A slim brow rose, amusement trembling over those lush lips that he had kissed many a time. “Will you excuse us, kind gents,” she said to her avid entourage, who erupted in sighs and protests. “His Grace is a dear friend of my brother’s, you see, and I’m certain that if I’m not exceedingly polite, word will get back. Ashvale will be very cross with me indeed if he hears I shunned the man.” She gave an audacious wink when the most ardent of the toadies shot him a look of mistrust. “Don’t worry, he’s no danger to me. He’s more of a fond nuisance.”

Valentine blinked. A fond nuisance.

They groaned and complained, all the while shooting daggers at him for spoiling their fun, but she smiled charmingly and offered a gloved palm to the sullen, kneeling buck who was the most vocal. He stood and pressed his lips to her knuckles, which set Valentine’s teeth firmly on edge. He clasped his hands behind his back and reminded himself that he had no claim on her, despite his body’s propensity to think otherwise.

She’s not yours.

Well, she was his prisoner. That thought let to an unholy swarm of lewd thoughts—including the lady being deliciously restrained—that had no business seeing the light of day. He blinked and gave his head a rough shake.

When those thoughts dispersed, he glowered at her. “Is that all I am to you? Your brother’s friend?”

“Do you wish to have a deeper designation, Your Grace?” she asked and signaled for a glass of champagne from a waiting footman. Her voice lowered. “Would you rather I introduced you as my lover? As the gentleman who was buried so deeply inside me, I couldn’t form a coherent thought? That would have done wonders for my reputation.”

His cock twitched. It wanted to be buried in her right now. Nape heating, Valentine’s eyes shot to hers, noting the mischievous glint as she sipped, regarding him over the crystal rim. Hell, why had he marched over here in the first place as though she needed rescue from a bunch of overeager young rogues?

“Walk with me,” he said, desperate to escape the many eyes watching them, including Lisbeth’s. When she nodded, he led her out of the room to the cool air of the main decks.

“Oh, how beautiful,” she murmured.

He glanced up, following her wide-eyed stare. Bright stars twinkled against the immense backdrop of a twilight sky, glittering over the slumbering stillness of the Atlantic Ocean. The moon was large and full, casting a silvery sheen over the polished floorboards. It was, indeed, lovely, but Valentine had other things on his mind. There were a few couples with the same idea strolling near the bow, so he led her toward the more deserted stern.