Synopsis:Captain Henry Guffald is no ordinary captain. A member of Nelson’s Tea, he’s learned the hard way what treachery will achieve. As a result, he’s sworn an oath never to give in to his ambition. Daring, proud Henry sets out to rescue a comrade captured in Spain. But when his ship is attacked by a female pirate roving the Cornish coast, waylaying his plans, Henry is forced to make her his prize if he’s going to save a good man’s life.
Lady Adele Seaton has been raised in a family profited by a lucrative smuggling business. Though her parents wish otherwise, she would no sooner give up the call to rove than marry. But obtaining independence is a challenge when her brother faces a hangman’s noose. Planning to save him, she captures an English ship. But things go awry and she is dragged home in disgrace, forced to ally herself with the one man with the power to anchor more than her ship—her heart.
Review Blurbs:
“Katherine Bone’s books are a rollicking romp in the classic style. From ship deck to London ballroom, Ms. Bone’s stories are packed with intrigue, and rough and dangerous heroes that positively delight.” — Katharine Ashe, author of Captured by a Rogue Lord
“Katherine Bone is an author after my own heart! Her books are sexy, adventurous romps guaranteed to keep you reading into the wee hours of the night.” —Shana Galen author of The Rogue’s Pirate Bride
“Ms. Bone has weaved a captivating tale of cat and mouse that will keep the reader turning pages long into the night.” —Michelle Beattie, author of Romancing the Pirate
With escape in the forefront of her thoughts, Adele asked, “What are you going to do with me?” “That is something I’ve been asking myself since the moment I saw you brandishing a sword in your hand.”
There was a gleam in Guffald’s eyes, a faint signature sign she recognized — respect, but also something more powerful — attraction. She’d seen the look on Harrison’s face. Lust! Guffald’s momentary lapse gave her an idea. She drew him in.
“Then don’t hold back,” she said. “Go ahead. Kiss me.”
His lips were mere inches away. His cynical eyes turned stormy as they examined hers. At his nearness, unbidden warmth enveloped her, setting off a maelstrom throughout her body. She could feel herself sinking beneath his blue-eyed stare. Determined, however, not to succumb and to keep her wits, she fought the inclination to close the distance and erected a barrier of anger around her. Focus, girl. Focus on what you really want — no, need. She needed to bring Captain Guffald to heel. Not the other way around. But to do so, she was going to have to tempt the devil, draw him close enough so the tips of his lips caressed hers. Then, just as he gave in to her seduction, she’d dispatch him, proving she was immune to him.
Yes, a good plan.
“Kiss me,” she repeated, her voice a tremulous whisper.
Tenderness softened his eyes. He moved in, touching his lips to hers just as she lifted her knee to do him harm. But instead of being startled, his reflexes were quick. Arrowing daggers at her, he stepped easily aside. Undaunted, she swooped underneath his arm, twisting sideways until she was behind him and whipped the chains in an effort to wrap them around Guffald’s neck. But the captain had already anticipated her attack. He countered her actions, ducking to the side before she could trap him. In an instant, he appeared behind her, pinning both of her arms to her sides.
His voice was cool, impersonal. “The cobra finally shows its fangs.”
Guffald didn’t give her time to react. He pulled her toward one of the hanging lamps where he swiftly attached one of her manacled wrists to a hook, and then pulled her other arm outward until he could latch the iron link to another hook on the bedpost.
Outraged, Adele screamed and rattled her chains. “You can’t be serious.”
“Aye,” he said, “I can.” He grinned and straightened his shoulders before easing a knife out of the waistband of his breeches.
Adele’s eyes widened. She was so furious she could barely speak. “W-What do you intend to do with t-that?” Her entire body grew rigid. Did he intend to rid himself of his current problem — her? Garrick will die if you kill me! she wanted to scream.
Oblivious to the fear and rage mounting inside of her, Guffald’s eyes took on a mischievous twinkle. How could he be so callous? For all that was holy, she was a woman! She kicked and thrust her feet into the air, desperately trying to kick him, wound him, anything to keep him from getting closer. But the more she jerked in an attempt to do him bodily harm, the deeper the iron bands dug into her wrists. As her anger became a burning fury, she yelped in pain until her bravado disintegrated.
