Read Online Devil's Mistress by Heather Graham - Free Book Online Page A

the various tall ships that lined the harbor lit their way. Before one of these ships their wild ride through the night suddenly ended. Sloan reined in and leapt from his horse in one fluid movement, then reached for Brianna and swept her to the ground without ceremony.
    The second his arms released her, she turned to run.
    “Get back here!” he exploded. “I swear to God you’re the most stubborn creature I’ve ever met!”
    She cried out as his fingers tore into her hair, pulling her back hard against his chest. She saw pure fury in his eyes as they met hers for an instant—and then she was gasping again because he was tossing her over his shoulder and swearing viciously as he hurried along.
    “Paddy!” he shouted loudly, his strides long as he carried Brianna along with him to a broad gangplank.
    “Who goes there? Cap’n? Is that you?”
    “Aye, Paddy, ’tis me. Rouse the crew and make way to sail.”
    “Now? Damn, Cap’n, but we weren’t
due
to sail—”
    “Now, Paddy. I’ve a feeling in my bones we’ll be contested if we don’t leave port with all haste.”
    Brianna finally saw the man called Paddy as Sloan jumped to the deck and swung around. He was tall and slender, and a cap covered the shock of snow-white hair upon his head. His face was weathered by wind and sea, but his eyes were a young and brilliant snapping blue.
    “Did ye get yerself in trouble, then, Lord Treveryan?”
    “Aye, and ‘trouble’ is with me!” Sloan replied irritably. Brianna struggled to sink her teeth into his back. He cried out sharply, slapping her rear soundly once again. “More trouble than she’s worth!” Sloan muttered, further irritated by Paddy’s laughter.
    “She seems to be quite a woman,” Paddy observed with amusement.
    “I’m glad you approve,” Sloan said with a scowl. “Now, Paddy, cease your prattle and rally the crew. I’ll be topside as soon as I’ve secured Brianna within quarters.”
    “Quarters!” Brianna cried, trying desperately to dislodge herself from Sloan’s hold. “Sir!” she called out, trying to gain Paddy’s attention. “This man is abducting me! I don’t wish to come aboard this ship! Sir, I’ve a family! I need help. I—”
    “Talkative, isn’t she?” Sloan groaned.
    Paddy laughed and Brianna realized she would have no assistance from Sloan Treveryan’s man. She groaned furiously as Sloan spun about again—knocking her cheek hard against his rigid back. Paddy shouted, and the silent ship came alive. Brianna instantly saw ghost shapes hurrying along as Sloan carried her along the deck, nodding briefly to the men who saluted him curiously. She tried to twist, from his grasp to survey the massive ship, to no avail. Near the aft he stopped before a door and shoved it open with his boot. He set her roughly on her feet, catching her for only a second as she staggered, then releasing her quickly. Brianna found her balance, then raged after him almost insanely, thrashing out at his chest with flailing fists. “You imperious, insolent, arrogant—rogue! I can’t go on this ship! I’ve got to get to my family. Please!”
    “Leave off!” Sloan grated out like a whiplash, catching her wrists, then pushing her from him. “Girl, I am trying to keep you alive!”
    Brianna paused, gasping for breath, staring at him incredulously. She just couldn’t make him understand, and there seemed to be no way to fight his strength.
    Seeing her breasts heave as she struggled to breathe, he bowed mockingly. “Sleep well, mistress!”
    “I will not be your prisoner, Lord Treveryan,” she raged, stamping a foot in her impotent fury.
    “Really?” He cocked a rakishly angled brow with amusement, took a long step toward her, and reached out a finger to lift her chin. “ ’Tis a far better thing to be at the moment than a ‘witch’! And”—his voice deepened slightly to that soft but husky tone she was coming to know as dangerous—“for that matter, ’tis preferable, I would