I tipped my head, angling the brim of the hat to hide my face. Then I quickly scanned his report for my name. Not finding it, I jerked my gaze away.

A dozen of the most notorious pirate captains covered the wall. I knew every name and had met half of them. But the sketches of the ones I’d encountered in person hadn’t been drawn with the same impeccable care as the picture of Priest.

Anger ignited beneath my skin and clenched my fingers. I wanted to knock Priest into a cocked hat for being so heedless with his identity. Knowing him, he’d probably posed for that drawing.

The arrogant twat was going to get himself captured. Then I would have to rescue him. After he rescued me, of course.

“You know these rogues.” Ashley sipped his tea, studying me over the porcelain rim.

Every officer in the cabin stilled, awaiting my response.

Well, now I knew why he’d invited me in here. He wanted me to take a long look at these prints of the bad and the worse and help him hunt his prey.

Heat rose to my face, burning my cheeks anew. My chest heaved with indignation, and it took everything I had to control my temper.

Yes, this was Ashley’s career, his duty as a pirate hunter, which he put above and beyond all else. But I would never aid him in the mass capture and murder of my kind. Not even for a pardon. It went against everything I was.

After spending four days with me, he should have gleaned that much.

“Everyone out.” He set down the cup, never taking his eyes off me.

The cabin vacated. The door shut behind the last lieutenant. Then we were alone.

“You stared at this one the longest.” He tapped the sketch of Priest. “He has a dissolute reputation with women. Have you bedded him?”

“Hasn’t everyone?” A hollow thud erupted in my ears. “They call him the king of libertines.”

“Yes, and you mentioned a libertine the other night.”

Me and my big mouth.

He grabbed my arse cruelly through the skirt, wedging invasive fingers into the divide between my cheeks. “Was he the one who took you here?”

A defensive posture and adamant denial would’ve given away my true feelings for Priest. So I loosened my stance and tossed out the answer he would expect from a pirate whore.

“Yes.” I twisted the corner of my mouth into a devious half-smile. “Jealous?”

“How many times?”

“You want a number? Like an actual count?” I blew out a breath, making a splattering noise between my lips. “I don’t know, Ashley. It was a very long night, and he had an insatiable staff that stood near as tall as the mainmast. So if I’m counting strokes, do I include every position, fore and aft and—”

“It was just one night?”