When His Kiss Is Wicked (28 page)

As the young boy respectfully nodded his head and quit the room, Juliette was left alone with Captain Fleming for the first time. She had been in his company on many occasions during the past few weeks while he visited London, but never alone. Each time she had thought him quiet and somewhat disinterested in her, which had been surprising. Every man she had ever met could not seem to help but lavish her with attention, even the painfully shy ones. Now it seemed that the aloof Captain Fleming was finally giving her his undivided attention. And that made her uncharacteristically nervous.

He continued to stare at her. His stormy gray eyes, with startlingly long lashes, bored into her. She waited in silence, a strange tingling sensation building within her.

Juliette suddenly came to the realization that he was made of sterner stuff than she was accustomed to seeing in most men. He had the bearing of a pirate and beneath his cool surface he seemed to possess a sense of tightly leashed desire as if he kept this emotions on a close rein. With a high forehead, aquiline nose and rakish mouth, he exuded a rugged, very masculine handsomeness. He was quite taller than average, with broad shoulders, sun-streaked hair and gray eyes. His bronzed skin declared boldly that he spent much of his days out of doors. Yet for all his commanding presence, there was nothing aristocratic about him.

“Well, Juliette, it seems you have created quite the situation on my ship.”

She raised one eyebrow at him for stating the obvious while noting he had dispensed with any formality by not addressing her as Miss Hamilton. Being that she had brazenly stowed away, she supposed the need for propriety had passed.

“I merely wish to go to New York to visit a friend.”

“Why didn’t you simply ask me to take you?”

Most men she knew would be beside themselves by now, yet Captain Fleming seemed remarkably calm at her presence. That impressed her. “My family would never allow me to go. In fact, my mother expressly forbade my going to New York.”

“Ahh, I see.” He nodded his head, crossing his arms across his broad chest.

His white shirt was partially unbuttoned and Juliette could not help but notice the bare expanse of tanned skin. She swallowed and forced herself to focus on his face. But that also was dangerous. He was a very handsome man. Yes, he was. Definitely.

“I should take you home directly.”

“I wish you wouldn’t,” she managed to respond. If he took her back now, she would die of disappointment.

“Your family must be sick with worry by now.”

Once again guilt surged within her at the thought of leaving her sisters in such a manner. But truly, she had no other recourse. “I wrote them a letter, explaining what I was doing and asking them not to worry about me. They won’t find it until the morning when I don’t appear at breakfast.”

“Well, you have thought of almost everything.”

She challenged him. “Almost?”

“Everything except one.”

They stood in tense silence, regarding each other with undisguised wariness. Her heart hammered erratically in her chest. Oh, she
had
definitely underestimated Captain Fleming. Of course he would never harm her. He was a friend of her brother-in-law and had been a guest in their house. Still, a strange sense of nervousness engulfed her at his masculine presence and she trembled. Odd, she had never felt nervous with a man before.

Stepping from behind the desk, Captain Fleming moved closer to her and she sucked in her breath at his nearness. He loomed over her and the mysterious scent of him made her weak-kneed.

“It seems you did not consider me in your little plan to flee to New York,” he breathed. He leaned in closer to her face.

Unconsciously she inched away from him. He pressed closer, his intense gray eyes on her, his lips hovering near her cheek. The heat of his breath made her shiver and his whispered words left her speechless. She had backed up against the table and could retreat no farther. She had no choice but to face him.

“You did not factor me into your plan, Juliette.”

She stared helplessly at him. This handsome sea captain who held her fate in his hands. This man who embodied all the adventurousness she harbored in her soul. He was close enough to kiss her and for a wild, panicked moment Juliette hoped he would.

His whispered words brushed her lips, causing her to stop breathing altogether.

“Or what I plan to do with you.”