The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

faster, pulling the shirt up and over my head. The moment
my arms were free, I grabbed hold of the desk once more.
“Pretty,” he murmured, toying with the tiny strap on the
slip and then the lace of the cinched bodice. His deft fingers
loosened the buttons with shocking and impressive ease.
The material parted, exposing my skin to the salty night air
seeping in through the cabin window. He dragged his thumb
over the rosy tip of one breast, causing me to gasp. “Not as
pretty as these, though.”
My heart thudded, and I wasn’t sure if it was due to the
ship’s motions or the intent in his words.
He eased the straps down my arms, stopping when they
fell against my wrists. Then he stretched up, reaching
around to pick up my braid. He pulled the leather thong
from the end and slowly began to unwind the hair.
“I’m going to make you re-braid my hair,” I told him.
“I can do that.” He spread the lengths over my
shoulders, then he caught the edge of the slip, pushing it up
my hips to where the material gathered at my waist. Those
callused palms swept down my legs once more as he leaned
back. Gripping my ankles, he spread my legs and placed my
feet so they dangled off the arms of the chair. I’d never
been more exposed in my life.
He dragged a finger along his lower lip as his gaze
swept over me. “I’ve never seen a more tantalizing dinner. It
makes me want to rush to the main course.” His gaze
lingered on the shadowy area between my thighs. “But I do
love a good appetizer.”
Oh…gods.
Casteel looked up at me, a secretive little grin playing
across his lips as his arousal washed over me, mixing with
mine. “I almost forgot. The next best thing to a good
conversation while enjoying dinner is reading a good book.”
My eyes widened as he bent, reaching into the bag. “You
did not—”