Page 127 of The Discount Damsel

The rope rotated Millie into view of the apprentice. His robe, boots, and socks were all in a disorganized heap a few stairs above him. Fink perched upon the bundle, guarding Bradley’s spectacles.

She blinked, squeezing the unhelpful tears from her eyes. “What are you doing?”

“I’m coming to get you.”

“Why?”

After how he’d reacted to her likening him to Viscount Saltreave, she figured he’d be happy to see her drop.

“Because I’m nothing like that yellow-bellied farce of a sealord. If someone’s in trouble, I will help them.”

“How?”

His bare feet rasped against the stone as he backed up all the way to the wall. The evening sunlight slanted against his bare arms and calves, burnishing his tan skin golden. His blue eyes burned with confident surety.

“I’m going to jump, Tula, and when I do, I need you to relax. I’m going to pluck you off that rope and we’re going to land right over there.” He pointed, and Millie glanced down and to her right at the landing interrupting the spiral staircase.

“You’re insane.”

“That’s never been diagnosed.”

Despite the precarious situation she was in, Millie snorted a laugh.

“Just relax,” he reminded her, bracing the heel of his rear foot against the wall for an explosive start.

“No, don’t,” she said quickly. “I need to do th—” She cried out as she slipped another few feet. Confound it! She needed to concentrate.

“One . . . two . . . th⁠—”

“I’ve got you, Miss Millie,” said a voice directly below her.

“Jax!”

His smile was all roguish confidence, but the hand he placed on her foot was reassuring.

“What are you doing?” Bradley sputtered.

“Helping my student.”

In a slinky maneuver that underscored the deckhand’s raw strength, Jax used just his arms to climb the rope around Millie until he was half a body-length above her. He wrapped his legs under her armpits, hooked his ankles, and squeezed.

“Huh,” he mused, “I didn’t know ladyfolk could sweat this much. Y’all been deceiving us, making us think you’re dainty and whatnot.”

She glared up at him, but his smile only broadened. He added a wink that tore a ragged laugh from her throat.

Jax returned to business. “Let go of the rope, miss. I’m going to be our hands and you’re going to be our feet. It won’t be pretty, and I might fart on you, but we’ll get down as easy as a song. Remember how we descend ropes?”

“Slow controlled slide,” she answered. “And I’ll bite you if you fart on me.” It would hurt, too, since her face was only inches above his crotch.

He waggled his eyebrows. “Ooo, promise?”

“You’re wicked, Jaxson Sloop.”

“Blame the valet, sweetheart. He’s the one who keeps feeding us beans.” Jax swept Bradley a lazy salute. “See ya at the bottom.”

“Don’t you dare drop my princess,” Dirk seethed. “Millie, I’ll see you upstairs when you’re safe. Or I’m coming down there and eating someone.”

Jax didn’t even flinch at the threat. “Alright, miss, together now.”