Lords of the Kingdom

by Le Veque, Kathryn

  “Pardon me a moment, gentleman,” Titus said to the merchant captain. “I’m going to get you a map that I think will help with your travels.”

  Though the false merchant captain blubbered over a response, Titus ignored him, whistling to his hound that immediately came to sit before him.

  Titus eyed Grenville, then patted the dog on his massive head. “Well, Storm, done with your nap and keeping an eye on everyone I see.”

  Grenville and several of the crew stiffened, coming to the same conclusion as Titus. While they’d been waylaid with the mindless chatter, that sneaky little chit had managed to board. How the hell has she done it? Only a daring fool would do such a thing. Which he’d discovered she was both, daring and a fool.

  At a steady, but un-alarming clip, he walked across the deck toward the stairs leading just below to his cabin.

  The door was closed, not that he’d expected to find it open. If Lady Antónia had breached their hull, and let his hound out, she wouldn’t have left the portal wide as an invitation.

  Titus drew his pistol, loading a single shot, not that he planned to shoot her. Just scare her a little—and if she was with anyone, perhaps put a bullet in their foot. He tested the door handle. As slow and quiet as he could, he pressed, but the lever didn’t budge. Locked.

  Another fact he was not a bit surprised to find.

  The only way out was the porthole—and not a big enough opening for a man to escape from. He couldn’t wait to hear just how she’d managed to get into his cabin without anyone the wiser.

  Titus pulled the key from around his neck and inserted it into the lock, and just as he’d suspected, he could hear scrambling from the other side. Deftly he unlocked the door and thrust it open.

  But he was not expecting to come face-to-face with the O’Malley wench. Not in the least.

  She stood in the center of his cabin, ruby-red lips forming an “O”, creamy cheeks colored red as roses and her eyes, green as an Irish heath blazed at him with both surprise and fury. Her red hair was darkened, wet, and tendrils fell around her face, sticking to her cheeks and neck. She was dressed differently than when he’d seen her a few hours before. Her black linen shirt clinging to her curves, her bust flattened considerably from what he’d felt. Leather breeches leeched to her thighs and hips like a second skin.

  If she wasn’t in his cabin, presumably robbing him blind, he’d have swooped her up into his embrace, laid her out on his bed and ravished her. Hell, maybe he still would.

  As it was, she held a blunderbuss in one hand, pointing it toward his chest, the other behind her back.

  “What the hell are you doing?” This was going to be good.

  She bit her lip, not answering.

  Titus glanced at his wardrobe, which, though mostly closed, was still slightly ajar. “Let me see your hand,” he ordered.

  There was only one thing in that wardrobe that could be of interest to the daring pirate wench—well, unless she was interested in stealing his clothes, which judging from this being the second set of male garb he’d seen her in wasn’t entirely out of the question. But, he was fairly certain considering their last encounter, she was after The Lucius Ring. And probably had it hidden behind her back now.

  She raised the barrel, pointing it at his head. “Don’t take another step, ye jackanapes.”

  Titus bared his teeth. “You’ll not dare shoot an officer in Her Majesty’s Navy. Not when your entire family depends on her good will. I’ll not ask again, show me what you’re hiding.”

  Antónia laughed, a sound that in any other situation might have been construed as jovial. “Ye’re even more a fool than I thought. And ye needn’t ask. I’ve nothing to show ye that ye haven’t seen before.”

  “A mere play on words, madam.” Titus took another step forward, lowering his weapon, hoping to show her that he wasn’t afraid and he wouldn’t hurt her.

  “Perhaps.” She started to back up toward the porthole and he realized that must have been how she’d gotten inside his cabin.

  He’d left the window open for Storm, the dog’s scent was slightly overpowering when at sea. Impressive that she could have climbed the side of his boat. That took strength, agility, daring. Why did she have to be such an amazing woman? He wanted to hate her, but with every breath he found himself drawn more to her.

  Well, no matter how fascinated he was, he couldn’t let her leave. “Stop right there.” Titus aimed the gun toward her chest.

