Hart's Desire (Pirates & Petticoats Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

sense of time and space. A soft sound escaped from her throat and he deepened the kiss, parting her lips with his tongue and drawing a quick intake of breath from her. A tingling sensation swirled low in her belly and drew her closer to him until his body pressed against hers. A low growl vibrated in his chest and he plunged his fingers into her hair. Her strength ebbed, and she numbly feared her legs wouldn’t hold. After a long moment, he pulled away.
    “You taste of sweet, maple syrup.” The side of his mouth quirked up, but his voice was   oddly hoarse.
    Her lids fluttered open. She didn’t remember closing them. Feeling a mixture of bewilderment and shocked desire, she struggled to find her tongue.  
    “That…that…” Her hands were gripping his forearms and she quickly released him.  
    “Was delicious,” he finished for her with a quick grin. “Your lips drive a man mad with the desire for another taste.”
    Keelan fought to regain her composure, which at best lay in tattered fragments at her bare feet. Her reaction to his kiss both surprised and angered her.  
    Stupid girl, letting a man like Captain Hart get you flustered as a spring bird.
    “Captain, you have no sense of propriety,” she managed to say out loud. At least her tongue was working again.
    “No,” he agreed. “But then, I never claimed I did. Now then—” He leaned forward again.  
    “Don’t you dare!” She narrowed her eyes, unsure she’d be able to keep her dignity if he kissed her again. Heaven knows she'd almost melted from the first one.
    “You’ve paid my price. I’m honor-bound to fulfill my duties.” He chuckled and began untangling her hair from the branches.
    “I doubt you understand the meaning of honor. You deserve to be slapped soundly,” she said. “No gentleman would take such liberties.” He certainly was no gentleman. Pointing out that fact would undoubtedly come as no surprise to the scoundrel. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise her if he was proud of it.
    He paused. “Liberties? I seized no liberties, only fair payment for services soon rendered.”  
    “It gives me cause to wonder how many other ladies you have seduced into a kiss with your silver tongue and roguish charm,” she retorted.  
    “A gentleman never tells, my dear. Suffice it to say none were unwilling and not all were ladies.” He gave her a wink and lowered his voice to almost a whisper. “I doubt I was the only one who enjoyed our kiss, my sweet.”  
    “I am not your…augh!” Her cheeks grew warm. This arrogant merchant captain must be accustomed to women falling all over themselves for a chance to enjoy his charms. Did he see her as one of them? If he thought to place her in the same category, he'd a thing or two to learn about Keelan Grey. She just needed to pull a veil of nonchalance over her demeanor. Why was that so hard for her to do in front of this man? Damned if dragging her gaze from the deep blue eyes of Landon Hart almost demanded more strength than she could muster.  
    Hart changed the topic. “What’s a beautiful woman like you doing dressed as a street urchin and playing with blades?”
    Keelan paused a moment before answering. Here was her opportunity to prevent the captain from mentioning the swordplay to her uncle. Perhaps she could still salvage the day.
    “Daniel mentioned earlier that my father demanded I be trained to defend myself…” She fiddled with a small branch.  
    “It appears he’s been doing it very well,” Captain Hart said.  
    She could hear the smile in his voice. Perhaps this was a game for him, but to Daniel it was not. She wanted to shake him. Perhaps curling her hands into fists would prevent them from going for his neck. Take a breath. Speak calmly.
    “Since it upsets my Aunt Sarah, my uncle has forbidden me to continue,” she went on, pretending he hadn’t spoken.
    He laughed softly. Now that was a dangerous sound.
    “Ah, so I see. The prohibited exercises continue in