Never Trust a Pirate Read Online Free PDF Page A

better than the others. I’ve been warned about sailors on leave. Now if you’ll excuse me,” she said in icy tones. It wasn’t the wisest thing to say, she realized, but she was furious, both with them and with herself. He was right—she’dbeen an idiot to get lost in this part of town. She should have paid closer attention to Mr. Fulton’s directions.
    “You gonna let her get away with that?” the talkative one said, outraged.
    The man had been leaning against the brick wall, watching everything with casual interest. He straightened then, and for the first time she felt the full force of his attention. It was a disturbing feeling. “If you were warned you should have listened. But then, we’ve already established your stupidity.”
    At least she had the wit to bite back her instinctive retort. She glared at him instead. “I think I’ll go now.”
    “I think not.” He caught her arm, his strong hand surprisingly hard on her upper arm as he pulled her around. She lost her footing, and fell against him, or maybe he’d dragged her there, but suddenly she was plastered up against a warm, male body, her eyes at the level of his bare neck and gold hoop. “I think you need a taste of what you just escaped. That way you’ll learn your lesson.” To her shock he put his hand behind her neck, tilting her head up, and his mouth came down on hers.
    It was hard against her lips, and to her astonishment he used his long fingers to push her jaw apart, enough for his tongue to thrust into her mouth, and she held still, motionless with shock.
    It was disgusting. Foul. He tasted of fresh coffee and cinnamon, and she considered biting him. What was he doing to her? Whatever it was, it was wrong. And yet… how very odd… it was strangely enticing. She could feel the anger and outrage in her body begin to soften, and she tried to summon her fury back. It had disappeared. She heard fuzzy noises in the distance, and she realized it was the hooting of the men who’d attacked her.
    He lifted his head, looking down at her out of hooded, dark eyes. “Open your mouth, my little idiot, and kiss me back.”
    She opened her mouth to tell him to go to the devil when he covered hers once more, holding her tight against his body as he continued with his shocking kiss, something she’d never experienced before. His tongue touched hers, coaxed, and for some reason she let hers drift against his, as he deepened the kiss, and she wondered idly if she was going to swoon.
    That wouldn’t be a good idea, not with the three sailors making loud sounds of approval. But lord, she’d been wrong about this kind of kissing. It was too intimate, too intense, too seductive. It made her want more, and for a moment she pictured his hands on her breasts, his hands pulling up her skirts and taking her in public up against a brick wall. She wanted to dissolve into the absolute splendor of his mouth, and she moaned in pleasure.
    A moment later she was released, and she fell back, putting a hand on the side of the building for surreptitious support. Her rescuer had turned from her to the three men. “She’d be a waste of time, boys. She kisses like a virgin. You’re better off paying for some companionship.” He tossed them a handful of coins, and even the hulking one caught them deftly.
    “Thank you, cap’n,” they said cheerfully, backing away as if they hadn’t been about to commit rape and kidnapping. “You knew we meant no harm. Just having a bit of fun, that’s all.”
    “Next time find someone willing.”
    They ran off, and Maddy had finally managed to stand on her own two feet as anger washed through her, stiffening her. “You reward them for trying to rape me?” she demanded icily.
    The man shrugged. “At least they’ll be too busy to bother you again. And they’ll have a much better time.”
    She was so furious she could barely speak. “How lovely of you,” she said in a biting voice. “And now I suppose you’re going to insist