  She didn’t stop moving, but her smile widened. “Ye’d shoot a woman?”

  “Have we not had a similar conversation regarding whether I’d dare harm you?” Even he could hear the lie in his voice.

  She shrugged, her gaze shifting about his room in a manner he recognized—she was looking for another means of escape. He’d give her that. Antónia was a crafty lass. And blast it, but he admired her for it.

  She thrust out her chest, perhaps a move that might have worked to gain his attention had she not bound her supple breasts, but she had, and he could see the irritation in her eyes when he raised a speculative brow. An annoyed huff came from her luscious lips and she straightened.

  “I’ll make a deal with ye,” she said.

  “I don’t make deals with pirates.” But he did lower his pistol.

  She did the same, a gesture of good faith. Interesting.

  “An agreement then, Graves, one that benefits us both.”

  Titus crossed his arms over his chest. “I am intrigued.”

  Antónia swallowed, pursing her lips, and a little more red came to her cheeks than was already there. “The ring, in exchange for a… favor.”

  “A favor?”

  “Aye.”

  Titus grinned. “What favor could I possibly need from a pirate? Especially a pirate who is in my cabin with no way of getting out? I could arrest you right now. Take you back to the Tower and be done with it. Why, I could even house you in the same cell your uncle rotted in a decade ago.”

  That caused her to pale a fraction, but instead of backing down, she straightened her shoulders and faced him square on. Damn, but he liked that about her. She was brave, even if she was foolish.

  Fear was quickly replaced with anger that flashed in her eyes. “Ye can try, Graves, but I’ll not allow it.”

  He grunted.

  “About the favor. ’Tis one, given your earlier… attentions, that I think ye’ll be more than willing to satisfy.”

  “My earlier attentions?” Titus frowned, not quite following her line of thought.

  The lady had the temerity to look almost offended. “The kiss.”

  “Ah.” Now he knew exactly where she was going and he liked it—and so did his body, judging by the tightening of his groin. Alas, he wanted to toy with her a bit more. “You want to kiss me in exchange for the ring? An ancient relic that if I do not deliver to France my queen will most assuredly reprimand me for it, for a mere kiss?” He clucked his tongue and shook his head.

  “I’m certain ye could find another ring to replace it with. Every port is full of gypsies selling their knock offs. And if a kiss is all that is required, than aye.”

  Again, Titus grunted. He recalled vividly the touch of her lips, the sting of her teeth grazing his tongue, the lushness of her body crushed to his. Heat flickered in his veins and he shifted to hide the way blood surged between his hips. Apparently, his mind wasn’t the only thing that recalled how good it felt to kiss Antónia.

  “What do you mean if a kiss is all I require?”

  “I’m willing to… pay a little more. I want the ring, Graves, and if it didn’t endanger my family, make no mistake, I’d put a bullet between your eyes to get it.”

  Titus grinned, having no doubt she’d do it. “How much are ye willing to pay?” Ballocks, but he would strip her bare if she let him.

  Antónia’s gaze roved from his face down the length of his torso settling on where his desire pulsed. He could have groaned aloud, but gritted his teeth instead.

  �
��I’ll allow ye to bed me. Once.”

  “And if I want more than once?”

  Now she was gritting her teeth. “Twice, then.”

  Titus laughed. “Why is the ring so important to you, that you’re willing to sell your body to keep it?”

  “That is none of your concern. Do we have an arrangement?”

  Titus backed up, shutting his cabin door and locking it. “Get undressed. I want to view the merchandise before I agree to pay such a huge price.”

  She huffed a breath, her tiny hand fisting at her side. “Merchandise—” But she cut herself off before she said anything more.

  Emotions flickered across her face that gave him a moment’s pause. What price was she willing to pay to get her hands on the ring.

  Titus stiffened. “Bloody hell, you’re a virgin.”

  Her mouth fell open, appalled. “I am not.”

  “How many lovers have you had?”

  “Enough,” she answered.

