Page 32 of Crossbones
“Son of a bitch,” I growl.
Fox barks a laugh. “That’s certainly one of my names.”
I scowl. “You have many it seems.”
I let my eyes trail over him. I’m forced to admit he looks immaculate in allblack, with deep green trim and a gold circlet nestled just slightly off balance in his brown, wavy hair. It gives him just the right amount of carelessness. My stomach clenches—whether in annoyance or with desire; I don’t want to examine which too closely. He bows deeply, bringing him nearly eye level with me.
Fox smirks. “I suppose I should officially introduce myself—my name is Prince Caspian De’Vero—charming second-born, royal liability—honestly I’ll answer to just about anything.”
“That’s good, because I have a bunch of options on the tip of my tongue.”
“Do you?” His eyes rake me with a heated undertone, and as the silence stretches, his smug amusement deepens and he cocks his head. “Not quite how you thought it would go—is it? You told me once I’d be the one on my knees—begging for death is I believe how you put it.”
My lip curls into a snarl. “Fuck you.”
He smirks and there’s that damn dimple. We’re inches apart, my anger fueling his amusement. His eyes drop to my lips. So brief it’s merely a fraction of a second but I notice and a rumble of derision escapes me. How can this man be so efficient at provoking my annoyance and desire all with barely a look?
“Careful what you wish for.” His words are meant for my ears alone and those eyes burn straight through me. “You look so good on your knees, I might just keep you there—” His eyes search mine, dark and sensual. “And show you what surrender really tastes like.”
My mouth goes dry and for the first time in my life, I’m struck completely speechless. We hover there, the energy so charged between us I can practically feel the sparks.
“You two know each other?” Aldric interrupts.
“We’ve met,” Caspian states simply, refusing to look anywhere but at me.
A throat clears, breaking the spell, and Caspian slowly straightens and turns to the King. Air rushes back into my lungs so fast I get lightheaded.
“I was the one who let slip that Blackwell was in Carmine.” He looks over his shoulder at me with a knowing look. “I thought we could give the Captain a taste of our hospitality.”
The King is looking at Caspian with a look that says none of this surprises him in the slightest. I suppose being his father he would be familiar with theprince’santics.
“Well, regardless of how it came about, I am pleased to have him in hand,” the King says. “Sentencing will be in three days time—”
“Why delay?” Aldric interrupts. “We all know he’s headed for the noose.”
“Three days—” the King continues, looking at his son in annoyance. “To see ifwe can round up any more of his crew, and three days to make a proper spectacle of it as befitting crimes of piracy and his reputation.” He nods to his general. “Take him away.”
I’m seething as the General himself takes hold of my arm to lead me out of the throne room. I glare at Fox—damnit,Caspian, thefuckingprince—as I leave his lips still have a twist of amusement to them. But his eyes are dark, bottomless and glittering with what I can only call desire. It’s a promise to me that we haven’t seen the last of each other—just like his last message.
I’m such a fool—I’d been right but so very, very wrong too.
How could I have missed the signs?It seems blatantly, painfully, obvious to me now.
I turn my back on him as we near the door and make sure both of my middle fingers are visible to him. I can’t be sure but just before we leave the throne room, I swear I hear the rumble of a laugh.
CASPIAN
A few hours later, I’m walking through the castle towards my rooms, thinking about earlier in the throne room.
Ah, the look on his face.
I can’t help but grin at the memory. What I hadn’t expected was the warm, familiar pull I’d felt towards Blackwell when I saw him at the end of the throne room. The fact that he was on his knees didn’t help matters either. The last few days I’d been impatiently waiting to hear word on whether or not my plan had worked. Blackwell was notoriously hard to catch but I was banking on the fact that he would be distracted.
I love when I’m right.
“What’s your angle here?”
I glance over to see Aldric leaning against a pillar in the breezeway. His presence attempts to ruin my good mood but I keep walking.
