“What’s that?”
“For you.” He holds up a golden necklace with a huge blue sapphire at its center and opals fanning out from it on either side.
“It’s …” I reach up to touch it, then pull my hand back. “It’s so beautiful.”
“It is.” He holds my gaze. “Turn around, lass. I’ll put it on you.”
“Are you sure?” I do as he instructs and turn my back to him. “It looks expensive.”
“This necklace was designed for the queen of the Amazons.” He sweeps my hair from my neck, his fingers lingering along my skin and sending goosebumps shooting down my back.
I close my eyes, living in his touch. When I feel his warm breath against my neck, heat pools between my thighs. “How did you get it?” I ask, trying not to sound breathy and failing.
“I stole it, of course.” He drapes it on my chest, the gold warm from his hands. “The jeweler who created it chartered a ship from the shores of El Dorado. I got word of the manifest from an acquaintance.”
“You have acquaintances?”
“If you hold someone at the end of your sword for long enough, you get acquainted.” His lips graze my ear as his fingers set the clasp.
“I see. Just regular villain stuff.”
He laughs, then takes my shoulders and spins me back to him. “I like that. ‘Regular villain stuff.’”
My cheeks heat, and I can’t seem to look away from him when he smiles like this. His dimples show, his eyes aflame with amusement. He’s so beautiful. Why would any deity create such a villain and wrap him in the most alluring package? Devilry.
“Anyway, I found out the ship’s course, and my crew and I did what we do.”
“General pillaging and thievery, maybe with a dash of murder thrown in?”
“Part of the job, lass.” He glances at the necklace. “But I’ll tell you one thing, I’ve never been more pleased with my plunder than at this very moment.”
If I had any morals, I’d yank this necklace off and toss it at the monster in front of me with a vile curse on my lips and my head held high. But when he looks at me like this, I can’t seem to work up the outrage. I’m under his spell, drawn to him even though I know he’s everything that’s wrong with Neverland.
“It was made for a queen. No wonder you wear it so well.” He grazes his fingertips along the jewels, then lower, tracing the edges of my dress as it drops between my breasts. “So soft, lass.”
I swallow hard. “You look handsome.”
He smirks, those dimples teasing me yet again. “You think so?” He puts his finger under my chin, holding my gaze as he steps closer.
I want to squirm, to make a flippant comment that could defuse the ticking bomb between us, but I don’t. I look at him.Reallylook at him. I show him what I want.
His hand slides to my throat, his palm squeezing as he uses his other arm to drag me against him. When his mouth claims mine, I close my eyes, my mind swimming as he tongues my lips apart.
He spins me and kicks the door shut then pins me against it. “Warned you, lass.” He grates against my lips as his hand goes to my thigh. “Warned you not to look at me like that, didn’t I?”
I gasp as he reaches between my legs and turns his hand to force them apart. When his fingers graze against my wet panties, I moan. He kisses the sound from me, then shoves my panties aside and sinks two fingers into me.
I buck at the sudden intrusion, and he curses against my lips.
“So wet, lass. Dripping for me. Only me.” He pulses his fingers in and out.
“James,” I whimper.
He pulls my dress aside and fastens his mouth around one of my nipples.
I gasp and grab his hair, my body arching as he touches me deeply, his teeth teasing against my hot flesh. Everything inside me feels like a lit fuse. Hissing and sparking as my body winds up tighter and tighter.
“This is mine, lass.” He growls against my breast. “Don’t you forget it. When I take something, I don’t give it back. Never. You’llneverpry it from my grip.” He curls his fingers as he says it, and I can’t stop the moan that tears from my lips.
