EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT: The Captain’s Curse by Lisa Kessler

Unlike Captain Ian Flynn, we aren’t meant to live forever. Life is short. So we’re not going to waste any time depriving you of this steamy, non-stop adventure! Join Captain Ian Flynn and his crew aboard The Sea Dog, as well as the mortal he never should have fallen for, on May 15th when Lisa Kessler’s new book, The Captain’s Curse, releases! For now, enjoy this exclusive excerpt.

She shored up her emotional defenses and turned around to face Ian. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“Good. I didn’t come here to talk.” He took her hand and started walking away.

The instant electrical charge shooting up her arm must’ve shorted out her brain. She actually walked a couple of steps before she noticed what was happening.

Yanking her hand free of his, she narrowed her eyes. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Lily, please.” He turned her way. “We can fight about this later.”

“First off, there is no ‘we.’ You made that perfectly clear by ghosting me without ever looking back.”

It felt good to unload all the pain she’d been bottling up for months. She pressed her lips together, wishing he didn’t look so damned hungry for her. If it were real, he wouldn’t have been able to walk away the way he did. He would’ve reached out to her.

She was seeing what she wanted to see. She set her jaw. “Did you hire this guy to follow me?”

Ian eyed the man from the security company and focused on her again. “Not directly.”

She arched a brow. “Indirectly?”

“When I found out you were in Savannah, I did reach out to a friend who owns a personal security firm.”

She shook her head. “You are a piece of work. Why are you even pretending you care what happens to me?”

“No one is pretending, least of all me.”

Her jaw went slack as she struggled for a snappy comeback, but she couldn’t find anything. “You’re not making any sense.”

He offered his hand. “If you come with me right now, you have my word I will answer your questions.” He scanned the park around them. “We’re too exposed here.”

“Exposed?” She looked around unsure what she was even looking for. “This isn’t a war zone, it’s Savannah.”

“Yes, but as I warned you before. It’s not safe for you here.”

Her earlier conversation with Sampson and Holli at the bed and breakfast crept into her head. She sighed and took his hand. “Fine, but I’m holding you to your word. I want answers.”

“I would expect no less.” He nodded to the security guy as they passed by and hurried to his car.

She got inside and barely managed to stifle a moan. His scent filled in the interior. He always smelled so damned good anyway, like spice and leather, maybe a touch of rum. It wasn’t an expensive cologne, it was just…Ian.

He got behind the wheel and drove through the lot. She looked over at him, studying his profile. He had a strong, square jaw with a straight nose and proud chin covered by his well-manicured facial hair.

She forced herself to face forward. “Where are we going?”

“I own a condominium in Savannah. We’ll be safe there.”

They were going to be alone for the first time since he walked out on her. She pulled her computer bag up from the floor and clutched it on her lap, anything to keep something between them. “I’m not forgiving you.”

He smirked. “I’m not bringing you to my condo to beg for forgiveness.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not having sex with you either.”

A muscle tensed in his cheek. “I’m not trying to seduce you.”

Even though she’d told him she wasn’t interested, his words still stung. Nothing made sense right now. She said she wouldn’t sleep with him. He was just confirming her boundaries.

But a petty part of herself hoped he still wanted her so she could reject him. She wanted him to understand how badly it sucked to love someone and have them turn their back on you.

His attention was focused on the rearview mirror so intently she caught herself watching the side mirror. “Who do you think is after me?”

“A man who goes by the name of Sampson.”

Her back stiffened. That wasn’t a common name. Her mouth went dry. “I met someone named Sampson at the bed and breakfast today. He and his girlfriend Holli checked in last night.”

He tightened his grip on the wheel without looking her way. “I was trying to keep you out of all this.”

“All of what?”

Ian pressed a button on the visor and a gate opened to an underground parking garage. He drove inside and watched it close behind them before driving forward and parking in a numbered space.

He turned off the engine and looked at her. “Staying away from you has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”

“No.” She broke eye contact and grabbed the door handle. “I don’t want an apology. I just want to understand why you did it. There won’t be a second chance with me. We’re through.”

He nodded, but there was a heaviness in his gaze. “I wasn’t asking for another chance, Lil. I don’t deserve it anyway. I was just being honest.”

Just hearing him call her Lil again had butterflies fluttering in her belly. “That’s not going to save me from whatever you seem to think is coming for me.”

He pressed his lips together and nodded. “I need a drink. Come on, let’s get inside.”

She followed him to the elevator and stepped in, leaning on the railing as far from him as she could get while he punched the button for the top floor. The elevator lurched into action, leaving her staring at the real estate mogul, and reminding herself over and over again that any man who could walk out on her so easily didn’t deserve any of her energy.

But being this close to him wore down her resolve and brought back unwanted memories of happier times. Time when his arms held her tight, and he flashed a rare secret smile meant only for her.

“When we get upstairs, I need you to…” He paused, the corner of his mouth curving just slightly. “I can’t recall what you called it when you were writing you books and you wanted readers to believe something could really happen.”

Okay, when he brought up her writing like he had actually paid attention and respected her work, it made it harder to remember she hated him. “Suspending their disbelief?”

“Yes.” He nodded and the elevator stopped right on cue. The doors rolled open. “I’m going to need you to suspend your disbelief until I tell you everything.”

Now she was intrigued. “Are you a spy or something?”

“Something.” There was a sparkle in his blue eyes as he held the elevator doors for her.

She walked out and into a hallway with a door on either side.

Ian opened the one facing the river. “After you.”

Captain Ian Flynn would die for any one of his crew…if he could. Now he might have to. Because one of the only known weapons able to kill an immortal is missing. The Spear of Destiny—a priceless religious artifact from the crucifixion—is in the hands of his ship’s ruthless ex-captain. Now the lives of the Sea Dog’s immortal pirate crew are all at risk…along with the headstrong mortal Ian never should have fallen for. Writer Lily Bouchard isn’t sure what’s worse. That she fell for Ian Flynn only to get her heart broken, or that she romanticized the man like he was some gorgeous viking straight out of a movie. So when he shows up suddenly with some absurd tale of immortal pirates and mythical religious relics, Lily doesn’t know what to think. He’s always had a wildness beneath his well-tailored appearance…but how could any of this possibly be real? Now a centuries-old vendetta between two pirate captains has erupted, and Ian will do anything to keep Lily safe—even if it means risking everything. But she won’t give him up without a fight. The only thing more dangerous than killing an immortal is falling for one…

Lisa Kessler is an Amazon Best Selling and award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book. Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award. When she’s not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, performing with the San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego. You can learn more at http://Lisa-Kessler.com She loves hearing from readers – LdyDisney@aol.com