Whispered Music (London Fairy Tales #2)(11)

And for some reason, Dominique didn’t care. Because he knew that Hunter was right about one thing. The girl was scared and her fear was what was protecting her from crumbling. If he fed the fear, he would have her in the palm of his hand.

His prize? Knowing she was safe from men like her father and men on this ship. It was all he could offer, and all he was willing to give.

With a curse he strolled toward where she stood on the opposite end of the boat.

Needing courage, he stole a glance at Hunter who had an amused smile on his face and was watching him from afar. A pox on him for making Dominique play the role of such a cad and tormentor!

“Isabelle?”

“Yes?” She turned around. Her blue eyes nearly made him forget the threat he was supposed to give her, but he stood strong. There were more dangerous men out there than him, and he would die before letting anyone touch what was his.

“You have two choices.” He circled her slowly as he pulled a dagger out of his jacket and began to play with it.

“And if I don’t care for either choice?” Her nostrils flared.

“Then I’ll kill you.” He said it simply, without emotion, and flicked the edge of the knife so it gleamed in the moonlight. “I would gut you from head to toe in front of the entire crew and throw your body overboard for the fish to consume. I’d cut out your heart and send it to your sisters, and then I would hunt both of them down until I did the same to them as well as the rest of your family.”

“You’re—you’re bluffing!” Her eyes welled with tears.

He tilted his head and paused directly in front of her. “Care to try me?”

Her lower lip trembled as Dominique inwardly cursed again. He had to give her credit where it was due; she was stronger than any woman he had ever come across.

So lost was he in admiring her spunk that he almost didn’t hear her answer.

“Do it,” she whispered.

“Pardon?”

“I said, do it. You wouldn’t touch me, not when you worked so hard to steal me away from everything I’ve known. I’m not stupid. You wouldn’t touch me.”

Alarmed, Dominique struggled to hold firm to his threat. The cold blade touched her neck. Her sharp intake of breath gave him pause.

“Oh, believe me. I may not kill you now, but I’ll touch you.” He growled into her ear as he slowly traced the knife down her cheek. “I’ll touch everything. I own you, body and soul, love. And I’ll have it tonight or you’ll see why they truly call me the beast.”

Her bosom rose and fell so rapidly he was afraid she would pass out. Saints alive, he was an absolute cad! The most horrible of men! Whatever happened to asking politely? Or courting a woman instead of threatening to cause her bodily harm? He watched her lips purse into a thin line. Right, well, politeness was surely lost to him the minute he realized how dangerous the girl truly was.

“When do we wed?” She swallowed slowly, drawing his eyes to the expanse of her beautiful neck. A neck, that although he had just touched it with a dagger, he would much rather kiss than threaten.

“Immediately,” Hunter chimed in from behind them. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt this obvious lover's quarrel, but the old captain here said he can marry you straightaway. Isn’t that fortunate?”

“So convenient,” Isabelle agreed in a monotone.

“Splendid!” Hunter clapped his hands. “Now if you just stand here, Isabelle. Oh, merciful saint of my mother, do you bathe in lavender? Well, it’s positively delicious drifting from your skin. I have half a mind to take a small nibble just below your ear there to—”

“Enough.” Dominique pushed Hunter away. “Get on with it, captain.”

Isabelle narrowed her eyes at Dominique but said nothing.

The captain cleared his throat. “Do you take this woman—”

“I do.” Dominique interrupted.

“Um, yes, well.” The captain turned to Isabelle. “And do you take this man—”

“Beast. Do I take this beast, and yes I do. Unfortunately.” She continued to glare.

An exhale of relief from both Dominique and Hunter followed as the captain finished the small ceremony and announced that they could kiss.

Throat suddenly dry, Dominique wasn’t sure if he should kiss her or merely give her a pat on the head and apologize for being the condescending monster that he was.

Instead, he decided on kissing her hand. As he lifted it to his lips he suddenly felt quite wicked, and although he wouldn’t truly harm a hair on her head, he felt the need to give her another reason to fear men like him.

Closing his eyes, his warm lips met her cold hand and he bit, just slightly, then suckled, and nipped until, with a gasp, she pulled it away.

“Well done!” Hunter slapped him on the back. “Champagne for everyone!”





Chapter Five


I find that I cannot entertain a woman without feeling the betrayal of their entire race. It is for that reason alone that I have chosen to keep my heart protected. My mistress will always be music, my love will always be for myself, and my heart will never be in jeopardy again.

—The Diary of Dominique Maksylov



Isabelle waited in the captain's quarters. After the ceremony, she was escorted to the room and told in no uncertain terms that it would be shared with Dominique, considering it was their wedding night.