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him. She should not want him to touch her like this, but she did.
    He smiled as she dropped to sit on the bed. “And I believed you were a boy.” Brushing her hair over her shoulders, he whispered, “You are sweet to kiss.”
    â€œDon’t say that!” She was the greatest fool in Port Royal. First she allowed her disguise to be compromised; now she let him befuddle her brain with his feverish kisses.
    â€œâ€™Tis true.” His finger wandered along her arm, and he laughed. “Surely, I am not the first to tell you that.”
    â€œNo, I never—I mean—” Heat coursed up her face.
    â€œYou have never been kissed?” He sat at the table. His smile became cool. “You work in a brothel, and you want me to believe you have never been kissed?”
    â€œEveryone but Olive and Caroline thinks I am a boy.” She never had been so out of control of a situation, or herself. “Captain Lawler, you cannot tell anyone about this.”
    â€œAbout kissing you?” Rocking the chair back on two legs, he set his feet on the table.
    â€œIf the truth gets out, my life will be that of a whore. Captain Lawler—”
    â€œNathan.” He leaned forward to twist his fingers through her hair. “I want you to call me Nathan.”
    â€œYou do not tell me what to do!”
    â€œNo?” He raised the strand and ran it along her cheek. “Either you do as I tell you, Aurora Raven Mullins, or I will reveal your little secret to anyone who wants to listen.”
    Rory pulled back in horror. She had believed the eager desire on his lips, but he was just like the other brutes who came into Yellow Hal’s place.
    â€œAll you need to do is help me, Aurora,” he continued, “and I shall leave Port Royal. Then you will not have to worry about your secret.”
    â€œMy name is Rory.”
    â€œSo will you help me, Rory ?”
    She clasped her fingers in her lap. “I do not have much choice, do I? What must I do? I will not help with a murder.”
    â€œI was not going to ask you to kill anyone for me.” He laughed.
    â€œAnd I will not sleep with you.”
    â€œA worse crime than murder?”
    â€œYour words, not mine.”
    â€œDon’t fret. All I want are answers to some questions.” He put his hand over hers. Tracing an aimless pattern along her hand, he raised his eyes. She recoiled from the intensity in them. “Agreed?”
    â€œYes, if I can.”
    â€œWhat do you know of Stuart Powell and the Raven? ”
    â€œWhat everyone knows. The Spanish hanged him and the rest of his pirates.” Standing, she said, “I wish they would hang all you pirates.”
    â€œHe was not hanged.”
    She snapped a curse and pushed past him.
    He caught her before she could open the door. Whirling her to face him, he frowned when her knees buckled. He held her against the door. “You are not leaving until you listen to what I have to say.”
    â€œI have no time for legends and lies.”
    He pulled her toward him. “Listen to the truth, Rory. Stuart Powell was not hanged. He and his ship disappeared after they evaded an attack by rival pirates who were after the gold he had taken from a galleon bound from Mexico. You must realize what that means!”
    â€œIt sank.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    Rory shivered as she saw the fire in his eyes. She had seen the look before when the talk in the taproom was of lost gold. “Are you trying to find the Raven ’s treasure? You fool!”
    â€œMaybe, but I shall be a wealthy one.” He drew her up against his hard chest. “And you are going to help me.”
    She tried to pull away but froze when his mouth brushed her cheek. By the devil, she was pleasuring him with her motions. Yet not to resist would mean staying here in his arms where.… She sighed as his tongue caressed her earlobe. She cursed and jerked her head away. She must not surrender