Page 69 of An Imperfect Scoundrel
Sitting next to her, he bumped her arm with his. “I like that shade on you.”
“My shirt?” She glanced down.
“Your blush.” He tilted his head. “I’d like to see that color all over your skin.”
“I’d have to undress again.”
“I would be happy to assist you.” A grin pulled the corner of his mouth.
“What would your crew think?”
“I have no desire to share you with any of them.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Mrs. Dubois…” He paused, waiting for her to nod her confirmation. “I’m not a brute. Regardless of my reputation, I don’t condone hurting women or children.”
“But—”
“I released the lifeboat.” His quiet admission floated across the intimate space between them. “The reason the Navy found us so quickly was we were too close to shore. They were rescued before we’d cleared the wreckage.”
Her head whipped toward him. “But Mr. Parker’s death doesn’t affect you?
“A man is responsible for his destiny. He chose to die.”
“You could have told him his wife was safe in a lifeboat.”
Captain Shaw slammed his hand against the desk, causing her to jump.
“I couldn’t guarantee her survival, just as I can’t guarantee yours. Thus, I couldn’t make him that promise.”
“But you could have given him hope.”
“Hope.” A cold laugh escaped him. “Does my name bring to mind the wordhope?”
“No.” Alana chewed her lip, her mind racing. “You didn’t have to kill him.”
“I didn’t kill him.”
“But you didn’t save him.”
“I have no desire to quell a mutiny.”
“What do you desire?”
“You.” The heat smoldering in his eyes flared.
Her tongue darted out, moistening her lips. Glancing down, she toyed with the top of the whiskey bottle.
“Would you consider a trade?”
“Go on.”
“In exchange for safe passage to Ceresus, I will have relations with you.”
A dark cloud passing over his face, he pushed off the desk and grabbed the bottle from her hand. Trudging across the floor, he dropped onto the bed and took a swig.
“No.”
