Chapter 1 #3
Kerr matched his tone to the low-borns. “Nocky boy, eh? That is a first.”
While he jeered her pathetic attempts at freedom, she squiggled and squirmed like a measuring worm for freedom. She accused him of being slow-witted, but there was only one fool in this alleyway, and it wasn’t Kerr.
Only when her body sagged, and she tired herself out, and she drooped in his arms did he let up.
Everyone faced with defeat always had one last fight within them.
Kerr caught the heel she attempted to slam between his legs. “You don’t truly think I’m that stupid.”
“L-Let me go, you dastard.”
“When I’m having so much fun?” Kerr slid his hand up her leg, his fingers exploring and testing the surprising muscle in her calves.
The sound of her swallow occupied the void where her screams had been.
“You will regret ever having touched m-me, fiend. I-I can promise you that.”
“I’m not sure I will,” he whispered lasciviously against her ear.
For good measure, he gave her soft thigh a gentle, lingering squeeze.
Andromena emitted a fresh cry, but after all her earlier caterwauling, it came out as nothing more than a ragged, wispy gasp.
Her fiery defiance ignited a begrudging respect within him.
Kerr tightened his grip on her arm and crushed her fight for freedom.
Had she been any other woman, he would have turned her lesson into a carnal one.
He’d subdue her completely, until she was utterly undone, and they were both lost to pleasure.
“How will you make me regret it, wench?”
“I am powerfully connected. My brother-in-law is the Earl of Culross.”
Interesting. With all the names and titles, she could brandish: dukes, future dukes, her uncle, the Earl of Abington, rival shipping captains from the Tremaine and Ellis families, she chose Culross. That earned more of his reluctant admiration.
She mistook his silence.
“H-He is a very ruthless pirate, and he has pirate friends.”
His months long ennui broke in an instant. Kerr laughed—his first laugh since the mission that put his career on hold. “Just what will these pirate friends do? Flog me? Make me walk the plank? Draw and quarter me?”
“Laugh all you want now! You won’t be laughing for long.” Her heel collided for a second time with the top of his thick, leather boot.
She truly believed her delicate foot could harm him, of all men. He howled at her audacity.
“You bloody son of a biscuit eater!”
Except, she wiggled her pert little arse, moving and rocking against his randy cock, and he was no longer laughing.
Kerr told himself being aroused by her violent squirming was to be expected.
Had his body failed to respond to each bump and grind of her delectable buttocks against his groin, now that would be real reason for concern.
Justifying his lust for Miss Andromena McQuoid-Smith only brought him a minor consolation.
Though she was right on that score, Andromena hadn’t a bloody clue about the dangerous thing she did with all her squirming. If so, she’d have stopped breathing on the spot.
“Are you l-listening to me?”
“I’m sure all of the Rookery is,” he managed, his voice strained.
“Culross and his fellow pirates will hunt you down and split you down the middle. They are big and unforgiving and cruel.”
“Tell me, does this Culross fellow appreciate your brandishing his illicit activities all about London?”
The chit quit her squirming.
“My uncle is the Earl of Abington,” she said, breathing heavily from both fear and her earlier resistance. The top of her head fell inches short of his collarbone. “Both of them will pay you a fortune to return me.”
“I don’t want to keep you. Far from it.”
She upped her negotiating. “I will give you, my cloak. It is worth a great deal.”
“I doubt it will fit.”
“I meant to sell. It is an extravagant garment made by one of London’s finest modistes.”
“Let me give it a feel.” His left hand charted a lazy path over her hip; her surprisingly curvaceous hip. Nor was he lying when he, in his next breath, gave proper praise. “How lovely.”
“I told you!”
For the pride wrapped around her exuberant reply, she might as well be the finest modiste taking in praise doled for her work.
“I wasn’t referring to the garment.” And because the chit was as green as a chit newly out could be, Kerr—to make it very clear what he spoke of—gave her another caress.
Her voice emerged on a squeak. “I-I also have money…”
Kerr reached inside her pocket, relieved her of said money. After he tucked his reward within his jacket-front, he asked: “What is it you were saying?”
Andromena froze for a heartbeat. She released a fresh stream of profanities. Like a filly being broken, she found a sudden burst of energy; bucking and backing her arse against him. his efforts to evade her gyrations were futile.
He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly, focusing on the cool air entering his nose.
Of a certainty—for the shite he had to put up with because of the McQuoids and Smiths—when this night was done and he had the hellion safely delivered home, Kerr was going to demand Culross pay him the lion’s share on future bounties.