  “I don’t bed virgins.”

  “I’ve likely had more lovers than ye.” She jutted her chin and he was inclined to believe her.

  “Will I be another notch on your pirate wench’s bed post?” Titus teased.

  “That remains to be seen. I only carve a mark for those who can perform.”

  “Perform?”

  “Not all of your gender know what they’re doing,” she taunted. “I find men as arrogant as ye often bed a woman in the same fashion as they run their ships. Orderly and efficient.”

  “You insult me. I assure you when I bed a woman, ’tis as thoroughly as I keep my ship’s manifesto—nothing gets left uncharted.”

  The wench actually grinned at that. “That remains to be seen, Graves.”

  “Then get undressed so I can tell you whether or not I agree to your arrangement.”

  “And if ye don’t like what ye see? What do I get for baring myself to ye?”

  “I’ve not seen a woman I didn’t like.”

  “A man of many tastes?”

  “A body is a body, they are all beautiful to me, but ’tis a woman’s passion that makes a difference.”

  “In that case, ye’ve already examined what I have to offer ye when ye kissed me.”

  Titus tapped his chin. “This is true, but you did slap me afterwards.”

  “Fine, then, another kiss.”

  He leisurely shook his head, grinning. “Undress.”

  Antónia frowned. “All right.” She placed her blunderbuss on the desk beneath the porthole, and then slowly raised her hands toward the laces at her chest, the ruby Lucius Ring flashing in the light coming through the porthole.

  “’Tis a good look for you, madam.”

  “Wet garments?” She finished untying the shirt and tugged it open, revealing the tautly wound linen beneath.

  “The ring, but aye, I like the look of the fabric clinging to you.”

  She blushed, hiding her face as she raised the shirt over her head. Her belly was flat, and even though she’d bound her breasts, he could still make out a swell beneath the fabric.

  Antónia dropped the shirt to the floor and stood there, waiting. Titus’ desire grew, but he watched her face, watched the way her eyes drifted over him. There was interest there. Even if she didn’t want to admit it just yet, she liked him. He could tell in her kiss. And, the fact that she’d offered herself to him. She could have offered coin. Could have even shot him in the leg and not killed him, to escape.

  “Keep going,” he said. “I want you in nothing but that ring.”

  She reached for the knot between her breasts, unwinding the linen until the pink globes of her breasts were revealed. Beautiful, supple skin, topped with rosy nipples that hardened into peaks as he gazed at her.

  The linen fell to the floor with her shirt and then she reached for the ties of her breeches. Titus’ throat had gone dry, his body pulsing with the need to touch, to taste, to conquer. He itched to reach forward, to trace the line of her jaw all the way down to her navel.

  Antónia kicked off her boots, then shimmied out of the breeches, revealing the curve of her hips, the tuft of dark, red hair at the crux of her thighs, long, shapely legs, dainty feet with wriggling pink toes.

  “Does the merchandise satisfy?” she asked with a raised brow, a cock to her shoulder.

  Hell, aye, it did. “Turn around.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but he made a whirling motion with his finger. Titus had to keep his laughter inside as she muttered something under her breath and begrudgingly turned in a quick circle, giving him just a flash of her delicious bottom.

  As she turned back to face him, he covered the distance between them, grabbed her bejeweled hand and tugged her flush against him. Blast, but he had to bite his lip to keep from groaning at the delicious feel of her length against him.

  “Very satisfying,” he murmured, gazing into her emerald eyes. “I’ll take it. Twice.”

  Desire darkened her eyes to the color of pine. “And the ring is mine when ye’re done. Free and clear.”

  “The ring is yours.”

  “Free and clear.”

  “That I can’t promise, for I intend to tell the queen you robbed me.”

  She tried to back away but he held her tight, his hand splaying on the soft skin of her back.

  He trailed his fingers over the line of her spine. “And she will demand I chase you all around the world, and every time I see you, I might be enticed to make another arrangement.”

  “Why ye—” She wriggled against him.

