The Price of Pleasure by Kresley Cole

frowned. “Ah, hell, girl, your breath will come back—”
    It did. She screamed.
    He looked so confounded by her shrieks that she thought she could hit him and roll away.
    She might as well have hit a rock.
    He grabbed her fisted hands and thrust them over her head, pinning her arms down as she bucked beneath him.
    â€œDamn it! I want to help you.” He was breathing as heavily as she was as he held her down. “I’m here to rescue you.”
    She glared at him. “I don’t need rescuing, except from the likes of you.”
    He gaped as though the idea of him as a villain affronted him. It was only then that he moved his gaze from her face to take in their position—him riding her hips and leaning forward over her to keep her hands restrained. Transferring both her wrists to one hand, he lifted the opposite shoulder to stare down at her heaving chest. His breath hissed out of him. He swore and dragged her to her feet, his huge hand clenched around her arm, and peered down at her in an unnerving way.
    All sound from her evaporated. She’d never looked up at anyone as large as he. She’d been a fool not to run faster.
    His face was tight, as though he struggled to control his anger. “Cover yourself.”
    She pulled at the collar of her blouse, trying to shimmy back in, but that only seemed to make him angrier.
    â€œLeave it,” he commanded. “I have proper clothing for you back on the ship.”
    Proper clothing?… “I’m not going back to your ship. I don’t know who you are.”
    â€œI’m Captain Grant Sutherland. I’ve been sent by your grandfather to return you to England.” He paused to gauge her reaction and found her raising her eyebrows at him. “You don’t believe me? I know your name is Victoria Dearbourne. I know your parents’ names.”
    â€œThat proves nothing.” She added in a nasty voice, “Except that you can read.”
    â€œYes, I’ve read your journal,” he grated, “but that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been sent here for you.”
    â€œWhy did you chase me?”
    â€œBecause you tossed a snake in bed with me,” he snapped.
    â€œNo, the first time.”
    He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, looking genuinely perplexed. “I don’t know why. You’ve been missing for nearly a decade, and you were within reach. I didn’t want to let you out of my sight.”
    â€œIf you’ve read my journal, then you know why I have a hard time believing you.”
    His brows drew together. “Yes, I do. And I wish I could take the time necessary to explain things to you, but we don’t have that luxury. We’ll talk on the ship.”
    His words seemed pulled from him. She got the impression this man didn’t have to explain himself or his actions very often. “I have nothing but time.”
    â€œIf I don’t get my ship out of this area before a storm strikes, we’ll all need rescuing.” He caught her gaze. “Where’s Miss Scott?”
    â€œYou don’t really expect me to tell you that?”
    â€œYou’ll simply speed up the inevitable. Because if she’s on this island, I will find her and get both of you back to England.” He pulled her toward his camp again. She allowed it, giving him time to relax his guard. When something scampered across the trail, catching his attention, she lifted the arm he held and brought his hand to her mouth to take a bite.
    His hand shot down. “Do not,” he said in a menacing voice, “even entertain that idea. I advise you not to anger me more than you already have.”
    Anger him? She was the grubby one, banged up and bewildered. “Or what?” she dared to ask.
    â€œOr I’ll turn you over my knee,” he said with an absolute lack of emotion before pressing on.
    Dear Lord, he would. She’d bragged that he’d never be