The Seduction of Phaeton Black Read Online Free Page A

ways?
    “Your name, mademoiselle?”
    “Why should I tell you my name? You hold me captive, sir. Why should I reveal anything to you?”
    “Because I believe in civility.” Caught in his own deceit, he shrugged. “Let’s just say I prefer a name. If not possible before intercourse, after will do.”
    “I had no idea a man could get up a shag with a knife at his throat.” Was that a smirk or a lopsided grin from him? “That wasn’t a compliment,” she growled.
    “Honestly?” He tilted his head back. “Sounded like flattery.”
    “You raped me.”
    “You demanded it.” He placed a hand on each chair arm and leaned forward. “Why didn’t you cut me ear to ear?”
    Her glare faltered. Why hadn’t she killed him? The evidence of her knife was right in front of her. A fresh scar slashed across the side of his throat. If she had pressed harder, he would be dead.
    She chose not to respond to his question because she didn’t like the answer. How could she forget those intense waves of arousal? Pleasure that was both frightening and miraculous. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
    His gaze lowered to rudely ogle her mouth. “Our first time was rushed, wouldn’t you say?” Grazing the curve of her cheek, his lips brushed closer to her mouth.
    Weakly, she parted her lips. “You took advantage of me, sir.”
    “I heard little protest.” He held back, his words delivered as a soft caress. “Only oohs and aahs. Your hot, breathless words in my ear.”
    She curled the tip of her tongue over the edge of her upper lip. With his attention on her mouth, she furtively lifted a knee between them. “How could I complain with a band of filthy pirates after me?”
    “Mmm, most taxing.” His exhale buffeted softly over her cheek. “But, did you enjoy yourself, miss?”
    “Yes.” With one swift kick, she shoved him off.
    He bellowed a hellish groan, as his hand flew to his crotch. Apparently she had clipped the jewels. Bent over, he walked off his agony by rubbing himself into impressive arousal.
    “Happy now?” She braced for a beating. But none came.
    Spurning the steeping teapot, he went straight for a bottle of whiskey and popped the cork. She gave him high marks for grog guzzling and pain tolerance.
    He sputtered and coughed. “Delighted.”

Chapter Three
    S HE HAD NEVER MET THE LIKE OF SUCH A MAN .
    After a few deep draughts of spirit, he kicked a chair out from under the table and straddled the seat. “The chair rails guard my bulging privates. Not to be confused with filthy pirates.”
    He took another swig from the bottle. “Tell me about these imaginary, cutlass wielding corsairs. Miss—?”
    “My name is America Jones.”
    He set an elbow on the chair back and cupped his chin. He had a wary way of studying her, as if she were some kind of curiosity. “Are you incapable of answering questions in a truthful manner? Again, Miss—?”
    She set her jaw and glared. “America.”
    “Is the name of a continent, or two. I can never remember if there are two continents designated north and south, or one continent designated south and north. Which is it?”
    Why did he play the Mad Hatter? Leaning far back off the chair, he had to catch himself. The grog appeared to be having an effect. “And there is a new country, the United States of America .”
    Even with her arms tied down, she still managed a shrug. “It is my name, sir. America Síne Jones, and I have learned to live with it these twenty-ought years.”
    “I believe I may call you by your middle name.” His mouth twitched. “ Sin–ay . I do so admire the first syllable.”
    Her gaze narrowed to a quizzical squint. “Is your mind always in the gutter, Mr.—?”
    “Black.” Liquid sable eyes flecked with gold drank in every inch of her. “Only when I am interested, Miss Jones .”
    “And are you interested?”
    “I once enjoyed a meal at the Langham Hotel, which I thought about repeating for weeks afterward.”
    “Is that what I