Page 57 of A Pirate of Her Own

He turned to face her and her breath caught in her throat. He was marvelous. Marvelous and terrifying.

This wasn’t her dream pirate who never hurt another soul. This was a flesh and blood man with his own ideas—archaic ideas that clashed with hers.

A man who was powerful and dangerous.

He approached her.

Her mouth became as dry as a desert. She rose to stand on unsteady feet.

“Glad to see you survived, Miss James.”

In spite of everything that had happened, she gave a nervous laugh. “I wasn’t so sure you’d survive,” she said, brushing at the cut on his cheek. Though his cheek was cold, his blood was warm against her fingertips.

Morgan swallowed at her hesitant touch. Something happened inside him. Something he couldn’t name. Something that wanted things from her he knew he couldn’t ask her to give.

He wanted her. Right now, this instant, with the thrill of victory still hot and thick in his veins.

He wanted to celebrate this conquest with an even greater one.

Before he could stop himself, he pulled her up to him and kissed her long and deep.

She hesitated only a moment before she gave in to him, opening her lips so that he could plunder the rich treasure of her mouth.

She tasted of honey and sweetness. Of innocence and passion, and he knew then that against all reason he was going to have her.

That hehadto have her.

One way or another, he would claim her body.

---