When she’d spent her last ounce of strength, Guffald moved in closer and placed the dirk’s tip close to her throat. “You like to play games, don’t you?”
She choked down a lump of fear as he lightly stroked the knife along her jaw. “It depends on the game,” she said.
“I have a rewarding game in mind.” Guffald dragged the knife from her jaw to the tip of the collar of Winters’s uniformed coat. Adele held her breath as a grin overtook the captain’s features and he cut off the top button. Pop. She inhaled a swift breath as the now useless ornament dropped into his waiting hand. He cradled it there for a moment, as if weighing it, and then slowly lifted his gaze to hers. His sardonic smile intoned he wasn’t finished.
“What are you doing?” she gasped.
He laughed as if she was dense. “Cutting off buttons, of course.”
“I can see that,” she exclaimed. “Why?”
“I see no other way to regain possession of Winters’s uniform,” he admitted freely. Pop. Another button snipped away. Fabric gaped above her breasts and she felt a chill seep into her bones.
Astounded and repulsed, Adele jerked back. “This is a double-breasted coat. Surely you can’t mean to — ”
“Ah, but I do.” He sighed.
“Every single button?” she asked, piqued.
He nodded.
She squeaked like a ship rat. “There is no need to ruin Winters’s coat. If you’ll take me down — ”
“No need to concern yourself. Winters is quite skilled at mending sail. I think after recent events he will welcome the end of his humiliation more than the state of his coat.” Pop. A third button. Pop. A fourth. Pop. Her upper torso was now exposed.
Adele’s mouth hung open as Guffald’s head dipped lower to better see the buttons, or so he suggested. Trepidation filled her. What were his intentions? “You don’t have to do this.”
The captain’s hair brushed against the bare flesh on her stomach. Tingling sensations inched down her spine and an unfamiliar shiver of awareness centered in her core. Mortified, she was caught between hating the man for what he was doing to her and fearing her own reaction. “You can’t do this,” she insisted. “I have rights under British law.”
He rose slowly from his work, making sure she felt every inch of him rising against her flesh, eliciting more shivers of unwanted delight. His blue-eyed gaze leveled with hers, a softer, deeper, confusing shade that rattled her senses.
“You will have what I allow aboard this ship.”
She shook her head. “No,” she said, clenching her eyelids closed as the final button popped off and the last barrier between herself and Guffald dropped away.
“Open your eyes, Belle,” he demanded, trailing the blade across her stomach.
“Don’t call me that,” she demanded, refusing to open her eyes. He was seeing things no other man had. She didn’t want to look into his eyes. She feared the intimacy they now shared. And she hated him for it. Hated this man who defied the rules to humiliate — no, torture her.
His lips brushed against her ear, sending a ripple of awareness through her as he spoke. “Admit defeat.”
“Never,” she hissed.
A strange sound like a key in a lock broke through the eerie silence. Alarmed, she opened her eyes and glanced down curiously as Guffald removed one manacle, lowered her arm, and pulled her right arm out of one of Winters’s jacket sleeves. She considered lashing out at Guffald, but his knife glinted in the lantern light, reminding her he had the upper hand. Weakened, she tried to ignore his touch, his nearness. But her heart hammered foolishly in her chest.
“What are you doing? Haven’t you done enough to humiliate me?”
Guffald chuckled lightly, but otherwise ignored her. Quickly, efficiently, her bonds were set back in place and then locked. He turned his attention to her left arm.
“Why are you going to all of this trouble?”
“You seem to have the wrong idea,” he said, grazing her lips with his. “You are no trouble at all.”
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Katherine Bone has been passionate about all things historical since she was an Army brat traveling all over the world. Initially, she dreamed of being an artist, but when she met and fell in love with Prince Charming, her own dashing Lieutenant vowing duty, honor, and country, she found herself saying “I do.” Not long afterward, she was whisked away to Army bases, castles, battlegrounds and cathedrals, where tales of swashbuckling characters and unforgettable adventure filled the lonely gaps of time when the Army called Charming away. No longer nomadic, Katherine set down roots in the south where she and Charming have raised four children and live with their fluffy Maine Coon. Audio Interviews: Crimson Romance | Blog Talk Radio
