Bad Boys Ahoy!

He pulled her closer. 'What would you know of rebellion?' he growled. 'You, the dutiful daughter, marrying a man sight unseen to please your father. I'd wager you've never rebelled in your life!'

'I have!' she yelled, shaking with fury. Her lips, red and moist, parted with her rapid breathing.

He arched a disbelieving brow, his entire body hard with anger and fierce desire. 'When?'

'Right now.' And then she yanked his head down and mashed her lips to his.

Chapter Two

He wasn't kissing her back.

Olivia noted that fact immediately, but her stubbornness would not allow her to desist, even though her pride begged her to cease her foolishness.

'Kiss me, damn you!'

He'd caused this fever in her blood with his half-dressed state and fierce eyes. Phoenix was driving her mad, drawing her to him while pushing her away.

'Don't swear!' he muttered.

And then his arms came around her, and his mouth moved hungrily over her own. His tongue swept across her lips, teasing, urging. He tasted like brandy and wicked things, and her core throbbed in response. Her lips parted in a breathless gasp, and he took the invitation to slip inside. His tongue sought out hers, brushed across it and under it, finding sensitive nerve endings and stroking them with velvety licks.

Oh. Dear. Heaven. The man knew how to kiss. Her toes were curling in her slippers.

Angry and possessive, hungry and bold, Phoenix took over her senses with blatant skill. Unable to resist, she surged into him, wanting more. More of him.

'Steady,' he murmured, securing her body against his strength, his large hand moving to her neck and tucking her head into the crook of his shoulder, keeping her still for the ravishment of his mouth.

Olivia moaned when his other hand slipped beneath his shirt and found the curve of her breast, wrapping around the underside, testing its weight. His thumb caressed in gentle strokes, teasing her. Over and over Phoenix circled the straining peak, causing sparks of pleasure to radiate outward and down to the place between her legs.

Oh, why wouldn't he touch her where she ached?

'Touch me.' She grabbed his wrist and thrust her hardened nipple into his palm. 'Here.' She moaned as her body melted. 'Oh, God… touch me everywhere.'

'Olivia.' His kiss lost its faint trace of gentleness. He devoured her, his tongue thrusting rhythmically into her mouth, his fingers plucking and twisting, pulling on her nipple, until she wept from her core. Olivia ached all over. Her skin was too tight, too hot. She wanted to rip her clothes from her body and press her nakedness to his. Instead she caressed his skin, squeezing the bone and sinew beneath, relishing the way his body shuddered against hers.

Lord, he smelled heavenly, like the wind and the sea, passion and pure male. When the knock came at the door, she didn't even register it until Phoenix pulled away.

'What is it?' he called hoarsely, one hand still working at her breast while the other pressed her heated face into his throat.

'Captain, we're 'aving problems wiv the other crew,' Will bellowed through the closed portal.

Phoenix growled his frustration. 'I'll be on deck in a moment.'

Heavy footsteps moved away from the door.

'No…' she protested, lost in the scent of his skin, the warmth of his touch, the taste of his mouth. She would give anything for a respite from the madness that claimed her and knew instinctively that he was the cure.

He pressed a quick, hard kiss to her lips. 'I must go, sweeting, while I'm still able.'

'No.' She tugged his neck toward her open mouth, and at first he resisted, then he crushed her against him, tight enough to feel the heat and hardness of his desire through her skirts. Olivia kissed him desperately, wantonly, hoping to make him as mindless with need as she was.

Phoenix thrust her away with a curse. 'You're flirting with the devil,' he bit out. 'Cease, before you get burned.'

She winced as the door slammed shut behind him.

Olivia wasn't certain how much time had passed, but the sun had moved steadily across the sky and she knew the day was close to ending. The wind had picked up, pushing a welcome breeze into the cabin, cooling the air and her blood. Mortified by remembrances of her earlier behavior, her face heated and she squirmed in her seat.

What in God's name was the matter with her? She'd never in her life kissed a man, let alone touched him or begged him to touch her. And Captain Phoenix of all people! A man reputed to be as dangerous and deadly as a viper. Why didn't she fear him? Why did she wish to bare herself to his gaze and open her body to whatever he desired?

A knock sounded, and she moved quickly to the desk, collecting the pistol. 'Yes?' she shouted, her heart racing. Had Phoenix returned?

The door opened. ''Tis Maggie, milady,' her abigail called.

Olivia released a sigh of mixed relief and disappointment. The young servant entered, followed by three sailors. Two of the men hefted yokes with steaming buckets, and the third held her small hip bath. They poured the hot water and then brought in her trunks. Shooting wary glances at the pistol, the pirates departed the room with haste, and Maggie shut the door behind them.

'Are you well?' Olivia asked with concern, wondering how the young girl had fared in the company of Phoenix's men.

'Um?' Maggie hummed distractedly as she stepped over to Olivia's trunks and began to sort through her clothing. 'Oh, yes. Quite well. His lordship made certain of it.'

The abigail came to her and easily tugged the huge shirt over her head. When the sleeve caught on the gun, Olivia set the weapon on a trunk and laid the shirt next to it. She missed the garment immediately, infused as it was with the scent of Phoenix's skin.

Maggie began to loosen the fastenings to her gown.

Looking over her shoulder, Olivia asked, 'What if he should return?'

The maid chuckled. 'Little chance of that happening. He's fixing the main mast.'

'What?' Olivia shot a worried glance out the window. The wind continued to pick up speed. 'Why didn't he delegate the task?'

'He said it was too dangerous with the wind blowing like it is.'

'Good God!' Olivia headed toward the door. He could be killed. And for some odd reason, she couldn't bear to think of it.

'Milady! You cannot go out there now. Your gown…'

Olivia clutched her bodice and ran from the room. When she gained the deck, she looked up at the sky in horror. Still bare-chested, Phoenix clung to the mast, his powerful muscles bunched with exertion, his silky hair blown loose from its queue and whipping around his face. From her vantage, his large form seemed tiny, and yet he appeared at home in the turbulence. His movements were sure and efficient as he struggled against the gales, no fear evident in the expertise of his actions. In fact, no one around her seemed even remotely fearful. Her heart, however, beat a panicked rhythm, ready to burst from her chest.

She sensed the large presence that moved up to her side, and turned to look at the red-haired man she'd nearly shot earlier.

'Ye shouldn't be up 'ere on the deck,' he grumbled. 'The men can't 'elp but ogle ye, and the captain won't be liking that at all.'

'I tried to tell her,' Maggie muttered as she came up behind them.

'What the devil is he doing?' Olivia cried, loose hair from her plait blowing around her face until she could barely see. 'Can't the repair wait until the wind dies down?'

Red shrugged. 'Surely. But 'e was already up there, so 'e might as well finish.'