The Captain of All Pleasures Read Online Free PDF Page A

man aboard a sinking ship—who suffered no delusions.
    A whisper of air fluttered over her face when his hand sought the hood of her cloak. As he untied it and pushed the fabric back over her hair, his fingers brushed her cheek as if in a caress. Her whole body quivered from the sensuality of that sheer touch. She still trembled when he studied her face…and when he stroked her hair…and even when he effortlessly lifted her up and threw her over his shoulder.

Chapter 3
    N othing surprised Derek anymore. He expected the worst outcome, the worst in everyone, and most times they didn’t disappoint. But when he’d detected the girl from the Mermaid beneath the hood, everything inside him went a little crazy.
    And outside, too. His blood-pounding erection was raw and swift, like that of a rutting animal scenting a ready mate. He didn’t know if his surprise came more from finding the prostitute again or from this aggressive reaction to her.
    She was dumbfounded, of course, to be draped over his shoulder with her backside pointed up in the air and her face buried in his spine. It wasn’t long before she began kicking and scratching with as much spirit as before.
    â€œDown! Now!” she ordered, punctuating each command with a swat or a kick. “Put—me—down—this— instant!”
    He scoffed at her continued attempts to hurt him, smug because she simply hadn’t the power to do so. A stab of pain pierced his moment of gloating—the Valkyrie had sunk her strong little teeth into the back of his arm.
    â€œWhat the hell?” He shook her loose. “Damn it, I’m trying to help you. I don’t see those men around here, but that doesn’t mean they’ve gone.”
    When she had stopped struggling long enough to listen, he continued, “I’m taking you somewhere safe, and if you fight me you’ll only prolong the inevitable.”
    She huffed, “I’ll humor you. For now.”
    His lips nearly curved at her attempt to keep her dignity even though she hung over his back with her cloak bunched around her waist. But he became tense and alert when he reached the corner and searched the area. Confident the men had run ahead, he strode in the opposite direction, toward the Southern Cross .
    â€œYou could let me down now. I won’t run away,” the girl offered after bouncing along for a few steps. He should let her walk, but he didn’t want her to try to get away again. Not until she explained some things.
    â€œWe’ll go quicker this way.” As an afterthought, he added, “Aren’t you done in?”
    When she inhaled deeply and sighed, he felt it on his back. “Yes,” she admitted reluctantly.
    Fury fired in him as he pictured those men running down this small, defenseless young woman. Yet he became angrier with himself—he’d come so close to leaving her—and his tone was harsh. “Who chased you, and why?”
    She stiffened. “That’s none of your business.”
    â€œIt is now, since I just saved your hide.”
    When she didn’t say anything, he jostled her a little with the arm under her backside. “Tell me now.”
    â€œYou’ll have to shake a lot harder than that to get me to talk. Since I know you won’t—let’s not waste each other’s time,” she said in a nasty voice from behind him.
    The girl was… provoking him?
    â€œI wouldn’t wager on that, sweet.” His ire, always considerable, rapidly banked. “You obviously lack the sense to be afraid of me.”
    She rose up off his back. “Should I be afraid of you?” she asked in a sensible tone.
    No mincing questions for this one. “That depends on whether or not you keep me happy. And right now I’m not happy.”
    â€œYou don’t look as if you’ve ever been happy,” she mumbled, her cheek resting on his back again.
    He slowed. “What do