Revealing Ruby (Bound and Determined #1.5)(2)
Captain Price stepped back and let his gaze roam over her. She knew what he saw, bright crimson hair, pale face with overly large blue eyes, bosom pushed to extreme heights—his eyes lingered there, waist held tighter than normal fashion dictated, round hips in red satin and those blasted bare toes. “Sometimes,” he said, “I think what you see is exactly what you get.”
Was that meant as a compliment or an insult? Or both? With an Englishman she would have known exactly what his tone meant; with this American it was hard to be sure. His eyes certainly betrayed no pleasure in her appearance, although there had been that slight pause at her bosom. But there was always a slight pause at her bosom.
Pursing her lips, while being sure that the full lower one pouted prettily, Ruby took her own step back and returned his perusal. Dark hair swept back and tied in a short tail—it was slightly outdated, but probably suited his seagoing life. His sharp jaw was clean shaven, although she was uncertain that he’d made use of a razor that morning. He was stubbled more like a man late in the evening. The eyes were startling, so dark they looked like pieces of coal stuck upon his face, shining with an iridescence of color she had never before seen. His features were strong, and slightly coarse, but not unattractive. Allowing her tongue to dart out and dampen her lower lip, she let her gaze drop lower. The linen of his shirt and neck cloth were fine, but not the finest. His coat was well cut, hinting at the extreme breadth of the shoulders beneath. The buttons were brass and heavy. They had cost a pretty penny. His breeches were not as fine. They were the clothing of a man who worked hard and needed garments that would hold up to his labors. The boots were of the finest quality, but hard used. He’d clearly changed shirt and coat to come see her, but not bothered with the lower half.
At least that’s what her ever-working brain told her. Another part of her, and she didn’t know if it was heart, or body, or soul, could only stare and wonder at his magnificence. He was more than any single man should be, both in size and comeliness—and that was in his clothing. A hint of a smile would not have gone amiss, but that was the only fault she could find anywhere, and she’d seen enough last night to know. Lean hips above well-muscled thighs, the broad chest of a man used to hard labor, the perfect masculine scattering of hair, tight buttocks with those indents she so loved, and speaking of indents, it was hard to do better than the sharply defined lines that ran from hip to cock. What woman was not entranced by those…love lines? Did they actually have a name? She’d never heard of one and she’d heard everything.
Allowing herself one last glance at the bulge in his breeches, imagining the bright green dragon that spanned his pelvis, she raised her gaze and met his full on.
“And what do I get with you, Captain Price?” She let her shoulders fall forward so that her bosom rose even higher above the tight bodice. Men were simple creatures, easily distracted from their arguments.
As expected, his eyes dropped to her breasts and lingered. She’d be lucky if he gazed up at her eyes again before leaving. Many men did not.
“I am afraid that you get exactly what you see with me, as well, Madame Rouge. I may not be pretty, but I say my piece and mean it. Which gets us to the reason I have come.” He surprised her by lifting his gaze back to her face, not a flicker of emotion showing.
“Please call me Ruby. All of my regular patrons do.” Ruby smiled, moving her eyes from his face to his shoulders and then lower. “No, not pretty, but quite interesting.” She landed again on the bulge in his breeches, letting him discern her interest—and, oh yes, he was definitely discerning it. His face might not betray emotion, but some things could not be hidden.
Hiding her grin, she moved back to the chaise, reclining upon it in a fashion she’d copied from the late Empress Josephine. She gestured for him to take a comfortable seat across from her, a heavy chair, designed for a man’s weight.
He moved as if to follow her direction and then stopped. “Do not distract me from my task. I paid the girl and she did not come. I will not be cheated.”
“I am afraid that you have me at a loss. I am quite sure that you found your satisfaction last night, received your full money’s worth.” Having watched the man in action she was more than sure. He had been more than happy with what had happened in her upstairs room. She might not have spent so long watching if he hadn’t been quite so satisfied, quite so many times. “And as for whether or not the girl came, I believe that is your responsibility and not something that I can take responsibility for. If you had some complaint the time to address it was last evening.”
“It’s not last night I am complaining about, it’s this morning. I paid the wench to be at the Dawn’s Light before midday and she did not arrive. I want the girl or my money.” He walked near and glowered down at her.
Oh dear, that did complicate things. Ruby pursed her lips and looked up at him calmly, refusing to let her concerns show on her face. His posture was clearly meant to intimidate, but she’d long ago given up letting men hold any power over her. “I am afraid, Captain, that if you paid the girl and not me I can have little more to do in the matter. I will speak to the girl—Tilly, I believe—but on my own account. My girls are not allowed to work outside of this house. It is one of the few rules that I have. I have great concern for their safety.”
“And your purse,” he added, his eyes cold.