Page 67 of A Pirate of Her Own

“His wife?”

“Aye.”

“So, he gave up his life for her.”

“Nay, she gave him a life. Until Lorelei, he never knew kindness or love. She gave him back his soul.”

“And what of you?” she asked quietly. “Could a woman give you back yours?”

Could I be the woman who gives you back your soul?

He gave a half laugh and she flinched, half-afraid he’d heard her silent plea.

“Nay, I’m not like Jake. I actually tried to settle down years ago with a wife. But it was a mistake. A costly mistake.”

“You were married?” she gasped, her chest tightening at the knowledge.

He nodded.

“Did she die?”

His eyes turned dark, sorrowful. “While I was at sea.”

“I’m sorry, Morgan.”

He sighed and she ached for his loss, wished for a way she could ease the agony etched into his brow. “As was I. I thought I could be the type of man who could settle down and have a family. What I learned was that the call of the sea was more than I can deny. I can’t stay landlocked.”

By the look on her face, Morgan realized he should have kept his mouth closed. He had just put a wall between them that he didn’t want to build.

It’s for the best.

Yes, it was for the best. He knew he could never settle down. He belonged to the sea.

It was home.

“I think it’s time we headed back down.”

Serenity nodded.

No sooner had they returned to the deck than Barney approached him. “Might I have a word with you, Captain?”

Morgan watched as Serenity excused herself, and part of him longed to follow after her and try to bridge the sudden gulf that had sprung up between them.

Thinking better of it, he turned to his quartermaster. “Sure, Barney, what do you need?”

“I wanted to know why you kept such a secret from me. Why you never once told me you were the Marauder.”

First one, now the other. He was getting really tired of explaining himself to people. “It’s not something I’m proud of, Barney, nor is it something I wanted people to know.”

“But I thought I was different. We’ve been through a lot, you and me. And you let me just babble off about being pirates when you knew the truth. Made me look like a blooming ninny, you did.”

Morgan placed a hand on his shoulder. “That’s not true, Barney. You’re the closest thing I have to a father, and I didn’t want you to know that about me, any more than I’d want my real father to know.”

Barney nodded. “You’re still a good lad. Pirate and all. ’Course, I won’t be saying nothing else ’bout being a pirate. At least now I know why you were always so squeamish.”

Thank God Barney didn’t hold it against him, Morgan thought.

It shouldn’t bother him that Serenity did. Yet for some reason he couldn’t fathom, he wanted to regain her respect. It mattered deeply to him that she not hate him.

He glanced over to where theDeath Queensailed, and smiled. He knew what Jake would say if he were here. And for once, he agreed with the surly pirate.

Aye, he’d bed the wench. One way or another.

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