Excerpt from TASTE OF THE DEVIL!
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CAPTURED!!
The ground swung dizzily below her, then there was nothing but swirling, frothing black water.
Ginny screamed the entire passage to the other ship.
The Panther did not put her down once he landed on the deck of the Chameleon. With bootheels clicking on the hard wooden surface, he strode purposely across the deck and headed straight for his cabin.
To the raucous cheering of his men.
“Yer got a prize, eh, Cap’n?”
“A pirate’s swagger he has and we know why; don’t we, men?”
Braying catcalls for that rhetorical wit. “Let me down!” Ginny yelled, kicking her legs.
“Looks like our Panther’s got some prowlin’ ta do!”
Ginny tried to bite the lout’s shoulder. He soundly whacked her behind. The men cheered.
“Show her a pirate’s goods, Captain!”
“That is disgusting.” Ginny stuck out her tongue in revulsion.
Ribald laughter answered her. Mainly, she saw bare feet, shoes, and scruffy pants; but she did brace herself up long enough to catch the eye of a grizzled codger. His mouth ripped opened in a lewd grin, revealing the few remaining teeth in his mouth.
“Arrrg, you’ve the face of a siren, dearie.” The old coot comically batted his white lashes at her.
She screwed up her ‘siren’ face. Upside down. “And just what is that supposed to mean?”
“He thinks you’re beautiful,” The Panther drawled. “Better watch out, my lovely, our Cappy is known to steal the ladies’ hearts.” He tapped his chin. “Or. . . does he just steal? Can never get that straight.”
More guffaws from the crew.
Just before he ducked his head to enter the cabin, he called out to his quartermaster. “See that the others are well treated. Find suitable quarters for them.”
“Aye, Capt’n!”
“And Cappy. . . ?”
“Sir?”
“Inform these scalawags that not a hair is to be touched on their heads– or they will have me to answer to.” His opaline sights fell on each crew member in turn on deck, marking them. "Are we clear on that?"
One could suddenly hear a pin drop.
The crew obviously took their nefarious captain at his cutthroat word. They immediately fell over themselves mumbling soothing oaths of agreement.
“Clear as rain, Capt’n.” Cappy verified. “Did y’ get wot we came for, then?”
“I did.” He threw Cappy a saucy grin before entering the cabin and kicking the door firmly shut behind him.
Ginny could hear the cheers of the pirates right through the thick wood. She gritted her teeth. “For the last time, you reprobate, put-me-down!”
“As you say, madam.” Unceremoniously, the pirate tossed her onto his bunk.
Sputtering with indignation, Ginny raised herself up, palms flat on the bed, and–
Found herself at a loss for words.
The infamous pirate stood at the head of the bunk, glowering down at her. A muscle ticked in his strong jaw. He yanked the scarf off his head and tossed it onto a desk.
Long, ebony locks fell about his shoulders. A shadow of beard shaded his lower face. Eyes, the color of tropical blue waterfalls, glittered behind their fringe of thick, black lashes.
Good lord, he is incredibly. . . impossibly. . . bloody gorgeous!
No wonder he had become a legend of the ton.
The Panther unclasped his belt, removing his pistols and sword. Then he tossed a dagger onto the desk.
And small pistol from the cuff of his boot–
And a dirk hidden behind the back of his shirt collar–
And another dagger from the back of his waistband–
And still one more concealed in his sleeve.
Ginny threw her hands up in the air. “Good lord, sir, are you armed enough?”
“Sometimes not.” He stared evenly at her, driving home the point that he often engaged in ruthless fights to the death. It was the manner in which he apparently lived a good deal of the time.
Wonderful. Just wonderful.
She wanted adventure in her life, not the gallows.
“Find me another cabin and I insist that I be put off at the next port!”
“Do you?” he intoned dryly. He gave her such a piercing look that she scrambled off the bed and went to stand in front of the transom windows. There was something terribly imposing about that look.
She could hear his bootheels tapping against the wooden slats of the decking as he strolled casually across the room. Even those footsteps are intimidating, she realized. Warm breath teased the back of her neck.
“I am the captain of this ship. Pirate or no, a captain’s word is law aboard his vessel. On this ship, you will obey what I say, madam. Do I make myself clear?”
She swallowed at the utter command in his voice.
She bit her lip and cocked her head to the side. “Do you plan to blot me out then? Like Blackbeard did to his women?”
He arched a brow. A dimple popped into his cheek, delineating his sensual features. White teeth flashed in the moonlight, betraying an amused grin. He encircled her waist and pulled her tightly against his warmth.
“It’s what I’ll do before I do the ‘blotting’ that should concern you, love. . .” he whispered hotly in her ear.
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