Page 25 of Seaborn and the Seven Seas

“Kindly step away,” I said.

His towering frame took a step forward, causing me to step back, then he shut the door.

“I didn’t say you could come in,” I snapped.

He arched an eyebrow as if I had offended him. Ugh! The nerve of him.

The sunlight again caught what the cave’s dimness had only somewhat revealed. Sharp jaw, hard lines, skin bronzed from wind and salt. The color of his eyes stopped me short—blue, bright as the ocean, a shade I had never seen on anyone. Not in the cavern, not on the ship, not in this tavern full of the worst kinds of people.

I wondered if he was human.

“Either he was terrible in bed, or you have a strange appetite.” He swept the coat back and got to his knee, examining the blackened area of Russo’s neck where I’d stabbed countless times.

“Hmmm… according to the number of stabs, I’d say he didn’t know how to satisfy you.”

“Is everything a joke to you?” I pressed my back to the wall, my hands inches away from the dagger tucked in my pocket. I didn’t let him answer before I continued, “Let me assure you that he isn’t my type. He forced me up here.”

“I recalled you volunteering yourself.” He gripped Russo’s jaw, shifting his neck from side to side.

Strange. What is he looking for on Russo?

“Were you watching the whole time and you did nothing to help us? Where were you?” I didn’t recall seeing him anywhere. Either people here were selfish or they didn’t care for other beings. “You’re no gentleman.”

“I never said I was.” He matched my scowl as he came toward me, my back hitting the wall.

One hand landed against the wall above my head, his body leaning close, that ridiculous hat tipping forward as he caged me in.

He opened out a palm. “Give it to me.”

“Give you what?” I feigned innocence.

His eyes dropped to my chest, then back to my face. He knew what weapon I used on Russo. How?

“I have no time to play games, woman. Now, hand it over.”

Those eyes turned darker, blue bleeding into gray. How was that possible?

“No,” I said, sounding bolder than I felt. “What makes you think I killed him?”

“You admitted it.”

Shit. I did. Damn it.

“Well, I could have lied to get you out of my way.”

He closed his eyes, patience wearing thin, then opened them, back to blue. “I’m not going to ask nicely again. You hand it over or I’ll strip you bare naked.”

How did he know I hid it under my garment? I crossed my arms. “You wouldn’t dare.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Most women beg me to.”

The audacity of that cocky, arrogant bastard. The most insufferable man I had ever met in my very limited experience of men… and infuriatingly, the best looking. But I had to play it smart. I needed him. And winning him over was the only way out of here.

I swallowed. “I’ll give it to you if you help my friend and me escape this place.”

His mouth opened. Closed. Opened again until he finally said, “You’re bargaining with me?”

I guessed he was used to always getting his way.