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“Princess,” I greet her.

She gives me a small, chiding smile. She doesn’t appreciate the moniker anymore but when she looks the way she does, I can’t help but call her that.

“I saw you had what looked to be a heart-to-heart with Thane,” she comments.

“Aye,” I say. “As you know, I’ve had my concerns.”

“And?”

“I think I’ve gotten through to him. Just had to remind him that while wallowing in grief is fine, even healthy, he still has a boy to look after.”

“Good,” she says, her gaze raking over the ship. “I have no doubt Thane will take your words to heart. He’s a good man and a good father.”

With her words on that tangent I clear my throat.

“Have you had any thoughts about getting married?”

She jolts then slowly turns her head to look at me, an incredulous look on her face. “Are you proposing?”

“No.”

Her nose crinkles in consternation. “I don’t like your game, Captain Battista.”

“But if one day I were to propose,” I go on, leaning across the table to her. “Do you fancy you’d say yes?”

She raises her brow, giving me a steady, discerning look. “I don’t know, Ramsay. I suppose I would have to think about it.”

“Hmmphhf,” I say. “Still waiting for an even taller and richer pirate to sweep you off your feet then?”

“I doubt such a man exists,” she says. “What I’m waiting for is a ring.”

“I’m getting you your ring, princess,” I tell her. “Just have to wait for the right ship to plunder.”

“Is that a euphemism?”

“Maren, I think I’ve plundered every hole on your body. Nay, I’ll know the treasure when I see it.”

She laughs at that. “Figures my engagement ring would be something you’ve looted.”

I grin at her. “I can’t help what I am.”

“And what are you again?” she asks in a coy tone, a brazen look coming across her bright blue eyes.

“A Brethren,” I tell her, getting to my feet. “A pirate,” I say, walking around her chair until I’m in front of her. “Your lover.”

I drop to my knees and start running up my hands up her calves. “Your worshipper,” I go on.

She gasps and looks behind her at the tavern, the lights are still on and patrons are still drinking inside. “Someone might see.”

“Let them see,” I tell her gruffly, my cock already painfully hard at the thought. “The whole world should know how dearly I make you come.”

Then I flip up her dress and her petticoats and bury my head between her legs.

She lets out a loud gasp which she tries to cover up with a cough and I attack her savagely, my fingers on her thighs in a bruising grip, spreading them apart, my mouth meeting her cunt with hunger.

“Oh gods,” she cries out softly and bucks her hips up to meet my face.

“Such a hungry little monster, aren’t ya?” I growl into her, my tongue sliding up and down in hard quick passes, from her swollen heat down into the wet depths of her. I eat her like I’m a starving man and the truth is I’m always ravenous for her. She’s never not on my mind, never not being craved by both my heart and my cock.