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for both of them. She deserved better than him, of course. He’d tried to tell her. If she insisted on having him, what fool would he be to cast her aside? He was not a foolish man. Reckless and selfish perhaps, but certainly not foolish.
    The vision that was his wife stopped before him, and to his amazement, she dropped into a curtsy so low her forehead would have touched the dirt if not for the brim of her hat. Sebastian scowled. What in hell was she doing?
    “My lord,” she murmured in deference.
    The town immediately resumed its frenzied activity.
    Reaching down, he yanked Olivia to her feet. She shielded her eyes from him with her hat, a meek gesture that was not in keeping with her fiery nature. He wanted, with a soul-deep need, to see her lovely eyes and look upon her beautiful face. Annoyed with her behavior, Sebastian spoke harshly. “What is the matter with you?”
    It wasn’t possible, and yet her head dropped even lower, until all he could see was the top of her blasted hat.
    “I apologize if I have displeased you again, my lord. I meant no offense.”
    Again? What the devil was she talking about?
    Sebastian gripped her elbow and dragged her up the gangplank, not stopping until they reached her cabin, where he thrust her in first and slammed the door shut behind them. Frustrated by her hat, he removed the offending article and tossed it aside. Her lovely visage was revealed to him, as well as her tears. Immediately, he felt contrite. He was a cad.
    “What ails you?” he queried, drawing her into his embrace. Olivia stood stiffly for a heartbeat before melting into him.
    “You’re angry with me.”
    “No,” he denied, his hands stroking the curve of her spine. “I’m confused.”
    She buried her face in his chest and sobbed. “You think I’m a wanton.”
    His confusion remained, but his mouth curved against her hair. “Perhaps a little.”
    She sobbed louder.
    “But I like it,” he amended hastily.
    “You don’t!” she argued in a muffled voice. “You left me so I wouldn’t throw myself at you again. And I won’t. Never again, I vow.”
    Ah! Sebastian grinned like an idiot.
    He kept his voice low and soothing. “I’d have ravished you further, Olivia, if the ocean hadn’t been between us. You were distraught. Your ship was attacked, you were abused, and your husband was revealed to be a criminal. It would have been dishonorable of me to take your body under those conditions. Bad enough I took the liberties I did.”
    She struggled away from him, her eyes flashing dangerously. “You are not an honorable man! You said so yourself. You refused to marry a woman you compromised, and yet the woman to whom you are married is left a virgin.” She stomped a slippered foot. “I am not a fool! Admit the truth.”
    “The truth?” He arched a brow. “As you wish, sweeting. The truth is, I want you desperately. I want to take your lush body, spread it beneath me, and ride you until you can’t move. I want to breech your precious maidenhead and ruin you for any other man. I want to hear you moan my name while you come around my cock. I want to fill you with my seed over and over again, until you think of nothing but me and how well I can pleasure you.”
    Eyes wide, her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip. “Good heavens.”
    “Heaven,” he purred. “Yes, I suspect it will be.”
    “It is your right to . . . to do those things . . . if you truly want to. I am your wife.”
    Sebastian crossed his arms. “Certain of that, are you?” He bit back a smile. He’d hoped she’d be curious.
    Her chin lifted. “Yes, I am certain of it.”
    “You went through my things.”
    She nodded.
    “And what do you think of this development?”
    Olivia clasped her hands, dislodging her lush breasts until they threatened to escape her low bodice. His mouth went dry as the desert, lust and appreciation flaring hot and heavy in his loins. Perhaps when his ardor faded, he would regret claiming his bride,