Tamara Hughes

You__e as lovely as a flower in the stark of winter_ Your hair is the color of wheat under the midday sun, and your eyes____es, yes. My eyes are like the sea or the sky or some such nonsense,_ she quipped with a laugh, the lilting sound like the finest music, better than anything he could ever play.

The only woman who would wear a gown like this one, love, is one who knows the power she wields and isn__ afraid to use it.

Charity followed the pirate. To salvation or to hell, she would soon find out.

He__ do what was best for her. He__ take her to safety and send her back home to a bright future_with amore honorable man than him. The stick broke in his hand, and he muttered an oath. All he wanted was for Amelia to be safe and happy, dammit. That and to beat every honorable man in England into the dust.

When he bowed his head to hide his grin, she stiffened. __his is most certainly not amusing.__e looked up, the humor still glittering in his eyes, and spoke one word. __ames.___ardon me?___ames Lamont. It__ my name. You__l need it if you__e to curse me properly.

He__ do what was best for her. He__ take her to safety and send her back home to a bright future_with a more honorable man than him. The stick broke in his hand, and he muttered an oath. All he wanted was for Amelia to be safe and happy, dammit. That and to beat every honorable man in England into the dust.

He__ do what was best for her. He__ take her to safety and send her back home to a bright future_with amore honorable man than him. The stick broke in his hand, and he muttered an oath.All he wanted was for Amelia to be safe and happy, dammit. That and to beat every honorable man in England into the dust.

You are an exceedingly beautiful mystery, one that intrigues me and one that I plan to solve.

Sometimes people do misguided things for the most honorable of reasons.

He had an overwhelming urge to take possession of her lips, silencing any mention of another man__ name.

You__e a pirate?_ Obviously. Still, hard to believe. He pressed forward, forcing on her a series of blows meant to test her strength and will.She parried and blocked his every move with an aptitude that amazed. __ye. A pirate, and captain of the Sea Sprite,_ she boasted, a wry smile upon her full lips.Indeed, she appeared very much a pirate in her men__ garb__ threadbare, brown suit with overly long sleeves she__ had to roll up. Her ebony hair had been pulled back in a queue and was half hidden beneath a rumpled tricorn. Also, like her men, was her look of desperation and the grim cast to her countenance that bespoke of a hard existence.__e offered you quarter,_ she said as she evaded his thrust with ease. __hy didn__ you surrender? You had to know we outnumbered you.__e didn__ answer. In all honesty, he__ thought they could defeat the pirates, if not with cannon fire, then with skill. After hearing of all the pirate attacks of late, they__ hired on additional hands, men who could fight. If it hadn__ been for the damn illness__t__ not too late. You can save what__ left of your crew. Surrender now, Captain Glanville, and we__l see that your men are ransomed back._ A wicked gleam brightened her eyes as if victory would soon be hers. He should do as she asked. It would be the sensible thing, but pride kept him from saying the words. Not yet. He still had another opponent to defeat, and so far she hadn__ been an easy one to overcome. Despite his steady attack, she kept her muscles relaxed, her balance sure. Her attention followed his movements no matter how small, adjusting her stance, looking for weaknesses. __ow do you know I__ Captain Glanville?_ When work was at hand, he didn__ dress any differently than his men.__ know much about you._ Stepping clear of two men battling to their left, she blocked his sword with her own and lunged with her dagger. He jumped from the blade, avoiding injury by the barest inch. This one relied on speed and accuracy rather than power. Smart woman.__hat do you want from us?_ he asked, launching an attack of his own, this time with so much force and speed, she had no choice but to retreat until her back came up against the railing. __e only just left London four days ago. Our cargo is mainly iron and ale.__er gaze sharpened even as her expression became strained. His assault was wearing her down. __ want the Ruby Cross.__ow the hell did she know he had the cross? And did she believe he__ simply hand it over? Hand over a priceless antiquity of the Knights Templar? Absurd. He swung his sword all the harder. The clang of steel rang through the air. Her reactions slowed, and her arms trembled. He made a final cut, putting all his strength behind the blow, and knocked her sword from her hand. Triumph surged through his veins. She attempted to slash out with her dagger. He grabbed her arm before her blade could reach him and hauled her close, their faces nose to nose. __ou__l never take the cross from me,_ he vowed as he towered over her, his grip strong.The point of a sword touched his back. Thomas tensed, he swore beneath his breath, self-disgust heavy in his chest. The distraction of this one woman had sealed his fate.Bloody hell.

Whether David believed in her affliction or not didn__ change the fact that it existed, and some day it would catch up with her.

Catherine bristled at the amusement in his voice. He could laugh all he wanted when he stood tied to a wall utterly naked. A little humiliation might do him good.

Those green eyes mocked her, and the ass leaned into her blade as if daring her to slice him

She would do whatever she had to, even make this man__ life a living hell if it were required, and judging by the arrogance of Thomas Glanville, that possibility was quite likely.