A pirate duke. A French ballerina. And a bargain that will set the sea aflame.
He has taken enemy ships, fortunes, and glory at sea.
Now he wants her.
Marguerite d’Ailes has survived by turning desire into diplomacy. Once the star of Covent Garden, now stranded in Brighton with unpaid bills and one last chance at reinvention, she needs passage to Naples, where a glittering court, a warmer future, and an Italian husband might finally place her beyond the reach of men who mistake protection for possession.
The only man who can take her there is Tristan Blackmere, Duke of Stormhaven.
Known as the Sea Wolf, Tristan commands his ship as he commands his life: cut away everything unnecessary before it can drag you under. Passengers are unnecessary. Sentiment is worse. But Marguerite is clever, golden, and impossible to cast off—especially after she bargains her way aboard his frigate and into his cabin.
Their agreement is simple: passage to Naples in exchange for a temporary arrangement. No promises. No illusions. No hearts involved.
But the sea is long, the nights are hot, and neither of them is prepared for a desire that refuses to obey orders. Soon, Tristan wants more than Marguerite’s body. He wants the woman behind the bargains, the dancer behind the diplomat, the heart she has sworn never to surrender again.
And Marguerite must decide whether Naples is still her destination—or whether the most dangerous shore is the one waiting in his arms.
Perfect for readers who love forced proximity, alpha heroes, clever heroines, and historical romance where passion and ambition collide.
