AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His hand went down, clamping onto the top of her thigh and squeezing it. “It’s your sea legs. You have to get used to the ground not moving beneath your feet.”
His hand paused in place, the instant heat between his fingers and her thigh turning all his thoughts in one distinct direction—a room above them. The rooms in the Lion’s Tap weren’t much, but they were private and he wouldn’t have the constant threat of one of his crew interrupting them.
Just another thing that wasn’t good enough for Torrie. But that didn’t quell his cock from springing alive and his mind from figuring out how long they had to stay below with Des and Weston before excusing themselves. Thank the devil he still had to get Torrie safely home to London, so he wouldn’t have to give her leave of him just yet.
Not today, at least.
Her green eyes opened wide. “Oh, I…”
His grip on her thigh tightened. “What is it?”
She gave a slight shake of her head. “I—I didn’t think that you’d touch me again.”
It took him a full breath to realize the meaning of her words. “What? Why wouldn’t I—”
“Cap’n Roe.” The gravelly voice of the owner of the Lion’s Tap came from his right and Roe looked up just as Kilmore sidled up to the table, looked hard at Torrie, then set his gaze on Roe.
Roe inclined his head to his old friend. He’d known Kilmore since his St. Giles days. “Kilmore, how’s business?”
Kilmore swished his thick hand in the air between them. “No time for that now, Roe.” He looked to Torrie. “This the girl from the ship?”
Roe glanced at Torrie and then looked to Kilmore, his head tilting to the side. “We just got in here, Kilmore—you already been talking to Weston?”
“No, no, mate.” Kilmore flicked his thumb in the air over his shoulder and Roe took the hint.
He stood, taking several steps away from the booth and Torrie, but staying directly between her and anyone who thought to approach their table.
Kilmore leaned forward to Roe’s ear, his voice dipping to a whisper. “Bockton’s been through here lookin’ for ye. Two days ago. Lookin’ for ye. Lookin’ for her.” His ruddy pink thumb jabbed toward Torrie.
Roe cocked his head to the side, forcing a smile onto his lips as he found a barmaid with an overflowing bosom to concentrate nonchalantly on. For anyone observing, he was merely chatting up an old friend. He whispered back, his voice low, “Tell me.”
Kilmore gave a quick glance around the room. “Ye need to run, Roe. Run. He’s after the girl. Asked about her specifically—she looks just like he described her. Dark hair, face that could sink a thousand ships.”
Roe stilled, deadly fire festering in his veins, threatening to explode. “He’s after her? What the hell are you talking about, Kilmore?”
“He thinks ye know where Cap’n Folback hid the box.”
“The Box of Draupnir?” The words seethed out of Roe’s gritted teeth. “Why in the hell would I know where that blasted thing is?”
Kilmore shrugged. “Who better to know than you? All I know is that he’s after the girl cause he can’t catch ye.”
Roe’s fist slammed onto his thigh, words whispering from his tight lips that had lost their faux smile. “Because if he gets her, he gets me—the bloody bastard.”
“Aye.” Kilmore leaned slightly back, rocking on his heels. “That he is, that one.”
Roe ran his fingers along the back of his neck. “Did Bockton leave on theMinerva?”
“Don’t know.” Kilmore shrugged. “TheMinervanever came into port, so I don’t know if he was up at smuggler’s point and traveled down, or came ashore from another ship.”
“Dammit.”
Kilmore’s voice dropped again and he leaned forward, his hand scuffing along the short red whiskers lining his cheek. “What I do know, is that there are some blokes in here that took special care in watching ye and yer lady friend walk across the room. Too much interest.”
“They were in here the night Bockton was?”
“Aye.”
Roe heaved a sigh, his fist repeatedly clenching and unclenching. “You have a key for me?”
