Falling In Love Again (Heroic Rogues Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

would be very appreciative of your kindness.”
    “How much would you appreciate it?”
    Inwardly, she seethed. By the stretch of his cheesy grin, she knew what inappropriate thoughts ran amok through his head, and she’d like to slap those wicked ideas right out of his head. Just continue to be nice and cooperative, she reminded herself. “Very much.”
    “Then I’ll eagerly find a person to assist you, my dove.”
    “I shall anxiously await your answer.”
    As she took another sip of her wine, she didn’t know if the drink was calming her worry, or if Hawk was charming her. Either way, she wasn’t as nervous as before, and she quite enjoyed talking with him. “Captain? May I ask what you have planned for me and the other prisoners?”
    Using his napkin, he wiped his mouth then stood. Because of his mask, she couldn’t read his expression; she could only watch his lips. Right now he was neither smiling nor frowning as he walked around the table to her side.
    “I plan on releasing the prisoners soon, I assure you.” He slid a hand into hers and tugged, pulling her up to stand in front of him. She quickly grabbed the linen-covered dagger and placed it on the table next to her fork.
    “As for you, my dove,” he whispered, cupping her face and leaning closer, “I plan on getting to know you better.”
    She didn’t have time to panic before his mouth covered hers. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping she could fight him off. Her mind screamed at her to stop him, yet cooperation was the best way to get him to bend to her will. But the longer he kissed her so tenderly, the more she melted. She didn’t want this, but he no longer acted the part of a fearsome highwayman. Instead, she saw him as a real man.
    She clutched his shoulders just to keep from dropping to the floor. Immediately, every nerve in her body responded, and her mind quit fighting to stop him. No man had ever kissed her like this, and heaven help her, she enjoyed it immensely.
    He slid his hands around her and pulled her closer. His bulging muscles had her mesmerized, and all she wanted to do was run her palms over his shoulders and down his arms.
    This was wrong, completely and utterly against all she’d set her mind to or been brought up to believe, but it didn’t matter. Suddenly she was paralyzed—melting—swirling in a haze of sensation and longing. Leaning into him, she fully participated in the kiss.
    He broke the kiss and moved his mouth to her ear where he nibbled. She gasped and fell back against the table, her palm pressing on the hidden dagger. Awareness of where she was and what she was doing snapped inside her.
    Although she had never felt so alive, she couldn’t let this continue. She knew what he wanted, and marriage and family were not included. Determination to stop Captain Hawk surged through her with renewed force. It didn’t matter if he kissed her with such tenderness; he would never love her or be the kind of man she dreamed of marrying.
    She must remember Captain Hawk was the very reason her father died, and the very reason she had been left penniless.
    Slowly, she moved her fingers under the linen napkin and grasped the dagger. While Hawk rained kisses over her neck, she brought the weapon out, moving the blade between them.
    He lifted his head and smiled at her with dazed passion in his eyes. Why did he look so handsome? He studied her face, then frowned and dropped his gaze, pulling back slightly.
    “I’ll not let you ravish me, you beast! You killed my father. I’ll not be another victim.” Panicked, she pushed the blade through the sinew and muscle of his chest. Blood flowed over her fingers, warm and sticky.
    His face turned white, and he staggered backward, grasping the weapon. He pulled it from his body and met her gaze with a questioning look.
    She sobbed and took slow steps away. Oh, no! What had she done? “I didn’t mean to… If you hadn’t kissed me…”
    He shook his head and stepped toward her, but