerging from behind the screen to find her companion seated comfortably in a chair by a table in the corner of the room, the