Blue Voodoo: A Romantic Retelling of Bluebeard (The Hidden Kingdom Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

since.” She maneuvered in his arms to put a finger to her lips. “Or have you? Tell me, do the women you meet find your beard as off-putting as your personality?”
    A shadow passed over Julien’s face, brown eyes drowning in black as his grip worsened around her hips. “Yes, chere , you’ve had your fun. But the joke has run its course, eh?”
    She smirked at his scowl. “Still funny to me.”
    My voice. She stiffened. There was a lilt to it, something…playful. Flirtatious . This was how it had started so many years ago, light taunting, insults traded for his bold physical advances. The path traveled that night had done her no favors.
    I am not that girl anymore. Flirting and flattery will not sway me, nor will…physical attraction. I am stronger than that, my priorities are deeply rooted elsewhere. It is time he sees that.
    His hands vanished from her hips so suddenly, she swayed before recovering her balance.
    “And is it funny that your temper tantrum has put my men in danger?”
    “What?” Dominique dropped her hand, her smirk shriveling into nonexistence. “What do you mean? Who is in danger?”
    “You don’t think I run my ship all on my own, do you?” Julien shoved a hand through his hair so hard it pulled the skin of his forehead up, raising his eyebrows. “I have a crew, Dominique. A crew that depends on me, on my ability to lead them, to make sure they have the means to provide for their families.”
    He threw himself into a quick pace, feet landing with wet thuds as he stalked back and forth, working off the nervous energy that seemed to be consuming him. Dominique stumbled back to avoid being run over. Her gaze tracked his movements as her mind struggled to process the abrupt change in conversation.
    “Many of these men came to be before I met you, back when to be part of my crew was as good as a guarantee that your family would never want for anything, that you could retire after but a few years time. Thanks to you, our brushes with the law have increased steadily every year, with too many close calls, too many contacts afraid to be seen with me, let alone do business with me. I’ve had to delegate more and more duties until I’m all but a prisoner on my own ship. And despite considerable training, none of my men have what it takes to negotiate the same deals I can, haggle with the same shrewdness.”
    “Negotiation is a skill that is hard to teach, and it relies a great deal on reputation, so it’s hard for newcomers to learn.”
    Julien’s brown eyes glittered. She bit the inside of her cheek, cursing her mouth for speaking without her brain’s permission.
    “Then you see why you must lift this curse.” He stepped closer to her, the weight of his stare almost pressing her to step back. “You acted rashly. Let’s be adults about this now. It’s time to make things right.”
    “And it’s all up to me to make things right, is it?” Dominique flexed her fingers, her hands itching to wrap themselves around the insufferable pirate’s neck. “The blame is all on me, you’re just an innocent victim?”
    “Dominique…”
    “I suppose I lured you into my bed, then? Bewitched you?”
    Julien was suddenly at her side, inches away and she hadn’t seen him move. His arms banded tightly around her waist, dragging her against his body.
    “I was only too willing to share a bed with you.” His breath caressed her cheeks, warm and familiar. “And I will share a bed with you again—as your husband. Can’t you see how perfect this solution is, Dominique?” He leaned closer, his lips almost close enough to kiss her throat. “For both of us?”
    Dominique arched her back, leaning away from him and smoothing a few errant brown curls back under her head wrap. “More for you, I think. Perhaps you’re right though.” She politely pushed his biceps, slowly forcing him away from her. The male muscle beneath her fingers plucked more memories from the hidden recesses of her mind, reminding