Seduced: The Scandalous Virgin by Deborah Hale Page A

sowing the last of his wild oats.
    Then one last passenger was hoisted aboard, looking much the worse for her wild ride through the crashing breakers. Her hat had blown off, sending her long dark hair rippling over her shoulders. Seawater had soaked her light muslin gown, making the fabric appear almost transparent as it clung to her body’s alluring curves. The lady looked as delightfully tousled as she might after a vigorous encounter with an eager lover.
    For an instant Blade stood rooted to the deck as desire coursed through his body, igniting a hundred sensual fancies. Then his tardy sense of chivalry caught up with him.
    Peeling off his coat, he strode toward the lady and began to wrap it around her. “Pray make use of this, ma’am, until you find some better covering.”
    Pleased at being the first to reach her and ingratiate himself with this small favor, he bowed low and took the liberty of introducing himself as he waited for her thanks. “Blade Maxwell, at your service.”
    The words had scarcely left his lips when his coat came hurling back at him and a strangely familiar voice addressed him in a tone that conveyed more scorn than gratitude. “I know who you are, Mr. Maxwell, and I will thank you to keep your coat and your hands to yourself!”
    Blade looked up into the flashing hazel eyes of Genia Vernon, the only woman who’d ever seriously tempted him to break his rule about not seducing virgins. Her blazing glare warned him he would never get that opportunity with her.
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    The sight of Blade Maxwell on the deck of the Hartwell sank Genia’s spirits even lower than they were already. She had thought nothing could make her voyage of exile worse. The presence of a far-too-attractive charmer who’d spurned and humiliated her would make the coming months at sea very much worse, indeed.
    â€œWhy, M-miss Vernon.” Lifting his gaze to her face at last, Blade fumbled the coat she’d thrown back at him. “What an unexpected—” he seemed to grasp for a word that would not be too obviously insincere “—surprise.”
    His momentary awkwardness rendered the man even more attractive than the usual easy charm—drat his hide! The roguish twinkle had faded from his silvery-gray eyes, making him look rather lost and in need of something part of her yearned to give. He appeared leaner than when she’d last seen him, and his patrician features had a chiseled look.
    â€œI never heard of a surprise that was expected.” Genia seized a blanket offered to her by a crewman and covered herself with it, all the while trying to stifle her body’s wanton reaction to Blade’s touch. “If you will excuse me, I must retire to my cabin to change clothes before I catch a chill.”
    In truth, her wet gown felt quite refreshing, but it provided a good excuse to get away.
    â€œOf course.” Blade Maxwell made a graceful bow that seemed to mock her bedraggled state. His well-practiced charm overcame his momentary embarrassment at seeing her again. “We will have plenty of time to renew our acquaintance in the weeks to come.”
    Did he think she was too stupid to see through his two-faced pretence of courtesy?
    â€œAlas, I fear you are correct, sir.” With as much dignity as she could muster, Genia swept away.
    She managed to maintain her brittle composure until she’d been shown to her little cabin off the roundhouse. Even once inside she did not dare vent the full force of her feelings, for fear of being overheard through the flimsy deal walls. The best she could manage was a violent dumb-show, shaking her fist in the air and muttering curses under her breath.
    When the handsome Mr. Maxwell had arrived in Madras eighteen months ago, she’d been instantly smitten with him. The pulse-pounding attraction had been a most welcome diversion from her lingering grief over the death of her dearest friend and infant goddaughter.