  But Titus didn’t allow her to speak. Instead, he crushed his lips to hers, taking what she offered and preparing to give her a piece of himself in return.

  Chapter Six

  Antónia had never been so bold.

  Oh, aye, she’d done her fair share of seducing men. But this… Well, this was altogether different. She might have offered herself up as payment, pretended that this kiss, that Titus’ touch, meant nothing to her, but then she’d only be lying to herself. And him.

  She’d not been able to stop thinking about his kiss. His tongue. The hardness of his body. The exciting way that he looked at her when she’d boarded his ship hours before.

  And now… Now, she’d never be able to forget the heat of his searing gaze and the way his fingers threaded through her wet hair. The way his tongue lapped at hers and how her naked skin felt flush to his scratchy naval uniform.

  Every inch of her sang with delight, with need, with excitement.

  And even more so at the fact that she’d won. The ring and the chance to bed him not once, but twice? What more could a wicked lass such as herself ask for?

  Well, besides true love, but that would come later. That was why she wanted the ring to begin with. So she’d know when such a sentiment found her.

  Titus’ hands skimmed over her back, moving down toward her rear. He cupped her bottom, hauling her against the tight, hard length in his breeches. She shuddered. If he could kiss this well, she knew the bedding would be good. She’d only been provoking him, taunting him to prove her otherwise, letting him know she wouldn’t settle for mediocre.

  Not that she needed to worry. It appeared when Titus set himself to a task, there was no doing it halfway.

  “Graves…” she moaned, tilting her head to the side as he kissed a path along the column of her throat. “I have to tell my crew…that I will be awhile. Else they take it upon themselves to rescue me and they massacre yours.”

  Titus pulled away from her, nodding. “Aye. We canna have that.” His gaze roved over her breasts, his fingers following their path. He caressed one breast, bringing her nipple to his lips.

  Her head fell back, delicious pleasure coursing through her at the swipe of his tongue. Dear heavens… She was in for a delicious afternoon…

  “Graves,” she said again. “Let me dress and—”

  “Ah-ha,” he said. “I know the game you play. You intend to disappear. Or cause mayhem.”

  How funny that h
e didn’t realize how much she wanted this, and how fortuitous. “Fine, give me one of your shirts to wear, and ye can carry me up, if ye like.”

  Titus narrowed his eyes.

  “For the love of Davy Jones, I’m not lying, ye English sot. We’ve made an arrangement and I’ll not be the one to back out of it. Pirate’s honor,” she said.

  That had the man chuckling. Infuriating.

  “All right.” He unbuttoned his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. “You realize pirates have no honor?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Ye know nothing.”

  Antónia slid her arms through the sleeves and buttoned it to cover her nakedness. Titus lifted her into his arms as though she weighed next to nothing and carried her toward the door, managing to unlock and open it without jostling her.

  “What will you say?” he asked.

  “Does it matter?” She toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck.

  Titus leaned down and bit her lip, sending frissons of sensual need rocketing through her. “Aye, wench.”

  “Nothing to start a war,” she murmured.

  “I’d hate to mar your beautiful skin,” he said, licking where he bit her. “’Tis a wonder ye’ve been able to escape a mark thus far.”

  “I have not escaped my share of the strap. Granuaille just made sure they didn’t break my skin.”

  “Lucky.” He carried her toward the stairs.

  Antónia shrugged. “In that, aye, but when I misbehaved she new that the best way to punish me was to leave me at home, away from the sea and politics. My father and mother were always too enmeshed in their own chaos to notice me. I languished. I could have died of boredom.” She laughed as they made it up to the deck.

  The look of pure astonishment, followed by rage, that passed over Sweeney’s face made her heart skip a beat. She realized that she and Titus looked like lovers. Happy lovers at that, and she regretted having told him such a personal story, one that had brought a chuckle to them both. But she couldn’t help it. There was something about Titus that made her want to share. She opened up to him without thinking.

  Even still, she wiped the smile from her face and gave her crew her most fearsome stare.