He locked the door behind them, gathered her in his arms, and carried her to the bedroom. How did he know where it was? She was about to ask, but his words cut her off.

Her body slid down his as he set her on the floor. His green eyes darkened. His jaw clenched. His voice dropped an octave. “You have something of mine.”

Her heart leapt. “I do?”

“Yes, you do.” He drew his sword from its sheath and circled her, keeping his body close. “And I believe you know better than to keep a treasure from a pirate.”

Oh. My. God. He was playing out her fantasy. Almost word for word.

She lifted her chin in defiance. “I know of no such treasure that you speak of.”

His grin turned wicked and did mysterious things to her nerve endings. “Is that so?”

“Yes, that is so.”

He got quiet as though mulling things over. “I’m afraid you leave me with only two choices, my sweet.”

She met his glance unflinchingly even though it took effort, especially with the heat pooling between her thighs, moistening her panties. She arched one brow. “And my choices are?”

“You either hand over the treasure, or I’ll be forced to search for it myself.”

Her breasts tightened and tingled to the point of pain. She pursed her lips and held her ground. “I told you, I do not have your treasure.”

He slipped his hand around her back and cut the knot with his sword, releasing the straps on her sorceress costume.

In an automatic reaction she reached for the dress, pinning it to her chest.

“Don’t.” The authority in his tone excited her beyond anything she’d ever known, but the traces of tenderness did weird things to her insides. “Remove your hand.”

Pleasure raced through her when she saw the hunger in his gaze. Her skin came alive, and the tang of her arousal saturated the room. He inhaled, slowly, as though savoring the smell of her excitement.

Holding his steely gaze, she let go of the fabric. It fell to her waist and bunched around her hips.