Page 24 of A Pirate of Her Own

Morgan barely had time to prevent her from colliding with the wall. The weight of her body threw him against the rough boards, but he didn’t even notice. Nay, how could he notice any pain when a pleasure so sweet swept through him.

Her soft, supple body ran full-length against his, and even though she wore rough clothes, he could feel her body’s heat. Smell the sweet scent of rose wafting from her hair.

Her lips were parted slightly from her gasp of alarm, and wide, cobalt blue eyes stared up at him. A searing heat tore through his groin as his body reached out for her, and he swore that he could taste the sweetness of her honey breath.

What he wouldn’t give for a taste of her.

“Will I be safe with you, Captain?” she asked quietly, her voice like a shout in the tiny room.

“Most assuredly, Miss James,” he answered back.About as safe as a lamb in a wolf’s den.

Serenity swallowed and her body tensed. “I believe I have my balance again,” she whispered.

Yes, but I seem to have lost mine.Morgan reluctantly let go of her. And in that instant, he decided it was a good thing for Serenity that he wasn’t the sort of man who took advantage of young women. Because if he was, she’d be his this very night.

Grime and all.

“Follow me,” he said, his voice sounding odd even to him. Yes, it would be best to put as much distance between them as possible.

As quickly as possible.

Serenity followed him up the short ladder back to the main deck. The sky was as black as pitch, and only the ebony waves broke the monotony. A stiff breeze whipped the sails and made the wooden boards creak. It was a deafening symphony.

Salt stung her nose and she wondered how long it would be before she saw her family again.

What would her father say?

And did she really want to hear it?

Her heart heavy, she wished herself home, safely asleep in her own bed. Indeed, she was sure her father’s wrath would make the raging sea around her seem mild.

Would he ever forgive her? Or would he turn his back to her as he had done to Chastity? Abandon her to the same vicious gossips that had finally driven her sister away?

Don’t think on it. There is nothing you can do but go forward. Fate has deemed this time and place for you. And to everything there is a season.

Yes, but what season was it? A time to weep, or a time to laugh?

Taking a deep breath for courage, she swore that no matter what fate had planned for her, she would meet it bravely. Honestly. And if those old Savannah biddies treated her the way they had treated Chatty, then she would give them their full due. This particular James girl had more than enough brass to take on any gossip.

Morgan led her down below the deck, through a tight corridor until they reached a small door. He shouldered it open, then stood aside for her to enter.

Serenity wasn’t sure what to expect. She’d seen thousands of ships from the outside, but this was the first time she had actually been aboard one.

Stepping through the door, she was somewhat disappointed. Once again her imagination had run away with her. She had envisioned his cabin as an opulent room with rich satins hanging from the walls, maybe like a sheik’s tent. Of numerous chests spilling over with booty taken from English warships.

What she saw was a nice orderly room, low of ceiling and decidedly masculine.

The large bunk on her right was made right into the wall of the ship and covered with a beautiful blue and yellow charm quilt. Behind the bunk was a small cabinet that held a wash pitcher and basin.

To her left was a medium-sized trunk, and directly in front of her was a large oak table. But what commanded her attention was the wall of glass windows that looked out on a sea so dark and mysterious that it kept her transfixed.

“How beautiful,” she breathed.

“I often have that same reaction to it,” Morgan confessed from behind her.

“Do you ever grow accustomed to it?”

“Never.”

---